The matriarch of the Cardero family turned 101 years old and became the star of an emotional family video posted on Facebook by her great-granddaughter Anay Delgado Cardero, in which she shares, with clarity and humor, the secrets to her long life.
In the clip, which lasts just over a minute, Melba Cardero Saldívar answers a series of questions about her longevity, her daily routine, and her advice for the new generations, with a spontaneity that has moved those who have watched her.
When asked what her secret is to reaching 101 years, her answer leaves no room for doubt: "Having a lot of faith in God. He is the one who gives life, health, and everything."
Regarding her diet, the elderly woman is equally straightforward: "Meat, snacks," she asserts without hesitation, a testimony that contrasts with the moderation advice typically given by other centenarians and adds a touch of humor to her story.
Far from leading a passive life, the matriarch of the Cardero family remains active in household chores. "I still wash dishes, sweep, and do my laundry," she says, adding that what she enjoys most is "cooking and eating."
What she values most about her family life is, in her own words, "seeing everyone together like this, with joy and health," referring to the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren surrounding her.
His advice for young people combines values and spirituality: "Be good, be honorable, think of God first, who is the one who gives you all health and all luck."
When asked if there is any dream he has not been able to achieve, he responds calmly: "Well, I've been fortunate and have accomplished almost everything."
Her final message to the family and to those who watch her encapsulates a simple yet profound philosophy of life: "May they be good men and women as well. And may they love their family as they love me."
The video was published in the context of the centenarian's birthday, which the family celebrated on social media as "the matriarch of the Cardero family."
A previous video of the same family, published in March, had amassed over 14,000 views and 731 reactions on Facebook, highlighting the affection this figure evokes among her online followers.
The case of this centenarian is not isolated in Cuba. A 109-year-old Cuban in Cárdenas was reported to be in excellent health last year, and another matriarch from Santiago de Cuba reached 103 years with 15 children, 53 grandchildren, and 57 great-grandchildren. According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, the island had approximately 2,500 people over 100 years old, with a life expectancy exceeding 78 years.
Other Cuban grandmothers have celebrated similar occasions, such as the party of a centenarian who turned 100 surrounded by her family, or an elderly woman from Pinar who reached the age of 100 without ever having smoked.
Faith, constant work, family bonds, and —in this case— a diet that doesn’t forgo the pleasures of meat and sweets, paint the portrait of a woman who has lived an entire century with joy.
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