Leonarda Canaberal Sumawang

Leonarda Canaberal Sumawang (aka Inang Leoning) was born on May 15, 1931 in Bintawan Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya (Philippines). She finished her secondary education at Dalton High School. Afterwards, she pursued her college education at the National University in Manila where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy. After graduation, Inang worked in Pharmacia de Oro in Manila for a few years. Within those years, she met Tatang ( Peter Sumawang) through their mutual landlord, who also happened to be Inang's uncle. They fell in love, and eventually got married on November 16, 1957.

Following their marriage, Inang and Tatang moved back to Solano, Nueva Vizcaya (Philippines), where they started and raised their family. By the grace of God and by her sheer hard work and perseverance, Inang was able to open her first drugstore, and named it The People's Drug Store in the summer of 1962. As time passed by, the drugstore expanded and branched out in nearby towns of Bayombong and Bagabag. Her growing children often helped at the drug stores she owned. Many relatives (as well as some friends) were recipient of her kindness and generosity.

Inang migrated to California, USA in 1990 with her husband and lived with one of her daughters, Marie Tottoc (Porfirio Tottoc & family). Being the workaholic that she was, and because she did not want to be idle, she worked as a security officer at the San Jose International Airport for several years until she retired in 2003. While employed at the airport, Inang turned her passion in sewing as a hobby into a part time job with Hancock Fabrics Warehouse. She sewed beautiful clothes, creative pillow covers and blankets for her friends and family.

Together with her husband, Inang often traveled to the Philippines to visit her beloved children and grandchildren. She always tried to support all her children - be it spiritually, physically and - through hard times - even financially.

Inang was known to be curious, very creative, intelligent, incredibly loving and very thoughtful. She and her dear husband had 8 children, 9 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her youngest son, Iohanes Sumawang.