| Rafaela Vicente | |
 Rafaela Vicente (aged 105) on 8 January 2019 | |
| Birth: | 24 October 1913 Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Death: | 29 July 2023 Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Age: | 109 years, 278 days |
| Country: |  PHL
|
| Centenarian | |
Rafaela "Pela" Vicente (née Arvisu; 24 October 1913 – 29 July 2023) was a Filipino centenarian who was the oldest known (documented) living person in the Philippines and the oldest known living female World War II veteran at the time of her death.
Biography[]
Rafaela Vicente was born in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on 24 October 1913. She worked as a nurse in the Psychopathic Hospital in Mandaluyong City (now the National Center for Mental Health), in which she would likely have met her husband, who also worked in the latter as a psychiatrist. At the time she was pregnant with her first child.
During World War II, Vicente along with her husband joined the anti-Japanese movement. She and her husband were guerillas who fought against the Japanese forces. Vicente also aided wounded soldiers during the war. The war left her traumatised, which would explain her reluctance in telling her experience with the Japanese occupation, but holds no grudge with the Japanese people.
Vicente worked hard to provide her children with a better future. She and her husband raised their two sons to medical school because of the benefits they received as veterans of World War II. Both of their sons became government scholars, her youngest son, Dr. Benny Vicente, even became the Director of the National Center for Mental Health, where she and her husband previously worked at.
On 11 July 2022, following the death of 109-year-old Albina Geli, she became the oldest known living person in the Philippines.
On 18 September 2022, following the death of 109-year-old Klaudia Rahikainen of Russia, she became the oldest known living female World War II veteran.
Rafaela Vicente died in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on 29 July 2023, at the age of 109 years, 278 days.
Gallery[]
References[]
- 105th birthday Benny Vicente on Facebook, 29 October 2018
- Rafaela Vicente: World War 2 guerilla, veteran nurse ABS-CBN, 9 April 2023
- Ipagdiriwang bukas, Abril 10, ang Araw ng Kagitingan. TV Patrol on X, 9 April 2023
- Death Report Benny Vicente on Facebook, 30 July 2023
| Philippines' Oldest Living Person Titleholders(V • E) |
|
Flor de Liza Gonzales • Andres Gagui Lagman • Perpetua Gubatayao • Nicolas Dasmarinas • Adriano Pillotin • Peregrin Llavore Westre • Cornelia Mariano • Teofilo Latoza • Irenea Gevero • Esteban Gadayan • Agustin Rozario • Romana Canlas • Alfredo Cordova • Anecita Abellar • Florentina Gemoranon • Jovelyn Nabaja • Julian Ferrer • Cipriano Ocera • Tecla Arugay • Encarnacion Alzona • Bonifacio Tamesa • Anna Wilmot • Cynthia Guion • Henancio Touocan • Leoncito Almaden • Andres Traya • Henry Dy • Ceferina Giron Montverde • Teofila Robles • Vesitacion Cuartolano • Maurico Marasignan • Rizalina Alvarez Claravall • Isabel Valero Jumamoy • Flaviano Jubane • Rosita Montecillo Codilla • Botoy Capin • Lucas Palapar • Marcelina Sabio • Jessie Lichauco • Fidela Fajarda • Lauriano Soriano • Albina Geli • Rafaela Vicente • Pablo Amiling • Genoveva Garcia |