This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Cecilia Cantero Laserna Pastrana. We will remember her forever.
She passed peacefully at 12:45pm on December 30, 2020 from Alzheimer's disease.
Cecilia is predeceased by her spouse Apolinario Trinidad Pastrana, her sons Audie and Albert, her parents Diego Cirilo Cantero and Paz Laserna Cantero, siblings Leticia, Diego and Judith Cantero. She is survived by her children, Alex (Marilou), Aileen, Apolinario (Holly), Alvin (Karla) and Annelyn and daughter-in-law Vicky; and her siblings Antonio, Fernandita Tatad and Vicenta Rimando and half sister Felícitas Cawaling. Cecilia was an educator and scholar and worked in various institutions including UNESCO, and the University of the Philippines in Diliman Quezon City.
In the 1980s, she immigrated to California for a better future for her family, begetting two generations of American-Filipinx grand children and great grand children aside from her grand children in Manila.
Her story of exceptional courage and resilience is reflected in her many stories as a young girl surviving the Japanese occupation in the Visayas, as a Fulbright scholar in the deep South in the 1960s, as an English teacher and PhD educator in Manila thru the late 1970s, and as a widow immigrant to California in 1980. In pursuit of a better future for her family, she exchanged the fruits of her academic achievements to start at the bottom. Her sacrifice and inspiration is reflected in the many descendant faces of builders, healers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators , nurturers, and dreamers who carry her legacy forward.
Finally she was the avid adventurer who would climb mountains, cross continents and oceans and trek across the globe. She inspires us with a life fully lived. She was an independent and exceptional woman ahead of her time.
Maria Mancuso
She sounds like she was an amazing woman our deepest condolences to Pol and his family. We will keep you you all in our prayers
January 1, 2020 FB
She sounds like she was an amazing woman our deepest condolences to Pol and his family. We will keep you you all in our prayers
January 1, 2020 FB
Gina Mark Puen
She sounds like an amazing lady❤️. What a legacy. Hugs to you & Pol
December 31, 2020 FB
She sounds like an amazing lady❤️. What a legacy. Hugs to you & Pol
December 31, 2020 FB
Ellen Powell Farquharson
What an amazing woman... a life to be celebrated. Sorry for your loss, Pol and Holly.
December 31, 2020 FB
What an amazing woman... a life to be celebrated. Sorry for your loss, Pol and Holly.
December 31, 2020 FB
Levi Lorneh Frias Napod
My deepest sympathy to you and the whole family. Hugs & prayers
January 3, 2020 FB
My deepest sympathy to you and the whole family. Hugs & prayers
January 3, 2020 FB
Kathleen Maureen Peterson
God bless her. What an awesome life she lived. Beautiful lady. Condolences to you and your family
January 4, 2020 FB
God bless her. What an awesome life she lived. Beautiful lady. Condolences to you and your family
January 4, 2020 FB
Julie Somboonde
My deepest condolences and sympathy of your loss to you and family!!
January 1, 2020 FB
My deepest condolences and sympathy of your loss to you and family!!
January 1, 2020 FB
Alexandra Grace Nicklin
So sorry for your loss Alvin. Lots of love during this hard time
January 1, 2020 FB
So sorry for your loss Alvin. Lots of love during this hard time
January 1, 2020 FB
Rob Offenhart
SO sorry for your loss. You both created a loving caring home for Cecilia
December 31, 2020 FB
SO sorry for your loss. You both created a loving caring home for Cecilia
December 31, 2020 FB
Tom Wulf
My deepest condolences Alvin. What amazing memories you will have and her spirit will be with you always.
December 31, 2020 FB
My deepest condolences Alvin. What amazing memories you will have and her spirit will be with you always.
December 31, 2020 FB
Cris Pastrana Advincula
With our deepest sympathy and condolences to you and your family, Alvin.
January 4, 2021 FB
With our deepest sympathy and condolences to you and your family, Alvin.
January 4, 2021 FB
Eloisa Martelino-Pastrana Advincula
We are saddened to hear the passing of Manang Cely, your Mom. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers. May her soul Rest In Peace.
January 4, 2021 FB
We are saddened to hear the passing of Manang Cely, your Mom. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers. May her soul Rest In Peace.
January 4, 2021 FB
Dennis Graham
Alvin, we so wanted to share in your celebration last night. Both Mar and I share your loss but celebrate your loving commitment to your Mom these past years. Yes, she was so awesome taking all her children to the U.S. and giving her family the opportunity to thrive and prosper. You and Karla were such great examples to return that love and sacrifice in caring for her! What else would you do? Take time to mourn and remember all the great times and laughter your family brought. We love you.
January 3, 2020 FB
Alvin, we so wanted to share in your celebration last night. Both Mar and I share your loss but celebrate your loving commitment to your Mom these past years. Yes, she was so awesome taking all her children to the U.S. and giving her family the opportunity to thrive and prosper. You and Karla were such great examples to return that love and sacrifice in caring for her! What else would you do? Take time to mourn and remember all the great times and laughter your family brought. We love you.
January 3, 2020 FB
Jocelyn Bezner
I will never forget the way Karla and you cared for and truly loved your mom
January 2, 2020 FB
I will never forget the way Karla and you cared for and truly loved your mom
January 2, 2020 FB
Tetsuya Ogami
Alvin, I’m very sorry to hear about your mother. Thank you for posting about her life, she had so much resilience, strength and spirit! I’m glad I was able to meet her at your wedding, please take care.
January 2, 2020 FB
Alvin, I’m very sorry to hear about your mother. Thank you for posting about her life, she had so much resilience, strength and spirit! I’m glad I was able to meet her at your wedding, please take care.
January 2, 2020 FB
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Recent Tributes
Gallery
Taking a stroll with her mama... ❤
Christmas in Wrightwood CA all her children except for Alex
Visiting Banaue rice terraces 1995
Taking a stroll around Bear Lake Rocky Mtn Natl Park 2005
her Life
Gerontology Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston - May 22, 1997
Even though she was retired, Cecilia thought it was important to keep learning even through retirement. While Karla went back to Boston University to study Medicine, Cecilia enrolled in studies for Gerontology to be better prepared for her aging days.
The Frank J. Manning Undergraduate Certificate in Gerontology provides students with an understanding of the aging network and aging process through direct service, research, field placements and legislative advocacy for the elderly. It is designed for individuals currently working in or new to the field of Gerontology.
Doctoral Thesis, University of the Philippines conferred 1980
Determinants of linguistic and communicative competence of second language learners of English in the University of the Philippines Integrated School
This study attempted to relate Filipino learner factors to second language achievement. The findings of the study showed that intelligence, surgency and dependability correlate highly and positively with communicative competence. The findings tend to support previous research findings that communicative competence and linguistic competence are interrelated but separate constructs. The author recommends the reintensification of the teaching of grammar in Philippine ESL classrooms.
Mimeographed.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Vita. 223 leaves
This study attempted to relate Filipino learner factors to second language achievement. The findings of the study showed that intelligence, surgency and dependability correlate highly and positively with communicative competence. The findings tend to support previous research findings that communicative competence and linguistic competence are interrelated but separate constructs. The author recommends the reintensification of the teaching of grammar in Philippine ESL classrooms.
Mimeographed.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Vita. 223 leaves
Recent stories
Memories... postcards, brochures, ticket stubs etc
As I sort through her drawers and boxes of documents, i run across a large box full of memorabilia. I remember how she had started numerous times to organize her huge trove of photos and keepsakes into more manageable categories for placing into albums.
She clipped articles, names of places she visited, saved flight boarding tickets, museum stubs, photos and postcards and had placed them in envelopes labeled by location and dates. She had identified weddings, roadtrips, cities visited, national parks and tourist destinations... all the trips memorable and important to her.
It is great to see trips she's taken with family and others and how she must have enjoyed all those trips. I find it amusing and comforting that i do exactly the same thing! ❤
She clipped articles, names of places she visited, saved flight boarding tickets, museum stubs, photos and postcards and had placed them in envelopes labeled by location and dates. She had identified weddings, roadtrips, cities visited, national parks and tourist destinations... all the trips memorable and important to her.
It is great to see trips she's taken with family and others and how she must have enjoyed all those trips. I find it amusing and comforting that i do exactly the same thing! ❤
Remembrance by Agnes Pastrana Villanueva
How can I ever forget Manang Cely. She was my dorm guardian and mentor at U. P. Dilliman. Having separated from my family for the first time during my freshman year, my parents entrusted me to Manang Cely and Manong Naring because they’re family. I was a frequent visitor in their faculty residence in the Dilliman campus. Their children then were only Alex, Audie, and Albert.
After college, I left for the States. A few years after Nong Naring passed, Nang Cely and her young family came to the U.S. as well. They had a short visit with us, then they relocated to Los Angeles. Over the years, Nang Cely moved with her children to different states, yet we kept in touch.
After I retired, I’ve been going back and forth to the Philippines. So we lost touch with each other.
However, a few days before this Christmas, I suddenly just thought of Nang Cely, wondering where she is now, and how she’s doing ... only to find out a few days later that she has passed. That news really hit me. All the memories came back, memories that I hold dear in my heart because they were beautiful memories of Manang Cely.
Alex, Aileen, Pol, Alvin and Annelyn, please know that your loss is also our loss. She will forever be remembered in our hearts. My family joins me in prayers for your Mama’s repose.
Love,
Auntie Agnes Pastrana Villanueva
Thanks Auntie Cely & family
Back in the late 80s, my father Diego Cantero Jr. (Auntie Cely’s younger brother) migrated to the USA, myself together with my sister Sarah and my 2 half sisters Ria & Rachelle, were headed to Chicago to meet our stepmom and 2 brothers, luckily my dad decided to stay for a few days in Los Angeles to do some sight seeing for us girls, as it was our first time in this new and amazing place.
Auntie Cely and family lived in a tiny apartment, and surprisingly took all 5 of us in. Knowing my Dad, money was very tight, but took the opportunity to give us girls the chance to enjoy LA for a few days. For my Aunt and cousins, to invite us and look after us, is something I appreciated more and more everytime i think about it. They gave us such a warm welcome. I can’t remember anymore how we fitted but all I could remember, was that one of my cousin’s bedroom was in a closet, and I thought, wow - how cool was that! It was so much fun spending time with our cousins Alvin & Karla, Pol, Albert, & Audie. Dad took us to Universal Studios and thanks to our cousin Pol, not only did he come with us, he arranged some snacks and drinks for the family in a backpack and carried it himself. I was moved by the thoughtfulness, hospitality and generosity of care. Such a nice memory, i will never forget. Thank you so much, Auntie
Auntie Cely, I can only imagine how wonderful the gatherings you and my Dad will have in Heaven with all the family and friends, you have missed all these years. Prayers of thanks to God for that you have been given a place in His home. Amen!
Auntie Cely and family lived in a tiny apartment, and surprisingly took all 5 of us in. Knowing my Dad, money was very tight, but took the opportunity to give us girls the chance to enjoy LA for a few days. For my Aunt and cousins, to invite us and look after us, is something I appreciated more and more everytime i think about it. They gave us such a warm welcome. I can’t remember anymore how we fitted but all I could remember, was that one of my cousin’s bedroom was in a closet, and I thought, wow - how cool was that! It was so much fun spending time with our cousins Alvin & Karla, Pol, Albert, & Audie. Dad took us to Universal Studios and thanks to our cousin Pol, not only did he come with us, he arranged some snacks and drinks for the family in a backpack and carried it himself. I was moved by the thoughtfulness, hospitality and generosity of care. Such a nice memory, i will never forget. Thank you so much, Auntie
Auntie Cely, I can only imagine how wonderful the gatherings you and my Dad will have in Heaven with all the family and friends, you have missed all these years. Prayers of thanks to God for that you have been given a place in His home. Amen!