Silvestre Lansangan

Silvestre Malit Lansangan, also known to loved ones and friends as "Bet" or "Beting," was born on November 12, 1931 in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. He was the son of Geronimo Lansangan and Marciana Malit. Silvestre grew up in Santo Rosario, Magalang, Pampanga.

Silvestre was raised with four siblings - Buenaventura, Florencia, Lucina, and Beatriz. He also had four half-siblings - Ciriaco, Andres, and Maria Dizon, and Hilario Lansangan. Growing up on a farm, Silvestre was a well-versed "Farm boy," spending his days tending to carabaos/water buffalos and the like.

Although he only received a high school education, he began to work at a nightclub named the NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) Club at Clark Air Force Base- a USAF Base- at a tender age. Silvestre was a hardworking individual, steadily working his way up the chain of command. His amazing work ethic did not go unnoticed- soon, the supervisor at the club he worked at recognized Silvestre's hard work. As a result, the said supervisor sent Silvestre to a secondary school to learn how to become a bar supervisor/manager himself. Thus, Silvestre was now seated at the top of the work hierarchy - a position he so well deserved.

On September 3, 1950, Silvestre exchanged wedding vows with the love of his life, Erlinda Castro Bautista, in Santuario del Santo Cristo Parish in San Juan City, Rizal, Philippines. Faithful and devoted, Silvestre was committed to making his new family happy.

Silvestre worked hard to be a good Father to his children and did his best to fulfill their needs. Together, he and Erlinda were blessed with four children: three sons named Joel, Rodrigo and Elvis, and one daughter, Lilibeth.

Fortunately, Silvestre enjoyed what he did for a living. Aside from being a bar manager for 37 years, he was also a regular entertainer at the club he worked at, performing as a singer/balladeer some nights of the week. His music genre ranged from Frank Sinatra to Dean Martin, as well as the likes of Elvis Presley (whom of which he named one of his sons after, much to the dislike of his wife Erlinda at first).

Additionally, Silvestre was a devout Catholic, serving the Lord as an EMDC (Extraordinary Minister for the Distribution of Holy Communion), during Mass every Sunday. He made sure that God Jesus Christ was at the center of their family, instilling good morals in his children and teaching them to be honest and responsible individuals.

Playing golf was a favorite pastime of Silvestre. He could spend most of the hours in a day just out on the golf course with his golfing buddies. Some of his favorite hobbies also included reading the local newspaper and taking walks around his neighborhood and parks.

In 1992, he and Erlinda migrated to the United States, where they joined their son Elvis in San Diego, CA. Though they now had to adjust to the American culture, Silvestre and Erlinda made sure that they stayed true to their roots and never forgot where they came from. Fortunately for them, they would visit the Philippines every year, lessening their homesickness. Silvestre also worked at a Naval Submarine base in Point Loma, CA for 12 years.

Silvestre passed away on November 1, 2017 at Sharp- Birch Patrick Convalescent Center (Skilled Nursing Facility) in Chula Vista, California. Silvestre passed away due to natural causes. He was preceded in death by his wife Erlinda in September 2010. Silvestre is survived by his Children: Joel (Daughter-in-law Myrna), Rodrigo (Daughter-in-law Marissa), Elvis (Daughter-in-law Olivia), and Lilibeth (Son-in-law Gerry); his Grandchildren: Sarah (Grandson-in-law Matt Edwards), Jojo (Granddaughter-in-law Ma Crystal), Timothy, Krista, Jovan (Granddaughter-in-law Kathleen), Jere (Grandson-in-law Harjay Lacanilao), Kristin, Kai, Cedric, Chad, and Rodney; and his Great-Grandchildren: Yuri, Juancho, Leona, Robin, Althea, and Joachim. Visitation Services will be held at Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary's Little Chapel of the Roses in Bonita, CA on November 17, 2017. A Funeral Mass will be held at Mater Dei Catholic Parish on the morning of November 18, 2017, with his final viewing and burial taking place at Glen Abbey afterwards.

Simply stated, Silvestre was a good, kind, friendly person, a loving husband, and a devoted Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather. A great provider and a hard worker, Silvestre was selflessness embodied- always putting others before himself. "Bet" is an individual who will be remembered for all time by his family, relatives, and friends as someone who was a vital part of their lives. Silvestre leaves behind him a legacy of life-long friendships and countless cherished memories. He is now in God's care and will be missed by all.

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Celebration of Life

Friday, November 17, 2017

5:00-9:00 pm

7:00 pm Prayers & Remembrances

8:00 pm Refreshments

Glen Abbey Memorial Park

Little Chapel of the Roses

3838 Bonita Rd.

Bonita, CA 91902

Funeral Mass

Saturday, November 18, 2017

10:00 am

Mater Dei Catholic Parish

Pastoral Center

1571 Magdalena Ave.

Chula Vista, CA 91913

Final Viewing & Interment

1:00 pm

Glen Abbey Memorial Park

Little Chapel of the Roses

3838 Bonita Rd.

Bonita, CA 91902

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CTTO: Alex R. Castro, "Views from the Pampang," Published 2008. *114. ROMEO AND JULIET OF MABALACAT.

(The story of star-crossed lovers Erlinda Castro Bautista and Silvestre Malit Lansangan is one for the books; in fact, it's the stuff TV telenovelas are made of. So much so that the story was used for a "Ms. D." episode aired on 12 August 1998, over GMA Channel 7, from a letter sent by daughter Lily. This account was directly taken from the Golden Wedding anniversary invitation sent to us by the family, who are direct relatives. The great grandfather of Erlinda, Isidoro Castro is the elder brother of Gerardo Castro Sr., my paternal grandfather. )

Erlinda (Linda) and Silvestre (Beting) first met in May 1949, during a town santacruzan where Linda was the Reyna Elena. Silvestre was quickly smitten by the young queen and Erlinda, too, succumbed to her feelings. So, on June 14, 1950, on her 14th birthday, Erlinda went to hear mass and never came back home, having eloped with Beting.

Apung Coring (Linda's mother) was against Bet, because her daughter was too young to get married. Her parents tried to convince their daughter to come home with them and forget about Beting, but being head over heels in love with him, she refused. Her parents were very disappointed such that they decided to send her to jail for disobedience. There, the Chief of Police, an uncle, took her under police custody but gave her special treatment, apparently because she was not a criminal. She stayed there for 21 days.

At the back of the Municipal Jail, there was window to Linda's cell. Beting secretly saw his beloved Linda by climbing the back wall and peering through this small window. To this day, Beting often wonders how he could have climbed the prison wall that was so high and forbidding.

Their love story made them popular in Mabalacat, so much so that the people made this line for Linda: "Tadtaran daku man mapinu, ing mitalamsik a daya kang Bet ya pa murin." (Even I were finely chopped, my blood that spatters will still be for Bet).

Eventually, her parents had her released from jail and she was sent to Marikina where her paternal relatives resided. There, Linda was enrolled at Cubao Elementary School. Beting, who was so much in love with her, didn't stop looking for her, a search that lasted for a month. It was at Cubao Elementary School that Beting finally saw Linda, as she was getting ready for the flag ceremony. Linda skipped her class and sat down with Beting to discuss their relationship and their plans.

It came to a point that one day, Linda stuffed her school bag with clothes, a suspicious act that was not lost on her Lolo Pedro, who had been keeping an eagle eye on her. She told her Lolo, a former Katipunero, that she was going to school. In fact, she was again, plotting to elope with Beting. The couple were already on a bus when Lolo Pedro appeared at the station, brandishing a bolo, and demanding that the two alight from the bus. Their plan was once again, thwarted.

Her Lolo Pedro reported this to her parents. But this time, realizing the depth and sincerity of their love, Linda's parents gave their blessings to the couple. Linda and Beting were married in San Juan Church and were blessed with 4 children: Joel, Rod, Elvis and Lily, all married with children. The Lansangans now all reside in the United States.