Bienvenido "Ben" Mercado

May 5, 1923 – January 30, 2016

Grandfather: Timoteo Mercado

Grandmother: Maria Atienza

Father: Miguel Atienza Mercado

Mother: Emilia Camposano Daen

Wife: Aurora Aquino Mercado

Bienvenido Family Lineage: Bienvenido’s line is from the Albay Province of the Philippines, by the foothills of scenic Mayon Volcano. The Mercado family farmed land rented from the Dominican religious order. The Filipino descendants of a Chinese immigrant named Domingo Lam-co, they changed their name to Mercado ("market") under the pressure of anti-Chinese feeling amongst the Spanish colonizers. Notable family member of the Mercado line includes Francisco Rizal Mercado, father of Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado (June 19, 1861 - December 30, 1896), the 1st Philippine National Hero.

Aurora’s Family Lineage: The Aquino Family traces its roots to the Tarlac & Ilocos provinces. Notable family members from the Aquino family line includes Manuel Acuña Roxas (January 1, 1892 – April 15, 1948), first president of the independent Third Republic of the Philippines & Benigno “Ninoy”Aquino Jr. (November 27, 1932 – August 21, 1983) a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac, whose assassination by the Marcos Regime propelled his wife, Corazon “Cory” Aquino towards being the 1st Philippine female president.

Life of Bienvenido:

Bienvenido Daen Mercado (May 5, 1923 – January 30, 2016) Eldest Son of Miguel Atienza Mercado & Emilia Camposano Daen from Legaspi City in the Albay Province, Philippines. Siblings are Fredesvindo Daen Mercado (deceased), Consorsia Mercado Herndone, Romualdo Daen Mercado (deceased), Myrna Daen Mercado (deceased), Conrado Daen Mercado (deceased), Flordelis Mercado Legaspi, Rolando Daen Mercado, Hernando Daen Mercado, & Nora Mercado Jara.

Bienvenido (“Bening” as he was fondly known by) was born in Legaspi City in the Albay Province and grew up in Taal, in Batangas Province. His father, Miguel Atienza Mercado, was a merchant marine & his mother, Emilia Camposano Daen Mercado became a housewife & mother for 10 children. During his father’s absence Bienvenido became the head of the household in keeping the family protected. Upon reaching adulthood, Bienvenido joined the Manila Police & worked his way to becoming a detective under the Manila Core of Detectives, which is the Philippine version of the FBI.

During the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, Bienvenido was forced into the Japanese Navy because of his engineering skills & was promoted to mid-shipman. At the same time, Bienvenido ensured the safety of his mother & siblings by sending them back to the remote province of Albay. While on furlough, the Americans bombed the ship he was assigned to. From that point, Bienvenido returned to Albay -- he arrived home on the day a funeral was being held for him. In the newspaper they received it stated there were no survivors from the attack. Their family reunion saw the ending of the Japanese Occupation. Bienvenido was interrogated by the Americans for collaborating with the enemy and was later released as family & friends vouched on his efforts to keep Filipinos safe at the risk of his life.

Bienvenido returned to the Manila Corp of Detectives during the time the Philippines became an American Commonwealth & eventually a sovereign country. At the same time Bienvenido continued to study drafting, architecture, & engineering at the University of Santo Thomas. It was there where he met his sister Consorsia’s best friend Aurora M. Aquino, who would end up as his wife of 59 years. They married on December 19, 1954 at Santa Teresita's Catholic Chapel in Mayon, Quezon City. After marriage, both Bienvenido & Aurora moved to Project 6 in Quezon City. Aside from English, Bienvenido was fluent in the Tagalog language as well as the regional dialect of Bicolano.

During the massive demonstrations of 1968 – 1969 against the Marcos Regime, Bienvenido made the decision to immigrate to the U.S. for a better life. On a journey that started on Christmas week 1969, our mother Aurora took our brother Jesuito Emerito towards the point of entry to Hawaii while Bienvenido took his daughter, Marie Josephine, & son, Joselito Ildefonso towards the point of entry of San Francisco. The Mercado family were all reunited in Los Angeles for the final destination to Jacksonville Florida in February 1970.

With a background in complex mathematics & engineering skills, Bienvenido was hired at Seaboard Coast Line as an Engineer Technician in 1971– a career which spanned 20 years towards retirement. In May of 1976, Bienvenido & Aurora Mercado attained U.S. citizenship through naturalization.

Bienvenido celebrated his retirement with Aurora by traveling abroad to the European countries of Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, & Sweden. Bienvenido was an active member with Aurora of the Cursillo Charismatic Movement in the Philippines, a movement within Catholicism which places an emphasis on having a personal relationship with Jesus and expressing the gifts of the Spirit. In America, Bienvenido was involved alongside with Aurora in several community organizations such as the Filipino-American Fellowship Club in its early formation in Jacksonville, Florida, and in establishing a prayer group in “The Living Rosary”.

After Aurora’s death in June 7, 2013, Bienvenido moved to Schenectady, NY to live with his daughter Joy Anderson and son-in-law Thomas. Until his 92nd year he attended mass at St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Schenectady, NY. Bienvenido was blessed with relative good health for his age, and although weak, he moved with facility and communicated with warmth and lucidity, brightening the lives of everyone who was fortunate enough to spend time with him. He continued to share his faith, generosity, gentle manners and sense of humor with everyone around him until the end of his life. He died at home at 11:33am on January 30, 2016. A visitation for friends will be held on Friday, February 5, 2016 from 6-8pm at Hardage-Giddens Town & Country Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 10am at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 8523 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32221 with interment at Riverside Memorial Park.