Phillippa Jimenez joined the centenarian club when she celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday, October 22. Fondly called Ms Flo, Granny Flo and Ms Flora, Jimenez attributes her longevity to eating small quantities, eating on time, and not consuming any meals after 6 p.m. Besides issues with her hearing, Ms Jimenez stated that she is “well otherwise” though she didn’t expect to reach 100. “Everybody come for my birthday. I didn’t expect to live so long but when you are good, God does lengthen your life,” she said.

Jimenez was born on October 22, 1923, in Carmichael Village, Coryal. When her father passed, her family moved to San Fernando where she attended the San Fernando Girls’ Government and San Fernando Girls’ RC Schools. Jimenez noted that she and two of her seven siblings spent much of their younger years in the Belmont Orphanage (St Dominic’s Children’s Home) and when she turned 17, her mother took her and her siblings from the orphanage when her financial status improved.

Jimenez stated though, that her fondest memories occurred at the Belmont Orphanage as she acquired many skills including needlework, cooking, learning Latin, sports and also pursued her academic studies there. She also participated in drama, choral speaking and singing, and up until a few years ago, she sang the national anthems of many European countries.

Currently, Ms Jimenez reads the newspapers daily and also loves reading her Psalm book and Bible. She is also an avid cricket fan and can provide statistics on any Trinidad or West Indian cricketer and never misses a match on television.

The mother of 7, grandmother of 29, great-grandmother of 53 and great-great-grandmother of 11 urged the younger generation to be kind, loving and respectful to the elderly.

Family and friends celebrated the milestone with the centenarian in San Rafael where she was presented with, among several items, a Certificate of Honour and Achievement from the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, a birthday cake from the Kiss Baking Company and a hamper courtesy NAMDEVCO. The Ministry was proud to honour Jimenez under the Ministry’s National Centenarian Programme. Persons can register for the Programme via the Ministry’s website at www.social.gov.tt.

(Adapted from the website)