By Chito A. Fuentes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:15:00 04/18/2010
CORELLA, BOHOL, Philippines—Three’s company for the Buagas triplets who turned 82 this year.
Known as the three Marias—Maria Magdalena, Maria Cleofe and Maria Salome—the identical triplets were born to Lucio Buagas and Feliciana Lumain in Poblacion, Corella town, on Feb. 16, 1928.
Being triplets, they never failed to arouse curiosity. However, everyone thought it was pretty amazing when they reached the age of 82.
“Honestly, our parents had other names in mind but the priest who baptized us turned us into the three Marys,†said Magdalena in Cebuano.
Magdalena is considered the eldest because she came out first, followed by Cleofe and finally, Salome.
Triplets are rare and even more so during pre-war days.
“Our parents told us our house was like a church after we were born. People wanted to see the three babies born to one mother,†Cleofe said.
Cleofe and Magdalena, both single mothers, live in the house of the latter’s son in this town.
For this interview, they were joined by Salome, a widow, who came from the house of her daughter in Barangay La Paz, Cortes town.
Bracelets 1, 2 and 3
The years have been kind to the three ladies, who look sprightly and healthy. Yes, it was still difficult to tell them apart.
“After we were born, our father put bracelets with Nos. 1, 2 and 3 on each of our wrists so people can tell us apart,†Cleofe said. Her two sisters nodded, smiling.
At their baptism, they said they were separately brought in and out of the church using a different passageway. Old-timers had given strict orders not to bring them together because they believed it was bad luck.
Their identical features had given them unique experiences.
While studying at the Corella Elementary School, they had an unfair advantage over their classmates.
“When our teacher asked a question, the one who knew the answer stood up regardless of who had been called,†Salome said, smiling.
At that time, they not only looked alike, they wore the same clothes, sported the same haircut, and had almost identical handwriting.
Confusing, fun
Salome recalled a visiting priest who refused to give her Communion thinking she had returned for seconds. The altar boy had to explain she was a triplet before the priest agreed to give her Communion.
“It must have been confusing for many people. For instance, a neighbor was amazed at how fast I could change my clothes. The truth was he had seen one of my sisters walking home from church and a few minutes later he saw me,†Cleofe said.
It was fun when they became teenagers and started getting their share of admirers.
Magdalena recalled walking home with a boy who thought she was one of her two sisters.
“When we were close to home, I yelled to my sister that a boy was looking for her. He never came back after that,†she said, laughing.
Sad times
They also had their share of sad moments.
Their mother died when they were only 7 years old. Their father, a farmer, had to raise three young daughters all by himself. He turned to his parents for help.
“Our grandfather paid nursing mothers to breastfeed us,†the triplets chorused.
Sometimes, they walked barefoot to school. When it rained, they covered themselves with banana fronds as they had no umbrellas.
Cleofe and Salome reached only Grade 6 while Magdalena was sent to a dressmaking school in Tagbilaran.
While Magdalena pursued dressmaking as a livelihood, Cleofe and Salome decided to go into trading jewelry in Misamis Occidental, Mindanao and even Cebu.
Missing each other
They could not recall if they experienced anything supernatural while away from each other. They, however, made it clear they longed for each other’s company.
“We always felt for each other. As kids, when our father scolded any of my sisters, I cried with them,†Magdalena said.
Asked about the secret of their long and healthy life, the three said their diet consists mostly of vegetables and they hardly eat pork.
“A farmer cannot afford meat so we grew up eating vegetables and root crops,†Magdalena said.
As triplets, they were never lonely—they always had each other.
“Our growing up years were difficult but we stayed close to God with constant prayer,†Magdalena said.
Celebrated
When they celebrated their 82nd birthday, Salome said she was pleasantly surprised when Tagbilaran City Councilor Oscar Glovasa gave each of them a cake.
“We were brought to the Tagbilaran City Hall because Mayor Dan Lim wanted to meet us,†Salome said.
Growing old gracefully
After living an accumulated 246 years, raising seven children, 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, the three Marys showed no signs of crankiness usually equated with age.
On the contrary, the Buagas sisters said they would go through life with the same innocence and happy disposition they had as children.
“They are still very active in community affairs, particularly in religious activities,†said barangay chair Jose Nicanor Tocmo Jr.
Tocmo said many people in the barangay looked up to the three ladies.
“It is rare to see women their age adapting casually to the complexities of the changing times,†he said.
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