(Continued from the earlier portion...)

I remember the day before I left for Deployment, the FaceTime we had and how I told you that I'll see you when I get back to break you out and get some drinks and you told me you'll be waiting... I will definitely still bring you your favorite (cognac and sprite) when I get back home Tatay.. 

Tatay.. I can go on for forever on here,  but the Internet out this way is getting weird so I'm going to have to make it short. I love and miss you. But most of all thank you. Thank you for all of the lessons you taught us. Thank you for all of the laughs and tears.. Thank you for all of these memories that we will all cherish forever. I am glad you and Nanay are back together having your late night convos about all of us down here now. I love and miss you both. Until we see each other again Tatay.. 

I love you Tatay.  -Shawn

Tatay (The Don),

Words really can't fully express how much I love and miss you. Your love and generosity towards just about everything (your family, random pets you would bring home or your plants or money) is something I believe you have instilled in each and every single one of your kids and grandkids. It shows in all of these memories all of us are sharing. From stories about you and Nanay taking us to get some fast food after school, to whistling or singing your favorite tune in your room, or sneaking out of the house to drive somewhere you were always just the "man with the plan" even if it meant causing a little bit of trouble. But the Don got to do what the Don wanted to do. 

There are so many things I'll miss about you Tatay.. From waking up in the morning and having a cup of coffee with you before you took Aj and I to school, to talking about how good or bad our sports teams are doing, to building random things for us like bike ramps or stools, to listening to you and Nanay have conversations into the late night from upstairs, to teaching us life lessons and talking about life itself and what we should do with it; when it comes down to it I am going to miss you just being around Tatay.

You taught me that hard work always pays off; whether it be in school, or work or whatever we had our hand in at the time. The reflection of that shows in the family. You used to always tell me to "do your best in school so you can leave here and see other places instead of just here," and I would always say "of course Tatay, dont worry I got you." I remember when I told you that I joined the Navy; the smile that came across your face with the "Tatay Laugh" that followed I will remember for life. You told me that I finally understood what I wanted to do with my life and that Nanay is proud of me because he had a dream about her the night before. 

(Continued to next portion...)






When you passed away, I remember that and it broke my heart. We couldn’t come together and pray as a family. Steph had the idea of doing the 9 day novena via Zoom. I felt more at peace we could fulfill your wish. Every day I try and pray my rosary and divine mercy for you even if it takes me an hour even though Nanay told me it takes her 15 mins…

I miss you and Nanay going to bed early after watching the news on TFC; even when the sun was still up. You and Nanay would talk for hours until 11-12 at night. Laughing, talking then arguing, then snoring. I miss eating with you, and giving you all the parts I didn’t like to eat- those were your favorites, especially the fish head.

I miss you yelling at me to stop pulling out Nanay’s white hair for $5 because it would grow back anyways. I miss hearing your shuffling walk with your tsinelas. How on Summer days I thought you left my sister and I home alone but really you were out watering the plants. I miss you scarring me when you built our shed saying that’s my new home and I cried to mom saying I didn’t want to live there.

I miss being able to drive you to the casino or bringing you to Wendys and telling you to order whatever you want. But instead you always ordered from the $1 menu. 
You would go with mom to watch my sister and I swim in Lodi, and would tell us you can swim from the whole length of the pool while underwater. I would laugh and say come on Tatay…but to think of it, you could do anything. You always did.

You complained about money, which we all do. But most importantly what you never complained about was hard work. That’s rare.

Tatay, we love you so much it’s overwhelming to where my heart is bursting into tears. To say I appreciate you is an understatement. 

I love you- Wang Wang

(end)

Not only were you an expert craftsman, you helped me with school. You built me a wooden toy car for my science project. I was embarrassed it was so simple and plain. However, you taught me that looks don’t matter, as long as it worked. Everyone had wooden cars that were shiny and painted, but I still placed top 3 in my class for the “fastest.” You’d pick my sister and I up from school daily, in your Trueno with the broken seat belt in the back seat. You glued a small Santo Nino on the dashboard. You gave Him to me when I left home for college to remind me to pray. I look at my Santo Nino when I wake up every morning in Connecticut...

You taught me the joys of recycling with your giant tubs you can fit bodies in. You could grow anything and build anything. They don’t make them like you anymore. A diamond in the rough, but I pray my child grows up to reflect you.

You taught me how to play Mahjong, how to mix drinks. On a hot day when no one was home you’d tell me to go in the pantry and climb the shelf to reach for the Hennessey. Then you would tell me to get the Sprite. I asked why? You said for “mix mix.” Little did I know, I made my first cocktail at 9 years old.

I miss watching you pray. You’d be sitting up, praying your prayer book. The seams were broken, the cover worn, and it was falling apart. But you kept it together with a rubber band. I’d curl up on your bed next to Nanay who was already sleeping waiting for you to finish so I can hug and kiss you goodnight.

When Nanay passed away, you were so upset; I’ve never seen you cry. You told Shawn and I you were sad Nanay passed away, especially since you told Nanay you were going to go first because you wanted her to pray for you because she was good at praying. I told you to not worry about that and we’d pray for you always…

(pg 2) continue…

Tatay,
Words cannot express how much I love you. I miss you terribly, but most importantly I’d like to tell you thank you. Thank you for your hard work, strength, resilience, core family values, and faithful heart. Without you, we wouldn’t have the life we have today. I feel very fortunate to call you Tatay. 
From creating a rice mill in Lepong, donating plots of land to build a school in the Philippines, to being elected the first Barrio Captain earning the name “Don Pascual.” You taught me how to dream, and that the American dream is possible with diligence. You’re the reason why I’m so proud to be a Caluya. When I hear Caluya, I think of you. The strength and love you had for our family and especially Nanay was extraordinary. I pray one day my marriage is as everlasting and loving as yours.

This feels different. But I find peace knowing you’re resting peacefully with Nanay. 
I’ll miss your whistles to a tune I never knew, holding your hand that was always heavy and rough. You would pat my knee and tell me “okay honey” while I put my head on your shoulder. I miss you yelling at me saying my mouth is like a machine gun because I was talking too fast or just sitting on our old couch that you repaired by putting wooden planks under the cushion.

I’m going to miss telling you stories or showing you FB, then you shaking your head saying “terrible” while laughing your Tatay laugh. You would say something that sounded like diablo or some other word in Bolinao that I’ve never heard anyone else say. I still get in trouble today if I repeat it, and to this very day, no one knows what it means. 

You and Nanay were the reason I was excited to come home from school. You two would always buy Steph and I two famous stars from Carl’s Jr. or a pink box of donuts from the local bakery on Hammer.

(pg 1) continue...

Tatay was truly the ‘Don’ of the family. He always put his family first and would always do things his way. 

I remember before pre-school, my parents would drop me off with Nanay and Tatay to be babysat. Nanay would always let me watch cartoons and made sure I was always fed, while Tatay let me help him out with whatever he was doing in the backyard, such as watering the plants or picking fruit off the trees. At that young age, I would always tag along with Nanay and Tatay with wherever they went, in their tintless, blue Corolla. That thing was a hotbox. 

I remember always going with them to their exercising sessions at Seifert Community Center, which were really just senior citizens watching Richard Simmons videos. Nanay and Tatay would always pick me up from school on minimum days from St. George and I would always be excited to see them, mainly beca2use it meant we were going to stop for fast food on the way home. And it was always either Carls Jr. or Long John Silvers. Tatay was not the fastest driver. In fact, he would drive below the speed limit and cars would zoom past us. But what mattered the most was that he would always get us home safe. 

Tatay was also a big sports fan. He would always watch the Kings play, Pacquiao box, and watch the 49ers play whenever he got the chance. A funny memory of Tatay and sports was when I was about 6 years old, Tatay thought he was watching a real NFL game, but instead mistaken for me playing NFL Blitz on the PlayStation.
	
Tatay was also a rule breaker at times. For example, the family would always catch Tatay drinking a beer when he wasn’t allowed. He would also try and drive to random places without telling anyone. Tatay pretty much made his own rules, which truly made him the Don of our family. 

I hope to be half the man as my Tatay was. The story of his life and Nanay and how they came to America to give their children opportunity is something you would only see in the movies and in fairytales. I am blessed to have 

From Ben, 

As one of Tatay son-in-laws, my most memorable moments which I will cherish, is when I took Tatay & another uncle ( uncle Tomoy to a family cruise while I’m in the navy which was around 1995 aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). Boy, you would have seen how excited and happy they were. Especially my Tatay. It also made him proud, which I even brought ship ball caps which he wore around the house. And I have never seen how my Nanay would have tease and laugh to the full extreme by saying “so you going to join the navy?” . And just by repeating and repeating the same statement. Even irritated my Tatay saying reluctantly “shut up, yes I will join the navy, I leaving tomorrow “.  My Nanay again laugh in full extreme  and reply “you too old” and laugh again. I observe this more than a couple days between the both of them. But as I observed my Tatay, I know that was his one most memorable moments which he cherished so much. I really know he love for what I made him proud about riding in a aircraft carrier. Tatay, we love you & miss you.  I know you’re in a Happy place now with Nanay love you both.

A memory I keep going back to is when Shawn and I went on a bike ride with Tatay. As we’re turning on Angel and Otto Dr. my brother’s bike chain falls off and has to stop. All the while Tatay keeps pedaling, leaving us behind. Feeling frantic, I quickly caught up and cut him off to let him know what happened. I was so mad and frustrated at the time (being 8 or 9 years old). I find it funny now. This is the only time I was mad at him, thinking he’s leaving us behind when he just didn’t know what happened behind him.

I will always remember Tatay grilling tilapia in the backyard sitting on the wire stool. Hearing him say “Hello Honey” when you talked to him on the phone. Seeing his hat with the feather on Sundays and at family parties. Driving around in the extremely hot blue Corolla and hearing the broken Tagalog cassette tape whenever you powered the radio. Taking me and Tim to P-2000 for Yugioh cards. And the fact that if you couldn’t find him in the bedroom, he’d be outside watering the plants.  

Like many of us, we all share similar stories about Tatay. Whether it was coming home to a pot of dungeness crab or those water peanuts from the asian store. Hearing him whistle as he walks through the hallway. And trying to find that famous  jar of quarters. I’m sure we will cherish all those memories dearly.  

It’s true, Tatay did love his money. Even when he started to live at Creekside Care, I’d hear stories of Tatay having some large amount of money with him or losing his wallet in the laundry.  

As sad as it may be for losing Tatay, I am glad he and Nanay are back together praying for us.

Thank you Nanay and Tatay for the endless love and memories.

AJ



Tatay,
If there were any last words I could have told you, it would be thank you. You have shown me what hard work, dedication and love for a family is. It was always a joy being able to see the smile and excitement on your face when we would make a surprise visit at the nursing home.
I think we all know what a great carpenter and gardener you were. I struggle getting an ikea dresser together yet you helped build our shed, awning, storage cabinets and Bun Bun's cage at home; amongst various other things you would help fix around the house. I'll always remember you whistling while working in the backyard or while doing random things around the house.
One of my fondest memories was biking around the neighborhood with you. My bike had streamers on it and one day you decided to put streamers on yours as well, made from balloon string. As embarrassing as it was initially, I grew used to them and helped me spot you from a distance. 
We'll always remember your jar of coins and love for money. LOL. As true as it was you were also very generous. Being college students too cheap to buy fresh seafood, when Lori and I would come home from school, you always gave mom money to buy us dungenous crab, which was our favorite.
Thank you Tatay for the many memories and the constant love you have always given us. As selfish as it is wishing you were here, it takes comfort knowing you are with our heavenly father and reunited with Nanay. I love and miss you so much Tatay, hope you're enjoying a whiskey and sprite in heaven and give Nanay a big hug and kiss for us!

Steph

Tatay was the rebel of the family. He did whatever he wanted to make himself happy. But at the same time, he was the most loving and caring person you’ll meet. He made sure how your day was, how you were doing and made sure that you didn’t leave without eating some random leftover Filipino food. 

Some of my fondest memories of Tatay include:

Tatay loved watching basketball with Nanay. They were huge Sacramento Kings fans, when they were good back in the day. Nanay would always call and ask what channel the game was on. 

When me and my brother Tim were young, we had sleepovers at my cousins, Shawn and AJ house. Every night we would hear Tatay and Nanay argue about anything or just have a conversation til the late hours of the night. Hearing them argue was pretty entertaining.

 Tatay was a handyman also. He built a lot of things out of scratch. I remember one time he helped me and my cousins build a ramp for our bikes.

Tatay loved to drink. There were a few times when he had a little too much to drink that he got in trouble for it, Nanay wasn’t too happy. It was pretty funny.

Tatay kept a huge jar of coins that he hid in his closet. When I was young, I would always try to go look for it but every time I got caught by him.

Those were just a few of many memories I have of Tatay. Tatay was a loving, gentle person. He lived a perfect life, he saw his family grow right before his eyes.  He cared and loved all his kids, grandkids, and great grand kids. It’s hard knowing that he passed during these hard times the world is dealing with. Not having a church service and a proper funeral for him, especially not being able to have family together for his funeral, is the hardest part. He deserves better than this. But knowing that Tatay is now with Nanay, makes me feel better.  If it wasn’t for them, me and my family wouldn’t be where we are right now.

Tatay, we love you and miss you! May you and Nanay Rest In Paradise together. We will see you both again. 

Tatay was the epitome of a “ball of sunshine”. He always had a way of making me laugh or smile. He was clever, sneaky, and funny in so many different ways. One of my favorite memories of him was when he would tell me stories of when he lived in the Philippines and giving me a piggy back ride until he was tired. I remember when he was not allowed to drive no more  so instead of opening the garage where we would hear him, he went through the side gate and left! Our backyard was basically Tatay’s plant sanctuary. He spent most of his time there watering the garden, planting, cooking, and fixing something up. You best believe that he would get mad if you remove a plant without his permission. There was even a time when he climbed an unstable ladder that wasn’t open all the way to pick some fruit! As much as it saddens me that I am not going to see Tatay for awhile, I know that he is now in a better place with Nanay and the rest of the family. I love you!

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Pascual C. Caluya

23 octobre 1926 – 9 avril 2020

DeYoung Shoreline Chapel

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