Elena Gabot Madlaing's Obituary
Elena (Gabot) Madlaing was born on January 21, 1919, in Binalonan, Pangasinan, Philippines as the second to the youngest child of her parents, the late Candido Gabot and Cecilia Mabini Sampayan. Elena, at the ripe age of 103 years old, outlived all her siblings - namely: Segunda Gabot Asuncion, Sebastian Gabot, Claudia Gabot Dimoloy, and Silvino Gabot.
In 1942, Elena Sampayan Gabot wedded Emilio Baguilat Madlaing and with this union were blessed with eight children – namely in order: Norberto Gabot Madlaing (deceased), Magdalena Madlaing Sison, Arturo Gabot Madlaing, Josefina Madlaing Lewis, Dionisio Gabot Madlaing, Cipriano Gabot Madlaing (deceased), Salvador Gabot Madlaing, and Luzviminda Gabot Madlaing. As a newly wedded and growing family with meager means, it was through God’s grace that Elena as a housewife care for her household and rear eight children. A testament to this, regardless of the lack of financial means, was the ability for all children to graduate college and secure professions to sustain themselves and eventually their own families.
In 1974, Elena’s third child Arturo Madlaing was petitioned by his wife, Virginia Jimenez Madlaing, to come to America. In turn, Arturo petitioned his parents Emilio & Elena Madlaing, who then petitioned their other children, who subsequently petitioned their spouses and extended families to also reach America - the land of opportunity. As the result of the first petition, hundreds were able to follow to come to America.
In 1984, tragedy hit the Madlaing family. Elena’s husband, Emilio, was paralyzed in his lower extremities and unable to walk after being hit due to a vehicular accident caused by an elderly driver. Consequently, her husband spent the remainder of his life hospitalized at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco, California. Elena faithfully took care of her husband visiting him daily, feeding him three meals, pushing his wheelchair for long strolls within the hospital and outside vicinity, and helping bathe and dress him up until his death in 1998.
One of Elena’s favorite pastimes was playing the harmonica, which she self-taught herself as a teenager strolling the streets of the mountainous city of Baguio, Philippines where she heard miners play many tunes. She will forever be remembered by family and friends for her signature harmonica rendition of “Manang Biday,” a traditional Ilocano folksong. Elena also helped fund the education of her grandchildren in the Philippines, knowing that education was a great equalizer for one to escape poverty. She also enjoyed babysitting for some family members, friends, and neighbors to help ease the burden of childcare expense for them.
Elena lived an exemplary and blessed life that centered around family, love, and laughter. Such scriptures she exuded include: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6; “Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14; “Laughter is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22. In an interview by GMA, a Filipino television network, at her 100th birthday celebration that took place in her hometown of Binalonan, Pangasinan, a question was asked by the interviewer of what her secret was to long life, her response was to eat fruits and vegetables, regularly walk and exercise, and to have strong faith in God.
Elena is survived by 6 children, 21 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.
What’s your fondest memory of Elena?
What’s a lesson you learned from Elena?
Share a story where Elena's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Elena you’ll never forget.
How did Elena make you smile?