Gertrudes Monica Tapia

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gertrudes Monica Claravall-Tapia on September 2, 2025, at the age of 66. Monica was born on May 4, 1959 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines to Dr. Ernesto R. Claravall and the Hon. Commissioner Graduacion Reyes-Claravall. She was the loving elder sister to Samuel Mario Claravall and Ernesto R. Claravall Jr.

Monica was a brilliant and diligent student who started her education at Northern Luzon Teachers College Laboratory School in Laoag City before moving to Quezon City to attend high school at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She had an affinity for the sciences and showed an early passion for environmental causes, exhibited by her award-winning project at the schoolwide science fair.

In 1974, while living in her grandparents’ home in Quezon City, she met the love of her life and devoted husband Jose O. Tapia. As neighbors, their love story blossomed, and they were blissfully married at the Nayong Pilipino Chapel in the Philippine Village Hotel on December 14, 1975.

She continued her undergraduate education at UP Diliman, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Following her father’s legacy, Monica subsequently pursued a career in medicine. In 1985, she graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree at Far Eastern University - Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation. She went on to complete postgraduate training in Ophthalmology at Manila Doctors Hospital.

In the spring of 1988, Monica and Jose immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Southern California. During this time, Monica completed her Pediatrics Fellowship Training at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena and her Pediatrics Residency Program at King Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Within the span of their 49 years of marriage, Monica and Jose expanded their family with the birth of their beloved children: Patrick Carlo, Alan Sinon, Jose Cecil, and Victoria Isabella. They were later blessed by the birth of their beautiful granddaughters, Kaitlyn Shine and Joelle Elizabeth, and were excitedly anticipating the arrival of their future grandson, Kilian Patrick.

During her retirement, Monica became an active member of UP75 - UP High School USA and NLTC Laboratory 1971 USA groups. From their reunions, her friends and peers remembered her as being selfless, generous, fashionable, graceful, and elegant–traits she exemplified throughout her whole life. She had a passion for music, art, tea, and travel. Her ideal getaway would be sipping tea and sampling desserts at a beautiful Parisian cafe while listening to live musicians and studying the awe-inspiring architecture of her surroundings.

To the core of her being, Monica was a caring person who valued life in all its forms. She had a love for gardening and could grow anything she planted. Within her lovely garden, she would feed the birds, rabbits, and squirrels. She was inseparable from her most cherished puppy, Luna, whom she considered to be another daughter. Monica was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and fur mama who shared her passions in life and her endless wisdom with those around her. Gone too soon, she will be missed dearly by all who loved her.