May 25, 1938 - March 7, 2024
Garden Grove, California
Bonifacio (“Boni”) passed peacefully while under comfort care with his family beside him. Boni was a little over two months shy of his 86th birthday. Despite being in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease and being very ill in his last few weeks, Boni had moments of clarity where he recognized long time friends and family members; said good-bye to those he loved and cared for; and even sang his and his wife’s (Precy) song to Precy. Although, Boni will be the first to say he sang out of the tune, the song was melodious to those around him.
Boni was the youngest of four siblings and was born in the city of Mandaluyong, Philippines to Felix and Paula Matubang. In 1941, at the tender age of three, Boni’s mother passed. Boni was able to overcome this great loss and also the occupation of the Philippines during World War II (1942-45) and achieved both personal and professional success. In 1961, Boni earned a law degree from Far Eastern University at the young age of 23! Boni was a prosecutor for the Mandaluyong District Attorney’s Office, he was also a Police Captain, and finally the Chief of the Investigation Division. On behalf of the Philippines, Boni would travel to the United States of America (Washington, D.C., San Francisco, etc.) for conferences and training.
In 1962, while working as a prosecutor, he spotted from his office window a young lady, Preciosa “Precy” Aquino (his future wife), exiting the government building. Precy had just obtained the necessary government clearance so she could teach at an elementary school. Boni and one of his assistants followed Precy and “asked” if they could be of any assistance to her. A six month courtship ensued, where Boni first courted the family (mother, father, brothers, sisters) and Precy acted indifferent. Upon the advice of one of Precy’s brothers, Boni stopped coming to Precy’s house; this was when Precy realized that she also had feelings for Boni. The two were engaged in 1963 and were married on October 18, 1964. Boni and Precy had four children. Boni and Precy were quite the power couple, in addition to their respective careers, they owned a restaurant/bar called the “Waiting Shed” which was near the police station and the customers were Boni’s fellow law enforcement colleagues, and they also had a car service. In 1972, two weeks after giving birth to their youngest via caesarean section, Boni, Precy and their four young children immigrated to the United States and settled in California.
It was not an easy path for Boni and Precy to start anew in a foreign country, but they wanted a different life for themselves and their children. Boni kept getting rejected for jobs because the prospective employers stated he was overqualified. Boni then omitted some key work history from his resume and he was hired as a car washer. He did this job for less than a week, when he was notified that he qualified to be on a job list for the state of California. In 1973, he was hired by the state as an employment representative. He retired from state service in 1998.
Boni is survived by his wife, Precy Matubang; his children, twins - Molly, Fiel (Mercy), Victor, Maureen; grandchildren, Spenser, Jacquelyn, Bonivic, Marcus; brother, Sotero (Juanita); nephews, Michael, Paul, Philip, Edgar; and niece Nene.
“Gpa” loved his family, fishing, poetry, basketball, entertaining, cooking, a good cognac…. He was intelligent, funny and a sweet soul - his beautiful spirit and memories he created will be with us each and every day.
A visitation and prayer service was held on March 12, 2024. On Monday, May 20, 2024, a mass at 2:00 p.m. will be held at St. Columban’s Catholic Church, 10801Stanford Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840. A Celebration of Life follows from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Dimond and Shannon Mortuary, 10630 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840.
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