Candida Cresencia - KKV’s October ‘Āina Warrior

The sun was just a little brighter when Candida Cresencia and her son-in-law and caregiver Leo Agoot came for an appointment to see Dr. Derauf last month. KKV’s oldest patient, “Nana” (mama in Tagalog) Candida turned 101 on October 3. She has been a KKV patient for 35 years, and Dr. Derauf’s patient since 1989.  

“How are you feeling?” he always asks her. “I feel strong!” she says – and this petite centenarian is a bundle of energy. Dr. Derauf has always known Nana Cresencia to be patient, kind, and full of vitality. “Even when dealing with the inevitable challenges that living to 101 brings, she has shown what real kindness looks like: A smile. A kind word. A story about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren being mischievous,” he says. 

Seniors in Kalihi are the backbone of our community, our lolas, tutus, nanas, papas, and bubus. For many like Nana Cresencia, their history becomes part of the lives and careers of KKV’s staff and providers. Our doctors often see multiple generations of family members, something that is critical to maintaining deep relationships within the community as well as a genuine joy as we become part of their lives. 

Nana Cresencia was born in 1921 in Pangasinan, Philippines, one of seven children, and spent much of her early life on a farm that grew peanuts, corn, rice, and beans. Like many young girls of her era, she sewed all her clothes, and those of her siblings and parents. Remembering life on the farm, she says, “It was work, work, work.” Later in life she married husband Gregorio and had six children—three girls and three boys. Her eldest son was the first to come to ʻOahu from the Philippines, followed by Nana and the rest of their family in 1978. Gregorio lived until age 67 and worked at Pearl Harbor as a janitor for many years, while she worked in her home in Kalihi, cooking, cleaning, washing, and babysitting many of her 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. “I was the queen of the house. I took care of everyone, and they know that I love them,” she says proudly. “Whenever I had any money, I would use it to buy the best fish there is, for everyone to enjoy!” 

Although she needs a wheelchair for mobility, Nana takes pleasure in her daily routines, which include praying four times throughout the day, cleaning, light chores, and sometimes cooking. Leo is by her side attending to her needs, taking her on outings, talking story, and helping to prepare her favorite foods such as malunggay, bitter melon, eggs, and biko, a Filipino sweet rice cake that she still likes to cook. His wife, Nana’s daughter, passed several years ago. Leo shares a tender bond with Nana and cares for her in exactly the way she wants. The two are grateful for KKVʻs care team, “Dr. Derauf helps us with whatever we need. And the staff is always patient and friendly with us, over all these years. We go home happy.”