Three matriarchs honored for centenarian milestone

A birthday wish came true for 102-year-old Victorina Dulay Robeniol. 

Loved ones, community members, and island leaders gathered at the Government House in Hagatna recently to celebrate her life and legacy. 

Robeniol commented that having everyone gathered to celebrate made her feel good.

She was born in the Philippines during a tumultuous time and moved to Guam in the 1960s, where she now calls Harmon home. 

Her granddaughter Joanne Mallada said it was a tough journey that paved the path for her family’s success. 

“We’re very proud of her. She struggled. She was an immigrant coming from the Philippines to Guam. She did what she could to raise her family to make them successful and all that. So she has successful children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We’re very happy and very proud of her,” said Mallada. 

Mallada added for her birthday this year, the matriarch’s one wish was to take part in Public Health’s Division of Senior Citizen’s annual tradition celebrating our centenarians, to include two other incredible women, the late Rosario Flores Leon Guerrero and Josefina De La Concepcion Diaz. 

“She’s very excited. She loves it when people tell her that she doesn’t look 102-years-old. So everytime she hears that she doesn’t look her age, she really loves it. So I think that’s what keeps her going,” she said.  

Robenial maintains a passion for solving word puzzles and the Rubik's Cube. She also enjoys watching the sunsets at the beach, the Filipino channel and NBA Basketball.  

And her secret to a long life?

“I always pray, asking the Lord to give me health,” Robeniol said.