Born in the small town of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte on February 14, 1935; Cesar Calina Aguda was the eldest child of Julian and Victoriana Aguda. He was soon blessed with a younger brother, Floro with whom he would share a lifetime of mischievous adventures.
Since childhood, his sense of curiosity led him to a life of wonderful discoveries, developing lifelong friendships along the way. He enjoyed fishing, swimming, playing an assorted variety of games, going to the beach, dancing, and performing in the neighborhood band. .
After graduating from Pasuquin Provincial High School, he attended the University of the Philippines at Los Banos to pursue a degree in Forestry. He was soon employed at the Reforestation Agency, but not too long after that he felt the need to do more.
In his quest, seeking a better life for his family and to see the world, at age 26 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1961. His travels took him to places many of us would only dream of: Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, New Zealand, and Australia. All the while making new friends throughout and also running into old childhood friends. Although he would deeply embrace each port’s culture he always maintained his Filipino roots.
Once in a while he would miss home and come back to Pasuquin to spend time with the people who knew him best. It was on one of these occasions that he would meet the lovely Lourdines “Denie” Guiang whom he declared to the world as the love of his life. He pulled out all the stops and pursued her to no end and they eventually wed in May of 1969. They were blessed with two wonderful daughters, Claire and Gladys.
The family of four immigrated to the U.S. in December 1977 in Great Lakes Illinois. Cesar had many roles in life but his most cherished role was that of husband and father. He taught his daughters how to ride a bike, bake cookies, build their first snowman, and imbued upon them the value of a good work ethic and education. They would soon move to Honolulu, Hawaii and enjoy the “local” life. Aloha!!!
After 24 faithful years of military service, he retired from the U.S. Navy and moved back to the mainland in San Diego, California in 1985. He was pleasantly surprised to find many familiar and friendly faces of people he had met throughout his life. As was his nature, he resumed these friendships as if it was only yesterday.
Some of his favorite sayings were:
“Every day is a holiday!”
“I’m OK like a buffalo!”
“A day without rice is like a day without sunshine!”
Cesar C. Aguda never wasted a day of his life since the day he was born. He learned how to enjoy each day to its fullest like he was on holiday. The man was more than OK and much stronger than a buffalo. Less we forget, when he was around, it was always sunshine and you knew that there was rice nearby.
Always the comedian and a very sociable fellow, he also had a very private and quiet side that few had the privilege to see. It is in those times when you could see and feel his wisdom in not only his demeanor but through his eyes.
In his final resting days, this is what he left to us: Laughter and Wisdom.
This is what we’ll always remember.
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