Carlito Tungol Manalang

1934 - 2022

Carlito Tungol Manalang (also known affectionately as “Lito” or “Carling”) was born in Manila, Philippines on May 15, 1934. He passed away at the age of 87 - loved by everyone around him - in Riverside, California on February 3, 2022.

Of eight siblings, he was the youngest child of the late Clara Tungol and Juan Manalang. He is survived by his daughter Myra Grace Pulido and his son Mark Gabriel Manalang.

In the Philippines, he was a devotee of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo. In the United States, he was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus.

As a child in the Philippines, Carlito used to shine shoes for Japanese soldiers during World War II and would get paid with cigarettes which he would barter for other goods. He sold “balut” (a Filipino street food) during high school and college to assist with his family’s finances.

He went on to study business administration and earn his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of the East in Manila in 1962. After graduating, he worked as a salesman from the ‘60s to ‘80s for various companies such as Colgate-Palmolive. He was known as a savvy salesman; he was often heard saying, “Papunta ka lang, pabalik na ako” (roughly meaning “I’ve been there, done that”). He won first prize in Colgate-Palmolive’s Sales Volume Contest in his first 4 months. He was also named “Sales Supervisor of the Year” in 1978.

Carlito was known for his affinity for motor vehicles and was often seen riding a Volkswagen Beetle and motorcycles in the Philippines. He operated a business called “CarMan” (a clever shortening of his name) which oversaw 5 mini buses that traveled from Bulacan to Manila. His residence was known as “CarMan’s house.” In the U.S. he was known for putting in high amounts of mileage on his cars. In his last years when he was no longer able to drive, ever the driver, he happily rode around his city of residence, Moreno Valley, in an electric mobility scooter.

In 1965, he met his wife Estelita Lising, a bank teller at Rural Bank in the Philippines, when he was applying for a loan. They were married for 46 years until her death in 2011. He was the most patient caregiver to his ailing wife until her passing, and to his last days he never went a day without thinking of her, always focused on when the next time would be he could go visit her again at the cemetery.

Their daughter Grace was born in 1968, and their son Mark was born in 1981. Carlito moved to Southern California in the U.S. with his wife and son in 1991. In the U.S. he started a career as a medical courier for Diamond Reference Laboratory from 1991 to 2006. He was known for his strong work ethic, consistently putting in six-day work weeks and large amounts of overtime, all to care for his family in the U.S. and the Philippines.

He was proud of his grandson through Grace, Raphael “Rafee” Juan Pulido, who was born in 2011, the same year his wife passed away. He would often call him “Juan III,” as Carlito’s unofficial middle name was “Juan,” after his own father’s name. In the last decade or so of his life after his wife’s passing, Carlito would go home to the Philippines for 6 months of each year to spend time with his grandson and the rest of his family.

He spent his final years from 2019 to 2022 on peritoneal dialysis, after a long battle with kidney disease. True to his belief in “accentuating the positive,” he never focused on his hardships, but instead showed constant gratitude, never ceasing to thank his amazing dialysis nurses - Elizabeth and Tanya - and home caregivers - Mark and Justin - for their efforts to help him to live comfortably and happily.

Carlito was known by those around him for his radiant warmth, sunny disposition, and fun and positive personality. His favorite pastimes were going to the casino, eating, watching Filipino movies and TV shows, and listening to old time crooners like Sammy Davis, Jr. and Frank Sinatra (in fact he was known to break out into “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” randomly). He was a gregarious personality who could talk to anyone, and loved cracking jokes to make those around him laugh. He was often heard saying, “Yeehee!” anytime he was having fun.

Carlito was a loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend. He never shied away from telling everyone - including his wife, daughter, son, grandson, nurses and caregivers, and friends - “I love you.” And because of that, everyone loved him.

View the memorial website for Carlito at https://rememberingcarlito.wordpress.com/