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