Ariel, I will miss you and your kind smile.  My most unforgettable memory of you is when you drove Rochee over to my house, in Simi Valley, so we can have a get together.  It was already late when you arrived, and of course we couldn't wait to start yakking all night, with our never ending stories, there was just so much to catch up on.  After dinner, we set you up in the family room to watch movies on cable.  You sat there patiently by yourself, letting us have our girl time.  It was only after past 1 am and after sitting through 2 entire full-length movies that you finally walked over to where we were, with a sheepish smile, like you were even embarrassed to interrupt, to check on us and see if Rochee is finally ready to go.  We all felt so guilty but it was so amazing how gracious and patient you were.  That to me shows how tolerant and good natured you were, and how loving you are to Rochee.  

I will never forget you, and will miss your kind smile and your quirky sense of humor.  Rest assured that we will be here for your beloved Rochee, and will take care of her as much as we can.  Rest in peace, my friend.

my dear ariel...you were a brother to me too. i am saddened with the news of your demise.  you would stay in hiwaga evey rtime the cadets would be in manila...a good friend, a good mistah to manongs boy and jess, you were like a son too to both our parents....we will miss you...gone too soon, kabsat...may your soul rest in peace in the bosom of your CREATOR.

he wa s like a brother to us, paredes siblings.  he would sleep in our house everytime the cadets would be in manila.   hard to believe he's gone.  condolences to his wife and children.....may your soul rest in peace, brother ariel domingo....my brothers jess and atot would surely miss their mistah !

ALOHA ….TO THE FAMILY OF ARIEL, ROCHEE, KRISTEN & TIM, JOSH, & ZACH…CLASSMATES, FELLOW PMA ALUMNI…BROTHERS & SISTERS…..

WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ARIEL DOMINGO…

GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE TO US IS SO PRECIOUS AND AN IMMEASURABLE PROOF OF HIS LOVE FOR US. WITH HIS GIFT OF LIFE, GOD GIVES EVERYONE OF US TIME FOR OUR STORIES TO BE TOLD, FOR OUR JOURNEYS TO BE MADE, FOR OUR PURPOSE TO UNFOLD. GOD GIVES EVERYONE OF US TIME TO GROW STRONGER IN HIS GRACE TO BECOME WHO WE ARE BORN TO BE AND FIND OUR UNIQUE PLACE IN HIS CREATION…..THIS IS ARIEL....…AN EMBODIMENT OF GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE!


I FIRST MET ARIEL DURING OUR CADET DAYS AT THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY IN FORT DEL PILAR, BAGUIO CITY, PHILIPPINES…YEAR 1967. ,HE WAS YOUNG, BOYISH AND AMIBITIOUS...DURING HIS FIRST (PLEBE) YEAR IN THE ACADEMY, HE BECAME KNOWN AMONG UPPERCLASSMEN AND CLASSMATES AS PALOS…OR THE SLIPPERY GUY..ALMOST ALWAYS WAS ABLE TO ELUDE THE UPPERCLASSMEN LOOKING FOR PLEBES TO TACKLE OR PUNISH. I SURMISE THAT THE LATE MANONG SATUR, HIS OLDER BROTHER AND MEMBER OF PMA CLASS '66 , GAVE HIM SOME TIPS BEFORE HE ENTERED THE ACADEMY.

ARIEL & I  BECAME CLOSER DURING THE TRIP TO CHINA WHERE WE SPENT MORE TIME TOGETHER ON AND OFF THE SHIP THAT BROUGHT US THERE. WE HAD SOME VERY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES THERE THAT ARIEL AND I SOMETIMES LOVE TO TALK ABOUT WHEN IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF US OR WITH OTHER CLOSE CADET FRIENDS.

AFTER GRADUATION, ARIEL JOINED THE PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY COMMAND WHERE A FEW OF OUR CLASSMATES WERE ALSO ASSIGNED. I JOINED THEM LATER. AFTER A SHORT WHILE, ARIEL LEFT FOR THE US TO VISIT HIS PARENTS AND OTHER SIBLINGS. LATER ON HE DECIDED TO RELOCATE TO THE U.S.

I FIRST VISITED WITH HIM IN LOS ANGELES IN 1974-75, WHERE HE WAS THEN AN ENGINEER AT THE GAS COMPANY.  AS ALWAYS, DURING SUCH VISITS TO LA, WHENEVER I GAVE HIM A CALL FROM A PAYPHONE, (THERE WERE NO CELLULAR PHONES then) HE WOULD ASK ME WHERE I WAS AND WHAT THE NUMBER ON THE PAYPHONE WAS AND HE WOULD CALL ME RIGHT BACK..(BEING THE ILOCANO THAT HE WAS, HE JUST WANTED TO SAVE ME SOME MONEY…..HE THEN  WOULD PICK ME UP WHERE I WAS AND WOULD TAKE ME TO VISIT WITH HIS PARENTS AND JOIN  THEM FOR A MEAL OR TWO.

SUCH WAS ARIEL…THROUGH THE YEARS…….., CARING, CONCERNED.AND JUST BEING A GOOD FRIEND..BUT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT MARKED ARIEL ABOVE THE REST OF US…AND WE LEARNED THIS FROM HIM THESE PAST FEW YEARS..WAS HIS WAY OF SAYING GOODBYE TO US AFTER TALKING OVER THE PHONE OR VISITING WITH HIM AT HIS HOUSE OR AFTER A GATHERING IN LA OR VEGAS..AND THAT WAS..TELLING EACH ONE OF US  LOVE YOU, BUNK”, LUV YOU MISTAH…... TO US FOMER CADETS, THESE WORDS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SAID ONLY TO A GIRL FRIEND OR WIFE..NEVER TO A FELLOW MALE…OR  EVEN CLASSMATE. BUT WE FINALLY CAME AROUND THAT AND ALSO STARTED SAYING “LUV YOU, MISTAH”…TO OUR OTHER CLASSMATES…
SO “BUNK ARIEL” AS YOU TRAVEL TO THE GREAT BEYOND, LET ME ALSO ADDRESS YOU NOW, “ LOVE YOU, BUNK”..AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OUR MISTAHS, I SALUTE YOU………..AND BID YOU FAREWELL..TILL WE MEET AGAIN……ALOHA….

I will always remember Ariel as a kind, caring and compassionate man, he'll surely be missed. I owe the start of my career with State Farm to him.

Uncle Ariel was one of our favorite people of all time. Mark got the chance to know him when he stayed with the Domingo family while an intern at Pacific Hospital. Our favorite story that sums him up pretty good is when he mentioned casually that he was running a marathon the next morning. We were sort of shocked and mentioned wow, didn't notice your training...that's because he didn't! Ran and FINISHED that race literally off the couch. He was just so positive that he would finish it, had no expectations and of course, it all worked out for him! Miss him now and always will. Love you so much Tita Rosanna! Your family has always been an inspiration to ours.  Xoxo Wendy Mark & family

Tito Ariel..Thank you for being a part of Alan's and my wedding in 2005.  Your SMILE and love shined through in all you did Tito.  Thank you for letting Zach stay with me for a couple of weeks to take summer camp with my nephews.  It was a pleasure to have him with us.  Even when you dropped him off and picked him up, I remember you sitting down with my dad for a conversation.  You were a wonderful listener.  Giving, loving, caring.....  Kristen, Josh, Zachary were truly blessed to have you as their Dad.  Tita Rosanna...May the happy memories fill the emptiness you feel in your heart.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the whole family.  Let the memories continue to heal you a day at a a time.  It will take time.  Love Lori and Alan

The first time I met Ariel was when I visited the USA for the first time in 1979. He and my classmate and dear friend Rochee hosted me for a night or two in their beautiful Orange County home. I immediately saw why Rochee was deeply in love with Ariel. He was kind, warm and gentle. He has taken very good care of his family who I know will miss him very much. I will miss Ariel's newsy yearly letters that come with their Christmas cards. I pray that Ariel has found eternal bliss in the Kingdom where we hope to all meet someday.

Tammy and I have always loved Uncle Ariel's sense of humor and incredible spirit. He was always positive and so full of energy. Although time would pass between seeing him whenever we did it was like we never missed a beat. Tam and I talked about how much we enjoyed Uncle Ariel and Tita Rosanna as a couple and how much they loved each other. They were such great role models us and demonstrated what a marriage should be like. Uncle Ariel was also a great role model as a father, raising beautiful, strong, intelligent kids. He will be missed but never forgotten by our family.

I'm blessed to have you as my God Father, Ninong. Maya Angelou has a saying that accurately describes how I feel about you: "People won't remember what you say. They won't remember what you did. But, they will always remember how you made them feel." Ninong, you always made me feel remembered, loved and cared for. You and Ninang were always there for me every step of the wayand I have always remembered that. Thank you for giving my very first and favorite gift when I was a baby: my beloved pink blanket. I took that blanket with me everywhere I went. Couldnt sleep without it really. I still have it, stored away safely, loved and cherished even now that I'm all grown up. That's how I remember you. Warm, loving and secure just like the very first gift you gave me. I love you and will remember you always. Until we meet again, Im sending you hugs and kisses from afar and I know you are with us always.

Tito Ariel was a great man. My earliest recollection of him is one of the few memories I have from my trip to the Philippines 40 years ago. He was secretly dating my Tita Rosanna and they took us to see a movie, The Love Bug. It was the best. I didn't realize at the time that my brothers and cousin were actually just a 'beard' so that Tito Ariel and Tita Rosanna could go on a date, but who cares! I remember him telling me about his time in the military and how to stand when you shoot a pistol. I thought that was the COOLEST! Tito Ariel introduced me to the guitar, which I still play to this day. When I think of my first impressions of him when I was seven I realize they were very accurate. The words that come to mind when I think of the first time I met Tito Ariel are: Cool, Confident, Kind, Calm, Nice, Funny, Brave, Caring, Loving, Smart. And that was a FIRST impression! Obviously as I got to know him as my uncle and grew to love him and his family my respect for him grew even more. He was a wonderful uncle to me and a loving husband to Tita Rosanna and wonderful father to Kristen, Josh and Zack...which is reflected in the way each of them has grown to be great, caring loving adults. My family and I feel blessed we were able to see him recently during his trip to Colorado. He had been through so much but he was still the same cool, confident, kind, calm, nice, funny, brave, caring, loving, smart man that I met 40 years ago. Tito Ariel was a great man and he had a lasting impression on me. He is one of the men I try to emulate. I will miss him.

Rosanna, I keep you and the children in my thoughts and prayers, especially during this painful period. I remember Ariel as an ever-smiling guy who was happy to be the "wind beneath your wings." You practically grew up with him, establishing a happy and stable family. So, I know he was a really special man. Stay strong. Ariel's moved on to another realm but I am sure he continues to be with you and your family. 

Much love,

Thank you for sharing your family photos with us. Even though I've never met Mr.Domingo, it was very hard to fight the tears back. My heart and prayers are with you. He is still your angel....watching over you guys from Heaven.

I will always remember Mr. Domingo as a man who loved his wife, life, and kids. From the start, I knew he had a special bond with Kristen, Josh, and Zach. I loved the way Kristen would call her dad "Pops", which I thought was the most endearing name ever. He had a way of making everyone feel special and opened up his home to many of us extended "friends" of his family. Although his life was rather short, he lived a life full of love and I wish him a joyous journey into heaven where he belongs. My family sends out our love and prayers to the entire Domingo family.

We have never met, but I heard much about you from Rosanna while we were in school - all good, so I know you were a good man. My prayers for you and Rosanna and family.

OBITUARY

Ariel Avecilla Domingo

August 10, 1949 – November 1, 2012

Westminster Memorial Park and Mortuary

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