Aleth Songco Priela

Aleth was born January 23, 1959 in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines to Jesus and Raquel Songco. She is the eldest of five children Ariel, Angelica, Armel and Aris. Aleth attended Holy Family Academy and received her Bachelors of Science in Medical Technology at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. From there, she began her work as a Medical Technologist in Microbiology at Clark Air Force Base in the Regional Medical Center Hospital Laboratory. This is also where Aleth and Carlomagno met as he was given a tour of the facilities. Carlomagno returned from the United States to marry Aleth on December 10, 1983 in Angeles City at Santo Rosario Catholic Church. She relocated the following year to be with her husband in San Diego, California, where their first son Charlemagne was born on August 10, 1985 at the Naval Hospital San Diego. She spent her free time taking Charlemagne to all the theme parks and museums in Southern California.

In October 1986, they were stationed at the Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan where she managed the drug-testing lab for the entire US Marine Corp base. Three years later on August 25th their second child, Alexis-Kim was born at Camp Lester Hospital. This is where they spent most of their time going to the beach, Japanese Castles and Caves, tours of Asia, shopping trips to Korea, and regular visits to the Philippines.

In October 1991, they were again re-stationed back to Southern California at the Naval Hospital in Camp Pendleton. On August 2, 1993, their third child, Giancarlo, was born in Oceanside, California at the Tri-City Hospital. Aleth was a loving, understanding, and hardworking mother. As a family, they went on annual road trips driving up and down the West Coast; stopping at all the theme parks, shopping malls, state parks and beaches along the way. Not only was she a doting mother but she also ensured that her children were well provided for.

Her career started in 1984 as a Research Assistant at the University of California San Diego. Two years later, she accepted a position as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at Quest Diagnostics in San Juan Capistrano. She was later promoted to a Supervisor position and ultimately the Manager of the Serology Department, where she managed 70 employees. Aleth was highly valuable and a respected member of the Quest Diagnostics Management team. Her staff thought very highly of her and she was always willing to go the extra mile for anyone that worked for her. She made many great contributions and helped in the growth of the company and her department. For her great work at Quest Diagnostics she was the recipient of several Excellence awards including: The Innovation Award, Overall Quality Performance Award, Employee Satisfaction Award, and Safety Award for the past three years. This June she celebrated 25 years of dedicated service at Quest.

In her later years, she grew a great hunger for travel and adventure. In 2009, Aleth became a certified scuba diver in Palawan, Philippines. And from there, she traveled to ten other countries. She enjoyed snorkeling, scuba diving, zip lining, parasailing, white water rafting, horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, jet skiing, hiking, and kayaking. But there was one thing she really wanted to do, sky dive. In her spare time she enjoyed reading, watching her favorite Filipino shows, and most of all shopping.

She leaves behind her husband Carlomagno “Kim”, three children Charlemagne “Mikki”, Alexis-Kim “Myka” , Giancarlo and daughter-in-law, Jacquelou “Jackie”. As well as, three grandchildren Jiannah Faith “Jia”, Charlemagne Jr. “CJ”, and Jerilou “Jeri”.

Aleth understood that children spell “love” T-I-M-E. Everything she did was for her family. She lit up every room she entered with her beautiful smile, laughter and warm heart. Aleth was the best storyteller and had a great sense of humor. She knew how to make anyone laugh. She cared for anyone and everyone she met and did it with the most open minded and unconditional love. She was known for giving everything she had to those around her. There were many instances where she would bring homeless youth into restaurants with her to pay for their meals, bringing friends of her children and families into their home, helped a lot of young graduates get jobs, and giving whatever cash she had to struggling mothers she would meet. Aleth will never be forgotten because of the impact she made on this world. Her legacy of love and strength will forever live on.