By Naomi Querubin Abesamis (daughter-in-law)
As a faithful follower of Christ and a servant leader for his church community, Romeo M. Abesamis, Sr. passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on July 20, 2020 at 12:35 a.m., Pomona Medical Center, Pomona, California.
For six years, Romeo was battling dementia and as the disease progressed into late stages, it became necessary for him to be in around-the-clock, specialized care. The Inland Valley Care and Rehabilitation Center at Pomona, California is a skilled nursing facility which provided long-term care for the next three years for Romeo, as he struggled with the progressive decline of vascular dementia and other complications. In these last years, his family visited him often, singing to him, praying with him, and celebrating his life.
Due to the recent global pandemic, his family was not allowed to visit him at Inland Valley Care and Rehab to protect the patients and staff from Covid-19. He was brought to Pomona Valley Medical Center emergency room for sudden heart decline (not related to Covid-19). In just a span of less than 24 hours, Romeo was given medications to help his heart continue to function long enough to gather the immediate family together. It was during this time that his wife, Rosita, and his children, Rosemarie, Romy (Jr.), and Rose Lynn were finally able to see him together one last time. Just as birth into the earthly is a miracle to be witnessed, so is the way in which Romeo peacefully left this earthly world and transitioned to his heavenly home.
Romeo Maniquis Abesamis was born on August 11, 1933 at Peňaranda, Nueva Ecija, Philippines to his elated parents, Simeona Maniquis Abesamis and Narciso Bunag Abesamis. He was the oldest of five, with two brothers and two sisters. During his formative years, he went to elementary school at Peňaranda Central School, Peňaranda Provincial High School, and Gapan South High School. Romeo had a passion for education and in 1956, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Philippine Wesleyan College. One year later, he pursued another college degree and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. As an educator, Romeo was a teacher and a high school principal at Philippine Wesleyan College. He met his future wife Rosita, at a leadership training of the United Methodist Youth Fellowship when she was the treasurer of the Bataan district and Romeo was the president of the Nueva Ecija district. Romeo and Rosita married and soon had their first two children, Rosemarie and Romeo Jr. During the early years of marriage and parenthood, Romeo enrolled in a graduate program at Philippine Wesleyan College, and completed 36 semester units in pursuit of a master of arts degree. The college where Romeo spent most of his career and tenure in education would later be known as Wesleyan University, Philippines.
In 1969, Romeo immigrated to the United States ahead of his family and first lived in Iowa, working at the Iowa Training School for Boys. He eventually settled in Los Angeles, Callifornia reconnecting with close friends that recently immigrated from the Philippines. Rosita and their two children followed in October of 1971.The Abesamis family became complete in 1975 as Romeo and Rosita welcomed their third child, Rose Lynn. With his background as an educational practitioner, Romeo naturally developed counseling skills, and established a career in social work at the Hollygrove Children’s Home in Los Angeles. And as if immigrating to the United States was not challenging enough, God had a higher purpose waiting in the wings for Romeo.
In 1972, Romeo was part of an advisory council which began developing a ministry for Filipinos in southern California. Romeo was a laity member of the Filipino Caucus and eventually became president in 1974. As part of the Filipino Caucus, Romeo established the Christmas Institute (C.I.) in the United States, which was a faith-based youth camp. This annual youth camp began in the 1930s in the Philippines and was a tradition of the United Methodist youth fellowship. Romeo’s labor of love for the community both in the United States and the Philippines continued on as the founder and president of the Wesleyan Alumni Association in 1978. He was also the founder and president for the Peňaranda Alumni Association in the U.S. and started a scholarship program for students. Romeo courageously led the efforts along with ten other founding families to give birth to the First Filipino-American United Methodist Church of San Gabriel Valley. He was the lay leader for the church for many years and provided support for United Methodist students to apply for college scholarships such as the HANA scholarship through the United Methodist Church. His home at La Puente, California became a welcome haven for many relatives, families, and friends who needed support and fellowship. Serving the ministry was a labor of love for God first, his family, the church, and its community--hence becoming Romeo’s life-long testament.
Romeo was often found sitting on a simple bench or chair outside of the Abesamis home at La Puente, reading the bible and his favorite books, writing future stories under his pseudonym “Mang Juan,” saying hello to passing neighbors, watering and nurturing his plants, admiring his roses, and enjoying special moments with his family--especially his grandchildren. Romeo is survived by his sisters, Lucila Abesamis Alejandro and Loreta Abesamis Silvestre; his wife, Rosita Apolinario Abesamis; his daughter Rosemarie Abesamis Pangilinan and son-in-law, Job Pangilinan; his son Romeo Abesamis, Jr., daughter-in-law, Naomi Querubin Abesamis, grandchildren, Rianna Juliet and Noah Ryan; and his daughter, Rose Lynn Abesamis-Bell, his son-in-law, Forrest Bell and granddaughters, Sofia and Nora.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’” - Matthew 25:23
