Thank you Video
April 5, 2021
Online Memorial/Life Celebration
April 4, 2021
Our Online Memorial/Life Celebration for our Dear Mamu.
Digital Team:
Jerry and Olga Orense
Marsha Velez and Yaniv Gross
Sandie and Alex Jordan
Desiree Liberato
Digital Team:
Jerry and Olga Orense
Marsha Velez and Yaniv Gross
Sandie and Alex Jordan
Desiree Liberato
Life Celebration
April 3, 2021
Hi family and friends, please join us for our beautiful Mamu’s online memorial/life celebration, starting now, kindly hit this link: https://youtu.be/6aofRPE5enE
Thank you with all our hearts
Thank you with all our hearts
Online Life Celebration/Memorial
April 1, 2021
Hi Everyone,
Please join us for a life celebration/memorial online for our dearest Mamu on Saturday, 5:00 pm, April 3, 2021 (CA pacific time) while it will be simultaneously already be Sunday, 8:00 am, April 4, 2021 (Philippine time) in Manila. We will post the link to the program on each of our family’s Facebook, Instagram accounts and the Forevermissed webpage https://www.forevermissed.com/erlinda-lagpad at that time.
Again, thank you for all the warm messages, prayers, cards, flowers, gift cards and memorial funds you continue to send our way. We are truly humbled for all the support and care.
Mamu's Homecoming to Our Good Lord
March 23, 2021
Mid-January was when it all started, a series of unfortunate events so to speak after an initial run to the ER. Early February was when my Mom underwent surgery for the massive tumors that were found on her ovaries. What followed was a blur of an expedited road to more complications due to the rarity and aggressiveness of her cancer type (squamous cell). In between more trips to the ER, I quietly took care of my Mom at our home after the surgery and after she also came home to me under hospice care, putting up her valiant effort to contend with the beast that was cancer on both occasions. While outcome was never guaranteed, I promised her we’ll go through it together holding hands as her resolute advocate to anything and anyone pertinent to her battle. It was physically, mentally and emotionally taxing, but I choose to remember that there was also so much love and tender parent-child memories in between. I treasured seeing her smile whenever I combed her hair after I give her baths, carefully clipped her nails, when she loved the haircut I gave her, whenever I peeled and sliced apples for her, whenever she held on to me to practice walking, and especially warm moments at the end of the day when I tuck her in bed after our nightly prayer with Tyler. I found it cute albeit poignant that that’s when she then tries to briefly reclaim some motherly authority as I turn down the lights each night in reminding me to rest as much as I can, with a semi-scold saying I’m juggling a bit much to which I usually playfully respond “l love you too, Mom.” Her return to our home for hospice unlocked a whole new level of tough as she already lost control of her lower extremities. It’s literally like forcing to be on a ring side seat of your prized fighter’s bout, who you root and you cheer on for but you helplessly watch them take one big blow after another, so beaten that you want to call off the fight already, to throw in the towel, to just...make...it...all...stop, the undeserved pain and suffering. It is immensely brutal to witness while trying to find the strength to hold it all together for her all the while questioning the necessity of it all. It doesn’t help that the rules are hard, fast and non-negotiable, you can’t get in the ring and do the fight for her or take on some of the pain, however much you beg for it and you say you’re good for it.
On Saturday afternoon (March 20), our good Lord enveloped my Mom with much needed comfort and provided her with a peaceful homecoming to his divine mercy with us beside her seeing her off. I feel utterly gutted (and would feel this way for a while) of the new reality that my siblings and I have now lost both my Dad and Mom but knowing that they are finally reunited and looking over us together is the comforting prospect I’ll use to find the shattered pieces and rebuild my broken heart when I’m ready. Earnestly grateful for the support of our whole family and close friends for me and my siblings, our partners and mostly for her grandchildren, my nephew Luke and my son Tyler, support that have been nothing but intentional and swift since I first sounded the call notwithstanding the space, distance, and the imposed limitations of this punyetang pandemic. There is so much more appreciation that is due all around and promise to get to each one in the coming days including details of the memorial but for now the biggest gratitude goes to you, our beautiful Mamu, for loving us the way you have including welcoming unconditionally and wholeheartedly the ones your children love dearly (Laarni and Carlson); for your admirable devotion especially to Luke and Tyler; for making us proud everyday of the untarnished constabulary legacy you and Daddy left behind back home; and for letting me, RJ and Kuya Rudolph stand on the strength of your shoulders when Daddy had to go first, you will evermore be loved and missed persistently.
-Desiree Lagpad Liberato
Erlinda Velez Lagpad's Life and Legacy
March 23, 2021
Erlinda Velez Lagpad was born and raised in Guadalupe, Makati City, Philippines. Her parents were Francisco Velez, Sr. and Consolacion Velez. She graduated with Bachelor of Elementary Education from National Teacher's College. Shortly after she graduated, she volunteered for a campaign, got hired as a civil service support employee in Makati and met an up and coming police officer, Benjamin Lagpad, who was instantly smitten. Erlinda found the gentleman charming, hardworking, articulate and was impressed with his wit and intelligence. He was able to convince her to also try the constabulary route. They found true love with each other, got married and had three children: Rudolph Valentino, Desiree, and Reginald Jericho and settled in San Pedro, Laguna. Both Benjamin and Erlinda led illustrious careers in the Philippine National Police (PNP)- Southern Police District and made their way as formidable leaders with Benjamin as Chief of Investigation, and PNP Court Marshall while Erlinda was Chief of Personnel. Erlinda was already breaking glass ceilings before it was even fashionable by excelling in a male dominated industry. Erlinda and Ben were both much loved and revered by their PNP and civilian staff, peers, and seniors. Their love story was cut short when Benjamin passed away at age 56 (with posthumous rank of Major).
Erlinda began her 2nd phase in life as a widow who moved forward with her devotion to their three children. She and her mother, Consolacion, together brought her only daughter, Desiree, to the altar at her nuptials to Carlson Liberato on August 2000 in California, USA. Erlinda eventually retired from PNP with the rank of Captain. She welcomed her first grandson, Lucas Sebastian on December 19, 2005. She then settled in Northern California with her daughter and found her second calling as an elderly caregiver. Having first hand experience of how important it is to care for an ailing loved one, she thrived and did her work as caregiver with much perseverance and integrity. 2010 found her welcoming her 2nd grandson, Tyler Dominic. She attended the college graduation of her youngest child, Reginald Jericho, in 2015 in Manila, Philippines. It was her pride and joy that all her children were Bachelor's degree holders.
Erlinda's simple joys included eating and cooking Filipino food to which pancit (rice noodles) was her all time favorite, loved having Hawaiian pizza delivered, watching Mark Wiens on YouTube, watching Showtime and teleseryes on The Filipino Channel (TFC), and raucously cheering for NBA's Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors (#dubsMamu). She was a huge fangirl and longtime fan club member for Philippine actress turned politician, Vilma Santos. She extended generous love and bonded with her children's respective partners, Laarni, and Carlson. She was Luke and Tyler's loving and devoted "Lola" who relished in attending her grandsons' events and being their biggest cheerleader. Her children's term of endearment for her is Mamu.
Erlinda was preceded in death by her siblings: Nenita Velez, Rodrigo Velez, and Juanito Velez, and is survived by Ernesto Velez, Alfredo Velez and Francisco Velez, Jr.
Erlinda began her 2nd phase in life as a widow who moved forward with her devotion to their three children. She and her mother, Consolacion, together brought her only daughter, Desiree, to the altar at her nuptials to Carlson Liberato on August 2000 in California, USA. Erlinda eventually retired from PNP with the rank of Captain. She welcomed her first grandson, Lucas Sebastian on December 19, 2005. She then settled in Northern California with her daughter and found her second calling as an elderly caregiver. Having first hand experience of how important it is to care for an ailing loved one, she thrived and did her work as caregiver with much perseverance and integrity. 2010 found her welcoming her 2nd grandson, Tyler Dominic. She attended the college graduation of her youngest child, Reginald Jericho, in 2015 in Manila, Philippines. It was her pride and joy that all her children were Bachelor's degree holders.
Erlinda's simple joys included eating and cooking Filipino food to which pancit (rice noodles) was her all time favorite, loved having Hawaiian pizza delivered, watching Mark Wiens on YouTube, watching Showtime and teleseryes on The Filipino Channel (TFC), and raucously cheering for NBA's Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors (#dubsMamu). She was a huge fangirl and longtime fan club member for Philippine actress turned politician, Vilma Santos. She extended generous love and bonded with her children's respective partners, Laarni, and Carlson. She was Luke and Tyler's loving and devoted "Lola" who relished in attending her grandsons' events and being their biggest cheerleader. Her children's term of endearment for her is Mamu.
Erlinda was preceded in death by her siblings: Nenita Velez, Rodrigo Velez, and Juanito Velez, and is survived by Ernesto Velez, Alfredo Velez and Francisco Velez, Jr.