Age is just a number:
Centenarian in Pangasinan registers to PhilSys
by: Angela Casco
It was a normal day of registration operations for Registration Kit Officer Marvin Concha and his fellow personnel from the Provincial Statistical Office (PSO) Pangasinan. Their mobile registration efforts took them to Barangay San Vicente, located in the municipality of Santa Maria, a barrio that’s almost a two-hour drive away from the provincial capitol in Lingayen.
Among the residents registered to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) during the activity was a man named Isabelo Lopez who, upon Concha’s further validation, turned out to be a centenarian.
Born on the 5th of January 1923, Lolo Isabelo was 101 years old at the time of his registration.
In describing his overall physical condition, Lolo Isabelo told Concha, as well as Registration Center Supervisor Ricardo Gorospe and Registration Assistant Jayson Victorino, “Mahina na ako.”
With legs weakened by age, Lolo Isabelo shared he is unable to walk much anymore and spends his days at home with relatives. “Itong mata ko, mahina na talaga sa paningin,” he added.
But as demonstrated during the mobile registration activity, neither physical condition nor age hindered Lolo Isabelo from registering to PhilSys.
Concha expressed delight over the registration of a centenarian.
“[Siya] ang kauna unahan na na-register namin sa national ID na higit 100 years old dito sa San Vicente, Santa Maria,” he said. “Kaya masaya kami nung [nagpa-register] kayo.”
Shortly after registering to PhilSys, Lolo Isabelo received his ePhilID. It was personally handed by Concha, Gorospe, and Victorino during a visit to the elderly’s residence. Here, they explained that the ePhilID can be presented as a valid proof of identity in transactions, and that his PhilID will be delivered in his residence.
To register more Pangasinenses like Lolo Isabelo, PSO Pangasinan is continuing its extensive registration efforts in various areas in the province—both in fixed registration centers and via mobile registration.
