Pedro Bautista Sanculi Sr.

Pedro Bautista Sanculi was born in the province of Baay, Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines on February 3rd 1925. His parents, Blas and Severina Sanculi had four children. As a young man, Pedro was a trained farmer. Planting rice and tobacco were the family's means of living. He was offered a scholarship and earned his bachelor of science in elementary education degree at the well known Philippine Normal School in Manila, Philippines. He was captured as a prisoner of war during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines (WWII 1941-1945) and was in the death march in Bataan, Philippines. Pedro, together with some of the prisoners was able to escape. He met and married Maria Bruno Sanculi, a beautiful young woman, at Saint Mesa Catholic Church on June 25th 1950, which was the outbreak of the Korean War. Both Pedro and Maria were elementary school teachers. They moved to central Luzon in Paniqui, Tarlac where Maria found her first teaching assignment as first grade teacher. Pedro was assigned to teach at an elementary school in Bicol province, Philippines. Pedro and Maria were blessed with three healthy children, Gloria, Eden and Pedro Jr., They raised their children according to God's way, sent them to college and the three children had earned and were successful in their chosen professions. Pedro was one of the greatest teachers in the school. He was a mentor to all the people around him. He was the officer in charge of the school district and the president of the Paniqui Teacher's Association (North). Pedro and Maria were always the entertainers during teacher's programs. They were known for their skill in folk dancing and singing duet their well known rendition of the song "No Duaduaem Pay" which translated in to "when you are in doubt". He was also an agricultural teacher, and was in charge of gardening and planting vegetables. He loved beautiful flowers and nature. He was also an innovative and resourceful teacher and also spent time teaching handicrafts. He excelled in every competition in workshops and trade shows. He made flowers and flower vases out of bamboo. Pedro and Maria also loved to sing and play the piano and had organized a Rondalla program in the school. He was an active participant in the town's drama program and he and Maria were both active members of St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Panqui, Tarlac, Philippines. They were also active in the church choir. Pedro and family are very devout Roman Catholics. Pedro was in the Cursillo Ministry and was an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. He received his masters degree in Child Psychology in 1977 and became the principal of the elementary school. In 1985, Pedro and Maria retired from teaching and through the help of their daughter Eden they were able to venture to the United States in August of that year. Pedro wanted to experience work in the USA. He became an employee at the Houston Northwest Medical Center in Houston, Kingwood Medical Center North and in Fort Valley Hospital in Georgia. Pedro's older daughter used to live in Georgia so he and Maria relocated to help take care of the young grandchildren. They moved back to Houston in 1989 and were active members of the Filipino American Association of the northwest area of Houston. They were active participants in the senior citizen community. In 1998 Pedro had his quadruple bypass surgery at the St Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston. In the next 15 years of his life Pedro enjoyed gardening, planting pretty flowers and vegetables. He also loved the company of his senior friends and his grandchildren: Leilani and Milo, Christopher, Kristy and Kristina; Hazel and Christopher Ian (In the Philippines). On January 16th 2014 Pedro was admitted to the hospital because of pneumonia and heart failure. On January 18th 2014, he was called by the Lord. He passed away in peace with his loving family at his bedside. Pedro is survived by; wife Maria; daughter, Gloria and son-in-law Aramis Espartero; grandchildren, Kristina and Katrina Espartero; daughter, Eden and son-in-law, Virgilio Ibay; grandchildren, Leilani Sanculi-Mijares and Milo Mijares; grandson, Christopher; son, Pedro Sanculi, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Nitz Sanculi; grandchildren, Peter Ian and Hazel Sanculi.