Hollister resident turns 100

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On July 31, residents and staff at the Mabie Southside Skilled Nursing Facility celebrated beloved Filipina resident Ignacia Abubu on her 100th birthday.

“A 100th birthday is a remarkable milestone, and we are honored to celebrate this meaningful moment with our resident and local community,” said Erika Yanez, public relations and marketing manager for Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital.

Abubu has been a resident of the facility since March 2023. She graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, where she majored in business administration and minored in accounting. She later worked at the Salinas Social Security office for more than 40 years before retiring around 1990.

Mayvin Orellana, activity director at Mabie Southside, said Abubu is “very high-spirited. She is up every day, participating in activities. She loves to play bingo. She exercises every day, so at 100 she’s living her best life.”

Orellana said the facility has not had a 100-year-old resident in several years and staff members were excited to mark Abubu’s milestone.

The birthday celebration featured performances by local Filipino dancers from Dr. Leo Dan Feril’s dental office and Mabie Southside staff members. Orellana said about 25 to 30 residents, members of the local Filipino community and Abubu’s family attended.

Orellana said a Catholic priest also visited Abubu that morning and blessed her.

“We all kind of become a family,” Orellana said. “They all know the patients and they like to celebrate with them, too.”

Senaida Orpilla, Abubu’s cousin, said she is very close to Abubu, calling her “Manang,” a Filipino word meaning “older sister.”

Orpilla said Abubu is losing her eyesight and hearing but remains active.

“It’s not easy for her to hear me anymore, but as soon as she hears my name she stops and starts smiling,” Orpilla said. 

Although Abubu did not speak with BenitoLink on her special day, she greeted family, friends and fellow residents with a bright smile throughout the celebration in her honor.

The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.