City officials recently honored Encarnacion Mendoza Nicer as a centenarian of the city.
In a resolution, local legislators stated that the latest centenarian is reportedly suffering from pneumonia due to the prevailing cold weather in the city. Her last child, Jean, is currently taking care of her in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan.
The council noted that her 10 children, 22 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren, whom she had taken care of when she was still strong, are the ones providing her happiness and that most of them are now successful in their chosen careers.
In 2019, the city also recognized Nicer for being a nonagenarian based on existing ordinances related to the grant of benefits for them.
Nicer was born on December 2, 1924 and raised in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan. She was the oldest child among the seven siblings of Pablo and Rosa Mendoza, who were both farm owners in the said locality.
Encarnacion finished her elementary studies but even though her parents had the means to support their daily needs, she was not able to continue her high school and college.
At the age of 18, she was married to Juan Nicer, Sr. through a civil wedding in Pozorrubio. The couple was blessed with 10 children, namely, Ernesto, Fernando, Conrado, Juan, Jr., Olympio, Jovita, Julio, Minda, Rodel and Jean where Ernesto, Fernando, Conrado, Juan, Jr. and Olympio already died.
In 1978, Juan Sr. was assigned in Baguio City being a police officer, thus, the family moved and rented a house in the city until 1995 when they were able to establish and acquire a house in Santa Escolastica Village barangay.
All of the couple’s children finished their respective studies, got married, and now have their own houses in different parts of the city.
Since she was a housewife, their family of 12 relied on Juan Sr.’s monthly income which was insufficient, thus, she did laundry in the dormitories together with her daughter who was a high school student at that time in order to assist her husband with their expenses. She also sold snacks to the students, but it was still not enough that is why she sold her shares from her inheritance of her parents to pay their children’s education, some of whom were working students.
In 1995, her husband, who retired as a police officer, died due to hypertension.
When she turned 80, Encarnacion started to pay attention to what she was consuming, thus, she only ate fruits, vegetables, and a small amount of meat, together with pan desal, saba and mango which she loves to take as a snack.
She also drank Anlene milk that helped strengthen her bones, according to what her children believe. She was never confined in any hospital until this year when she suffered from pneumonia and when she had years of eyes treated due to cataract. By Dexter A. See
