Romeo Carin Cabije

Romeo Cabije, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend died on July 6, 2023 after a brief battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Maria Mirasol, his daughters Therese, Marie, and Cindel, his five siblings Roman, Rolando, Rogelio, Rowena, and Rosendo, his three sons-in-law Adam, Chris, and Jason, his four grandchildren Jaden, Adora, Micah, and Luke, and numerous other relatives.

Born on January 6, 1959 in Cebu City, Philippines as the first child of Vicente and Conchita Cabije, Romeo was quickly relied upon by his parents to help care and provide for his brothers and sister. Before the age of 10, Romeo could often be found selling fruits at local dances or chasing cars and Jeepneys through the streets of Cebu to sell loose cigarettes. He was also responsible for ensuring each of his siblings went to school and would often give them some of his earnings for spending money. At age 13, he was put in charge of his siblings and played the role of provider and caregiver, spending the rest of his youth raising all five of his siblings.

Romeo attended secondary school at Abellana National School during the day and worked the cafeteria overnight, serving the students who attended school in the evenings. After graduating in 1975, Romeo attended university at both Cebu School of Arts and Trades and Cebu Central Colleges earning degrees in Stationary Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, respectively. While attending university, he became friends with Maria Mirasol Tecson (May), a student at another local university after the two met at the Youth Civic Action Program sponsored by the local YMCA. The program ended in 1976 but their friendship endured and Romeo could often be found at May’s home, sometimes to the chagrin of her siblings. A mutual friend played matchmaker by telling May of Romeo’s true feelings and though neither Romeo nor May could ever remember officially starting a relationship, the two found themselves spending all their time together. While May attended medical school, Romeo would often pick her up from school, sometimes secretly attending classes alongside her. The two were married in secret in a Cebu courtroom in 1981 with a more formal church wedding following in September of 1982.

The next three years would each bring a new member of the Cabije family with the births of Therese, Marie, and Cindel and by the end of 1985, the Cabije family was complete. In order to provide for his family and save up for a potential future in America, Romeo took a job with Timex Philippines Inc. which required him to work across the globe including stints in Scotland, Taiwan, the Virgin Islands, and Hong Kong, each a long away from his growing family in Cebu. He would communicate via long-distance calls and returned home whenever he was able, generally four times each year, and his daughters would later remember the joy at seeing their dad return, often with gifts. When his visits would end, his daughters would accompany him to the airport knowing that their dad would give them some money to buy whatever they wanted from the duty-free shop.

After over a decade of attempting to navigate the immigration laws of the United States, Romeo, May, and their girls were granted visas to enter the United States as legal permanent residents in 1997. Romeo began working at Welker Engineering where he quickly gained a reputation as a hard-working, funny, and welcoming co-worker. While at Welker, Romeo developed his own software to help him perform his job more efficiently. Romeo would later be let go from his job at Welker after marching into a new manager’s office to defend his co-workers. He would later help those same former co-workers by teaching them how to use his self-developed software. Romeo would later work at C&J Energy Services, later to be acquired NexTier Oilfield Solutions, only to be let go during the COVID-19 pandemic. He would be asked to return in early 2023 but he declined stating that he was enjoying his retirement.

Romeo was most alive when he was creating. An accomplished woodworker, mechanic, engineer, and general handyman, there is nothing that Romeo enjoyed more than making things, often asking family and friends if there was anything they needed made so he could add to his ever-growing list of projects. Trips to the Cabije house were always surprising as you never knew when you were going to walk in to see a room that didn’t exist the last time you were there. Even well into his 60’s Romeo would often wake up before the sunrise just to get started on his list and while in the hospital, Romeo would tell his doctors that he needed to go home because he had some unfinished projects waiting for him.

When Romeo made friends, he made them for life. He remained in touch with people he met at every phase of his life, from his early days in school through his years working in the United States, with numerous former co-workers reaching out to his family of their own volition during his time in the hospital to offer their assistance and to tell of their admiration for Romeo. He could still recite from memory the names of his elementary school classmates and was planning on attending a trip to Europe in 2024 with some of his former co-workers.

Most importantly to Romeo, he was a devoted family man. After moving to America, he and May were inseparable and spent nearly all of the following 26 years building a life together and enjoying the fruits of their hard work. While they each had to take jobs for which they were overqualified, neither of them complained and they continued to work hard to ensure that future generations would have even greater opportunities. In their later years, Romeo would wake up an hour early every morning to ensure that he woke May up slowly by playing “Ten to Eight” by David Castle on his phone and placing it on the pillow beside her before they went for their daily walk in the park.

Romeo enjoyed sharing his love of creation with his daughters, often inviting them to participate in his projects and teaching them how to use various kinds of tools. Every day was an opportunity for a lesson and Romeo was always a willing teacher. As his daughters grew older, he was always suggesting new projects he could undertake for them and their growing families, mostly because he wanted to provide and partially because he loved the challenge.

Both the heartbeat of any party and a devoted jokester, Romeo loved cheering people up with an appropriately timed joke (and sometimes one not so appropriately timed). While in the hospital, trying to cut through the seriousness of the situation, he made jokes about his condition to his wife, daughters, and sister often followed by a sly, knowing smirk. He would often be found behind his homemade DJ booth at family gatherings playing music designed to keep the party going beyond midnight while filming everything for his secret YouTube channel.

Filled with a lifelong love of sports and the outdoors, Romeo had a particular interest in boxing, billiards, and basketball. Often confused for Manny Pacquiao by many friends of his daughters, boxing night at the Cabije house was a cherished pastime. He loved to talk Houston sports with his sons-in-law and had very strong beliefs about his favorite team, the Houston Rockets. He loved to go camping and hiking with his family and in December 2022 he successfully completed the Enchanted Rock Summit Trail, his most challenging hike yet.

Romeo’s first thought was often of others. From raising his siblings, to his time as a husband, father, and grandfather he was selfless with his time, his labor, and his love. He often sent money and gifts back to family and friends in the Philippines and his daughters’ homes are filled with the fruits of his labor. He never let a call for assistance go unanswered.

Though he would not want anyone to cry, Romeo’s loss will leave a hole not easily filled for those who knew him. He will be remembered by his wife as a loving husband and partner. He will be remembered by his children as a devoted and caring father. He will be remembered by his grandchildren as a funny and doting grandfather. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a good man and a friend.