Aurora A. Mercado

Grandfather: Bernardo Manzon (Date of Birth: 04/29/1898) San Bernando, La Union

Grandmother: Ruperta Claudio Acosta

Father: Filocastro Ganadan Aquino

Mother: Felicidad Claudio Manzon (Date of Birth: 03/07/1899) San Carlos, Pangasinan

Aurora’s family Lineage: The Aquino Family traces its roots to the Tarlac & Ilocus provinces. Notable family members from the Aquino family line includes Manuel Acuña Roxas (January 1, 1892 – April 15, 1948), first president of the independent Third Republic of the Philippines & Benigno “Ninoy”Aquino Jr. (November 27, 1932 – August 21, 1983) a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac, whose assassination by the Marcos Regime propelled his reluctant wife, Corazon “Cory” Aquino towards being the 1st Philippine female president.

Bienvenido Family Lineage: The Mercado family was wealthy farmers who rented land from the Dominican religious order. Descendants of a Chinese immigrant named Domingo Lam-co, they changed their name to Mercado ("market") under the pressure of anti-Chinese feeling amongst the Spanish colonizers. Bienvenido’s line from the Albay Province by the foothills of scenic Mayon Volcano, notable family member of the Mercado line includes Francisco Rizal Mercado, Father of Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado (June 19, 1861 - December 30, 1896) – the 1st Philippine National Hero.

Life of Aurora:

Aurora Manson Aquino Mercado (April 26, 1926 – June 7, 2013) Eldest daughter of Filocastro Ganadan Aquino & Felicidad Claudio Manzon from San Carlos in the Pangasinan Province, Philippines. Her younger sister, Felicidad Aquino Quesada preceded her in death in 1999.

Aurora (“Auring” as she was fondly known by) grew up in a prosperous household from a family of Educators. Her father, Filocastro Ganadan Aquino was a college professor & her mother, Felicidad Claudio Manzon was a high school principal. Possessing natural musical talents & love of learning, governed Aurora’s path in choosing the honorable profession of teaching. Even when the family financial fortune was devastated during the Japanese Occupation in WWII, it never shook her resolve to pursue her career in Education.

Aurora graduated with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Education through the University of Santo Thomas and a Bachelor of Arts in Music through the University of the Philippines, both located in Manila, Philippines. It was during her college years that she met her future husband of 59 years, She became an English teacher in Raja Suleiman Intermediary School in the Tondo Region & taught private music lessons in piano at our home in Project 6 in Quezon City. Aside from English, Aurora was proficient in Tagalog language, the regional dialects of Pangasinan & Ilocano, as well as formal Castilian Spanish.

After immigrating to the United States in Feb 1970, Aurora pursued her Master’s Degree in Music through Jacksonville University, graduating in 1973. In 1976, she & Bienvenido attained U.S. their Citizenship. During the decade of the 70’s, Aurora worked as a proof reader for the Jacksonville Times Union Newspaper. After the newspaper became computerized, she pursued her teaching profession at St. Patrick’s Elementary School and also served as the church organist until retirement in the year 2000.

In spite of her impressive career accomplishments, Aurora defined her true life not in accolades but in the service of God & Community. Being a devout Catholic since her formative years, she was an active member of the Cursillo Charismatic Movement in the Philippines. In America, Aurora was involved in several community organizations such as the Filipino-American Fellowship Club in its early formation in Jacksonville, Florida, established a prayer group in “The Living Rosary” & formally served as the President of Filipino Seniors Group.

Aurora loved to travel. With her husband after they retired, and with friends from church, she made several trips to Europe. She also regularly visited the Philippines, spending time with her dear friend and former teaching colleague, family and friends. She enjoyed keeping journals while overseas and making scrapbooks when she returned. Both while traveling and at home Aurora was a devoted letter-writer, corresponding throughout her life with friends and family. After moving to the US she also enjoyed cooking. Some of her favorite dishes to make were her pinakbet, adobo and pancit. Because they made such good gifts, including to send to her children and grandchildren living around the country, Italian biscotti, polvoron and Kahlua cake.