Adventure knows no age, as proven by Iluminada Fabroa who recently conquered the skies of idyllic Siquijor.
At 82, Fabroa has just been named the oldest skydiver ever in the Skydive Siquijor dropzone, a feat that surely not many could achieve.
Fabroa’s proud grandson, mountaineer Jeremiah Navarra, related that the octogenarian was always on the lookout for adventure. In December 2022, Fabroa conquered the Philippines’ highest peak, Mt. Apo.
“Hindi daw niya kasi nagawa nung medyo bata bata eh, kaya ngayon na niya ginagawa,” Navarra said.
“Mt. Pulag highest sa Luzon, naakyat na namin. Mt. Apo highest in the Philippines, naakyat na namin,” added Navarra, whose hiking hobby influenced the whole family.
He said that while the clan worries for their matriarch, his grandma always gets her way.
“Kabado [siyempre,] pero wala naman [kami] magagawa kasi siya ang may gusto,” Navarra added.
He also said that his grandma has ticked off many in their bucket list, including cliff diving and canyoneering. The amazing lola has no maintenance medicine at all, except for the usual multivitamins and some eye drops.
Fabroa, a practicing Certified Public Accountant and lawyer, finances her adrenaline-filled travels. The Danao City native has three children and nine grandchildren, added Navarra.
Meanwhile, Skydive Siquijor said Fabroa paid P21,500 (2022 rates) for the sky adventure. Current rates start at P28,000 per tandem skydive. Prior to the ride, they sought Fabroa’s medical certificate and recent lab results.
“She is physically fit to do the activity,” Skydive Siquijor added.