Erlinda A. Aquino

On May 8, 1933, a beautiful child was born in the tourist town of Pagsanjan, Laguna Philippines. Her proud parents David (a carpenter) and Esperanza (a homemaker) Ablir named their second child “Erlinda.” She grew up happy, industrious, bubbly but quiet and well-liked by her friends and classmates. In high school, she fell in love with a handsome townmate, Ignacio Roldan Aquino Jr., who was a student at Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT). They were deeply in love and eloped in 1950.

Junior and Linda welcomed the first of seven children, Rosario (who was affectionately known as Charito, Chato, Chat, or Rose) in October of 1950. Their next child, Amia, was born in November 1952. Chato and Amia were followed by Carlos (Kaloy or Charlie) in November 1954, Alvin in July 1956, Melinda (Nene) in January 1958, Mario (Totoy) in December 1960 and Menchie in July 1963.

Between 1954 and 1957, Junior, Linda, and their small family resided in a modest house at the Teachers’ Village inside the University of the Philippines, Diliman campus in Quezon City where Junior (or Asiong) was an employee of the university (a sort of “jack-of-all trades”). Later, Asiong worked as a Bus Conductor with BLTB Bus Co. plying the Pagsanjan-Manila-Pagsanjan routes. Then, with God’s blessing, Asiong was accepted as an Electrician-Journeyman at the Pepsi-Cola plant in Pasig, Rizal.

On August 8, 1964, Linda lost her husband to an accident at the Pepsi-Cola plant. It was a devastating loss for her. She never remarried and raised their seven children on her own without knowing what challenges were ahead. With the help of her mother Esperanza (Aling Panchang), they started a small business producing the best homemade suman, kalamay, pinaltok, sinukmane and tikoy in the entire town. This was how she managed to feed her children, to provide clothes and shoes and to send them all through college.

In December 1972, her first-born son Charlie joined the United States Navy at Subic Bay Naval Base and proceeded to boot camp in San Diego, CA. Charlie (or Kaloy) petitioned Linda in 1979 and she emigrated to the United States. Four years later, she petitioned Chato, Alvin and Totoy, with Melinda and Menchie following two years after. Amia was the last member to reunite with the family. Three of her children have since retired from the US Navy each having served for over 20 years.

After more than three decades in the US, Linda became a proud grandmother of 22 grandchildren and great-grandmother of 13 great-grandchildren. She dedicated her time and enjoyed taking care of all of them. Five of her grandchildren are currently serving as active duty members of the US military.

Linda’s health began its steady decline in 2005. Her children all took turns helping care for her over the last seven years, with Amia volunteering as her full-time caregiver. She was able to spend her last moments surrounded by her seven children and several of her grandchildren. Then, on August 13, 2012 at 9:55 pm, she took her last breath, closed her eyes and departed this earth finally reuniting with her beloved husband.

Linda was a joyful woman, a wonderful mother, a proud grandmother and great-grandmother, a friend to many, and a lady, always bearing her signature smile. She will be greatly missed.