Marta Linay Ruazol Lazaro is a native Cavintinian who was born on August 10, 1916. She turned 93 on August 10, 2009.
Marta was married to the late Gonzalo Flores Lazaro of the same town on September 6, 1936. The couple has been blessed with four children: two sons and two daughters, namely Cora, Dolfo, Arthur and Geline. Through their diligence and assiduousness, all the children were able to obtain college education.
Arthur, the younger of the two sons, landed on a job at the now defunct Manhattan Bank in Manila. Later, sometime in 1960, he was transferred to the home office in New York. This led up to the family’s immigration to the United States.
Although at different times, the whole family were able to immigrate to the United States. Marta and Gonzalo, as well as Geline, followed Arthur. They settled in New York. One day, Arthur, while taking his morning walk, succumbed to a heart attack.
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Several years later, in 1992, her husband passed away.
Nanay Marta, as everybody calls her, still does not use a cane nor a walker while walking. She goes to church regularly by herself. She loves attending parties, associating with the people she meets. She is very much involved in community work, together with her dughter Geline.
Nanay Marta pioneered the idea of founding the Cavinti Laguna USA (CLUSA) in 1990 with the purpose that all Cavintinians residing in the
Eastern Seaboard like New York, New Jersey, Connecticutt and Pennsylvania will see each other occasionally. CLUSA hosts the traditional “simbang gabi” at the Philippine Consulate, NY yearly. CLUSA is registered at the Philippine Consulate, NY as a non-profit organization.
Nanay Marta, sometime in 2008, fell near the heavy glass door of a bank she went to. She lost her balance and this landed her in the hospital for a hip surgery. How fortunate she was, when after two weeks of recuperating, she was able to walk on her own again.
Then, she was diagnosed having macular degeneration affecting the retina of her eyes resulting in her low vision.
The Almighty God is still showering her with more infinite blessings – enjoying life and seeing the wonderful things in the world. She loves to go shopping during the numerous sale events which she patiently waits for, and buys many items as her “pamigay or pasalubong” when she goes home to Cavinti.
She is very generous to all her relatives and friends in Cavinti. She shares monetarily of their needs. Her philosophy is: “It is better to give than to receive. That is what God wants us to do, to share our blessings.” And according to her, those will come back in hundredfolds.
Nanay Marta is the only survuving matriarch amomg her contemporaries, be it in Cavinti, Laguna or in Pag-asa, Quezon City.
Howver, there are three of them, Celestino Linay of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Patricia Linay of Cavinti, Laguna, Philippines and Nanay Marta of New York City, United States who are cousins and all are nonagenarians still physically strong and healthy.
“Reaching the age of 93 is a real blessing from God – - – having good health and enough strength to see all my granchildren growing up. I fervently hope that my sound mind and senses, as well as my physical appearance, remain the same as long as I live.” said Nanay Marta on her 93rd birthday.
We wish and pray for her many more years to come and enjoy life to the fullest.
“M A B U H A Y!”
ATE LUCY OBLENA & MARI DAVIS:
THANKS SO MUCH FOR FEATURING OUR NANAY MARTA @TIPAKAN. SHE’S TRYING HER BEST TO READ THE CONTEXT OF THE ARTICLE. MARAMING SALAMAT PO ! I WISH NANAY MORE BRITHDAYS TO COME. THANKS ALSO FOR YOUR PRAYERS.
GELINE