It is with tender love and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved "'Tatay" or father and "Mamay" or grandfather. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was married to Rufina de Villa, the love of his life for almost 75 years. She passed on November 18, 2020.
Born in the Philippines, "Tatay" emigrated to Canada in 1986 and lived in Winnipeg for 36 years, a place he called sweet home. He was predeceased by his parents Barcelisa Ilagan and Vicente Ilagan.
He will be remembered by daughters Patricia (Claude Lafrance), and Nelia (widow of Daniel Arandia), sons Pedro JR. (Corazon Villanueva), Rodolfo (Grace Panganiban), and Antonio (Marichu Cabarles) and grandchildren Ivy (Serge), Hubert (Liza), Ton (Celsa), Karren (Ellson), Michelle (Sixto), Rodolfo JR., Shane, Tonet, Erica, and Antonio JR. (Maiko); and 7 great grandchildren.
"Tatay" lived his life to the fullest. He was often teased as a "man of the world" because he lived and worked in 15 or more countries as an assistant project manager, contractor, general foreman, heavy equipment operator and pipefitter foreman. He was in Canada, Okinawa (Japan), Guam (USA), Saigon (Vietnam), Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, etc.
He worked with companies such as Foster Wheeler Corporation, Shell and Caltex Refineries, Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company (AG&P), Heally Tibbits Construction Corporation, LMG, and other international and local companies. Although he was overseas for most of his working years, he made it a point to go home in December, which was when his international contract usually expired. When working in the Philippines, he spent time with the family as much as he could. During Christmas, he would drive the family to town to hear mass. He and his wife exchanged countless love letters during the decades he was overseas. He sent recorded tape messages and pictures to the family, especially when he worked abroad and he cherished receiving the same from the family.
"Tatay " took pride in and greatly respected his family. He wanted the family to have a good life, the main reason why he worked abroad. He was also very generous, sometimes to a fault. Because of his position in his jobs, he employed many workers. As a contractor, they went with him to Japan and the USA. He also wanted to share whatever he had with others. For example, he and his brother were the first to get electicity in their area because they paid personally for its installation. He thought of providing that service to his relatives so they could also get electricity sooner rather than wait for years. Somebody talked him out of it, otherwise that would probably cost him his entire savings.
A man with a big heart and always ready to help, he did the same thing in Canada- helping grandchildren and friends learn how to drive, driving a friend several times to the Canada-US border for immigration purposes, buying groceries for an elderly couple, inviting new immigrants to stay at his place, and many more acts of charity.
"Tatay" was happy to be surrounded by family. Although he was a man of few words, he would always smile and feel happy once family members, especially the grandchildren, visited him and his wife. He enjoyed the presence of family and cared for them very much.
We will miss "Tatay/Mamay" but his loving memories will make us smile, especially knowing that he is now with his beloved wife.
"Maraming Salamat Po Sa Inyo. Mahal ka namin!"
