September 11, 2010

Kennedy Park, Hayward, CA

Produced by: Leona “Lennie” Luna Delos Reyes

We referred to him as “Apung Cinto” (aa-pong)

We called her “Inang” (e-nung)

Apung Cinto was known for being an intelligent man, one who

was a disciplinarian, and one who pushed education to his

children. He grew up in the Spanish era, hence spoke the

language fluently.

Grandpa, was the only music professor in their town. He taught

from violin, piano, name it, he did it all. However, when it came to

his children, he waited until each of them were inspired to learn

on their own. Some picked it up while others chose not to.

To add to their livelihood, he also ran a pawn shop from their

home. Town people would hawk from jewelries (to you “bling-

bling family members, you know where you got it from). In

addition, some of the town people would hawk their land. This is

how grandpa was able to acquire many properties at the end.

.

When it came to spending money, he was very conservative even

to the point that he would hold back giving lunch allowances to

his children. However, if his children wanted to buy books, they

didn’t need to ask twice as reading was one of his passion.

Needless to say, Apung Cinto provided very well for his family

until the Japanese invasion of WWII where they had to leave

everything behind to move to another barrio.

After the war, grandpa had to sell some of the properties he

acquired in order to get back on their feet.

Grandpa passed away in 1950 at the age of 68. Sadly, none of us

grandchildren got to meet him and the only photo shown earlier is

our only memory of him.

Inang was one devoted

wife, mother and

grandmother. She was a

stay home mom for many

years until the Japanese

invasion and after grandpa

passed away.

Grandpa was a simple

person. She had very few

dresses and only got

dressed up when she went

to church or when she was

expecting visitors.

Inang was always surrounded

with her grandchildren. We

love her dearly. The house was

never empty, especially on

weekends. Would you

believe she enjoyed watching

boxing! Every Friday night, in

front of the television, that’s

where you would find her.

Forget about the fight…just

watching here was a show

as she really got into it!

Hilarious!

Ok, so she had one bad habit and that

was chewing betel nut with some

wild leaves, called nga-nga. Here’s a

picture of her preparing her nga-

nga.

As Inang got older, she enjoyed

playing cards and she would wound

up neighbors to play in the backyard

until she could no longer stay

awake.

Inang passed away on 12/28/1985

and we’re very blessed to have

spent many years with her.

Veneranda was born on 11/14/1924. Being

the eldest, she played a major role in helping

grandma take care of her brothers and sisters.

Tita was one of the children who learned how

to play the piano. She also performed on

many musical stage plays in town, with her

younger brother, Dading, to bring in some

extra income for the family.

During WWII, Tita and grandma set up a

sidewalk stand to sell food to the Japanese,

food such as hard boiled eggs, tomatoes and

watermelon.

So, how did Tita meet the love of her life?

Leon Otis Beck, a Private in the U.S. Army and

a handsome Americano escaped from the

Japanese during the Bataan Death March and

found a home with our grandparents. The two

fell in love and were married on August 15,

1944.

Tita and Tito were devoted parents and

provided well for their children. Tito Leon

retired as a city worker while Tita

retired from an electronics company in

Silocon Valley.

In 1970, Tito and Tita opened their door

to two brothers; Tony, Dading, and two

nieces, Magara and I, to come to the

U.S. We will forever be grateful

Tito Leon passed away on 12/28/1999 and

Tita Maring on 12/01/2009

Read this amazing history on Tito Leon

http://www.zambalesforum.org/rebirth.htm

Tita was the first of the Luna to

migrate to the United States in April

1945. Together they raised four

children:

1. Vyvian

2. Marty

3. Leon

4. Mark

Tito Dading graduated from the Feati

University in Manila and became one of

their outstanding math professor. He

also became one of Grandpa’s best

violinist.

He migrated in the U.S. in 1970 and

worked for Pacific Southwest Airlines

(PSA) in San Francisco until his

retirement in late 1990’s. Him and

Shirley are now residing in the

Philippines. His children are:

1. Alvin

2. Alma

3. Rey

4. Jennifer

5. Patrick

6. Christopher

7. Portia

8. NoraDading was born on 11/30/1926.

His wife is Shirley Gonzales.

His wife, Tita Viring did her share of work

by selling fresh fish in the market and

working part time as Chief Traffic

Collector under the direction of the town

mayor. Tito first migrated in the U.S. in

1970 and then returned in 1982 with his

wife and most of his children. It took

many years for the rest of the children to

come to U.S. but they all made it. They

both reside in Sacramento, CA.

Together they raised 11 children:

1. Magara

2. Antonio Jr.

3. Chito

4. Arnel

5. Manny

6. Alan

7. Angie

8. Lito

9. Pura

10. Jim

11. Erwin

Tony was born on 01/17/1930 and is married to

Virginia Razon. He retired as an educator in

the Philippines; from elementary teacher to

school principal to school district supervisor. He

too became one of Grandpa‟s best violinist.

My parents were married at young age and both

worked full time; him as a bookkeeper and

collector for a local bakery and later moved to

managing a local theatre in while mom owned a

clothing store in the town market.

All of my brothers and sisters were blessed to live

with grandma, Inang, since we were little. Mom

and dad migrated to the U.S. in the early 1980‟s

and his first job was working a galley at the NAVY

base in Maryland until he moved to California. He

then worked for an electronics company and Fuji

Film in Fremont until retirement while mom worked

for JC Penny. They now reside in Hayward, CA.

There are seven of us children.

1. Lolita

2. Anthony

3. Leona

4. Albert

5. Lorna

6. Arthur

7. ArielCesing was born on 11/29/1931 and is

married to Alicia “Ising” Reyes (my

parents). Growing up, Dad shared many

stories about living thru WWII and the

hard life their family endured.

Betty passed away when she was only two

years old

He then worked as one of the few

National Statistician of the

Philippines and worked for many

years as the Regional Director for the

Bureau of Census until his

retirement.

Tito was known to be the comedian

of the family and he can make you

laugh until you see tears rolling.

He was one devoted and loving

father and his children miss him very

much.

Tito Doring passed away

09/28/2008

Tito Doring „s wife and children

reside in the Manila surrounding

area,. Their children are:

1. Brenda

2. Gigi

3. Darius

4. Janus

5. Gretchen

Dario was born on 01/27/1936 and married to

Solome Taguba. He was known to be one

intellectual student who completed his

elementary grades in four years vs. six. Genius?

Definitely. He received his BS Degree in

Deodetic Engineering from the University of the

Philippines under full scholarship.

Patsy was born on 02/10/1938 and is married to

Ernesto Almario. The two met at Tito Tony‟s house

in Guagua, Pampanga and ran into each other in

Manila the following day and that was the beginning

of their love story. Similar to Tito Doring, Tita is also

one intellectual person. She too was excelled during

elementary school. She earned BSBA, in Accounting

from the University of the East in Manila.

Whenever you see Tita, the smile on

her face is from ear to ear. She was

one of siblings who learned to play

the violin as well.

She and her husband worked for the

government in Bataan until their

retirement and provided well for their

family. They reside in Balanga,

Bataan. Both travel back and forth to

the U.S. and Paris to visit their

daughters. Together they raised

three children:

1. Sheryl

2. Darwin

3. Alma Lou

Tita earned her BS degree in

Education from Guagua National

College. She then taught for three

years until her husband swept her

away to live in the U.S.

Tito Joe retired from the U.S. NAVY

after 22 years and continued his

career with the U.S. Postal Service

for another 20 years. Needless to

say they lived in many different

States.

Tita worked for Woolworth‟s for 18

years and then at an imaging center

for five years.

Both of them are gourmet cooks so

if you plan on visiting them, go

hungry.

They found Las Vegas to be their

retirement home. They raised three

children:

1. Nancy

2. Joanne

3. Mark

Zeny was born on 05/14/1944 and is

married to Jose Reyes, who happens to

be Alicia “Ising” younger brother.

L-R: Tito Joe, Dad Cesing, Mom Alicia, Tita Viring, Tito Tony, Tita

Shirley, Tito Dading; (center L-R) Tita Zeny and Tita Maring

2002 visit in P.I.

L-R: Dad Cesing, Tita Maring, Tita Zeny and Tita Patsy

2002 at a resort in Balanga, Bataan.

L-R: Dad, Cesing, Tita Patsy, Tita Maring, Tita Zeny, Tito Tony

Beck Family

Tita Maring so happy to be with

brothers and sisters at Tito Joe’s

Retirement dinner. Check out Tita

Viring and her stylish hat (u-la-la)Tito Leon and Tita

Maring , 50th Wedding

Anniversary photo

50th Wedding Anniversary of Tito Tony and Tita Viring

Immaculate Conception Church, Guagua, Pampanga

Family Photo

Tito Tony and

Tita Viring’s

Family

My parents and family

Alvin Luna with his family

Tita Pat & Tito Erning Family

Tito Doring & Tita Sol’s Family

Tita Zeny and Tito Joe’s family