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A Not-So-Usual Birthday Party: Two Cuban-Haitians, both in their hundreds (109 & 126 years old), recently celebrated their birthdays in the company of friends in the Cuban central province of Ciego de Avila.

Benito Martinez Abogan (126), who was born on June 19, 1880 in Cavaillon, Haiti, is currently the oldest man in Cuba.

Fellow centenarian Guillaume Guillaume, who in Cuba took the name Basilio Lopez Sanon (109), first saw the light of day on June 25, 1896 in Jeremie, Haiti.

Avion (as Martinez is called by his friends) and Sanon arrived in Cuba's eastern provinces in 1925 and 1921 respectively, looking for jobs -- while expecting to eventually return to their motherland.

Though Abogan has fallen in love during his lifetime, he has remained single - so far. Conversely, Maso got married in 1932 to Cuban Joaquina Cruz Valel ("Quindu"), who now is 92. Today they have five children, twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Benito, who enjoys fairly good health, is closely monitored by gerontologists from his province. Meanwhile, Sanon says his bones and legs are the most affected from working in agriculture up to the age of 97.

During the celebration held at the Ciego de Avila Friendship Institute, Avion and Basilio danced to the rhythms of Haitian music to demonstrate their vitality.

Haitian Embassy Counselor Paul Harry Guichard and the provincial delegate of the Cuban Institute of Friendship, Daysi Escalero Ortega, were on hand at the birthday festivity.(ACN)