Edwin Rodrin Salonga

When Edwin Rodrin Salonga walked into the room, those in his company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Edwin was and how he impacted those around him. Edwin was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Edwin wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Edwin was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve him well throughout his life.      Edwin was born on May 29, 1953 at home in Cavite City, Philippines. He was the son of Honorio and Matilde Salonga. Edwin was raised in Cavite City, Philippines. Always at the ready with a good joke, he grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Edwin might describe him as an idealist, his friends and family understood well that Edwin was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to him.      As a young boy, Edwin was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew him into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Edwin was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with his peers. He was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. Edwin took part in basketball. In his spare time he liked making stickers and posters. Edwin had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity he and the many childhood friends he shared might discover.      During his high school years, Edwin responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. He graduated from Cavite National High School in 1970. Edwin was a very good student, and generally did well in his courses. Edwin absorbed as much as he could from all of his teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using his imagination to master his assignments. For Edwin, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to his ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Edwin a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to him to discuss just about anything. His favorite class in high school was Art. The teachers he enjoyed learning from the most were Jose and Bernal. He was an officer in the ROTC. Edwin did well in college, as a result of his comfort level with tackling new theories and his love of learning. He earned his Associates degree in Seamanship. Edwin was very adaptable, a quality that helped him make the transition from high school to college with little difficulty. As a result, Edwin's problem solving skills and thirst for new knowledge almost guaranteed that he enjoyed virtually every class he took. Edwin was always in quest of new things to learn and experience      With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought him an endless stream of friends, Edwin was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Edwin was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. He always seemed aware of what was going on with people around him and throughout his life he made many, many friends. While growing up, some of his best friends were Gady, Gil, Vheng, Amor and all his cousins.      Edwin married Lodivina San Jose at St. Rita's Church of San Diego, California. Edwin's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in his ability to make his new family happy. He was quite sensitive towards Lodivina's needs, showing his constant concern and fondness. Edwin was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served him well in helping to nurture his family.      Edwin was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made him an exceptional worker. His primary occupation was code welder. He was employed for 21 years by NASSCO and Gen Dynamics. Edwin was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize him. Edwin had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of his gift for insight. Edwin's fellow workers saw him as a supporter and a mentor.      Because Edwin loved to have a broad variety of activities in his life, he took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. His favorite pursuits were singing, dancing and home improvement. Edwin had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all of his favorite pastimes. However, Edwin's ever-present concern for others always took precedent.      Edwin derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. His charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. In high school, Edwin played basketball. Edwin was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list was basketball.      Throughout his life, Edwin was actively involved in professional and community organizations. He was compassionate, accommodating and quick to move into action. Always able to build a consensus, Edwin seemed to be the person smack dab in the middle of things, working to get things done. Those who had the opportunity to work with Edwin usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with him, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine. In high school, Edwin was a member of the Baragazos Youth Club. Throughout his later years, Edwin was an active member of the Praise and Worship Ministry and Class '70.      Edwin was a man who was dedicated and devoted to his faith. He was a member of International Christian Center for 16 years. During that time, he was a drummer and a conga player. He was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and he used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for his beliefs.      Though he never did anything solely for individual recognition, Edwin's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and selflessness, earned him accolades for his many lifelong efforts. Some of his most prestigious awards included Employee of the Month at NASSCO shipyard.      Edwin's love of improvising in his daily life was a perfect fit for his enjoyment of traveling. His favorite vacations were ones that were not planned. Traveling in a casual manor fit his personality well. Excited about seeing changing scenery and constantly looking for the enjoyment life could offer, Edwin took his vacations seriously, well, as seriously as he possibly could. Favorite vacations included trips to the Philippines.      Edwin was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. Lucky, a Pomeranian dog, was a best friend for 8 years. His family was rounded out by his Shitsu Poodle, Daisy, his Cockatiels and fish.      Edwin Salonga passed away on November 5, 2009 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Diego, California. He is survived by his wife Ludy Salonga. Services were held at International Christian Center. Edwin was laid to rest in Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California.      There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Edwin. He was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. He had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While he was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Edwin Salonga for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Edwin was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with his loved ones.