Daniel Tomista Jr.

DANIEL M. TOMISTA, JR.

Daniel is a loving and thoughtful son, brother, husband and father. He is the fifth child, among the seven siblings. His mother named him Daniel, Jr. after his father's name, because he's the youngest among the four boys.

His immediate family, his cousins, uncles, aunts and his grandparents call him Junior. To his closest friends he’s called Daniel.

When Daniel, Jr. was 10 years old his father passed away.

Daniel at his early age learned to help his family by helping his mother, Virginia on her food-catering job. He would help carry grocery bags and prepare food to sell to workers at San Miguel Corp. at Del Pan in Tondo.

When he was in Elementary, he took on responsibly the role of a big brother. He would regularly take his 2 younger sisters Elsie and Badet to Pedro Guevarra Elementary School and bring them home to make sure that they are safe.

In his high school years at Jose Abad Santos, he made life long close

friendships with Willie Ramos, Edgardo “Egay” Pacheco, Carlos “Boy” Pagunsan, Andres Dantoc, Ed Palustre, Ricardo “Docdoc” Pagunsan, Virgilio Timbas, Mario Capispisan, and Mario Repre. The caring attitudes of his friends toward each other made him excited and happy whenever he would tell stories about his friends and their adventures.

He started enjoying dancing with some college friends in Adamson University then later his talent helped him earned some money by dancing

in the afternoon live TV show as well made his family very happy by

seeing him dancing on TV. By: Bernadette Tomista De Guzman

It was a get-together shared with friends & his bereaved family in Novaliches, when I first saw my husband Daniel; the gathering was the ninth day novena prayer, honoring the death of his Lola Viring in 1979. Several days after that event, I received a call from his cousin, Tessie Tomista saying: “My cousin Junior (that’s how she addressed Daniel) is interested in meeting you” she passed the phone to him, then we had a long tête-à-tête, as I recounted, we arrived to that part of the conversation where he invited me to go with him to attend the mass and novena at St. Jude Thaddeus a catholic church, in Mendiola, Manila. Being a devotee of the patron, I accepted the invitation. So as planned, we attended the church service the following day. After that occurrence, he constantly comes to visit me in my abode, where he met my kindred and we became acquainted with each other.

Back then, Daniel was in Junior college enrolled in Chemical Engineering at Adamson University, after his classes, he made it a point that every afternoon, he would fetched me to the university where I was studying and accompanied me to the firm where I was employed, for I was a working student at that time. It’s been a daily basis where we got to see a lot of each other. After quite some time, long enough to allow a good bit of uncertainty he proposed to me; I accepted his proposal for I saw in him the quality of always and made certain that he considered my feelings; being caring, showing an act of sincerity in his dealings, and kindness not only to me but to my kin as well. From that day on our love for each other flourished.

We were first married in a Civil Rite in 1982, at the City Hall of Manila, years later; we received the Sacrament of Matrimony in a solemn mass with Rev. Fr. Keith as the officiating priest in Sta. Cruz, Manila. Compassionate and devoted; Daniel worked hard to make his new family happy. He was always generous with his time making us--his family his top priority. By trusting his emotions, Daniel did his best to make sure that both the marriage and home life ran smoothly. This is just an illustration on how Daniel was truly a person of empathy.

Daniel and I were blessed with two children, Peter and Joan. His attributes of being a caring and tolerant person who was very accepting of others translated to being a good father to his children. Daniel shared these values with our two children. Daniel related well to children of all ages and was able to connect to them on their level. The children always loved him, and he was completely and totally steadfast to them.

His primary occupation back in our country was as a field service engineer in line with copier machines. Employed for 10 years by Ricoh Pan Trade, Inc., from 1982 to 1992, for some reason unknown to me, the company ceased its operation in 1992, so he moved to M.R. Company, a similar type of office set up, compared to his first employment, he worked there for 5 years. Due to economic crises in the Philippines, the firm ceased its operation in 1997. Equipped with his talents and skills in office machine automation he took the courage to work by himself, made the effort to go from various offices and offered his expertise. Shortly, two of his former fellow technicians, Noel Trinidad and Edward Tolentino, joined him. They sent business cards to different companies bearing their names and pager numbers to anyone who would need help in fixing their copier machine. At first, three of them would go all at the same time in a single call service, later on they split their ways for a prompt customer service call. Daniel always made the effort to understand what was needed at work. Daniel took pride in managing his professional responsibilities and seemed to always know what was necessary to successfully complete a task. Daniel was one to take initiative and his skills at working cooperatively were highly valued. Daniel continually sought to learn what his co-workers did well and how they were most effective, a talent that enabled him to help them develop their own potential.

Daniel’s faith was important to him. For several years he was a member of St. John the Baptist Church in Quiapo, Manila, as marshal for the Black Nazarene. At the same time a Eucharist Minister at San Sebastian Basilica in Plaza Del Carmen, Manila. Daniel’s stewardship also included participation on various church committees. Daniel was constantly offering his support and encouragement to fellow member of the groups and activities in which he participated. He was compassionate and warm-hearted, someone who truly cared for others and that was clearly demonstrated in his work with the congregation.

Daniel enjoyed traveling, to reminisce those years when we were in the Philippines, every time the school ends around April to May, we would go on a vacation in some places like Novaliches, Bulacan, Antipolo far South in Laguna Hot Spring, Lucban Quezon, Batangas, San Fabian, spending a quality and quantity time with the family. His gift for keeping things lively meant that vacations with Daniel were enjoyable.

Daniel was a dog lover and cherished his pets. One of Daniel’s favorite pet was Blacky, a male Belgian Malinois. When we migrated here in USA, Daniel felt bad and cried leaving Blacky behind to my son’s friend Carlo. They were best friends for 5 years. In 2009, when Daniel was stricken with this dreadful disease he got “Jack” a white jack russel terrier given to him by my mother-in-law, Nanay Virginia, to be his daily companion anywhere he would go.

In October 2004, Daniel, me and our two offspring's, arrived here in USA, we lived with his Mom’s and younger sister Badette & Noel’s residence in Alviso, a year later, we moved in to another place in Milpitas where we are continuously staying up to the present.

In 2005, he was employed in a manpower agency called West Valley Engineering, this agency deployed him to work at Zomax, Fremont, a company disk CD repacking, as an assembler in the fulfillment department from January till March of the same year; when this company ceased its operation in the Bay area to transfer to another state, it lead him to no other option but to looked for another job.

In March 2005 to 2008 he got employed as a service clerk and cashier, at Walgreen's in El Camino. Santa Clara. He loved his job so much, for he enjoyed the warm friendships of people with whom he worked with in this company. Daniel is a hardworking person, he wanted to earn more for a living so he searched for a secondary job, wherein he landed at Rabbit Office Automation, located at Santa Clara, in August 2006 till August 2007, as a shop technician in printing business, sales & rentals. As it is, being a diligent worker as one of his good quality with magnetic personality in dealing with people, he was well loved by his comrades and not wanting him to leave his job. However, though it was heartbreaking to leave those people with whom he has high regard for the great kindness they have accorded to him, he stood adamant in his decision to resign before the month of August 2007 ends;

To recall, in the middle of the year 2006, Daniel learned from someone about the job opening at United States Postal Services (USPS). Knowing the great value of the benefits he would get, stipend and the like, Daniel and Michelle our daughter tried their luck, they both took the qualifying exam. on the same date, but he was the first one called to report. After a long wait, from the time he applied for it, finally before August 2007 ends, he received a priority mail from the USPS, Postal Service granting his request to work as a mail carrier, he immediately grabbed the opportunity, reported to his post the following day.

Two months later, I’ve noticed a change in my husband’s appearance, he loosed weight, he walked with a limp, stiffness with a lump on his left leg that could be seen and felt, rapidly it grew in size. He thought it was merely an arthritis.

That lump progressed into a dreadful disease, called sarcoma cancer which was ruled out in February of 2008. He submitted himself into several painful medical procedures in which he endured all the torments just not to leave our family fatherless. He once uttered to me that he was not scared to die what he was frightened about was that he would leave us sad and broken hearted.

Daniel passed away on December 22, 2010, at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Lawrence in the ICU Department. We were with my husband from the time he was admitted up to the time he breathed his last. He died peacefully in his sleep. He is survived by his spouse and two offspring.

Throughout his life, Daniel was a gregarious and enthusiastic man. He was generous in sharing his personal attributes giving and helping those he knew and loved. He would often fill the role of a coach, bringing out the best in everyone. He was imaginative, original, tender hearted and easy to get along with. Daniel leaves behind him a legacy of life long friendship amongst his circle of friends and cherished memories to us his family. Everyone whose live he touched will dearly remember my husband, Daniel M. Tomista, Jr.

By: Maria (a.k.a. Mimi) Santos Tomista