Metro Infanta Foundation

by Thelma Telan Coralde

Just to inform you my mother passed away last Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2006. Mely and my daughter Cherry are there to prepare for her 100th year but the Lord called her one week away from her day. The invitation for her centennial was already out so that anticipated joy was turned into mourning. It is still a celebration of LIFE for in life or in death we are the Lord's. I can't make it because the 19 hour plane ride is an ordeal for me with my allergy activated by the bizzarre temp.eprature these days.

Anyway my two-year stay there (Nov. 2003 to Sept. 2005) was the best chance the Lord gave me to be with her everyday except when I slipped to the city for a brief visit to my grandchildren. The rest of those two years were with my mother, days spent at her side, talking sweet nothings in between her bout of memory lapses and lucid moments). The memories I keep of her are sweet and funny (my sense of humor made her laughed and at times she would blurt out of the blue "Sino naman ang nanay mo?" and then I would say " aba ay si Pining (her name) and she with wonder asked "anak ko baga ikaw?" ay si Thelma nga pala. Dalaga ka na" and many of that sort of conversation filled those two years with her. I fed her with her favorite soups, beverage and cakes, dressed her daily in her sundress etc. I love to remember her that way -- not in a coffin, serious and lifeless.

So God in His wisdom willed I stayed and keep the treasured memories of a good mother. God graced her 100 years on earth with gifts of various colors; joy and pain, triumph and failures, family members of various coats, friends and relatives and ordinary experiences that were made extraordinary by her living faith in a Good God and undying devotion to the Blessed Mother. We, her children cannot ask for more. My father who went ahead 20 years ago must be happy for their reunion in our eternal home. Her death is one I always pray for... a peaceful death. She was given her dinner by my two sisters, dressed for the night and then she just said: "Matutulog na ako" and off she went peacefully.

Posted on February 10, 2007

Pagbati po from Al-Khobar,

Una po ay ang papuri sa Panginoon at sa MIF sa bagong bihis nito na lalong nagbibigkis sa mga Infantahin. Nasubaybayan ko ang mga sinulat ni Mr. Tony Vera Cruz sa success story niya at nakaka-inspire pong talaga ang mga kuwento ng mga Infantahin ... na ang kahirapan ay hindi sagabal sa anumang hangarin natin sa buhay...basta po marunong lang tayong lumingon sa ating pinanggalingan ay makakarating po tayo sa ating paroroonan. Dahil lumaki rin po ako sa kahirapan at hindi ito naging sagabal sa akin.

Ako ay hinubog din ng mga taong kilala sa Infanta katulad ng mag-asawang Tio Miling (Engr. Emilio Magallanes) at Nana Chayong (Mrs. Lelen Magallanes), kina Tia Alice Magallanes. Ito po ay maliit kong tribute sa kanila na ang akin pong pagbabalik pasasalamat sa kanila..sa kanila ko po nalaman ang tunay na kahulugan ng pag-tulong sa kapwa na walang pagtatangi. Na tayong lahat ay nagsisilbing insperasyon ng bawat isa sa atin. Salamat po at pagbati pong muli.

Vench and family.

Posted on February 08, 2007

Editor's Note: Many times we want to give up this labor of love. It seems nobody really cares whether we have it or not. But, occasionally, we receive letters and emails that keep us going. Below is one such letter, and we feel we should share with our readers and guests. Mr. Abcede's letter is certainly a personal tribute to Nana Coring Arizala (we forwarded his letter to Amb. Arizala), but it also reflects a day in the life of Infanta long gone.

Dear Mr. Arizala,

It was through your column on the MIF website, that I learned that your mother, Nana Coring, has passed away and I was sorry about that.

The last time I saw her was a few years ago during my vacation (I'm working here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) in Infanta. She was on her way to the market. I told my mother (Corazon Abcede) as she was passing by and she said, “Mabuti naman at malakas pa si Nana Coring.” By the way, Sir, I am Daniel Abcede, the eldest son of Delfin R. Abcede's five children.

I have vivid memories of your beloved mother. I was about five years old when I first became acquainted with Nana Coring. My Lola Pae (Rafaela Ramirez Abcede) and your mother were friends and both were members of Catholic Women’s League (CWL). Incidentally, Lola Pae died in March 1979, more than a decade or two before Nana Coring.

Almost everybody in Infanta called your mother Nana Coring, but I used to call her Nana Manang and I guess she liked it because she just laughed every time I called her by that name. I never failed to greet her and take her hand for the "mano” whenever I saw her. She would put her hand on my head and would gently tap it. When she pulled away, I would always shout, “Nana Manang!” and she would look back, wave at me and smile.

Nana Manang walked with grace, her body straight and head held high. On her left hand was her umbrella and a beautiful round basket resting on her right arm. On her feet was a pair of beautifully made “bakya.” She walked briskly, when marketing alone. On her way home from the market, she would hand me some bananas, which I accepted with glee.

I also remember her and my Lola headed to the church every morning to attend the six o’clock Mass, which was sometimes officiated by Fr. Basil, a friend of Lola. My Lola used to bring me to many of the CWL activities, such as the picnics in Kiloloron. It was probably the reason Tita Aring Ramirez, who later married your brother, asked me to join the Legion of Mary despite my very young age.

I will forever treasure those wonderful memories with my Lola Pae and Nana Manang.

Incidentally, I also know your sister Merle, who is very much like your mother. She too often smiled at me whenever she saw me. Imelda eventually became my teacher in English and was class adviser in my first year at Mount Carmel High School. One day in 1967, during our class she asked me to read an article in the newspaper regarding the assignment of Pedro Ramirez as our ambassador to West Germany. Everybody in our class applauded after I finished reading and I felt proud. I only knew him as Lolo Pendo, my Lola's younger brother, but I had no idea that he was in the government service because nobody in our family, not even Lola, talked about what he's been doing.

I am very proud, and INFANTA should be proud and honored, to have men like you and Lolo Pendo as "The Ambassadors." Take you so much Sir, for your time and sorry for the inconvenience. May you have a pleasant day with your family. Good luck, good health and God bless.

Best regards,
Daniel Abcede

Posted on February 03, 2007

by Mila Glodava

My sister Melecia Garcia celebrates her birthday on Dec. 4th. I feel a need to give her a special tribute this year, because she will be retiring soon from her work at Bolling Air Force Base, where she received numerous accolades for outstanding work. Family and friends call her Lily, but my children call her with affection as Ninang Lily, which is how I will refer to her in this tribute.

Why do I feel a need to give her a tribute? Not only because she's been a great daughter, sister, and aunt to the Garcia family, she also has has many outstanding qualities as friend, a worker, and a humanitarian. As a humanitarian, Ninang Lily has supported Metro Infanta Foundation from its inception. Without her incredible support, I don't think we could have had such an impact to our beloved town during their times of need. Indeed, she has been one of the most generous donors of the Foundation and more.

But she is more than just a donor to the Foundation. She is arguably a very accomplished woman. I think of her not only as a trailblazer, being a woman civil engineer, but also as a very spiritual person whose love for the church is unquestionable.

Although Garcia received an offer to work in the Philippines Department of Public Works shortly after graduation, her desire to help her church proved stronger, and decided to teach physics and mathematics at Mt. Carmel High School in Casiguran, Quezon, which was then run by Carmelite Father Alan Rieger. In addition she used her engineering skills as supervisor of the construction project of the parish church in Maria Aurora. This experience brought her back to the reason she became an engineer -- to do construction work -- and soon was working with other construction companies. A registered professional engineer in the Philippines since 1972, Ninang Lily ventured into subcontracting for construction projects with the Philippine Military Bases.

In 1973, Ninang Lily immigrated to the United States and landed her first job as assistant office engineer with the Bechtel company, a construction consultant to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). She was promoted to Office Engineer at the Resident Engineer Field Office. She also worked for the Frank Basil Inc./A-E Firm as an estimator.

Ninang Lily received recognition for outstanding performance in her line of duty include three certificates from Becthel for her dedicated service in the construction of the Metro Subway in Washington, DC. Her vital role was preparing construction estimate, reviewing submittals, preparing and negotiating proposed change order. "I am proud of the part I played int eh construction of Metro Subway," she said, "specifically the the stations at Takoma Park , Silver Spring , Fort Totten, Catholic University , Brookland, Huntington and Eisenhower."

Bolling Air Force Base was equally impressed with her work ethics and dedication with the 11th Wing. In recognition, Ninang Lily received in 1999 Air Force Category II Award, and Air Force Design Excellence Award. In 2003 she received the Civil Engineers Mission Support Group and Volunteer Awards.

But most of all, she is proudest as project engineer of the following:

1) Potomac Shoreline: from design to construction completion (cradle to grave Potomac Shoreline,

2) McChord Street: realignment of the disjointed street,

3) Brookley Ave: turning it from industrial looking street to a boulevard-like avenue aligned with Washingtonian lights, trees, landscape

4) MacDill Boulevard: reconfiguration

5) Chappie James Blvd.: widening

6) Arnold Avenue: Aligned with lights and landscape

In addition, Ninang Lily has worked tirelessly as a volunteer in many areas. A charter member of the Philippine American Washington engineer (PAMWE), she received recognition for outstanding service as treasurer for three successive years (1981-1983). She also served as president of the Mt. Carmel Guild, which funded much needed repairs and renovation in the Carmelite monastery in Washington, DC. She also serves as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at Bolling Air Force Base and the national Shrine.

I hope that you will find the above as a fitting and well-deserved tribute to one of our major supporters.

To Ninang Lily, we give you our love, our thanks and our prayers for your lifetime achievements and contribution to society.

Mabuhay ka, Ninang Lily.

Posted on July 25, 2006