Cadiz City is celebrating a remarkable milestone as their very own “super lola,” Visitacion Victorama Contenido, affectionately known as Lola Visitacion, turned an astounding 109 years old last May 28.
Born in Sagay City in 1916, Lola Visitacion has called Barangay Zone 6, Cadiz City, home for the past 32 years. Her life story is a testament to resilience and unwavering determination. A mother of 12 – seven from her first marriage and five from her second – Lola Visitacion faced the constant challenges of poverty head-on to raise her large family.
She wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, carving out a living as a paltera, a traditional midwife, bringing new life into the world. When not assisting births, she sold vegetables, fish, and seashells, doing whatever it took to provide for her loved ones.
Lola Visitacion’s incredible life was formally recognized earlier this year. On February 14th, she was honored during the 2025 Recognition and Awarding Ceremony of Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, and Centenarians at the Cadiz Arena. Though she couldn’t attend in person, her proud children and grandchildren accepted the award on her behalf.
In accordance with Republic Act No. 10868, the Centenarian Act of 2016, Lola Visitacion received a ₱100,000 cash gift from the Cadiz City government. She also received an additional ₱100,000 from the provincial government of Negros Occidental, a well-deserved tribute to a life lived with dignity and dedicated service.
Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. lauded Lola Visitacion as a “living legacy,” emphasizing that her life proves “poverty is not a hindrance to longevity.” He further praised her as a true “Cadizeña,” a “warrior against life’s odds, thus, a tested and proven survivor of so many ‘disasters’ in life – literally and figuratively.”
A Century of Wisdom and Good Health
What’s truly astonishing about Lola Visitacion is her robust health. Despite her advanced age and being almost entirely bedridden, she remarkably doesn’t take any maintenance medicines. While she is hard of hearing, her mind remains sharp.
When asked the age-old question about her secret to longevity, Lola Visitacion’s answer is refreshingly simple: “I eat everything, whatever is available on the table.” This no-fuss approach to diet seems to have served her well for over a century.
