Ernesto Agustin Bibay

Ernesto was a teacher in Quezon City, Philippines until he immigrated to the United States of America in 1981 with his wife Mercedita, who was also a teacher and daughters Carolina and Joan.

Ernesto and Mercedita were married on July 28, 1962 at Capitol City Methodist Church in Quezon City, Philippines. They were the very first couple married in that church.

Ernesto was born in Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines but he grew up in San Nicolas, Pangasinan. During his youth, he was a member of Christian Movement. He was an active member of the school and church choir. He played guitar and loved to hear classical and gospel music. On his travels, his cassettes and CD’s of religious songs were his companions. Hearing them made him feel safe and comfortable.

He earned his Associate Degree in Agriculture Education at Central Luzon Agriculture College at Munoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines and finished his Bachelors Degree in Elementary Agriculture Education at Araneta University, Philippines.

As a teacher at 15th Avenue Elementary School, he taught Mathematics and Elementary Agriculture. He also did the clerical jobs for the school. He did the monthly payroll of the school staff an assisted the principal and supervisor in their office management.

Ernesto was a life-time member of the Philippine Public School Teacher Association (PPSTA). He used to be the official photographer of this association.

He was a recipient of the Bronze Thanks Badge for meritorious and outstanding service to the Boy Scout of the Philippines. He finished the Juvenile Office Training Course under the Police Department Youth and Bureau. He was also a vigilant adviser of the Young Farmer’s Club.

Aside from teaching, Ernesto also engaged in the newspaper business. He was a sub-agent of the local newspaper in the Philippines.

Ernesto and his family settled in Silicon Valley, California in 1981. He got employed at Dysan-XIDEX, a disk manufacturing company in Santa Clara with his wife Mercedita. He took a part-time job as a Security Officer for Wackenhut Corporation on weekends. He gave this up later on. Sunday was always precious to him. It’s a day devoted to God.

When Dysan-XIDEX closed, he moved to CONNER-SEAGATE, another prestigious disk maker.

In 1993, the United States Postal Service hired him as a mail carrier. He took a month vacation from CONNER-SEAGATE and tried the post office job. He found it too tough for a diabetic person like him. He decided to discontinue this job and went back to SEAGATE.

At SEAGATE, he proved to be industrious, diligent, hardworking and dependable employee. He became the Lead Operator on his shift.

All his life Ernesto was a kind, generous, loving and devoted man to his family. He is survived by his wife Mercedita, daughters Carolina and Joan, son in law Peter, and granddaughters Ernestine and Jessica.

Memorial Written by Eusebio Salvador San Diego

DEAR PARE ERNING,

As we grieve your demise, we take comfort in the thought that you, Pare Erning

(Ernesto Agustin Bibay of San Nicolas, Pangasinan, Philippines and San Jose, California, U.S.A.) is now with our Heavenly Father.

We cannot --- and will not --- forget you. Aside from being a fellow teacher at 15th Avenue Elementary School, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines and a kumpare (Joan Bibay Mock is my goddaughter or "inaanak" in baptism), you were my almost always companion in going to Malacanang, Congress, Department of Education, Quezon City Hall and other government offices when we were working and fighting for justice and economic welfare of the Philippine public school teachers in the late '60s and early '70s which I consider as the golden years of teachers' militancy.

We were together in meetings, projects and activities of Quezon city Teachers Welfare Movement (WelMove), Quezon City Public School Teachers Association, Manila-Pasay-Quezon-Caloocan Cities Federation of Public School Teachers Associations and Philippine Public School Teachers Association, especially in mammoth rallies and peaceful demonstrations where we clamored and demanded for what is good and just for the overworked but underpaid teachers.

Pare, you also served as the photographer during our rallies, mass leaves of absence, meetings and conferences in various government agencies and other teachers' organizations, thereby insuring for posterity the documentation and recording of teachers' mass actions. Truly and verily, you played key roles in bolstering the welfare of the downtrodden public school teachers.

Rest in eternal peace, Pare Erning: my fellow teacher, friend, kumpare and comrade in the struggles for the betterment of the members of the greatest and noblest profession --- in fact a mission --- for the people, especially the children and the youth. Farewell and GOD Bless, Pare Erning.

And condolence to you, Mare Ditas, Carol, Ernestine, Joan, Peter and Jessica, Pare Erning's siblings, kins and relatives. Take care always and GOD Bless