Manolito Tugade Natividad

Born and raised in a rural area of the Philippines, Manolito was the third child born on June 6, 1940 to Prudencia and Getulio Natividad. He was only 2 years old when, Manolito, older brother Renato, and older sister Salud, lost their father due to complications from a poisonous spider bite. Around that time and in addition to that tragedy, World War II was being fought and reached the shores of the Philippine Islands. In 1942, All Filipinos were in one way or another affected by Japan’s military occupation. Without weapons, peaceful Filipinos were forced to hide from Japanese soldiers, and only a toddler at the time, his family was fearful Manolito’s crying might give them up. But he and his family survived to see the Liberation of the Philippines when U.S. General Douglas MacArthur returned with his troops on October 20, 1944. Manolito’s mother met and married Demetrio Medrano and he soon became an older brother to Eduardito, Zenaida, and Eusedo. Unfortunately, shortly after the birth of his youngest brother Eusedo, his step-father Demetrio, after contracting tuberculosis died.

While doing as much as he could to help out, the absence of a father figure often led Manolito to do things as child that he would hide from his mother. And though at 10 years old, he was smoking and gambling, he also spent time being an older brother to his younger siblings--playing with and watching over his younger brothers as well as working on the farmland left to the family by his father. He worked hard at a young age planting, cultivating and harvesting rice to support the family. He worked the sometimes cold rice fields while drinking hard liquor to keep warm. In those same fields where he worked, he also had fond memories of childhood and careless play. One of his favorite memories often told by him was of waking up in the morning and running into the woods nearby to play or swim in the nearby river for hours with his brothers until lunchtime, when he would hear his mother calling like an alarm, one word--his name “Manolito!!!!!” which was his cue to gather up his brothers and get them home to eat. He was familiar with mostly everyone in his small village of Balungao, not only because of its small size, but also because so many were related to his mother, his father, or his step-father. And so growing up, many of his closest and best friends--Ancing, Dante, and Fidel, were also related to him. In fact, in addition to attending the same school as his cousins, his mother’s aunt was also his school’s principal. Unclear whether it was in spite of, or because of this fact, he confessed putting little effort into his studies but nonetheless doing well in all his courses. And well enough in fact that after completing grammar school, he left home to attend the University of the East, where he earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Accounting. Soon after, he pursued his next professional accomplishment of obtaining Certification as a Public Accountant. After successfully passing the Boards he was awarded his CPA in 1962.

It was also during that time that he met his first wife, Eloisa V. Reyes. A graduate of Centro Escolar University, and a teacher. They were married in 1963. Two years later in 1965, Manolito’s first son, Noel was born. Two years later, in 1967 his second son, Jon was born. The family lived in Quiri Cada till October of 1969. It was at that time that he and his wife were picked by lottery and given the opportunity to immigrate to the United States. Although living in America was a dream and opportunity that could bring so many advantages, his career was just starting to move forward and he was being offered a new, better paying position that was tempting him to stay in the Philippines. So used to growing up in a village filled with relatives, he worried about moving across the ocean, so far from family who would not be around to help and support him. In addition, the United States was in the midst of the war with Vietnam and young men in his specific age group were being drafted into the war. He was unsure of America’s Draft policy, and whether or not he himself as a U.S. resident would be called to serve. He wondered if his English was good enough, and if he and his wife were able to find jobs, who would care for their children? Despite all the doubts, he summoned belief in himself and envisioned the opportunities only a life in America would bring to his children. He and his wife made the decision to leave their jobs and their families and fly across the ocean with their children Noel--now 4 years old, and Jon-Jon--now 2 years old. They landed in San Jose, California, in October 1969 where they began their new lives in America. By 1972, the couple was both successfully working in careers of their chosen profession and had moved into their new house on Shilshone Circle. Within the next following years, their house on Shilshone circle would be the first stop and temporary residence for so many relatives like his brother Eduardito and family, and his cousin Fidel and family, who like they had done in 1969, left the Philippines to immigrate to America and begin new lives of hope and opportunity.

In 1974, Manolito and his family became naturalized citizens of the United States of America. As a citizen entitled to the petition process which grants visas allowing petitioned relatives residing outside the U.S. to come to America to live and work indefinitely, Manolito and his wife were responsible for bringing over their parents, who then petitioned their children which included his younger brother Eusedio and younger sister Zenaida who arrived in 1977. Although now and always a U.S. Citizen and an American, Manolito never forgot where he came from. Many years later, he was a supporter and member of the Balungao Association—an organization for past residents which raised money to support their village and community in their homeland, as well as a way to socialize with Filipino-Americans who shared the same place of upbringing.

In 1977, after moving to a larger, two story home on Goldenrain Drive, Manolito welcomed his third son, Matthew 1978. He was quickly followed by his fourth son Mark, in 1979. Now a family of six, one of his favorite hobbies was to take his family camping. Having outgrown the first Camper, he purchased a large, luxury, 23 foot RV, which slept 6. In the RV, he took his family on many trips throughout the Western United States and Cananda such as Baja Mexico, Arizona, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, through Utah and over the Salt Lake. One year they took the RV to Seattle and then to the 1986 World’s Fair in Vancouver, British Columbia. Weekends during the summer were often spent in the RV at campgrounds closer to home such as in Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Yosemite, and various KOA Campgrounds which had RV hookups and particularly for his sons—a simple pool. In addition he enjoyed convoys with other families and relatives on long weekends like Memorial Day, when each year with a large group, and taking up 5 to 6 reserved campsites at campgrounds like Oakwood Resort Campground, in Manteca, California or Uvas Meadows Campground. One July 4th weekend in particular will always be remembered, when due to a lack of reservations and no vacancies at any other campgrounds, the convoy of campers had no choice but to go to a clothing optional campground, where there were enough campsites for all of the families in the convoy—that summer by the beach was one of the strangest destinations for the convoy of campers, but also one of the funniest and most memorable. During the winter, Manny’s RV brought the family to Lake Tahoe to enjoy the snow, and allowed his children to enjoy skiing the slopes at Boreal Ridge, Heavenly Valley, and Squaw Valley.

Shortly after attending his first son Noel, college graduation and sending his second son Jon off to UC Santa Barbara, Manolito’s wife Eloisa was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. He took a leave of absence from his job as an Auditor to help care for her. A year after her diagnosis, Eloisa succumbed to the disease and passed in March 1990. His younger sons Matt and Mark were 11 and 12 years old and with both of his older sons no longer living at home, he did his best in his new role as a single father. Three years later, after being set up on blind date set up by his friend, Arnold, he began a relationship with Novy Lizardo—a single mother of 3 who became a widow also in 1990. After a long engagement, Novy and Manolito were married in Las Vegas, Nevada in July 2001. Friends and family from all over the country came to attend the formal ceremony which was held in the Wedding Chapel of the Treasure Island Resort as well as dance and celebrate at their grand reception held in the hotel’s ballroom. The couple returned to San Jose were Manolito went back to work as an auditor for the county and where Novy worked for Western Digital.

Manolito also enjoyed traveling the world. He’s been to Europe several times visiting and revisiting Countries such as France, Italy, Spain, England, Holland, Austria, Switzerland and Monaco. He enjoyed traveling with Friends such as Mr. and Mrs. Marciano Estioko, as well as with relatives, such as his brother Eduardito and wife Diday. He enjoyed traveling on Cruises to Mexico, and the Bahamas, as well as to the Northwest to Canada. In addition to visiting the Philippines many times during his retirement, he also visited the Great Wall and Forbidden City in China. He has visited Hawaii many times including The Big Island, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. His work also provided him opportunities to travel all over the U.S. visiting cities from Coast to coast, Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Nashville, Dallas, Washington DC., Maryland, Vermont, Virginia, Martha’s Vineyard and Boston in Massachusetts, Atlantic City on the Jersey Shore, St Paul in Minnesota, and Philadelphia. He was in New York on September 11, 2001—it was his second time in New York. During his first trip to New York a few years earlier he had been in the Twin Towers to perform an audit for a company whose office was at the World Trade Center.

Manolito started his accounting and finance career in America with his first job at Doudell Trucking. He continued specializing in the shipping industry working for various trucking and air freight companies. He was as an Accounting Manager for Shippers Imperial and Flying Tigers Air Delivery. His first executive management position was as Controller for Peninsula Air Delivery. Eager to learn new skills in accounting and finance and be part of the workforce responsible for his city’s new nick nickname, Silicon Valley, he applied and was offered a management position in Accounting for one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). After several years, he left AMD for a position which he kept and held for many years up to his retirement. His varied experience had allowed him to accept a position in accounting and as well take on new responsibilities as a public official in County Government where he worked as an Auditor for the Assessor’s Office. At age 63 his years of service had qualified him to be eligible to receive the County Worker’s pension. As a result, in 2004, Manolito made the decision to leave his good friends at work and take early retirement.

Manolito also professionally challenged himself in other side projects and interests. In the early 1980’s he studied real estate and after passing the required exam, obtained his license as a Real Estate Agent in California. He worked for an Agency run by his friend and Real Estate Broker, Marciano Estioko. During that time he was twice awarded the top salesperson for the month. He also formed with his brothers Eduardito and Eusedio an incorporated organization called Phil-Cal. Phil-Cal, named as an abbreviation for Philippines and California, was a savings organization which provided quick and accessible loans to members and helped many people who needed financial assistance at times when they really needed it. In the early 1990’s he also took a chance in operating a Gasoline Station Franchise. After completing the Shell Dealer Franchise Training in Buena Park, California, Shell Petroleum awarded him a Franchise, which he ran under a Corporation he created specifically for the new business called MM&JN Enterprises—so named after the first initials of each his four sons. The gas station, located in Canoga Park, California was sold in 1995.

After working his whole life in finance and accounting, Manolito looked forward to retiring. In 2004, he finally got his chance. After seeing sons Matthew graduate from UC San Diego, and Mark, a year later graduate from UC Santa Cruz, Manolito was ready to enjoy retirement. He and his wife, Novy bought a new house in Las Vegas and looked forward to regularly hosting family and friends in one of their three guest rooms. In addition to hosting, Manny and his wife loved to go to Lake Mead where they would go fishing. They also loved taking their motor boat out on the lake with friends for swimming, and rides on inflatables being towed behind the boat. Manny enjoyed so much of the free time he now had in his retirement. He liked watching his favorite Filipino dramas on TFC, as well as his favorite sport teams, the San Francisco Giants and the 49ers. He enjoyed working in his backyard gardening—especially tending to his Cactus pots—which lined the entire length of the backyard. Every night, he and his wife Novy, would dress up and head to Sam’s Town Casino, where they were regulars at the nightly bingo—where they would play two or three sessions along with the many new friends and acquaintances they had met as regulars of nightly bingo.

Manolito celebrated his 72nd birthday with all four of his sons coming out to Vegas to spend the weekend with him. They took him out for a wonderful seafood buffet, and ended the weekend with a trip out on Lake Mead on his boat followed by grilling burgers in his backyard and watching a movie altogether with him in his family room. A week later, his sons were back with him after stomach pain and several visits to urgent care resulted in his an initial diagnosis of malignancy in his colon and liver. He was admitted into the hospital, where his pain could be managed and additional test could be performed. When test results came back, cancer of the lymphatic system was determined to be the cause of his pain. As serious as the diagnosis was, the condition was described as “treatable”, especially in comparison to other forms of 3rd or 4th stage cancers which his pain and symptoms had been mimicking. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, less than a week later, Manolito suffered cardiac arrest while still hospitalized and though resuscitation continued for 30 minutes by an attending physician and her medical team, he could not be revived, and expired at approximately 10AM, Saturday, June 23, 2012. His wife, Novy, who had been with him every day while he was in the hospital from morning to night, was at his side when he peacefully passed on.