Demetria Metring Unico Toledo

January 9, 1928 – December 12, 2017

On January 9th 1928 our Toledo legacy began.

Demetria Cariaga Unico was born on January 9th 1928, in the province of Agoo in La Union, Philippines. Her parents were Escolastica Cariaga Unico and Jose Espero Unico Senior and she was the third born of four siblings, Mercedes (Bugarin), Rosita (Calderon) and Jose Jr (Unico). Jose Sr, Escolastica, and the Unico children were the start of it all, bringing the Unico family from the Philippines to begin the Unico Legacy in the United States.

In 1930, while Demetria was barely two years old, her father was recruited as one of the many immigrant workers in Oahu, Hawaii. He worked as a laborer in pineapple plantations, establishing his life in Oahu. Although Jose Unico Senior was distant from his family, he still managed to remain close at heart. As a dedicated husband, he maintained communication with his wife and family in the Philippines and continued to provide financial support to his family.

Her mother Escolastica, raised their four children to the best of her ability. Demetria and her siblings were obligated to take on a lot of responsibilities, including jobs at an early age to help their family. Demetria was able to balance her family responsibilities and jobs without interrupting her education.

As a child, Demetria attended San Clemente Elementary School. Demetria then attended three different high schools; Tarlac High School, Mangatarem High School, and lastly Camiling High School where she graduated and received her diploma. It was not her decision to attend three different high schools. Sadly, her life like many other Filipinos’ lives was affected by the Second World War. Economy and education was halted and many Filipino families left their towns fleeing into mountain areas. Demetria and her family left their home and sought refuge away from the cities where they lived like nomads for months, moving from place to place. Once the troops left her province, Demetria and her family were able to return to their home and rebuild their lives.

After graduating high school, Demetria attended Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines and received her Associate in Arts. Demetria was a natural born seamstress, initially learning from her mother, and has even once said “Sewing, hemming and altering our own clothes as well as others not only saved us money but also helped provide a flexible paying job.” After college, Demetria started her own family.

On May 22, 1954 at the age of 25, Demetria married her one and only husband Moises Bugarin Toledo. Now living in the province of Macarang, Mangatarem, in Pangasinan, Moises and Demetria began a family, and had nine children, seven boys and two girls. The children are: Eddie, Raul, Denia, Pocholo, Brenda, Glenn, Adan, Errol and Arnold. Arnold was the only child born in Hawaii, while all of the others were born in the Philippines. Tragically, Pocholo died from meningitis when he was only 19 days old and Eddie died from complications while undergoing surgery to remove a cyst when he was seven years old. The passing of her two children deeply affected Demetria, but despite the heartache, she remained strong to take care of her family.

While Demetria and Moises established their family, her mother, Escolastica and her siblings immigrated to Oahu, Hawaii, to reunite with her father, Jose Senior. With all her family in Hawaii, Demetria was determined to reunite them, together as one. Finally, on May 16, 1969, Demetria, Moises, and the six Toledo children left their homeland and immigrated to Oahu, Hawaii, reuniting with her parents and siblings. She and Moises sold their land, their cows, and their valuables to fund their transportation.

While in Oahu, she worked several jobs. She was a domestic worker in Schofield Barracks, a laborer in the pineapple fields, a dietary associate in the hospital, and a baker in a restaurant. Although it was a meaningful life, she faced difficult times. Several months after arriving in Oahu, her mother was in a serious car accident and passed away. Soon after, while Arnold the youngest was just a baby, Moises was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. During cancer surgery, Moises suffered a stroke but managed to pull through. Some of her children were old enough to help in taking care of the younger ones. Moises recovered but needed medications throughout his life.

Denia was the first of her children to move in 1976 to San Jose, California. Soon after, Brenda followed, then Raul and family, then Glenn and in 1980, Demetria, Moises and the rest of the Toledo children also moved to San Jose reuniting the Toledo family. Demetria once said “California, I heard was called the Golden State because you can earn a good living there.”

Demetria started a new chapter in her life in San Jose. She started working right away in the semiconductor industry at companies such as Monolithic Memories and IBM. Most of her children were now adults and had their own families. She was able to enjoy quality time and create lasting memories with her husband, who passed away on October 23, 1987. Although deeply affected by her husband’s passing, Demetria persevered through this difficult time by focusing on family. Her home, the corner house on Naida Avenue, San Jose was where some of the fondest memories were created, especially for her grandchildren. The doors stayed open, offering a warm welcome to all her children and grandchildren. It was in fact, “Grandma’s House,” a place of remembrance. Every Christmas and even just random, out of the ordinary family gatherings and barbeques took place at her home. It was always a place everyone enjoyed. The grandchildren would play all around the house, in the front yard on the steps, in the backyard climbing the brick barbeque pit and the plum tree. The grandchildren would often go into her room finding the endless piles of reading materials that she loved.

After retirement, Demetria continued to work part time in places like Great America and lived a content life. She was an independent woman, always generous and nice to her grandchildren, and would shower her granddaughters with compliments and sometimes jewelry. She offered her time to watch her grandchildren without question. She would also treat them with tickets to Great America. She enjoyed taking trips to the casinos with her friends and attending family functions where she would reminisce about cherished memories; including stories of her life in depth and all that she has experienced, especially to her grandchildren.

Demetria spent her last years of life living with her eldest son, Raul, and under the empathetic and loving care provided by her daughter in law and closest companion, Cornelia. She passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 12, 2017.

Demetria will be loved and missed by many, her stories will be cherished and shared to anyone willing to listen. She will be fondly remembered as Metring, mom, grandma, a great grandma, auntie, friend, a wonderful seamstress, a woman who loved going to casinos and so much more. Her life’s story is a part of the Unico legacy, and she lived a memorable and meaningful life. She had once said “I lived my life so far with no regrets, I started my own family, and they started their own, and I experienced so much during my lifetime, so much love and happiness, with a share of sadness too.”

I’m Gina Toledo Mabalot, granddaughter of Demetria Unico Toledo, My mother is Brenda Mabalot, her 5th born child. Back in 2003, I was given an assignment that allowed us the freedom to write about absolutely anything, and I chose to write about my Grandmother because there’s always a story waiting to be told. I’m glad I took the opportunity to hear my Grandma’s life story and put it down on paper, I hope I did her proud.

CHILDREN:

1. Eddie Toledo (deceased)

2. Raul Unico Toledo, San Jose, CA

Cornelia Batin Toledo (Wife)

Children:

-Amanda Mae Batin Toledo (Granddaughter), Sacramento, CA

Francisco Valencia (Fiance)

-Tariq Moises Toledo Ameen (Great Grandson)

-Erwin Nolan Toledo Bautista (Great Grandson)

-Rosco Frank Toledo Valencia (Great Grandson)

-Maxwell Noah Toledo Valencia (Great Grandson)

-Sean Paul Toledo (Grandson), San Jose, CA

-Sophia Lynne Howe Toledo (Great Granddaughter)

-Avery Kingston Howe Toledo (Great Grandson)

-April Lynn (The Favorite) Toledo (Grandaughter), San Jose, CA

3. Denia Toledo Reynolds, San Jose, CA

Charles Reynolds (Husband)

Children:

-Shana Toledo Cadelina (Granddaughter), Irving, TX

Issac (Fiance)

-Jerald Roman Cadelina Pabalan (Great Grandson) San Jose, CA

-Jenie Toledo Cadelina (Granddaughter), San Jose, CA

-Kaleyah Cadelina Africa (Great Granddaughter)

-Kelise Cadelina Africa (Great Granddaughter)

-Kenneth Michael Reynolds (Grandson), San Jose, CA

-Dustin James Reynolds (Grandson), San Jose, CA

4. Pocholo Toledo (deceased)

5. Brenda Toledo Mabalot, San Jose, CA

Chris Galvan Mabalot (Husband)

Children:

-Peter Dan Lopez Mabalot (Grandson), San Jose, CA

Minerva Batin Dumlao Mabalot (wife)

-AundreyaJayde Dumlao Mabalot (Great Granddaughter)

-CadenceAilani Dumlao Mabalot (Great Granddaughter)

-TrinityCerene Dumlao Mabalot (Great Granddaughter)

-Peter Chris Toledo Mabalot (Grandson), San Jose, CA

-Gina Toledo Mabalot (Granddaughter), San Jose, CA

-Ellysa Gisele Mabalot Ellescas (Great granddaughter)

-Matthew Toledo Mabalot (Grandson), San Jose, CA

6. Glenn Unico Toledo, Colorado Springs, CO

-Gabriel Glenn Toledo (Grandson), San Jose, CA

7. Adan Unico Toledo, San Jose, CA

8. Errol Unico Toledo, San Jose, CA

9. Arnold Unico Toledo, Richmond, TX

Trang Nguyen (Wife)

-Cynthia Nguyen Toledo (Granddaughter)