Ambrocia Manlutac Mangila

Ambrocia was the third of ten children to parents Alberto Manlutac and Rosario Angeles Manlutac. She attended Guagua National Colleges (GNC) in the Philippines, obtaining her bachelor of arts in education and a master's degree in guidance and counseling.

Ambrocia worked in education for more than 40 years in Floridablanca, Phillippines — first as an elementary schoolteacher, then as a principal.

When Ambrocia was 21, she married her high school sweetheart, Cristobal Mangila. They had three children: Josefina (Josie), Jocelyn (Joy), and Edwin.

Though her homeland of the Philippines was always in her heart, Ambrocia moved to the United States in the ‘90s to be with her daughter, Joy, son-in-law Dave, and grandchildren, Melissa and Justin. She became a permanent citizen in the 2000s, and settled in Riverside, California where she spent the rest of her life.

Ambrocia was deeply religious and spiritual, strong and unwavering in her Catholic faith, and always quick to love, cherish, and pray for those around her.

"The accomplishment that I am most proud of is my family and my children’s families," she wrote. "My family inspires me daily, and the Lord has blessed us. They are loving, smart, kind, and full of beautiful virtues."

Ambrocia was unafraid of mortality and saw passing from this life as a chance to reunite with God and loved ones who had preceded her — including her beloved parents, grandparents, siblings, husband, children, relatives, and friends.

"God has blessed me with love, grace, joy, peace, and patience," Ambrocia wrote. "Praise and thanks to the loving Father, son Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Mother Mary, and Saint Joseph. My life is fulfilled. My life is Christ, my savior. He is my life and death eternal."