| Luisa Abano | |
| Birth Date: | August 25, 1933 |
| Birth Place: | Cebu, Philippines |
| Death Place: | Talisay, Cebu, Philippines |
| Nationality: | Filipino |
| Known For: | Incorruptibility |
| Spouse: | Felix Abano |
| Children: | 3 |
Luisa R. Abano (August 25, 1933 – November 12, 2006), popularly known as Nanay Loling, was a Filipino Catholic laywoman and faith healer.[1]
Her remains were discovered as possibly incorrupt in May 2024 and since then was considered a local candidate for sainthood in Cebu.[2] [3] The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu has not released any official statement regarding the possibility of opening her beatification cause.[3]
Luisa was born on August 25, 1933, to a simple family. She was married to Felix Abano with whom she had three children: one son and two daughters.[1] [3]
She was remembered to be a devout Catholic who would always pray amidst the business of her time, finding means to support the family and rearing children.[3] Luisa and Felix would wake up daily at 3 o'clock in the morning to pray the rosary and do devotional novenas to the Holy Cross and the Blessed Virgin.[1] [3]
As a faith healer, Luisa was known to generoulsy take care and miraculously cure sick people who sought for her aid.[3] She would recite continuously prayers silently as she massages pains and applies holy oils on aching body parts of her patients.[1] [3] In cases of severe ailments, she would recommend religious devotions to gain miracles, and never ceases to visit the sick, asking 'Are you alright? Have you now recovered?'[3]
On November 12, 2006, Luisa died at the age of 73, after a long illness caused by her diabetes.[3]
On May 12, 2024, when Luisa's family were preparing to reuse her burial place for her husband who died on May 4, they were all surprised to discover her intact remains.[1] [3] [4] According to her son Marcial Abano, Luisa's features "were perfectly preserved since she was buried", and no signs of decay nor foul smell emitted from the coffin.[2] The family decided afterwards to leave her remains in the cemetery unless the church starts a proper investigation on her case.[3] [4]
When the reports of incorruptibility spread in Talisay, an increased belief and devotion among townspeople sprang that Luisa was a saint.[1] [2] [4] People from neighboring towns, started visiting the Abanos and praying for miraculous intercessions through Luisa.[2] [4]
Fr. Jerome Secillano, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, professed that the Church has strict standards on declaring a person as candidate for sainthood. He explained regarding the numerous petitions to initiate the sainthood cause on Luisa that