Sofia De Jesus Quilalang

The “X”, “Y” and “Me” generations are what sociologists have labeled the young people of today. Back in the day there was the Lost Generation, The Baby Boomers and then there was The Greatest Generation. Born in success and excesses of the Roaring Twenties then fired in the hardship of the Great Depression this was the generation mom was born into. Sofia was born on July 4th 1927 in the City of Puerto Princesa, Provence of Palawan in the Philippines. She was the eldest of eight children born to Uy Put Co, (baptized Pablo De Jesus), a prosperous merchant and refugee from Amoy, China and Pabliciana, the youngest daughter of Juan and Maria Gabinete.

When war came to her home she learned to hide in the jungle and ran up mountainsides to escape enemy patrols. Starvation, deprivation, injury, and loss of family and friends taught her to be strong and resourceful. At the end of the war, she met and married our father, Anastacio Dumlao Quilalang, a Filipino in the United States Navy. Before immigrating to the America they had six children but had lost three.

In 1961 Mom, with the American dollars secreted amongst her belongings, Anastacio Jr., Sylvia, and Susan landed in San Diego. We lived in temporary military housing called Quonset Huts for months. We slept on donated beds and WW2 itchy wool blankets. Eventually we were relocated to actual housing. Thank God for Navy Relief. Mom never forget their assistance and the lessons in humility and pride. Mom moved us into a small house on Logan Ave. This is where Anthony, Shirley and Alfred were welcomed into the family.

She hoarded canned goods and toilet paper and watched her black and white three station television during the Cuban Missile Crisis and cried along with the rest of the world in the dark days after the assassination of JFK. In 1965 we moved to Chula Vista with the help of one of her friends Auntie Aida (related not by blood but by respect and mutual experience)---Aida Dela Cruz.

1968 was a tumultuous year. The USSR and The US were racing to the moon, protests appeared everywhere and the Vietnam war was escalating. The youngest Sandra was welcomed to the family. During the same year the eldest child Anastacio aged 20, was taken from us in friendly fire. Mom pushed on. She learned how to drive her nine person Ford station wagon and became the designated driver for everyone. She waited in line on those even-odd days to fill her gas tank. She watched with tears streaming down her face when the Twin Towers fell. She had faith and hope that with prayer and resolve that society would find strength to build again and build a better and more tolerant world. A world The Greatest Generation fought the fight for.

She was everyone’s mother, elder sister, grandmother, and confidante. Loved “good music—Golden Oldies”, vanilla ice cream, parties and dancing. Her gardens were lush green seemingly uncontrolled jungles---they got regular thinning and pruning. You have all heard of “a green thumb” well she and my father had a ‘green body”. If any of the children inherited just a little bit of this talent we could make a success of a plantation in the desert.

One of Mom’s favorite pastimes was shopping at the Navy Exchange and eating at the Cafeteria. Armed with a smile, patience, and a generous heart, strangers became friends. She knew all the cooks by name as well as many of the retail workers. She also enjoyed meeting friends and relatives at the local McDonalds for breakfast and hashing over the latest news.

Mom had a long and eventful life and her last years were surrounded by friends and family. No one knows when they will be called---we can never be ready. She is survived by her children; Sylvia , Susan, Shirley, Alfred and Sandra . Her grandchildren; Ricardo, Sophia, Shaun, Alec, and Megan Alana. Her great grandchildren; Samantha, Raelene, Emmanuel, Leila, Gabriel and Noah. Her sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, and numerous other relations.

Mom, You will always be in our hearts and will never be forgotten. We love you and will miss you dearly.