This week, the Guinness World Records officially confirmed that the world’s oldest living man is now Puerto Rico’s Emilio Flores Márquez at 112 years and 326 days old (as of June 30).
Márquez, known as “Don Millo” to those closest to him, was born on August 8, 1908, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to Margarita Márquez-Garcia and Alberto Flores Melendez. He is the second oldest of 11 children.
“It’s always an honor to celebrate these remarkable human beings,” says Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief at Guinness World Records. “I am thrilled to feature Sr. Márquez – born, interestingly, on the 8th day of the 8th month in the 8th year of the 20th century!”
Márquez grew up on a sugarcane farm where he helped water the plants and loaded them onto wagons. He continued farming into adulthood to support his family. “My father raised me with love, loving everyone,” Márquez says. “He always told me and my siblings to do good, to share everything with others. Besides, Christ lives in me.”
He was married to Andrea Pérez for 75 years and had four children. Pérez died in 2010. Today, he lives in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, with his two surviving children Tirsa and Millito. He has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He told Guinness that he believes a person needs to have “an abundance of love and to live life without anger” to live happily.
The oldest living female is Kane Tanaka, who lives in Fukuoka, Japan. She was born on January 2, 1903, and is currently 118 years and 181 days old.