The youngest of five siblings, Jesus was born on Saturday, March 25, 1933. His loving parents, Gregorio and Felisa raised Jesus in a village in the Philippines called Catandala, Ibaan in the province of Batangas. According to stories that have been passed down, his parents named him Jesus as his birthday had a biblical significance. Raised as a Catholic, Jesus lived a life of faith, always carrying a prayer booklet inside his wallet. He had a strong and fearless personality. He treaded the streets late at night in a village with no streetlights and filled with abundant forests. Jesus had a simple personality, but his charm and smile captivated everyone around him. He loved the outdoors, especially swimming in the river. He also loved music, particularly a genre called kundiman which are classic Filipino love songs usually played with a guitar done to serenade a woman. He loved celebrating the yearly “fiesta” happening around May, where the village celebrates by having abundant food, marching bands, parades of beautiful ladies in gowns and gentlemen in traditional barongs. He was a big fan of gatherings as well as his favorite food- pansit. No matter how much he has traveled later in life, Catandala had his heart. This village has a certain warmth and welcoming feel, and its sentimental traditions reflected his personality. He loved this place so much that even in his later years, he would still visit Catandala every year with his children.
Jesus graduated college with a degree in Business Management in the University of the East in Manila. He then held a job at the Makati Stock Exchange. When he was 31 years old, he married the love of his life, 28-year-old Maria Paz on October 12, 1964. A year later, they were blessed with their eldest daughter Rowena, and five years later their second child Wendy was born. Maria Paz was offered a job as a military doctor overseas and as a family, they moved to Nigeria. After Catandala days, living in Nigeria were some of the best years of his life. He worked at the Philippine Embassy at the passport department and was also as an English teacher. They lived in a simple house with a garden where you would often see him outside doing yard work or fixing the car. On May 8, 1974, Jesus and Maria Paz welcomed their third child Michael. He had a strict yet loving personality to his children. He had a certain warmth and sense of security surrounding him. There, they enjoyed endless nights playing mahjong, having gatherings with their friends while their children climbed trees and played outside. Years later, Jesus and his family, along with his sister-in-law Teresa who was very close to the family enjoyed traveling the world. From Africa to Europe, to the United States, they traveled at a time when suits, smoking, flair were part of the travel fashion in the seventies.
Jesus and his family decided to move back to the Philippines so their children can attend college there. All three graduated as Doctor of Medicine with all their diplomas and graduation pictures hung on the wall in their house in Simoun St, Manila. Around this time, Jesus and Maria Paz invested in farmlands, piggery, and livestock which Jesus managed. In 1988, the family became bigger as they had their first grandchild through Rowena. Her name was Alexandra, followed by Nicholas in 1994, and Gabriel in 1996. Jesus and Maria were hands on in helping care for their grandchildren. They all lived happily and built memories in their house in Simoun St. Later on, Rowena and her children moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Jesus and Maria would eventually follow and spend their “grandparents’ years” there. In 2008, another blessing came to the family as they welcomed their fourth grandchild, Anastasia. She is the daughter of their youngest son Michael and his wife Lynn. Since then, despite the distance, the family would do their best to gather during the holidays, birthdays, and treasured each birthday that was celebrated. As the seasons change and the sun started to set, Jesus spent the remainder of his days with family. He was never alone, and in the most trying days, his family gathered and took care of him and each other. Jesus lived a full ninety-one years and twenty-three days. He showed strength to the very end despite illness. On April 17, 2024, God welcomed him home back in His arms where he truly belongs. He is deeply loved and always remembered by his family. He is survived by his wife Maria Paz, his children Rowena, Wendy, Michael and his wife Lynn, and grandchildren Alexandra and her husband Jeff, Nicholas, Gabriel, and Anastasia. His love and legacy will remain forever.
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