Fidelino Tubadeza Baula

From the hills and mountains of Dolores, Abra, Philippines, Fidel was born to Eustaquio and Maura Baula on September 12, 1943. He was the youngest in the family with four siblings.

As a toddler during the World War II, he was carried along by family from one mountain hideout place to another to avoid being captured by the invaders.

At liberation time, his family went back to their hometown and resumed life as they knew it.

Fidel started going to school, walking to and from home every day, even at a very early age. When he was in elementary, his older siblings went to Manila, later followed by his mother, leaving him in care of relatives and friends.

While growing up and living through the adversities of staying from one relative to another in Abra, he was always on a constant move to find ways to supplement his food and shelter. Because of this, Fidel’s struggles helped him learn self-reliance and resourcefulness; he learned the art of survival with patience and hard work. However, through it all, he has never forgotten those people who helped him in his journey through life.

After graduating from high school, Fidel’s father told him to join them in Manila and study Associate in Secretarial Science. Although he was not interested in the course, he finished and graduated at the University of the East. The synchronicity of events brought him in the neighborhood where he met his wife, Linda.

Fidel worked at various companies and factories for a few years. Then on June 27, 1965, he married his muse, Linda, who shared their love and respect for each other for 57-1/2 wonderful years. They were later blessed with six beautiful children.

He worked for General Electric (G.E.) Appliance Company for ten (10) years, where he began playing tennis. In time, he competed in the interdepartmental tournaments and has been playing since which later influenced his two boys to play the sport as well.

Having been a good provider, Fidel and Linda envisioned of building a business that they could call their own.

In the early years, they started accepting book binding and typing services commercially. Soon after, with Fidel’s interest in auto mechanics taught by one his close relatives, he purchased a minibus and converted it into a school bus. That was start of their school bus operation in the mid-70s. Fidel serviced his dearly loved students at Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS, now closed) in Quezon City until he and the rest of his family migrated in the USA in 1995.

Continuing his passion for auto mechanics, Fidel found his way working in a Chevron Gas Station in Concord, California as Auto Mechanic/Helper until 2008 when he had to retire due to kidney dysfunction. His faith and devotion to the Mother Mary, brought him strength through the health crisis that he underwent dialysis for only less than a year.

In 2012, Fidel and Linda moved to Maryland to be with his son and family. Coincidentally in 2013, he had a kidney donor which was successfully transplanted at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

After five years, Fidel and Linda came back to California and spent their retirement traveling to Canada, Alaska and the Philippines.

Fidel loved his homeland very much. He was always in close contact with his relatives and friends and their families since he learned how to use Facebook. As he saw their life’s conditions online, his generous heart never left him as he understood the predicament of living under poverty. He never turned his back on those people whom he knew of needing his help financially. And he was very much loved and adored by many people who knew him.

It was Fidel’s wish that he be buried in the land that he cherished. Therefore, in honor of his wish, his family will be taking his cremated remains to the Philippines and laid to rest at Santuario De San Ezekiel Moreno Columbary in Pulang Lupa, Las Pinas City.

Fidel is predeceased by his parents, Eustaquio, Sr. and Maura; two brothers, Butch and Ben; and two sisters, Evelyn and Beatriz. He is survived by his wife, Linda and their six children Mimi, Mian (Celso), Ninoy (CheChe), Boyet (Nora), Chris and Mico; his grandchildren, Aggy, Jejet, Kayla, Christine, Christian and Aaron; his first great granddaughter, Louise; and his devoted emotional support dogs, Buster and Riley.

Ever full of humility, kindness and grace, Fidel will be dearly missed in our hearts forever.