Rolando Basuel Balaoing

"Seeing is believing." For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Rolando Basuel Balaoing, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet, and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

He was the son of Benjamin and Leonor Balaoing. Raised in Dasol Pangasinan Philippines, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible, and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Rolando was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Rolando was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Rolando was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Rolando also could relate well with his family and friends. Rolando was raised with eleven siblings. His brothers were Conrado, Romeo, Rodulfo, Cendong, Eulogio, Benjamin Jr, and his sisters were Lilia, Claire, Rose, Josie, and Emee. Rolando was constantly involved in activities with his family. Rolando and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Growing up, Rolando was one of those children who didn't need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. Rolando was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything he did as a child, Rolando was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. Rolando took part in several activities as a child. He took part in basketball and softball. He was a CMT cadet adjutant and a member of the Royal Guards. In his spare time, he liked playing games like Patentero and Shatong with siblings and friends.

Rolando enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Rolando was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Rolando was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. He graduated from Dasol Catholic High School in 1975. Rolando enjoyed some courses more than others, while his favorite class in high school was Biology.

Rolando had a good disposition for the challenges of college. He always enjoyed reading, so all of those lengthy required reading assignments seemed to be less of a burden for him. Rolando seemed to absorb and remember everything he read. Not all things came easily to Rolando, however, and he found success by being a diligent and accurate person who would dig into a project and work through it until it reached its completion. He was very thorough and labored long and hard to reach his goals. He earned his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Rolando was as loyal to his pets as they were to him. He had a dog named Snowy and Kobe. As some may say, his pets were one of the loves of his life.

Most folks would say that Rolando was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Rolando was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Rolando trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and could see their point of view, to "walk a mile in their shoes," as the saying goes. The friends that he made, Rolando kept like Nelson Mayo, Josie Fernandez, Norman Liceralde, and Adonis de Peralta.

If you gave Rolando a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Rolando was always on task. Without hesitation, Rolando could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was as a Solar Guard Technician. He was employed for 20 years by Saint-Gobain. During that time, Rolando excelled in working with small groups to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Rolando was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Rolando had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Rolando liked to experience things firsthand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Rolando's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Rolando preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were working out in the gym, singing karaoke, and hanging out with his family and friends. He had a passion for cars and loved attending cars shows. Rolando was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself, and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.

While thorough and measured in his approach to things, Rolando often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. He was like that with sports. In high school, Rolando played volleyball. Recreational sports included bowling with his nieces and nephews. He also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, he was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams, which were football (Chargers) and basketball (Lakers) was one of the things he enjoyed doing whenever he got the opportunity.

An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, his faith was important to Rolando. His compassion, consideration, and sympathy toward others were evident in his personal beliefs. He was a member of Good Shepherd Church for 30 years. He knew God was always by his side and that one day God would call upon him to return.

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Rolando had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations include Las Vegas, Chicago, New York, and anywhere he can go and explore. He had dreamt of many other future vacations that he wanted to pursue but now he has embarked on a new journey to heaven.

It is said that some people can't see the forest for the trees. Rolando was able to focus on each tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Rolando was a trustworthy, pragmatic, and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. Rolando Balaoing was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with Rolando. He will be missed but never forgotten.

Viewing will be held Saturday, March 19, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PPM and funeral service from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM for Rolando at El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sorrentovalleychapel.com for the Balaoing family.