World Oldest Man Marcelino Abad Tolentino Di£s at 126

A farmer believed to be the world’s oldest man, Marcelino Abad Tolentino, has passed away at the age of 126, just days after celebrating his birthday.

Before his death, Tolentino lived most of his life in a remote village in Peru. He gained public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was discovered by the government’s Pension 65 programme, which provided him with his first official identity document and access to a state pension.

Popularly known as “Mashico,” he was an orphan who lived a life marked by hardship and poverty. He reportedly died peacefully in his sleep, five days after turning 126.

Shortly after joining the pension scheme, he suffered an accident that caused a serious hip injury, leaving him dependent on a wheelchair.

The pension he received was used to cover his stay in a nursing home, including his accommodation, medical care, and meals.

Despite his remarkable age, Tolentino was not officially recognized by Guinness World Records due to a lack of proper documentation over the years.

Born in 1900 in a remote village in Huánuco Province, he lost his parents at a young age and grew up facing extreme challenges. He survived by farming a small piece of land and trading produce with fellow villagers.

Tolentino lived most of his life without electricity or running water, relying on a small oil lamp for light. He never married or had children and remained outside formal systems until authorities located him during the pandemic.

Following his discovery, he was enrolled in government support programs, which provided him with food, healthcare, and a place to live in his later years.