Erlinda M. Aguinaldo

Erlinda was born on October 20, 1947 in Dinalupihan, Bataan, Philippines to Gregorio and Maria Manansala. She was the youngest of 4 daughters and joined sisters Leonida, Elsa, and Lourdes. Even as a young child, she loved to cook.

Erlinda was a bright student. As a young scholar at Dinalupihan Elementary School, she always finished within the top five in her class. At St. John Academy, she graduated high school with Salutatorian honors (our dad finished fourth- HA!). Following high school, she attended the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Soon after earning her degree, she became a teacher at Olongapo City National High School. For 8 years, she taught high school students.

Erlinda met a handsome, young man named Lamberto in high school. They belonged to the same tight-knit circle of friends, who still remain close to this day. While in high school, Lamberto enlisted in the United States Navy, and as he embarked on his travels, Erlinda was one of the few friends who stayed in touch with him. Lamberto would continue to return home and see his friends, but he soon realized that the one person he really wanted to see was Erlinda. Erlinda and Lamberto courted for three years before they got married on December 6, 1975 in Dinalupihan, Philippines.

Not long after she married, Erlinda ended her teaching career to follow Lamberto to San Diego, CA. On August 26, 1976 Leilani was born at Balboa Naval Hospital. Erlinda and Leilani stayed in San Diego, while Dad went on deployments. In September 1979, the family was relocated back to the Philippines where they were stationed at Subic Bay. On October 17, 1979, Lorilei was born at Subic Bay Naval Hospital. The family remained in the Philippines for three more years. After a complicated pregnancy, Leahmae was born on July 25, 1982 at Subic Bay Naval Hospital. Six months later, the family was relocated one more time and was stationed back to San Diego, CA.

After settling back in San Diego, Erlinda began taking accounting courses through ROP. Through JobCorps, Erlinda was placed with Dean Witter Reynolds, where she worked as a cashier. She continued working for the company for 32 years, even after it went through several conversions, finally retiring with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in 2012.

Over the years, family vacations were the basis for lasting memories. The family van logged many miles as Erlinda and Bert took the kids on trips to places such as San Francisco, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Mount Zion, Monterey and Yosemite.

While raising three girls had its challenges, their efforts proved successful as all three graduated from high school and obtained their Bachelor degrees. Erlinda was a proud mama as Leilani graduated from UC Berkeley, Lori graduated from UC Irvine and Leah graduated from UC Davis.

On September 18, 2004 Edward Yee joined the family when he married Leilani in San Diego, CA. On May 21, 2006 Olivia Aguinaldo Yee was born, making Erlinda a grandmother for the first time. Two years later on the same date, Ryan Aguinaldo Yee joined the family and became the baby boy they always wished for. To the kids, Erlinda was known as “Aiyah”, because baby Olivia couldn’t pronounce “Lola”.

Travel continued to be an important part of Erlinda and Bert’s life when the kids were grown. They fulfilled lifelong dreams when they traveled to the Vatican and Rome. They traveled as a couple or with friends, and they loved cruises. The Mediterranean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, New England and Hawaii were part of their travels in addition to regular trips to Las Vegas (of course!).

In addition to travel, Erlinda cherished her time with family and friends. She loved family gatherings for any occasion and regularly spent time with her barkada. Naturally, considerable time was given to tsismis.

Erlinda is survived by her beloved husband of 38 years, Lamberto; her daughters and son-in-law Leahmae, Lorilei, Leilani and Edward; her grandkids and the apples of her eye, Olivia and Ryan; her sisters Leonida, Elsa and Lourdes; a multitude of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews; and an army of lifelong friends that are too many to count.

Arrangements under the direction of Glen Abbey Mortuary, Bonita, CA.