Juan C Nabong Jr.

Most Worshipful Judge Juan Cruz Nabong, Jr., affectionately known as "Johnny", was born in Manila, Philippines on June 8, 1935 and passed away on November 22, 2019 at Advent Hospital South in Orlando, Florida. He is survived by his sisters -- Marion Bulaclac, Belen Festin, Edna Lesada and Esther Abiera, his wife of 58 years, Zenaida "Zeny" (nee Carrillo), and their children Juan Montgomery “Monty” Nabong IV and his wife Cecile, Pamela and her husband Ryan (Allen), Giliw Carmen and her husband Ramon (Rodrigo), Andrew Jose Nabong and his wife Chona. He leaves behind 8 grandchildren: Timothy Marc N. Cruz, Maria Patricia “Tricia” N. Cruz, Christina Felicia "Chrisel" Cruz (JC) Peterson, Juan Miguel (Deanna) Nabong V, Justin Montgomery Nabong, Jabriel “JB” Moncil Nabong, Christian Joy “CJ” Torres, Adriana Hristova “Bebka” Nabong and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.

He is pre-deceased in death by his father, Juan Nabong Sr, mother, Rosalina Solitario Cruz, siblings -- David, Elizabeth and Orlando.

Some people pretend to be more than they are and then there are those who are much more than they seem. When you saw 84-year-old Johnny Nabong sitting in his wheelchair, with his baseball cap on and oxygen tube, you likely saw a frail man with a huge smile when you walked into a room. He’d talk to you about today’s news, whistle a catchy tune, gossip about new movie releases, and tell you who was dating who in Hollywood. He was always in the know. An avid autograph hunter, he personally met Mother Teresa, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Anatoly Karpov and others. He messed with his cell phone and would take selfies like a millenial. He would send you a random text or note when he thought of you. He would probably boast about all the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren -- although all of their accomplishments pale in comparison to the achievements of this remarkable man. Then when you left him, he’d give you a fist bump or a thumbs up. Little did you realize that this man was a highly accomplished, well-respected, influential man of the law in the Philippines. There, he was a big deal… a really big deal.

His name is synonymous with the words INTEGRITY and HONESTY. It is rare to meet a man, more accomplished than he was. Voted The Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines in 1989, Judge Juan C. Nabong, Jr. represented his country as leader for this fraternity whose efforts are based on charity and humility. Firm in his decisions “nothing short of being proven wrong would move him to change his tune.”

His father was a lawyer by profession, President of a well-known University (PCU), and an active Church layman, while his mother was a deaconess of the Harris Memorial Training School. The two complemented each other in bringing up Juan Jr., to the stature he attained.

After graduating from Union High School of Manila, he studied law at the University of the Philippines. He was still a law student when he was chosen as one of the members of President Ramon Magsaysay’s Consultative Council of Students. Nabong finished his law studies in 1958, but his thirst for more knowledge, led him to pursue a masters degree in law at the Manuel L. Quezon University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1967 and a doctorate in civil law at the University of Santo Tomas, where he graduated meritissimus (most deserving) in 1970. His doctoral dissertation received the highest commendation and was adjudged a model for its approach, form and style by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.

After passing the bar examination in 1959, he joined the Claro M. Recto Law Offices as an Assistant Attorney.

He was among the volunteer workers in the disaster area of the Rubi Tower collapse in 1969 and helped victims day and night. He was also chairman of the board of a foundation that took care of over 50 street children.

From 1970 to 1978 Nabong taught graduate studies at the Philippine Christian University and served as Dean of its College of Arts and Sciences, editor of the PCU Journal of Educational Research, and member of the Board of Trustees. He has also been connected with Knox Memorial Methodist Church and the Salvation Army of the Philippines.

In 1971 he was International Awardee, Cross of Honor, Order of DeMolay. For four consecutive years he was chosen Outstanding Chapter Advisor by the Loyalty Chapter, Order of DeMolay. In 1972 he received the Bronze Meritorious Service Award from the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the United States. He then took part in a project to establish a Christian university at Dasmariñas, Cavite. This project contributed to the establishment of the PCU as the Christian University of Manila. In February 1977 he transferred to the Office of the Solicitor General. Six years later was appointed Judge of the Regional Trial Court in Iligan City.

He enrolled next at the Centro Escolar University for a doctorate in Public Administration, then he attended the Academy of American and International Law in Dallas, Texas, in 1982.

In April 1986, Nabong left the Court to assume the position of Administrator of the City of Manila. During his term he represented Mayor Gemiliano Lopez, Jr. in an official trip to Guam designed to initiate a Manila-Guam sister-cities relationship. In 1987, in recognition of his achieve¬ments as City Administrator, the Philippine Media Practitioners Association (PMPA) gave him the Tagumpay Award for Best City Administrator.

At one time or another, he has been connected with the Translators Committee of the Philippines, the Philippine Society of International Law; Philippine Lawyers Association; Philippine Political Science Association; Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Philippine Historical Association; Philconsa; YMCA, YWCA, Rotary, the Y’s Men’s Club of Manila, Knights of Rizal, Poetry Club of Manila, and the Para-psychology Society of the Philippines.

However, he considered Masonry his foremost commitment. The highlights of his Masonic career are, as follows:

- Past Master, Hiram Lodge No. 88 (1966)- 33rd Degree, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, A&ASR (Since 1985)

- Past Eminent Prior, Knight York Cross of Honor,Filipinas Priory No. 62. As such he represented the Philippines in the KYCH convocation in Canada in 1984.

- Twice recipient, Grand Lodge Diploma of Merit for Distinguished Service

- Past Puissant Sovereign, Asoka Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine

- Former Secretary, The Cabletow, publication of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines

- Past Grand High Priest, Most Excellent Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the Philippines

- Past Most Illustrious Grand Master, Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the Philippines

- Past Eminent Grand Commander, Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the Philippines.

- Grand Master, Grand Lodge of the Philippines, 1989.

In 1982 the Alumni Association of Union High School of Manila elected him to the school’s Hall of Fame and gave him the Outstanding Alumni Award. UST, likewise, recognized him as an Outstanding Alumnus in the field of Law.

Since 1984 he was an active member of the Philippine Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, the same year he wrote the lyrics of the IBP Hymn with WB Jose B. Abejo doing the music. The duo, by the way, collaborated in the Sigma Rho anthem of U.P. way back in 1953. In 1985 Nabong wrote the lyrics of the U.P. Golden Jubilee Hymn.

He co-authored and stage-directed the Masonic historical play “Aguinaldo the Mason – His Initiation into the Katipunan,” which was presented in Manila, San Pablo and Iloilo City.

After he retired, he moved to the United States where he enjoyed time with his family. He went on a church mission to Costa Rica to rebuild a youth camp and then wrote books: “Gird Life with the Truth” (2008), a historical novel about his father, “Gudbye Ni Rizal: And Other Poems and Hymns” (2011), then “Love Starved Delirious Poems Stray in Manila” in 2016. He was working on his fourth book, another book of poetry that was not published, when he passed.

Visitation & Viewing from 3 - 9 pm, Tuesday, November 26, 2019:

Woodlawn Funeral Home

400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road

Gotha, FL 34734

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 am, Wednesday, November 27, 2019:

University Carillon United Methodist Church

1395 Campus View Court

Oviedo, FL 32765