Belen Venancio Benavides

Belen attended Binalonan Elementary and Binalonan High School in her youth. She graduated with Bachelor of Arts and double majored in Social Work and Music at Philippine Women’s University (PWU). She was the first woman from Pangasinan to attend PWU. After obtaining her Bachelors, Belen attended University of the East College of Medicine, enjoyed her studies and finished three years of Medical School.

On July 9th 1963, Belen married Eugenio Sales Benavides. In subsequent years, Belen gave birth to Vida, Eugenio Jr., Leah Teresa and Eugene. Belen sacrificed her medical career to become a full time mother to love, care and nurture her children. Later, Belen served as a part-time social worker for a faith based organization and helped women and families with their health care and basic survival needs.

In 1970, Belen and Egie made the decision to immigrate to America to provide better opportunities for their children. In February of 1971, our family immigrated to the United States and stayed in Oakland, CA. After several months, our family resided and planted roots in San Leandro, CA for 40 years.

Professionally, Belen pursued her calling in the area of social work. She worked for the International Institute for the East Bay, a nonprofit organization that helped provide legal services, education, and civic engagement opportunities to immigrants in the East Bay Area. Belen helped establish a new program called the Filipino Newcomer Service Center that addressed the needs of Filipino immigrants.

Because of her experience at International Institute for the East Bay, Belen was recruited to help begin a new nonprofit organization that serviced Filipino Immigrants and the Filipino American community called Filipino American Center for the East Bay (FACEB). It was a full service organization that focused on immigrant, social and community services for the Filipino community. Belen was their first Social Worker and Job Developer. During Belen’s tenure, she initiated a training program for youth and new immigrants. At the same time, developed a job program by helping newcomers and those seeking help with their job applications, job placements, resumes, interviews, additional training and counseling. Belen networked with several local government agencies and local companies to help place many in their first job. Belen was able to help train and place over 300 Filipino men and women to get jobs that helped so many provide for their families.

After Belen’s tenure at FACEB, she worked for Alameda County Department of Social Services as an Eligibility Specialist and Case Manager for 14 years. Belen determined whether or not applicants for various programs met the requirements and counseled her clients with care. Belen handled between 300-400 cases a year and served as strong advocate who helped over 5,000 Alameda county residents.

After her long stint with Alameda County, Belen wanted to go back in the health care arena and practice Medical Social Work. She worked as an Admissions Director, Discharge Planner, Case Manager and Social Services Director for Sub-Acute Centers, Rehabilitation Centers and Convalescent Centers in the East Bay for at least 10 years. She fulfilled her professional dream by taking on several health care leadership roles and retired from her career as a Medical Social Worker at Alta Bates Hospital Pulmonary Unit, Berkeley, CA. Her care and compassionate soul helped hundreds of patients and families.

Belen was a strong woman of faith and was raised by parents of strong faith for her Mother, Servillana Farinas Venancio, was one of the first female Deaconess of the United Methodist Church in the Philippines. Belen learned how to play piano at age 8 and by 13 was so musically gifted that she was able to serve as the church pianist at Binalonan United Methodist Church until she had to leave for college.

When arriving to America, Belen connected with the local Methodist Church called Melrose UMC located in Oakland, CA. She was offered the position of church pianist and for 20 years, Belen served God through her love and talent of playing the piano. And for several years, Belen served as the church Choir Director. Her favorite saying was, “ God has given me talents, and I give my talents back to God.”

Belen was very active in our local Filipino community and served as Co-founder of the Bay Area Advocates for Seniors, supported our father’s leadership with the Cabugao Sons and Daughters Association, member of the Binalonan Association of the East Bay, member of Melrose UMC Women’s Club, and served as an active supporter and pianist to local Filipino cultural dance troupes. As a community activist, she also served as Co-Chair of the Filipino American Democratic Club of the East Bay and organized volunteers for several local and Presidential elections.

Mom was also an adventurous soul, she loved to travel to Carmel and Monterey to see the beach and feel the ocean air and go on local road trips exploring the surrounding towns and counties. She was able to travel across the country as well as tour the East Coast, Washington, DC, Hawaii and Europe. In addition, Mom and family traveled to Philippines in 2005 to visit with relatives and reconnect her children with relatives and our history.

For those who knew Mom, Mom had a sharp and fun sense of humor and loved exchanging stories and jokes with Pop and her friends. One can hear her laugh and share her gift of storytelling at all our family gatherings. And for over 53 years, Mom and Pop’s life together was filled with laughter, talk-story and enjoying each other’s sense of humor.

Though Mom was an accomplished Medical Social Worker, Pianist, and Community leader, her first and foremost calling and what she was most proud of, was the role of being a Mother. The Love she has received throughout her life was blessed through the Love of her parents, her husband, her children, her close friends and relatives, and God. Mom’s unconditional Love was grounded by her spiritual faith; her love was powerful, courageous, generous, kind, gentle, affectionate and fierce. She was able to raise and support her children unconditionally and the legacy she leaves with us is to Love and be faithful to God.

Mom always said “God Provides”. Her strong and unwavering faith in God sustained, inspired and blessed our family and those around her. God has truly graced all of us through Mom’s faith, Mom’s Love and Mom’s many talents.