All her siblings addressed her, Ate Esther. However, to many people, she was fondly called, Nanay Esther. She was the second daughter of Teodora Velasquez and Alejandro Pangan. She was born on April 4, 1930 in the village of Sta. Cruz, Candating, Arayat, Pampanga, Philippines. She and her older sister, Loida, lost their mother at an early age. Two years later, Alejandro married Teodora’s younger sister, Caridad.
As she grew, she was known as a friendly and generous girl. Many times, she would share her little money with her friends and classmates in the elementary school. She developed a beautiful and a noble character with sterling integrity. God had given her the ability to cook well. Many people have been blessed with her gift of hospitality.
In 1946, the Pangan family moved to Baesa, Caloocan to flee from the Communist insurgency in Pampanga. That was providential, because their children were able to obtain Christian education at Philippine Union College, now Adventist University of the Philippines.
Esther worked hard and studied diligently until she received her degree in Elementary Education in 1953. She taught in places like Cavite and Baler where she met her future husband, Josue Trinidad. (They got married on June 3, 1959.) She loved the Lord and served Him with all her heart. As a dedicated teacher and school principal, she was loved and highly respected by her peers and students. No doubt, many of her friends and former students whom she led to Christ, will be stars in her crown.
After her retirement from teaching, she immigrated to Canada on June 27, 1997. Three years later, she immigrated to California to be with her daughter, Charity and her family. The family moved from San Diego to Highland in 2004.
She joined the Tagalog SDA Church in Tippecanoe, Loma Linda. Her fellow church members loved her and deeply appreciated her faithfulness. Many of them became her close friends.
On the seventh of last month, she was diagnosed with a stage-four lung cancer. On February 13, her church pastor, Rudy Almonte, and her pastor-brother, Abel Pangan, anointed her. After the anointing service, she exclaimed, “Now, I have peace in my heart and am ready if God wants me to rest!”
Exactly a month later, God ended her pain and suffering, twenty-two days before her 90th birthday. Ate or Nanay Esther is now peacefully awaiting to meet the King of kings when He comes in the clouds of heaven. She is survived by her children: Merlie, Josue Jr, Gualberto, Charlie, Allen, Charity, and Romen; 22 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren; cousin-siblings: Abel Pangan, Emralina Imperio, Marcelino Pangan, Daniel Pangan, and Nervie Miner.
By Pastor Abel V. Pangan
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