- 5-0 (2)
- Check it out (58)
- Decision 2008 (11)
- Family Events (37)
- Food (2)
- jeoptrivia (2)
- Mom & Dad (2)
- OMG! (3)
- Party (3)
- President (1)
- Random (68)
- Sports (10)
- The Kids (2)
- Web (1)
- January 15, 2010: CHRIS DALY SUCKS
- January 20, 2009: It's Official, I work on Obama Street
- January 3, 2009: 49ers Release Martz & Concede Playoff Hopes?
- December 3, 2008: Prop 8 The Musical
- November 16, 2008: Anthony WHO?
- November 4, 2008: YES WE DID!!!
- November 2, 2008: 1 More Day
- November 1, 2008: Nailin' Palin, The Crank Call
- October 30, 2008: Change We Need
- October 29, 2008: McCain Wins!!!
- January 2010
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
In Memoriam of Uncle Johnny
I didn’t know Uncle Johnny that long, but what I did learn about him over the past 10 years was that he was a jokester. He would always have a different funny anecdote everytime our paths would cross. He was the life of the party. I wish I knew him when he was running the Eastmont Mall back in the day. I’ve always been envious of how the Villegas girls were always able to get the hottest concert tickets because Uncle Johnny had a Ticketmaster computer in his record store or were able to watch endless movies because he managed the theater.
(excerpt from funeral program)
Born June 24th, 1935, he was the youngest of 4 boys. His father, a merchant marine, left the family for the United States when he was a very young boy. His brothers joined the WWII guerilla movement in the Philippines in support of the U.S. Some of his earliest memories were of being sent to play in the middle of the street to block Japanese trucks that held American POWs. While the children played in the streets, the women threw food into the back of the trucks for the American soldiers.
Because his father left the family when he was 9, he became a working man. He sold newspapers and cigarettes on the street and shined shoes to help make a meager living for himself and his family. He continued in this fashion, working his way through school. He graduated from Arellano High School in 1954. Before he could even attend his graduation ceremonies, his older brother called on him to work in a marble quarry in Teresa, Rizal. Knowing that this was not his calling, he returned to Manila after two years to attend school.
At the age of 19, he impressed a local business man and went to work for quality house. While working fulltime, he attended the University of the East. On his way to an from work, a beautiful young lady, Irene, working in her family’s sari-sari store, caught his eye. They courted for seven years. She wouldn’t marry him until he finished college. With that incentive, he earned his degree in Accounting in October, 1961. They were married, November 18, 1961.
Over the span of nine years, they had five children: Gloria, Gina, German, Grace and Geraldine. He continued to work for Quality House, moving up in the ranks and becoming a beloved part of the family. In 1964 John and Irene opened their own sari-sari store. An accomplished bowler, he qualified for the Philippine national bowling team, but was forced to decline the position because he needed glaucoma surgery in March, 1971 and was planning to immigrate to the U.S.
In April 1971, escaping martial law in the Philippines and taking advantage of reformed immigration laws in the United States, he came alone to America. He worked hard and paved the way to make a smooth transition for his family to come the following year.
His first job in America was Import Traffic Manager for Regal Apparel. When that company closed, he worked for National Imports as Controller. The recession hit hard and National Imports also closed down. he was unemployed for several months when, in 1976, he landed a job at Eastmont Mall. He began as an accountant and proved his worth, becoming the controller and finally the General Manager of the mall. He opened a toy store, children’s clothing store, and ice-cream parlor. He also took over the management of the movie theater and the dry cleaners in the mall. Accustomed to wearing many hats, he simultaneosly managed all of these businesses as well as the shopping center. After a change of mall ownership, he weaned himself from his duties in the shopping center and concentrated his efforts on his newly acquired toy store and ice-cream parlor.
In 1991, he closed the businesses and retired early due to his failing vision. This afforded him the opportunity to play alot of golf and to travel. John brought joy to many people during the best of times and he inspired even more during the worst of times.
Author Unknown
jm
The Editor
32 Responses to “In Memoriam of Uncle Johnny”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
June 15, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Amoxicillin with no prescription….
Amoxicillin. Amoxicillin 500 mg facts. Amoxicillin kills acne. Amoxicillin flavors for kids. Amoxicillin pregnancy. Can i drink alcohol if i m taking amoxicillin. Amoxicillin acne….
July 6, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Vicodin….
Darvocet vs vicodin. Vicodin. Abuse of vicodin….
July 7, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Effect of vicodin….
No prescription vicodin. Vicodin. No prescription needed vicodin….
July 8, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Vicodin side effects….
Where to order vicodin with no prescription. Vicodin. Vicodin for the soul. Vicodin consultation. How l ong does vicodin stay in your system. Drug vicodin. Vicodin no rx….
July 9, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Augmentin….
Allergic to augmentin. Augmentin. Augmentin xr….
July 10, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Acyclovir….
Acyclovir rx 606. Acyclovir to stop poison ivy. Acyclovir….
July 11, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Cat bites augmentin….
Augmentin used for. Information about amox clav-generic for augmentin. Augmentin 875. Augmentin….
July 12, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Acyclovir….
Acyclovir 400 mg tablets. Acyclovir to suppress. Acyclovir and poison ivy. Acyclovir….
August 11, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Vicodin without prescription….
What is vicodin. Vicodin and no consults and no prescription. Vicodin detox….
August 12, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Mixing tylenol 3 and percocet….
Percocet no prescription. Percocet. Percocet withdrawal. I quit percocet….
August 13, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Avian flu and tamiflu….
Tamiflu concerns. Dosage tamiflu. Tamiflu warning….
August 14, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Tamiflu side effects….
Search results tamiflu. Tamiflu 84 canadians have had adverse reactions. Tamiflu. Adverse effects of tamiflu….
August 16, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Amoxicillin to treat acne….
Amoxicillin. Buy amoxicillin online cheap amoxicillin….
October 29, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Zovirax cream….
Zovirax 800mg. Zovirax cream. Zovirax side effects. Epilepsy zovirax. Can zovirax cure genital rash. Zovirax. Zovirax 4268….
October 29, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Zovirax….
Can zovirax cure genital rash. Zovirax. Zovirax 4268….
October 30, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Zovirax and canker sore….
Zovirax breast feeding….
November 1, 2009 at 1:18 am
Acyclovir….
Acyclovir otc. Acyclovir dosages. Acyclovir to suppress. Acyclovir. Acyclovir dosage….
November 1, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Effects side tmj zyban….
Quit stop smoking buy zyban prescriptions online. Zyban. Zyban abuse. Conception when male taking zyban. Risk of male taking zyban and conception….
November 3, 2009 at 4:35 am
Increasing amoxicillin dosage during….
Increasing amoxicillin dosage during. Infant amoxicillin milk….
November 3, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Amoxicillin maximum pediatrics….
Amoxicillin. Safety of amoxicillin and greyhounds. Are greyhounds allergic to amoxicillin. Amoxicillin shelf life….
November 4, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Acyclovir….
Acyclovir cream….
November 5, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Acyclovir….
Acyclovir….
November 9, 2009 at 11:34 am
Zovirax method of action….
Zovirax ointment. Zovirax. Zovirax 4268 dosage….
November 11, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Zyban success rates….
Zyban. Does zyban make you gain or lose weight….
November 12, 2009 at 3:24 pm
What is zyban….
Risk of male taking zyban and pregnancy. Stop smoking zyban the patch nicotine gum. Quitting smoking zyban. Zyban side effects. Zyban abuse. Zyban….
November 14, 2009 at 4:54 pm
What is the shelf life of tamiflu….
Dosage tamiflu. Tamiflu….
November 15, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Tamiflu….
Tamiflu dosing for children. Whatis tamiflu. Tamiflu warning….
November 17, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Ritalin abuse….
Ritalin. Ritalin picture. Smoke ritalin. Ritalin statistics. Scientific evidence pro con ritalin. Buy ritalin. Ritalin its side effects….
November 18, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Tamiflu dosing for children….
Search results tamiflu. Tamiflu scare. Tamiflu. Tamiflu and parvo. Tamiflu autism. Tamiflu stockpile….
November 19, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Tamiflu thimerosal….
Tamiflu warning. Tamiflu and bird flu prevention in pregnancy. Tamiflu alternative. Tamiflu. Tamiflu delusions….
November 20, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Ritalin….
Ritalin vs. concerta….
November 25, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Ritalin….
Brain effects of ritalin….