Marcelino Abad Tolentino, fondly referred to as Mashico, a farmer believed to be the world’s oldest person, has passed away at the remarkable age of 125 years and 300 days in a remote Peruvian village where he spent his entire life. Discovered by the government’s Pension 65 program during the Covid-19 pandemic, he was issued his initial identity document and granted a state pension, instantly becoming a celebrated national figure.
Mashico, who grew up as an orphan, peacefully left this world in his sleep at a care home just five days before his 126th birthday. Following his enrollment in the program, he encountered an unfortunate accident resulting in a severe hip injury, leading to his reliance on a wheelchair.
The state pension he received was directed to a nursing home to cover his lodging, healthcare, and meals. Although widely acknowledged as Peru’s oldest man and potentially the world’s, Mashico never obtained official recognition from Guinness World Records due to inadequate documentation throughout the years, as reported by the Daily Star.
Born in a secluded village in Huánuco Province, central Peru, in 1900, Mashico faced early parental loss and a life of severe poverty. He independently cultivated his land and traded produce with fellow villagers, living in seclusion without modern amenities, solely relying on a small oil lamp for illumination. He lived a solitary life, devoid of marriage, children, and official affiliations until authorities located him during the pandemic.
After his discovery, Mashico was included in state aid programs, receiving food, medical attention, and a place in a nursing facility. Two years ago, efforts were made by the Peruvian government to register him as the world’s oldest man with Guinness World Records, although the process faced complications due to the necessity for birth documentation.
According to Guinness World Records, the oldest man ever recorded was Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, who passed away in April 2024 at the age of 114 and 311 days. The current oldest living man is 113-year-old Brazilian João Marinho Neto, while the oldest living person globally is Ethel Caterham from the UK, currently aged 116.
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