Phillippa Jimenez believes her eating habits are to thank for her longevity, as she celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday, October 22nd 2023.

Ms. Jimenez – fondly called Ms Flo, Granny Flo and Ms Flora – says she eats small quantities, eats on time and does not consume any meals after 6pm.

She adds that aside from some issues with her hearing, she is “well otherwise”.

The milestone is still unexpected for her, as she said, “Everybody come for my birthday. I didn’t expect to live so long but when you are good, God does lengthen your life.”

She also had advice for the younger generation, urging them to be kind, loving and respectful to the elderly, and to “stop the crime, work hard for what they want and take full advantage of all the educational opportunities available to them today.”

According to a statement from the Social Development Ministry, Ms Jimenez was born on October 22nd 1923 in Carmichael Village, Coryal, but moved to San Fernando when her father passed away.

Ms Jimenez says she and two of her seven siblings spent much of their younger years in the Belmont Orphanage.

When she turned 17, her mother took her and her siblings from the orphanage as her financial status had improved.

Ms Jimenez says while at the Orphanage as she acquired many skills including needlework, cooking, learning Latin, and sports, and was able to pursue her academic studies.

Currently, Ms Jimenez reads the newspapers daily and also loves reading her Psalm book and Bible.

She is also an avid cricket fan – she never misses a match on television and can provide statistics on any Trinidad or West Indian cricketer.

Ms Jimenez is a mother of seven, grandmother of 29, great-grandmother of 53 and great-great-grandmother of 11.

The Ministry says Crystal Felix, Inspector II of the Ministry’s Division of Ageing presented Ms Jimenez with a Certificate of Honour and Achievement, a birthday cake from the Kiss Baking Company and a hamper courtesy NAMDEVCO.