Galicano Miguel Bondoc

Galicano Miguel Bondoc (June 25, 1925 – May 15, 2011) And now, the end is near, And so I face the final curtain. My friends, I'll say it clear; I'll state my case of which I'm certain. Galicano Miguel Bondoc, Sr. the last of his clan has spent his life devoted to the Lord, Jesus Christ, and his family. He was called home by our loving Lord after a long and rewarding life on May 15, 2011. Galicano was the second youngest of five children (Natalia, Edilberto, Antonia and Pedro) of Catalina and Gerardo, and was born in Tondo, Manila, Philippines on June 25, 1925. He moved to the U.S. in 1967 to seek a better opportunity. He held various jobs to support his large family in the Philippines. Fortunately, he was granted a permanent residency visa in 1970. In 1971, homesick for the country he loved, he dearly missed his children and wife, Puring - his 5 calamansi! (5 calamansi, his term of endearment for his wife, has a special, secretive meaning between the two.) He decided to take a 30-day boat ride to return to the Philippines for good. Sadly, after a month of being home, he discovered that his beloved wife, Puring, was diagnosed with liver cancer. Another month later, on April 26, 1971, she passed away. With his wife gone and 15 children to support towards a better life, he made the very difficult decision to leave them behind to return to the U.S. In 1973, the first batch of five children joined him and only 8 months later, the remainder of the unmarried children (7 children) followed. The married children (3) were left in the Philippines, but in 1988, Carmelita, her husband and her 4 children came to the U.S. In 1996, the remaining two married children arrived in the U.S.; they were Pedro and his two children, and Corazon with her husband and seven children. The mission was accomplished. He kept his promise he made to all his children, which was a better life in the U.S. He was happy and lived his life to enjoy his growing family. In 1990, he met and eventually married his second love, Lourdes. They did not have any children, but Galicano welcomed Lourdes to love his 15 children as if they were her own. Galicano and Lourdes lived their lives happily. He was the widowed husband to Purificacion Gamban Bondoc, a loving husband to Lourdes Bondoc, a loving father to Pete [Florencia], Nita[Renato], Tessie [Alfredo], Norma [Renato - deceased], Corazon [Wayne], Elizabeth [Louis], Jerry [Cornelia], Esther [Rolando], Josie [Emerito], Junior [Elvira], Joey [Elsie], Bayani [Regina], Cynthia, Arthur, and Alex, a loving Lolo to Paolo, Priscilla (Ching), Patrick, Pamela (Ella), Renante (Nante), Rohmer, Rachelle (Che-Che), Rosie, Alma, Alfredo (Jun), Alan (Lan), Norman, Renato (Jay), Ramon (Mon), Aileen, Arnel, Angel, Annalyn, Alfonso (Alfie), Azenith, Aries, Jose (Joel), Andrew (Andoy), Jenell, Jerene, Nathan (Nate), Jasmine (Jazzy), Santino (Sonny), Nicholas (Nicky), Erica, Joshua (Josh), Jonathan (Bot-Bot), Nicole, Galicano, III (Gabe), Sabrina (Bina), Jovy, Justine, Brandon, Basil (Bas), Brad, Audrey, Byron, Chauncey (Tong-Tong), Angelica (Gelica), Antonio (Tony), and Martin, and a loving Great-Lolo to Brian, Brandon, Byron, Nya, Isaiah, Bella, Lucy, Sunshine, Kylie, Joseph (Joey), Lourdes (Lulu), Csharia, Anna, Kayla, Adrian, Jared, Xzavier (Xzave), Alyssa, and Nicholas, Jr. (Lil' Nicky). Galicano and Lourdes happily counted their grandchildren (46), great grandchildren (20). Galicano has touched a lot of lives with his compassion and his kindness over many wonderful years. He will be missed by his vast family and his many friends, but for his 15 children he will be best remembered by the promise he made more than 40 years ago. That promise -- he will secure a better life for his 15 children. Galicano’s favorite song was Frank Sinatra’s My Way, which is absolutely fitting because he did just that. He travelled every highway, he did what he had to do, and he definitely faced it all and stood tall, but most importantly… I've loved, I've laughed and cried, I've had my fill - my share of losing. But now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing. To think I did all that, And may I say, not in a shy way Oh no. Oh no, not me. I did it my way. JOB WELL DONE, MAY YOU SLEEP IN PEACE AND ENJOY YOUR NEW LIFE!!!