Romarico Mangupag Adviento, Sr. was born on November 18, 1926 in Gattaran, Cagayan of the Philippines to Luis and Marcela M. Adviento. He was one of the six children: Pacita Mangupag, Guadalupe, Teofilo, Genero, and Domingo Adviento. He married his wife, Aurora Domingo Adviento on January 28, 1952. In their lifetime, he became the father of 8 children: Eduardo, Rolando, Wilfredo, Raymond, Lilibeth, Romarico Jr., Roberto and Lizabeth. He is the father to 4 daughters in law: Erlinda, Lolita, Milette, and Zenaida; and to 2 sons in law: Daniel Zamora and Jose Filamor. He is the grandfather to 10 grand children: Jennifer, Aimee Joyce, Jean Paul, Jamaica, Sarah Janine, Janelle, Christian Bryan, Ryan Christopher, Krissie Ann, and Dannielle Nicole. He is the grandfather in law to Jeffrey Taylor and Neal Domingo, and the great grandfather to 2 great grandchildren: Jenna and Jiel.
Romarico’s young life was not typical nor was it easy. He grew up during the times of World War II. He spent his adolescence life fighting and resisting the Japanese invasion in the Philippines. At the age of 19, he volunteered to become a Philippine Scout under the United States Armed Forces and was assigned to one of the first regiments in support of the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese invasion. He took part in the peacekeeping operations in the South Pacific, and efforts to seize the Dutch East Indies, and protect its Southeast Asian border. He and his regiment sustained combat operations despite the trauma and the abuse their body endured from lack of food and medicine supplies and exposures to diseases such as malaria.
After the war, Romarico met Aurora Domingo, whom he married and became his wife after years of courtship. Romarico and Aurora wanted a big family and indeed, they did. They were blessed with 8 children. Aurora was a stay home mom who took good care of the children and home. With a big family to support, Romarico took on different jobs until he got into metal smiths. He enjoyed building and creating metal products until he found his ultimate job, a “latero,” an auto body repairman. In the mid to late 60’s, Romarico and his brother, Teofilo, started their own “mobile” garage. Romarico and his brother, when called upon for their expertise, would either have the vehicle towed over to their place or they would do home service, whichever was more convenient to the customer. Through words of mouth, customers grew and Romarico’s expertise was constantly sought after by so many that he was even sought by a dignitary from the Presidential Palace in Malacanang. A certain dignitary called Mr. Reguiera sought Romarico to create a replica of his dream car, a Rolls Royce convertible. Romarico built this car from scratch, all by his two hands. This was Romarico’s greatest achievement in his profession.
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n the late 70’s, Romarico and Aurora proudly released their eldest son Eduardo to the US Navy and became a sailor. Romarico and Aurora were saddened by Eduardo’s separation from the family, but not as much sadness from the grief of losing their 3rd son Wilfredo in April 1980. In 1982, Eduardo petitioned his parents to join him and his family in the United States. A few months later, Romarico and Aurora became US Citizens. Their citizenship were expedited as Romarico was a WWII veteran who served as a Philippine Scout under the US Army. A year later, Romarico and Aurora petitioned the rest of their children to migrate to the US: Raymond, Lilibeth, Romarico Jr, Robert and Lizabeth in 1984, then Rolando and his family in 1996.
Romarico, loved many things. Not only did he enjoy playing games, such as various forms of cards such as Solitaire, doing word searches, and bingo with his family, he had a passion and talent for singing. Often, upon walking through their house on Parkbrook Street, if he wasn’t whistling a tune, you would hear him singing songs like Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” and Bing Crosby’s “I’ll be Seeing you.” At times, you would even see him serenading, Frank Sinatra’s “Moon River” to his wife in the kitchen as she was cooking, or singing Charles Tobias & Joe Burke’s “Goodnight Little Girl of My Dreams” with his second granddaughter, Joyce (their theme song).
On May 25, 1994, Romarico’s wife, Aurora died. It was yet another defining moment for him. Romarico survived with his children and grandchildren. As years went by, Romarico’s health went into a decline. He developed Dementia, a loss of cognitive ability, affecting memory, thinking, judgment. He had 2 strokes. The second in February 2010, when he suffered a Brain Stem stroke that took most of his mental and physical abilities. Then on April 25, 2012, surrounded by family, Romarico Mangupag Adviento took his last breath.
Throughout Romarico’s journey in life, he remained the kindest, most charming, and most humble man, who loved life, and touched the lives of many with his generosity and selflessness. He had witnessed war and peace, life and death, love and pain. With such a will to live, there is nothing that he wouldn’t do for his family in securing their health, success, and happiness. He was not only a loving husband to his wife, an extraordinary father to his children and children in law, and an amazing grandfather to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, he was also a friend and a mentor, the perfect example of a good man. The world became a better place for his family and friends because of him.
Romarico Mangupag Adviento, Sr., may you rest in peace. You are forever in our thoughts and will eternally remain in our hearts. We love you.
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