Amor Luna Espiritu, "faithful son of Pateros, Philippines", passed away on July 28, 2022 surrounded by his family. Amor, uniquely named by his parents, Rosauro "Uro" and Laureana "Angge" Espiritu of Pateros, Rizal, Philippines, was born on April 25, 1944 and was the eldest of 5 children. He was a beloved husband, father grandfather, brother, cousin, uncle and friend.
Amor came from big close-knit old clans of Pateros: the Espiritu clan and the Luna clan. Tio Uro and Tia Angge, Amor's late parents as they were fondly called by many in Pateros, and their children were well-known and well-remembered in Pateros for owning one of the earliest large and successful sari-sari stores in the small old- fashioned town where the store practically became an informal neighborhood gathering center, go-to supply center, and landmark. Being one of the eldest among Espiritu cousins, the often neatly-dressed Amor was well-esteemed and loved by the close-knit Espiritu clan. In the same way, he was also well-loved by his elder cousins from the Luna-Junsay-Castillo clan.
Foreseeably, Amor decided to serve his beloved small town by becoming a schoolteacher in Pateros where, to these days, his former students fondly remember him especially as a Boy Scout leader. At a young age of 21, immediately after graduating from a Teacher's College, Amor married Veronica, his college sweetheart and fellow teacher who hailed from Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines and started a family. Both Amor and Veronica became well-known and well-esteemed teachers in Pateros.
The extended family of Uro and Angge started emigrating to the United States, specifically to the Bay Area in California, in the 1970s. Amor was the last among Uro and Angge's children to arrive in the US in the 1990s. He came with his wife and children. In the US, Amor worked several jobs including stints at SFO airport, Daly City and University of San Francisco. He took pride in his contributions to his jobs, often mentioning his accomplishments. He was known for his friendliness, hospitality, his stories about the past (he could talk passionately and endlessly about Pateros, his beloved home town and his childhood) and his repetitive jokes. They will be missed.
Amor is survived by his wife of 57 years, Veronica, his sons Emmanuel "Manny", Villamor "Bong", Jose Danish "Dondie", Jonathan "Joy/Jon", daughters-in law Susan and Miriam, grandchildren Ross, Nikka, David, JT and Arielle, his siblings Bienvenido"Benny", Cielito "Eboy", Divina and Evelyn, and all of his relatives, beloved cousins, nieces and nephews here in the U.S, Australia and in the Philippines.
