Rosa Pajares de Leon

Rosa DeLeon was the eldest of 6 children born June 18, 1930 to Asunción Balce, housewife and Severino Pajares. a school teacher in the small town of Indan, now called Vinzons, Camarines Norte, Philippines. Beautiful Rosa was crowned Miss Camarines Norte High and graduated High School in 1948. She went to college and studied at University of Santo Tomas in Manila and graduated BS Education- major in History/minor in Filipino in 1952. Just like her Father, Rosa became a High School teacher briefly at Paracale High School after graduating college but was laid off work the following year due to lack of enrollment. She married young at 23 to Rodolfo Miguel de Leon and had one child named after him. She moved back in Manila and started working as a clerk typist at Bureau of Plant Industry in December, 1955. Although her marriage was short lived they continued to be friends as she focused more on her career and became a full- time Personnel officer in charged of interviewing and recruiting applications for employment at BPI. She continued her post graduate studies and received her Master in Public Administration at Philippine Women’s University in 1968. Her big break came in April, 1976 when she received a British Scholarship on Personnel work at the Royal Institute of Public Administration in London, England. She travelled to Europe and was invited to further her studies in the United States as well. When she returned from overseas she was promoted to Director, Personnel section at Bureau of Plant Industry as she was able to help her siblings children find a job and opened her home to them so they can continue their schooling and save money in rent. Rosa is loved by many exemplifying her willingness to help not expecting any return. Her passion for teaching opened new doors as she went back to full time professor at Philippine Women’s University after she received her Doctor of Education at PWU in 1985. She went into full time teaching at PWU and became a Professor on Human Resource Management until 1988. Upon the invitation of her best friend who lived in Washington D.C. she got convinced to migrate to the US and live with them and worked with her at First Virginia Bank. She retired from the Bank in 1998 and bought herself a one bedroom condo in Annandale, Virginia. She also worked as part-time Sales Associate at Macy’s store in Downtown DC to keep herself busy. However, in 1997 a serious complication of cataract surgery happened as she lost her left eye in the process. It was difficult at first but she learned to live with one eye after she completed her vision rehabilitation. Her dedication at work at Macy’s earned her the Star Academy Award in Leadership in 2009. She took her final retirement at Macys in 2014. She moved with her son Rudy and wife Liza de Leon in Burbank, California in May 2018 just time to witness the wedding of her grandson Randall to Camila Lazaro. Every New Year she gets to see all her great grandchildren, all four of them, Kyle, Iman, Landen and Jayme Rose. Rosa passed away peacefully on Wednesday March, 8, 2023 after 4 weeks battle with pneumonia. She was 92 years old. If there is a song that exemplifies her, is Donna Summer “ She works hard for the money” - it’s a sacrifice working day to day for little money, just tips for pay but it’s all worth it, just to hear them say that they care. All who know her called her Tita Rose the most loved aunt of all. You will be missed dearly. LOVE you Mom❤️