Lilian L. Dela Llana

Lilian L. Dela Llana,

11/24/1949 to 05/23/2014

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Lilian’s Biography:

Lilian Lagda Dela Llana was born in Kawit, Cavite, in the Philippines, on November 24, 1949. She was and is a beloved sister, mother, daughter, and mentor. She has always been a simple person, so generous and so compassionate. She loves people and they love her.

Lilian’s parents are Levy Lagda and Bonifacia Guandia. Back then, their lives were very hard. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father was a Machinist in Sangley Point, Cavite. She has an older brother, Benjamin, a younger brother, Noel, and a younger sister Corazon.

Lilian graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration majoring in Economics in April 1971 at the University of the East, Philippines. She began working in Serve Well Marketing, Makati City as a Bookkeeper.

When Lilian was twenty-two, she met her future husband, Willie Dela Llana. They met through her first cousin who at the time was Willie’s shipmate onboard the USS Oriskany. Willie is from Candelaria Zambales, a province 500 miles away from Cavite. In a few months, they were engaged and on November 19, 1972 they were married in Kawit Cavite Cathedral Catholic Church.

She moved to Subic Bay to join her husband who had enlisted in the Navy. They lived here from 1972-1975. On a dark, rainy night, an ambulance brought her to the Naval Hospital on the top of a mountain overlooking the bay. On September 18, 1973, Neill dela Llana was born. Willie and Lilian both felt very happy.

After Subic Bay and in the last part of 1975, they transferred to Imperial Beach, California. After three years, they moved to Bremerton, Washington. Ralph was born on August 5, 1978. The family lived in the beautiful Pacific Northwest from 1978-1979. After one year, they moved to Alameda California.

From 1981- 1987, they spent six years in Atsugi, Japan 50 miles from Tokyo. Here, they had a chance to travel around the country and learned the different Japanese traditions. On February 23, 1985, Lance was born in Kamiseya, Japan. Many formative years of the children were spent in the Far East culture of Japan.

In 1987, the family finally settled down in San Diego until her husband retired from the Navy in February1991. These experiences being stationed by the Navy around the world helped the family as individuals and as a whole become more educated and cultured.

Willie and Lilian bought a beautiful home in Chula Vista in March 1991. Lilian’s job was a Financial Management Analyst with the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command, Naval Amphibious Coronado, California where the elite Navy SEAL trained. On December 31, 2011, she finally decided to retire with 25 years’ civil service. For the next two years, she and Wilson enjoyed retirement and travelled the world, even building a house in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

They traveled in the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Russia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Cabo San Lucas Mexico, China, and Morocco.

Lilian was a free-spirited, cheerful, fun-loving lady who was full of life! Her smile was so infectious, seeing her made everyone happy. She made us appreciate life even more!

She was also a great dancer – she loved to dance! She was the first one on the dance floor and was always the life of the party.

But what Lilian valued most was her family. Every member held a very special place in her heart. She was so proud of her three boys! As for her life with Willie, she set a shining example of the kind of unconditional love that would see a marriage through good times and bad. She lived a beautiful, fulfilled life!

Lilian passed away on May 23, 2014. I will never forget that day. Though knowing her, she will want us to continue living our lives as happy and healthy as we can possibly be, enjoying each day to the fullest.

We miss and admire our mother. She brought us to this world, cared for us, and taught us a lot. She also listened to us all the time. She worried when I worried. She was so generous, willing to give anything to make sure that we had the tools to succeed. She is my protector and guiding light in this world. I would like to be as my dear mother: a special, simple person with a lot of love to give.

We miss you, Mom.

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I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I ‘m free

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call

I turned my back and left it all

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play

Tasks left undone must stay that way

I found that peace at the close of the day

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

Ah, yes, these things I too will miss

Be not burdened with times of sorrow

I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow

My life has been full, I’ve savored much

Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief

Lift up your hearth and share with me

God wanted me now, He set me free!

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The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me;

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;

Thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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Poem by Edwin Lagda from the Philippines:

Madaming dahilan ang isang paglisan

Anumang dahilan ito’y masakit na karanasan

Punyal na nakatarak sa isang pusong sugatan

Para sa nagmamahal na kanyang iiwanan.

Sa iyong pagalis baunin mo nawa

Aming pagmamahal na kailanma’y di mawawala

Ala-ala mo’y lagi sa aming mga diwa

Sa puso nami’y nakaukit na kabutihan mong nagawa.

Isang masayang musika sa aming alaala

Mga halakhak at ngiti mong sadyang nakakahawa

Sa mga panahong ika’y nakakasama

Lahat ay masaya sa mga kuento mong kwela.

Isa kang dakila at mabuting ina

Sa tatlo mong anak na matiyaga mong inaruga

Mula pa ng bata hanggang ngayong malaki na

Pinuno mo ng pagmamahal mga puso nila.

Mataray na asawa na tipikal sa isang "Lagda"

Numero uno naman sa pag aalaga ng asawa

Huwag mo lang kukuwentuhan ng tungkol sa iba

Ay naku ubod po naman siya ng selosa.

Mabuting kapatid yan ang aking napuna

Di nang-iiwan kapag may mga problema

Kahit ano pa hilingin sa kanya

Di mag dadamot ng kanyang ayuda.

Sa amin pinsan mo ay matulungin ka din

Lagi may pasalubong lalo na sa akin

Pag mayroon hiniling kanyang kakayanin

Isang tao siyang marunong mag share ng blessing.

Ngayon tahimik ka na, mga sakit ay wala na din

Sa pupuntahan mo kami’y iyong idalangin

Sa piling ng maykapal higit na ligaya ang kakamtin

Kasama pa sina Noel, Tatay, at Nanay mo na nauna sa atin.

Ang iyong paglisan ay paalaala lamang

Na buhay sa mundo sadyang hiram lamang

Di ito ang wakas bagkus simula lamang

Ng panibagong buhay, buhay na walang hanggan.

May your soul rest in peace.

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Lilian Dela LLana was a free-spirited, cheerful, fun-loving lady who was full of life! Her smile was so infectious, it made everyone feel happy. We always looked forward to seeing her as she was the life of the party. She made us appreciate life more!

Lillian was a very dedicated accountant who worked as a budget analyst for the government. Soon after she retired, she traveled across the globe with her husband Willie. She was passionate about traveling – exploring places, learning new cultures, and meeting new people.

Lillian was a great dancer – she loved to dance! She was always the first one on the dance floor.

What Lillian valued most in life were her family. She was very proud of her three boys! As for her life with Willie, she set a shining example of the kind of unconditional love required to see a marriage through good times and bad. Lillian lived a beautiful, fulfilled life!