Another Baguio Centenarian honored anew

26 March 2021 – City officials honored Gregorio de Castro Balageo as a centenarian of the city through Resolution No. 140, series of 2021.

At present, Mr. Balageo has 27 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren aside from the fact that he can eat on his own and walk independently without any assistive device despite his age.

The family informed city officials that the secret to Balageo’s long life is his healthy diet and being loved and properly cared for by the members of his family through the years.

Gregorio is the second among the five children of Santiago Balageo and Liganay de Castro and was born and raised in Sagada, Mountain Province.

The council noted that Balageo finished Grade IV but had to allegedly stop schooling and went into farming to help earn a living for his family.

After a few years, Gregorio reportedly worked as a buyer and seller of antiques when he met Valentina Cobobo and that their relationship as common-law spouses was blessed with three children.

However, the couple separated due to unresolved marital conflicts leaving their children under the care of Valentina while Gregorio continued to send the required financial support to them.

A few years later, Gregorio met Adelina Angel whom he married on May 28, 1954 and begot six children and for six years, his family lived in Burgos, Ilocos Sur until the family decided to move to Baguio City for better living opportunities.

Initially, the family lived in Guisad for five years then moved to share a house with relatives at Pinsao Pilot Project before the family acquired a lot nearby where their residence was eventually built.

Gregorio continued buying and selling antiques while his wife looked after their children.

In the mid-1980s, Gregorio and Adelina started travelling to the United States of America (USA) for vacations and enjoyed living from one state to another with their children.

According to the council, in 2016, Adelina’s death due to colon cancer devastated Gregorio who lost interest in travelling outside the country and instead decided to live with his son Gilbert Balageo at Pinsao Pilot Project.

The council disclosed that Gregorio’s nine children have their own families, five of them are living in the US and four live in Baguio City.

His son Gilbert shared to city officials that his father started being forgetful and needs to be reminded about his daily routine.

The council emphasized the Gregorio will be awarded with the privileges pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Ordinance No. 45, series of 2013, as amended by Ordinance No. 53, series of 2016 and further amended by Ordinance No. 84, series of 2019. – Dexter A. See