Araceli Solapco Prudencio

With heavy heart and immense love, we announce the passing of our beloved mother ,mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother, Araceli Solapco Prudencio of National City, California at the age of 93, on Saturday, July 5, 2025, leaving a void her family cannot fill. Araceli, better known to family and friends as “Nanay Cely”, was born to Bonifacio Solapco and Felicidad Dizon, in Pasig City , Philippines on April 30, 1932. She was the third of four siblings, Josefina, Teresita and Fernando, all of them preceded her in death Araceli studied at a public elementary school in Pasig City until the Japanese invasion interrupted her education. She resumed and completed her elementary years during the Japanese occupation and post war. Araceli completed her high school at Rizal High School in Pasig City before studying and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Education at Philippine Normal College in Manila.

She started teaching at a public elementary school for 5 years and later transferred to the banking field with the Philippine Postal Savings Bank, in Manila. To broaden her qualifications beyond her educational background, she took accounting and finance courses at a university in Manila. Araceli continued to work with Postal Savings Bank for 10 years until its closure in 1976. She then moved to another office and started a new career as Security Specialist at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Quezon City, Philippines, where she completed 20 years of dedicated service. After a total of 35 years of government service, she retired on 1996. While working at Philippine Postal Savings bank, Araceli met the love of her life, the late Pastor Prudencio, Sr. (R.I.P. July 3, 1999), who was then working at the same office. They got married at the Immaculate Concepcion Church, Pasig City on October 21, 1961 For 38 years of marriage, Araceli and Pastor were blessed with four children: the first son is Gerardo ( Gerry married to Marlyn) and they have a son, Gerome, whom Nanay Cely fondly and devotedly took care since he was a baby; the second son, Pastor, Jr ( Jess or Ging) who is still living in the Philippines, is married to Yolly and have a son, Enzo; the third son is Valentino (Val married to Rose) and have two daughters, Pauline (Apol) who is now in heaven and Katrina (Tin Tin), who blessed Nanay Cely with her first great grandson, Kairi; and the youngest, Ma. Felicitas (Chit) whom Nanay Cely lived with until her passing. She balanced her full time employment with attentively caring for her children and providing for their needs. Nanay Cely took special joy in taking care of her children, cooking special meals on weekends, being a teacher and taking them to the park, mall, and movie theaters. Nanay Cely considered her children, grandchildren and great grandson her greatest treasure, her pride and joy until her last breath. She was also a very caring and responsible sister to her siblings, although third to the youngest of four, Nanay Cely was the driving force providing guidance, support and care to her older sisters and younger brother. She became the pillar to her siblings ever since their parents passed away while they were still young. She was a strong woman, and her strength came from her faith in God, who helped her in overcoming the hardships and challenges in life. Nanay Cely’s story continued overseas in America, when Tatay Pastor and she migrated to San Diego, California in August 1996, through the petition of her oldest son, Gerry, who is now a retired Lt. Commander of the US Navy. She lived with her oldest son’s family, Gerry, Marlyn and Gerome until Gerry and his family moved to Japan for a Military Change of Duty Station in 2008. She soon lived in an Apartment in National City, California with her youngest daughter, Chit, until the time of her passing. Araceli is survived by her children: Gerry and Marlyn, Jess and Yolly, Val and Rose, and Chit, grandchildren, Katrina Mae (Tin-Tin), Gerome and Enzo and great grandson Kairi. Nanay Cely embodied all the attributes of a great mother and grandmother. She is caring, thoughtful, hardworking, patient, compassionate, loving, dedicated and doting mom and grandma, one who loved and valued her family deeply. Her unconditional love for and devotion to her family will always serve as an example of motherhood. We felt Nanay Cely’s deep love then, and we feel it now, undying and enduring, ensuring that Nanay Cely will remain in our hearts forever.