Celedonio Rabello

His real name was Gorgonio Jaravelo. He was born in Banilad in the Philippines. His father was a tailor and his mother made Panama hats. They moved to Hawaii when he was 2 months old. He became known as Celedonio Rabello. (Of all the kids, he chose to spell his last name with an “e” to be different instead of an “i” for Rabillo) Left Hawaii on the dollar ship, President Cleveland, when he was 9 yrs. old and moved to Stockton, CA.

Oldest of 7 children from Zacarias Jaravelo & Marciana Flores: Celedonio, Merce, Isidoro, Gordon, Mary, Helen, and Rosita.

He learned to drive an irrigation truck when he was 9 years old and tractor when he was 12 yrs old. He quit school in his freshman year when they lived in Bryte Island. He liked math, art and spelling. He hated reading and composition and would cut class. He couldn’t swim. He worked in the fields and orchards: Gilroy–prunes, Watsonville–grapes, Stockton –asparagus & garlic, Palo Alto–raspberries, Salinas–onion & celery, Centerville–apricots, Mission San Jose–cauliflower, horse beans & cucumbers, Irvington-alfalfa & cauliflower and Newark-corn & cauliflower.

He worked in the pool halls in Stockton, Watsonville, Redwood City, and Alvarado during the winter. His job was to rent out the pool tables, rack the balls and clean up.

When he was 18, he held his 10 yr. old brother, Isidoro, while he was dying of TB. Around this time, he had his appendix taken out and had to stay in the hospital for 3 days. No one could pick him up. He took the bus to Stockton and then had to walk 10 miles to the ranch where his mother was working.

At 22, his 6 yr old sister, Rosita, died of TB meningitis.

At 24, he was inducted into the 1st Infantry Filipino Regiment of the U. S. Army in Centerville. He became a field lineman, rifle sharpshooter and worked in communication. He also worked in the motor pool and transported soldiers and supplies. At 25, he met 16-yr-old Lillian and wrote to her.At 28, while in New Guinea, he was training in a 10-man communication team in Morse code when he had a kidney stone attack. He was operated in Palm Springs then medically discharged in Utah. He received the American Theater of Operations Service Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal AR 600-68, Victory Medal and sharpshooter badge. He married 19-year-old Lillian. His mom, Gordon, Mary and Helen lived with them. 10 yr. old Helen died of lobar pneumonia in February and Teddie was born in May.

Father of Teddie, Rosie, Boyd and Martin.

At 35, he was a partner of strawberry ranch in Pleasanton. Manuel & Felix Chavarria worked with him. He lost the farm when his partner stole money and the partner ended up in jail.

He went to work for Old Man Bailey in Mission San Jose, then moved to Durham Rd. ranch by the Fremont Drag Strip to work with son, Norman Bailey, and Black Angus cattle.

At 51, then he worked for Fudenna on Fremont Blvd.

At 53, he moved to Patterson Ranch Rd., finally worked in an air -conditioned tractor with a radio and laser land leverer. Both Dimi and Desi had a chance to ride with him.

At 56, he discovered his real name when his son-in-law, Vincent, went to the Philippines to apply for his birth certificate.

At 57, with the help of Boyd, he moved into 5114 Curtis St. in Fremont, and became a proud homeowner through the G.I. Bill.

When he was 60, he buried his grandson, Edric Darvin Valerio.

At 61, he watched Rosie receive her MAT from Mills College.

At 65, he went deep sea fishing at the Farallon Islands with the Valerios and caught Rosie’s limit because she was too sick.

At 70, he finally retired from the fields.

He liked to fish in his boat with Frank Sacramento and even went out with Martin in his new boat.

At 71, he rode a bike along the Monterey coastline and rode a horse at R Ranch in Napa. He became a member of the American Legion Post 564.

At 74, he went to the P.I. with Vincent and granddaughter, Rodnina.

At 76, he watched Desi graduate from UC Santa Barbara.

At 80, he had a double by-pass heart surgery and laughingly told the doctor the next day not to make him laugh because his chest hurt. His children celebrated his 80th birthday and his wife’s “17th” birthday with a barbecue. Next he went through a kidney stone operation then his wife, Lillian, died after 52 years of marriage together. Dimi kept him company after her death.

At 81, he finally got his own pool table. He was the grandfather in a traditional Vietnamese wedding procession to Quyen’s house for Thanh’s wedding. He went to Maui to witness Rodnina’s wedding. He watched Jonathan take his black belt test in tae kwon do at Jung SuWon Martial Arts Academy in Milpitas.

At 82, he was there to celebrate the grand opening of Boyd’s and Sonia’s motorcycle shop, American Cycle, in Hayward.

At 87, he witnessed Carolyn & Max’s wedding in Seattle, WA.

Grandfather to Helen & Nelson Manalaysay, Nerissa & William Melendez, Carolyn & Max Bardon, Rodnina & Fo Matin, Susan Pestano, Dimi and Desi Valerio, Michelle Palmer, and Sonja & Eric Crosby. Great Grandfather to Kimmy & Rikki Manalaysay; Evie, Michael, & Brandon Huerta; Ava & Jacqueline Bardon; Isaac & Ariana Matin; Jonas Oco; Angel Sonntag-Walls; Jonathan Palmer; and Billy Melendez.