Eduvigis P. Janabajal

Eduvigis P. Janabajal was born on October 17, 1919 in her home city of Cavite City, Philippines. She was the daughter of Francisco Pangan who was a leather and upholstery craftsman and Maxima Nardo Pangan who was a homemaker. Eduvigis was originally from Marinduke and Pampanga, Philippines but her family eventually settled in Cavite City. To her close family, especially her grandchildren, she was known as "Mamang". Her nickname when she was younger was "Bihing". She was loved by all and was the head of the family.

Eduvigis was raised with six siblings. She had brother, Gabino Pangan; step brothers, Eddie Pangan, Benjamin Pangan, and Constantino "Tanchong" Munzon; and step sisters, Charing Pangan and Ely Pangan. Eduvigis was usually involved in all sorts of activities with her siblings. She and her siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many special life experiences over the years.

As a young girl, Eduvigis had a number of interests. Like most children, she enjoyed playing and making up games. She was curious about the world around her and was often eager to explore it. In her spare time she liked to play games such as "kasuy", which she was very skilled at. This game in English translates to "cashew". This unique game involved the spitting of cashews! One of her favorite fruits as a child was the "Balingbing" or "Star Apple". These are only a few of her childhood memories since Eduvigis married at a very young age.

Eduvigis happily exchanged wedding vows with sweetheart, Agapito L. Janabajal and was married to him for a total of 74 years. They were the perfect example of " The Greatest Love Story Ever Told". Eduvigis fell in love with Agapito who happened to be her neighbor. She was the perfect wife and "backbone" to Agapito. She supported him throughout his entire career and life.

Eduvigis also worked hard to be a good mother to her children and she did her best to fulfill their needs. Eduvigis was blessed with eight children, Julieta, Jacinto, Jay, Teresita, Paz, Agapito Jr., Raul, and Diana Luz. Throughout the years of raising her eight children, she always portrayed genuine family values and showed them love and generosity. While raising her family, she continually instilled that her children love and respect one another. She passed this on to all of her children and grandchildren. These values will be carried with them throughout their lifetime.

Fortunately, Eduvigis enjoyed what she did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Eduvigis worked diligently and did her best to succeed at raising her family. She ensured that meals were cooked and that her husband's uniforms were washed and ironed for work everyday. Eduvigis was known for being an amazing cook. She loved to cook, "kare kare". She was such an excellent cook that neighbors would come and ask to buy what she had made, just from smelling what she had prepared. Her specialties were pancit, chop- suey and albondigas.

During World War II, Eduvigis managed to keep her family together. She did her best to protect her family by hiding all of their important documentation from the Japanese. This act enabled the family to immigrate to the United States. Her life in the Philippines was great, but in 1973 she, her husband, and youngest child immigrated to the United States (San Diego, California) to help start a new life for the family. This would ensure that the rest of her children would eventually be able to follow them to the United States. In the U.S., she raised her youngest child while continuing to support her husband. When her youngest child married and had children, she continued to act as a mother and helped raise her grandchildren while her daughter worked.

In 1988, Eduvigis and her husband relocated back to the Philippines for a short time. Then in 1989 she moved along with her husband to Hawaii and Guam in order to accompany their daughter Paz who was serving in the United States Navy. In 1991, she and her husband returned to the United States where they spent the remainder of their lives together.

Throughout the final years of her life, Eduvigis' happiest times were when she was surrounded by her loving family, especially her loving grandchildren and great grandchildren. She can also be best remembered for the affection she showed her husband by kissing him and ensuring that she said "goodnight" every evening and "good morning" every day, up until the day they were parted. She was also very dedicated and prayed religiously every night.

Sadly, Eduvigis passed away on August 6, 2010 at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California. She is survived by her eight children; Julieta, Jacinto, Jay, Teresita, Paz, Agapito Jr., Raul, and Diana Luz; as well as her twenty six grandchildren and thirty seven great grandchildren. Services were held at St. Rita's Catholic Church in San Diego, California. Eduvigis was laid to rest in Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California.

Simply stated, Eduvigis was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Eduvigis leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Eduvigis P. "Mamang" Janabajal.