Augusto L. Dela Paz

On September 9, 2014, a member of the world's greatest generation joined the ranks of immortality to meet his Lord and Maker. His earthly presence will no longer be felt by us, but his many legacies continue.

August, distinguished, respected, venerable, quiet and unassuming, courageous, generous, compassionate, industrious, talented, skilled, creative, independent-minded, honest, and fiercely loyal - these are the many qualities that endeared him to many and defined Augusto Lim Dela Paz in life.

Belonging to one of the prominent and respected families in Subic, Zambales, Philippines, Augusto Lim Dela Paz was born on September 27, 1920 - the fifth of 9 children to Jose Juico Dela Paz and Adela Trinidad Lim. His siblings include Placido, Jose, Jr., Eloina (the first of twin births), Elvira (the second of twin births, who died in infancy), Victoria, Norita, Leonor, and Raymundo. His grand parents were Placido Dela Paz and Gertrudes Juico. Placido Dela Paz served as the "Presidente Municipal" of the town of Subic from 1902-1904.

Early in life, at the tender age of nine, he learned the rudiments of woodworking and cabinetry-making from his strict and disciplinarian father, who then was teaching at the Trade School in Iba, Zambales, Philippines. By the time he entered high school at the Zambales Trade School, he was an accomplished craftsman. His works would be entered in many competitions at the Philippine College Of Arts and Trade in Manila, Philippines. At the Zambales Trade School, he would learn the intricate processes and complexities of carpentry and house construction, including drafting and design interpretation.

At the outbreak of World War II, on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese Imperial Forces simultaneously bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the Philippines, Augusto,Sr. found himself working for the Philippine National Power Corporation in Manila, Philippines. His two older siblings, Placido and Jose, Jr., were also residing in Manila, Philippines at that time pursuing higher education. To join their family in Subic, Zambales, Philippines, who by then were deathly worried about their plight, the three brothers would make the long arduous trip by foot through the mountain ranges of Zambales in order to avoid the Japanese soldiers. His brother, Jose, Jr. would later head one of the first guerilla units in Zambales, an underground armed resistance against the Japanese Imperial Army, which would lay the groundwork for the eventual liberation of the Philippines by Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Augusto would soon enlist as a Second Lieutenant with the famed Hunters R.O.T.C. Guerilla Unit, Zambales Military District, Subic Sector, under the Philippine Commonwealth Army in the service of the United States Armed Forces Of The Far East ( USAFFE ) from October 15, 1942 to January 31, 1946.

At about this period, the family of the young, beautiful,multi-talented, hardworking, and industrious woman from Imus, Cavite would relocate to Subic. As fate would have it, Augusto would fall in love with Natividad Barquin Ramirez. After the traditional courtship, he would win her heart and they would marry on December 26, 1942 at the St. James Catholic Church in Subic, Zambales. They would be blessed with 8 children. The first born, Nathaniel, would die during infancy. Soon they would have Lennie Anthony, Augusto, Jr., Michael, Erlinda, Wilfredo Gabriel, Ma. Veronica, and Ulysses.

Endowed with innate intelligence, inquisitive mind, and natural mechanical aptitude, Augusto,Sr. would learn to be a mechanic. After World War II, he would work as a mechanic for his brother, Jose, Jr., who would be in business for himself as a logging concessioner. He would be a seasoned mechanic working on bulldozers, six-by-six trucks, jeepneys, and cars. Not long afterwards, he would be in business for himself as a logging contractor. Later, he would expand his business into public transportation and farming.

Despite being quiet and unassuming, by 1960 when Olongapo separated from the town of Subic and became a city, Augusto found himself immersed into the local Philippine politics. He would be appointed first as town Councilor. In November 1963, he would win his first four-year term as Vice-Mayor of Subic. This would be repeated two more times in the elections of November 1967 and November 1971. He was at a political crossroad in the election of 1971. He could have run for the position of town Mayor but because he was deeply loyal to his friend, he sacrificed his own personal political ambition. On September, 21, 1972, Martial Law was declared in the Philippines. This would change the political landscape- both in national and local levels. The term of office for all elected Philippine officials would be determined at large by the ruling dictator. Augusto, Sr. would remain Vice-Mayor of his town indefinitely.

In 1981, he would resign his position as Vice-Mayor of his town to come to the U.S.A. at the pleading of his daughter Erlinda who is a nurse in California. He would embarked on a new journey. He missed his physician son, Lennie. Most importantly, he missed his son, Wilfredo Gabriel, who grew up in U.S.A.

He would live first with his son, Lennie, who is in private practice as an Internist /Cardiologist in San Diego,CA. In San Diego, he would return to his first love, woodworking and cabinetry-making. He would make many beautiful pieces of furnitures for his children, relatives, and friends, which now has become one of his many legacies.

In 1987, his wife Natividad would visit him. She would return in 1993 to join Augusto permanently. The two of them would live with Erlinda in Union City, CA for a while. Fiercely independent, the couple would live in Hayward, CA when Erlinda and her family moved to Salinas, CA.

On Dec. 8, 2013, the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, Natividad - the love of his life- passed away peacefully. Augusto,Sr. would miss her deeply. His heart would be broken. There would no longer be any meaning to life.

On June 2, 2014, he would be hospitalized for the first time at St. Rose Hospital, Sienna Campus, in Henderson, Nevada. He would never completely recover. He would be hospitalized two more times later on until his eventual demise on September 9, 2014.