‘Kakang Pidyang’

This week’s column is devoted to 97-year-old Elpidia Concepcion-Santiago from Pandi, Bulacan, also known as ‘Kakang Pidyang’ and her unrelenting faith, willpower and discipline that never cease to amaze and inspire many.

But before I proceed with her story let me first tell you how our family decided to spend Christmas celebration in a more meaningful way – not only to friends and relatives but to our dear senior citizens as well, whom we truly owe whatever we have and whoever we came to be in this life.

It has been a family tradition to do acts of charity by caring, giving and sharing whatever blessings we had for the year especially during Christmas season and this one is no different.

We raised our kids this way. I remember when they were small, they used to gather a number of street children in the garage of our old house in Quezon City. They would offer them food, clothing and set up a classroom-like atmosphere and teach them anything they’ve learned from school – imitating their real teachers.

Maybe our good Lord saw these simple acts of charity and smiled at them as they grew up to become responsible, caring and successful individuals. Thanks to their hands-on mother Opi, a komiks editor cum romance novelist herself, who focused on nurturing and molding our kids while I was working overseas as a journalist.

Chez, the eldest is now a general surgeon, Mikko works as manager for both the motorcar and marine insurance departments of a Malaysian-owned insurance company based in Makati while youngest JM became a multi-awarded Indie film director and now, a fulltime film editor.

So in living up with our tradition, we decided to cheer up the elderlies with some cash and goodies and right after our Christmas Day family reunion at a local private resort, we drove off to Malibong Matanda in Pandi. Bulacan to bring Christmas cheers and joy to my wife Opi’s paternal aunt Kaka Pidyang and later on to a few other elderlies in Pandi.

At 97, Kaka Pidyang is still very strong and full of life. She also eats well and has good appetite with her eyesight and audible range still very clear which is quite uncommon for people her age.

Born on March 22, 1925, Elpidia Concepcion-Santiago lived a simple and prudent life. At a young age of 13, she already knew how to sew although they still don’t own a sewing machine at that time. She helped her mother earn an income for their family with her sewing skill.

The eldest child Pidyang also learned farming and planting rice and crops from her father, Papong Jacinto. Sadly, because of the old tradition back then when young women where not really sent to school by parents – she only learned how to read and write and was already asked to quit school.

The young Pidyang got married to Virgilio C. Santiago at the height of World War II on January 31, 1945. They had 7 children – 3 girls and 4 boys and all were raised with good guidance, right discipline and faith in God.

The Santiago couple joined hands in rearing their children become better citizens and with her expertise in sewing as they now have their own Singer sewing machine, embroidery and husband’s skills in cultivating their small farmland, most of their children were schooled and excelled in their respective fields.

When asked about her secrets to long life, Kakang Pidyang, who only takes vitamins and a little maintenance for high blood pressure, shares only three things – discipline, healthy diet and faith in God.

In less than three years from now, Kakang Pidyang will be eligible for the P100,000 cash gift from the government by virtue of Republic Act 10868 – an Act that refers to all Centenarians or Filipinos, who have reached 100 years old and above, to be given the said amount through the Department of  Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).

And NCSC Chairman and CEO Atty. Franklin Quijano assures that not one of the more than 12 million senior citizens of the land will be left out once they become centenarians.