Leony Z. Rama

Born Leoncio Rama September 12, 1935, in Cebu City, Philippines to Felipe Rama and Dolores Zabala. He was the 8th of 9 children. Growing up in Cebu City, Leony was blessed to have a large, fun and very closed knit family who are dominant in Politics and entertainment. As a young boy he loved to work with his hands, he played sports and learned how to play the Drums. Leony decided at an early age, that he was going to live a simple life and not follow suite in the Rama Family Political Career. Leony’s musical talent in Drums landed him a Music Scholarship to Cebu Institute of Technology as an Engineering Major and he played the drums for the school’s marching band, in 1959.

The beat changed for Leony when he met a beautiful young lady named Ellen in 1961. Ellen invited him to a church “crusade” where Leony was first introduced to the Seventh Day Adventist church, it was then that he decided to give his heart to the Lord. His uncle Honorable Judge Osmundo Rama stood on behalf of his father to ask Ellen’s hand in marriage. On December 30, 1963 Leony married the love of his life in a simple ceremony in Matnog, Sorsogon, a town in Bicol where Ellen was from.

After the loss of their first daughter in 1964, they relocated back to Cebu in 1965 where their second daughter, Gemma was born. Back in Bicol in 1967, the third daughter Lilibeth was born. Shortly after both Leony and Ellen made the biggest decision of their life and with the help of Pastor and Mrs. Teofilo Barizo, they relocated their young family to Baesa, Caloocan City to ensure that their daughters get their education from Philippine Union College.

In 1972, their fourth and youngest daughter Ivy was born. Leony worked for the Philippine Publishing House for 22 years. He was well known to the staff as a “Jack-of-all-traits” and a very hard worker. He took many odd jobs because people came to him asking for his help. Leony relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1991 and has lived in San Diego since 1992.

Leony is survived by Jacinta his only living sibling who still resides in Cebu City, A lovely wife Ellen, Daughters & Sons-in-law Gemma & Chester, Beth and Oliver and Ivy and Benn, granddaughter Risa 23 y/o and grandsons; Ryan 21 y/o, Nathan 18 y/o, Riley 16 y/o and Zachary 10 y/o. In addition he has numerous nieces and nephews in the Philippines, Middle East, Europe and other parts of the US.

Leony was blessed to have a very caring and supportive Church family in San Diego Fil-Am Seventh Day Adventist Church.