107-year-old woman requests basic foods for past memories

Paquita Rodríguez celebrated her 107th birthday at a care home in Jerez de la Frontera. She requested chickpeas, oil, and rice as gifts, reflecting her belief in the importance of basic food access due to her past experiences during wars and dictatorships. Rodríguez, known as "the grandmother of Jerez," has maintained good health and humor despite a life of hard work and sacrifice. Her daughter explained that her mother's food requests stem from fears related to her past. Spain now has 19,573 centenarians, with an increase in the number of people reaching 100 years old. In England and Wales, there are 15,120 centenarians, marking a 3.7 percent rise from the previous year.