‘Lola, ayan mo…’: 83-year-old from Rizal, Kalinga missing; Family appeals for help

Rizal, Kalinga – An 83-year-old woman from Barangay Liwan West, Rizal, who is suffering from severe memory loss, has been reported missing, prompting her family to appeal to the public for assistance in locating her.

Patricia Adam Abidal, fondly known as Lola Patricia or Lola Pauline, hails from Besao, Mountain Province, and had been living in Baguio City. She was only brought to Liwan West last year when her memory condition began to worsen.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, Lola Patricia’s granddaughter, Dafna Lumetic-Alipio, shared that it was around 10:00 a.m. when her relatives noticed that the elderly woman was no longer in the house. Later, residents reported seeing her in the Alibangbang area of Liwan West wearing a light yellow sweater.

“…around 10 AM nga haan da napuutan nga pinmanaw iti balay. Last nga nakita da ket idiay Alibangbang, baka nakisakay wenno adda nangisakay—naka-light yellow kanu nga sweater,” she said.

The concerned granddaughter then turned to social media to seek help, as the family fears that Lola Patricia may have attempted to travel—possibly heading to Tabuk or even back to Baguio City—due to her cognitive condition.

“Agkabaw ni lola mi isu haan na ammo papanan na wenno ububraen na, ket baka nalagip na agawid Baguio—baka adda pakisakayan na,” she wrote in her post.

Dafna added that her grandmother’s condition began during the pandemic and has progressively worsened, to the point of forgetting even her own children and grandchildren. She also noted that this was not the first time Lola Patricia had gone missing, as residents would usually find her nearby and help guide her back home. However, this time, several hours have already passed since her disappearance.

“…idi last year nga inyawid ni mama ditoy Liwan ngem kasla idi pandemic days nga nagrugi ti kabaw na. Tatta laeng nga kastoy, usually no maawan ket apag bassit laeng ta itultulod dagiti makakita kanyana. Ken permi kabaw na, uray dakami ket saan na am-ammo,” she said.

The family is now coordinating with authorities to expand the search and is urging anyone who may have seen Lola Patricia to immediately report her whereabouts. Those with information may contact Dafna B. Lumetic-Alipio through her Facebook account or via mobile number 0956-831-2942.