UNTALAN (Photo via Liezle Basa-Inigo)
CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The oldest living man in this province passed away on Tuesday, July 22.
Valentine Untalan of Barangay Doyong here died at the age of 109.
Untalan was reportedly the oldest living Filipino man based on available longevity records. He was also the among the oldest living individuals in the Ilocos region.
He was born in Nov. 16, 1916 at the height of World War I.
Democrat Woodrow Wilson was reelected president of the United States days after he was born.
That year, the United States passed the Philippine Autonomy Act or the Jones Law, the new framework for the colonial government. It promised eventual Philippine independence and established the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives.
Untalan saw action in World War II as a member of the Philippine Scouts. He was captured by the Japanese and escaped the Bataan Death March and returned to Calasiao.
Untalan became a US citizen and served with the US Army in Europe, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam for 30 years before retiring and returning to Calasiao.
His grandson, Peter George Untalan, paid tribute to grandfather in a Facebook post.
"Until we meet again, 'Laki' Valentin Untalan. #My109YearsOldLaki," Peter said.