On August 16, 1930, Florencio Badilla Abude was born to Zacarias DePaz Abude, Sr. & Melchora Badilla in Guiuan, Samar, PI. He was affectionately known as “Enciong” by his grandparents & “Lolen” or “Flor” by his family and friends. He is the 4th of 6 children: Papa Jose (“Joe”), Guadalupe (“Oping”), Rudolfo, Pablo (“Ablo”) & Zacarias Jr. (“Caring”). At close to 92 years old (August 2022), he was the last to survive his parents and 5 siblings.
Florencio & his siblings grew up in the Philippines during World War II in a one-bedroom nipa hut watching U.S. airfields being built while the Japanese occupied Eastern Samar. Florencio was very studious in high school. Florencio graduated with a B.S. degree in Education and aspired to study law. After graduation, he had a choice to apply and join the U.S. Navy or get his law degree. Many Filipinos (120) applied, and he was selected as 1 of 17 Filipinos to join the U.S. Navy in November of 1954.
By an introduction from his friends in Samar, he was introduced to his first wife, a former classmate at Assumption College (high school). After 3 years of joining the Navy, he married Leoncia Castillo in November 1956 in her hometown of Batangas. They had their 1st child, Jocelyn (“Jojie” or “Joy”) in 1958 in Subic Bay, followed by Gina Marie in Subic Bay, Agnes Frances in Cavite, & Florencio Jr. (“Louie”) in Guam. Sadly, in 1964, Leoncia was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. Thankfully, Leoncia’s older sisters, Angie & Pilar, helped Florencio care for the 4 children in Manila while he was in the Navy.
At the end of 1965, Florencio met Pomona (“Mona”) Cuerpo at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Florencio proposed and invited Mona to move to the U.S.A for a better life for his family. They were married in January 1967 in the Philippines before immigrating to the U.S.A. They settled in Alameda, CA, where shortly thereafter, their youngest daughter, Jessica, was born in Oak Knoll Navy Hospital. In 1968, Florencio returned to the Philippines and brought his 4 children to the U.S. In 1969, their youngest child (6th), Carl, was born, also in Oak Knoll Navy Hospital.
Florencio went on to serve in the U.S. Navy for 23 years where he was based in California (Alameda and Port Hueneme) and Texas (Corpus Christi). He also served in Japan, Guam, Okinawa, and Vietnam. After retiring from the Navy in 1977, he worked for the U.S. Postal service in Oakland, CA, for the next 21 years. While working in the U.S Postal Service, Florencio attended Merritt College to get an Associate of Arts degree in General Education in 1986. After retiring for the second time, now from the postal service, Florencio and Mona enjoyed traveling the world with their friends. In his early years and while at sea in the Navy, Florencio loved playing table tennis and won many tournaments. As a result of winning, he was provided the honor of free satellite phone calls from the U.S. Aircraft Carrier (while at sea) to his family in Alameda, CA. Growing up in a fishing town of Guiuan, he had a passion for fishing and eating fish. While stationed in Corpus Christi, TX he loved to fish and go crabbing with his children. He involved his children and Mona in scaling and preparing the fish. He was also known as an avid tennis player and bowler (in bowling leagues with Mona) up until he was 80+ years old, when his Rheumatoid Arthritis prohibited him from playing.
Florencio served as President of the Guiuananons Club of Northern California for more than 25 years. He would help lead the yearly October celebration of the Guiuananons Santa Rosario Town Fiesta. He loved dancing the tango and his native Karacha during the many years that he served as President. Florencio was the organization’s longest running president in the club’s history as the members did not want him to leave his position. The organization’s yearly Fiesta helped to raise funds for scholarships to support the education of underprivileged children in their hometown of Guiuan Eastern Samar, PI. This was a passion of his for many years.
He also personally supported his niece, Maluisa Abude Menzon, in her educational endeavors to attend medical school. After much success, she is now the attending Physician at GB Tan Hospital in Loang, Northern Samar and the current Mayor of her town in Lapinig, Northern Samar, PI. He was very proud of being a significant part of her success.
Florencio is survived by his loving wife, Mona, and his 6 children, and their families: Joy & Andy, Gina & Randy, Agnes, Louie & May, Jessica, Carl & Karen, and a total of 15 grandchildren: Ryan, Justine & her husband Richard, Maygan, Chantel & her husband Jerrid, Jason, Nadia, Saji, Kai’noa, Marco, Tanner, Jasmine, Garrett and Shannon.
Florencio was a loving, kind, and a generous person with a great sense of humor. His resilience and grit for the 91+ years of his life was something to admire. He never stopped learning, reading, writing, and exercising to stay mentally sharp and in good health. He loved his family dearly and wanted each of his children to have their best life. He was very proud of them. He also cherished all their family gatherings and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren; he told many stories about his life. His life motto was to work hard, stay in good health, help others, and relish his Filipino culture, family, extended family, and friends.
He will live forever in our hearts.
Services are as followed:
Viewing/Vigil
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Time: 4-8 pm (Rosary 6 pm)
Location: St. Albert the Great Church
1022 Holly Street, Alameda, CA 94502
Funeral Mass
Friday, July 22, 2022
Time: 10 am
Location: Same as above
Burial/Internment to follow:
1051 Harder Rd
Hayward CA 94542
