Mrs. Erlinda B. Lansangan

Mrs. Erlinda B. Lansangan was born on June 14, 1936 in Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines. She was the daughter of Demetrio E. Bautista and Corazon M. Castro. Erlinda spent her youth in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Erlinda was raised with three siblings. She had two brothers, Fernando and Ernesto, and one sister, Maria Luisa. Erlinda was usually involved in all sorts of activities with her siblings. They experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many special life experiences over the years.

Erlinda enjoyed her college years where she earned her degree from Holy Angel College in 1967 and later attended Vocson Junior College to study Cosmetology.

On September 3, 1950 Erlinda exchanged wedding vows with her sweetheart Silvestre M. Lansangan in San Juan, Rizal, Philippines. Empathic and loyal, Erlinda was committed to making her new family happy.

Erlinda worked hard to be a good mother to her children and did her best to fulfill their needs. Erlinda was blessed with four children, three sons, Joel, Rodrigo and Elvis, and one daughter, Lilibeth.

Fortunately, Erlinda enjoyed what she did for a living. Her primary occupation was being a home maker. She enjoyed maintaining her household as well as being a loving and supportive wife and mother.

Throughout her life, Erlinda was a doer and was always actively involved in different organizations. Erlinda was an active member of the PTA at Mabalacat Elementary School where she served as Treasurer from 1976 to 1978. She was PTA PRO from 1987- 1988 for Holy Family Academy. She also served as Treasurer for both the Catholic Women's League Mabalacat Unit and Catholic Women's League Vicariate of the Holy Spirit from 1987 to 1991.

Erlinda passed away on September 16, 2010 at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, California. Erlinda passed away due to natural causes. She is survived by her husband, Silvestre and children, Joel, Rodrigo, Elvis, and Lilibeth. Services were held at Glen Abbey Mortuary's Little Lodge on September 25, 2010. Erlinda was laid to rest in Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California.

Simply stated, Erlinda was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Erlinda leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Mrs. Erlinda B. Lansangan.

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(The story of star-crossed lovers Erlinda Castro Bautista and Silvestre Malit Lansangan is one for the books; in fact, it’s the stuff TV telenovelas are made of. So much so that the story was used for a "Ms. D." episode aired on 12 August 1998, over GMA Channel 7, from a letter sent by daughter Lily. This account was directly taken from the Golden Wedding anniversary invitation sent to us by the family, who are direct relatives. The great grandfather of Erlinda, Isidoro Castro is the elder brother of Gerardo Castro Sr., my paternal grandfather. )

Erlinda (Linda) and Silvestre (Beting) first met in May 1949, during a town santacruzan where Linda was the Reyna Elena. Silvestre was quickly smitten by the young queen and Erlinda, too, succumbed to her feelings. So, on June 14, 1950, on her 14th birthday, Erlinda went to hear mass and never came back home, having eloped with Beting.

Apung Coring (Linda’s mother) was against Bet, because her daughter was too young to get married. Her parents tried to convince their daughter to come home with them and forget about Beting, but being head over heels in love with him, she refused. Her parents were very disappointed such that they decided to send her to jail for disobedience. There, the Chief of Police, an uncle, took her under police custody but gave her special treatment, apparently because she was not a criminal. She stayed there for 21 days.

At the back of the Municipal Jail, there was window to Linda's cell. Beting secretly saw his beloved Linda by climbing the back wall and peering through this small window. To this day, Beting often wonders how he could have climbed the prison wall that was so high and forbidding.

Their love story made them popular in Mabalacat, so much so that the people made this line for Linda: "Tadtaran daku man mapinu, ing mitalamsik a daya kang Bet ya pa murin." (Even I were finely chopped, my blood that spatters will still be for Bet).

Eventually, her parents had her released from jail and she was sent to Marikina where her paternal relatives resided. There, Linda was enrolled at Cubao Elementary School. Beting, who was so much in love with her, didn’t stop looking for her, a search that lasted for a month. It was at Cubao Elementary School that Beting finally saw Linda, as she was getting ready for the flag ceremony. Linda skipped her class and sat down with Beting to discuss their relationship and their plans.

It came to a point that one day, Linda stuffed her school bag with clothes, a suspicious act that was not lost on her Lolo Pedro, who had been keeping an eagle eye on her. She told her Lolo, a former Katipunero, that she was going to school. In fact, she was again, plotting to elope with Beting. The couple were already on a bus when Lolo Pedro appeared at the station, brandishing a bolo, and demanding that the two alight from the bus. Their plan was once again, thwarted.

Her Lolo Pedro reported this to her parents. But this time, realizing the depth and sincerity of their love, Linda’s parents gave their blessings to the couple. Linda and Beting were married in San Juan Church and were blessed with 4 children: Joel, Rod, Elvis and Lily, all married with children. The Lansangans now all reside in the United States.