Luis C. Romano

Luis Caceres Romano was born to Jose and Catalina Romano on March 21, 1938 in Libmanan, Camarines Sur Philippines. He was the third child of six children. Eldest was sister Ambing followed by Ernesto. His younger siblings are Ruben, Rudolfo, and Catalina. He was raised in Naga City attending Parochial School and Ateneo de Naga. He continued his studies through college graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He taught for four years in a primary school in Nabua. In 1966 he joined the United States Navy. After recruit training he was stationed aboard a ship in San Diego. In 1969 he married Salvacion Raynera at Holy Cross Church in Nabua. He returned to the states to attend hospital corpsman/ lab technician school at Balboa Naval Hospital. Following training he was stationed aboard the USS Prairie in San Diego and then to Long Beach. 1972 saw the birth of his first child, a girl, Gina-Sally Raynera Romano. The following year the USS Prairie was sent back to San Diego.

In 1975, Luis, Salvacion and daughter Gina were transferred to the Marine Training Center in Delaware. Here they made frequent trips to Philadelphia and went sight-seeing in Washington DC. In 1977 a second child was born, a son, Louis Raynera Romano Jr. The next year the family of four moved back west where Luis received training as an Environmental Health Technician at Oakland Naval Hospital. Despite only living in the San Francisco Bay Area for only six months he would become a lifelong San Francisco 49’ers fan. After training he was assigned to Guam Naval Hospital as an Environmental Health Inspector. The family enjoyed island living for three years.

From the Pacific Islands to the Southern Gulf Coast, Luis was transferred to Pensacola Medical Center. For four years the family experienced many of the sights and sounds of the south. Trips to the beach, alligator farms, Alabama, World’s Fair in New Orleans, and Disney World were all within driving distance. BBQ, southern fried chicken, boiled crab and shrimp, hush puppies, collard greens, and fried green tomatoes were all part of the menu.

For his last duty station, he was stationed aboard the USS Ranger homeported in San Diego. The move back to San Diego was very much a homecoming for the family. Many friends and family from Nabua already live in San Diego and accepted them into the community especially Salvacion’s younger brother Roman Raynera and his family, wife Nene and daughters Manette and Rosel. While aboard the Ranger, Luis experienced carrier flight operations and carrier battle group exercises. In 1986 the Ranger carrier group went on a WestPac tour. While overseas they enjoyed many ports of call. After 23 years of naval service Luis retired in 1989.

The following year he took a job with the City of San Diego. He worked as a Lab Technician at San Diego Metro Wastewater. He went around to the beaches and waterways of San Diego collecting water samples to be tested for harmful pollutants. His duties allowed him to explore much of the city’s hidden gems. After fifteen years of service to the city he retired in 2006.

In the predawn hours of January 14, 2004 he experienced a parent’s worst nightmare when his daughter Gina passed away.

During retirement he became very active with religious causes. He joined the Knights of Columbus at St. Brendan’s Church Naval Station San Diego serving as Grand Knight for a time. He loved attending many of the organizations functions, ceremonies, and especially parties. His brother and sister “Knights” would prove to be lifelong friends. He also served as a Eucharistic Minister. He took up a few causes in which he raised funds for the building of a church in Bicol and financially supporting a seminarian. With his strong sense of connection to his life back in Bicol he became deeply involved with the Nabueños of Southern California Inc and Pag-iribang Bikolnon. Faithfully he attended every Peñafrancia held in San Diego.

In 2008 his devotion to Peñafrancia led him on a ‘pilgrimage’ back to Bicol. He joined Filda Galvante, Charlotte and Solon Fajardo and special religious dignitary Bishop Salvatore Cordileone (future Archbishop of San Francisco). He was enthralled meeting all the Philippines highest religious officials. He was ecstatic visiting new places and revisiting places he knew as a child. He loved showing off his homeland to the Bishop especially when they visisted Nabua. It was to be a trip of a lifetime.

Upon returning home he went back to his routine of going to the gym in the morning and attending religious functions. The connections he made with friends and family on the pilgrimage he continued through facebook. Though age and existing conditions were taking its toll, a condition unbeknownst to him would end his life. On the evening of Saturday January 18, 2014 Luis Caceres Romano passed away.

For those of us that knew him, we will remember his sense of devotion. His devotion to his adoptive country, with 23 years of military service. His devotion to his city, by keeping its residents safe from polluted waters. His devotion to his native home Bicol, by continuing the traditions of Peñafrancia and Pintakasi. His devotion to friends, by always being there when he was needed. His devotion to his family, by working hard to provide a stable home and opportunities to his children. And his devotion to God, living life as best as he could despite many setbacks and hardships all the while remaining faithful to God’s love.