IN a quiet home in Barangay Doyong, Calasiao lives a man whose life spans more than a century of Philippine history. Valentin Mamanta Untalan Sr., now 109 years old, is the oldest living World War II veteran from Pangasinan and the province’s oldest surviving Pangasinense veteran.

Untalan marked his 109th birthday on November 3, 2025, surrounded by family who care for him daily. Born on November 3, 1916, he has witnessed the country’s transformation from pre-war rural life to modern times.

On January 9, the provincial government honored the remaining World War II veterans of Pangasinan during the 81st anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landing. Records show that only 10 veterans remain, two of whom now reside in the United States. Untalan is the oldest among them.

According to his daughter, Tessie Untalan dela Cruz, 62, the family personally looks after their father at home. “We don’t have a caregiver. It’s just us—my husband, my children, and me,” she said.

Though he can no longer walk and uses a wheelchair, Untalan remains generally healthy for his age. He takes vitamins and maintenance medicine for blood pressure and follows a simple diet, favoring vegetables and eating only small portions of rice and meat.

A retired U.S. Army veteran, Untalan often shares World War II stories with visitors. His daughter said he fondly recalls his wartime service and years as a farmer, when working the fields served as his daily exercise.

Untalan speaks English, Pangasinan and Tagalog, with bits of Ilocano, a mark of his generation. He still recognizes family members, though names sometimes need gentle reminders.

As Pangasinan honors its dwindling band of war heroes, Valentin Untalan Sr. stands as a living symbol of endurance, simplicity, and service—history quietly alive in Barangay Doyong. (Eva Visperas)