Aida Carmona's Obituary
March 15, 2015 What a blessed, glorious night Smile with flicker of light Soon enough, such peaceful site remains ~~~ Aida CarmonaAida Ragasa Carmona March 27, 1945-October 12, 2016 HaywardAida Carmona passed away Wednesday, October 12 at the age of 71. Aida was a loving, compassionate, and generous wife, mother, devout Catholic, and inspirational teacher to many grateful students from many decades in her cherished vocation. Aida was born in Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur, a province in northern Philippines. In 1969, she married her soul mate, Geronimo (Ron), with whom she would raise four beautiful children. She was the valedictorian of Class 1961 at the Caloocan High School in Metro Manila. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Education from the Far Eastern University (FEU), she became a teacher of English, Speech and Drama, most memorably at the Manila Science High School (MSHS) for three decades. Afterwards, she also served as the English Department Head and then Principal of the Villamor High School in Sta. Ana, Manila. She also has a Master’s degree in Industrial Education from the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP). Concurrent with her love of teaching is her avocation for the theater and the performing arts. From the late 1970s to early 1990s, Aida would appear in significant supporting roles in many television shows and films. She was best known for her role as “Aling Atang” (elder lady Atang), a house helper in the 1980s television soap opera “Flordeluna.” She also garnered favorable critical reviews for her portrayals of supportive roles in such seminal Filipino films like “Inay” (1977), “Bagets” (1984), “Kisapmata” (1981), “Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim” (1984), “Gumising Ka, Maruja” (1978), and “Manila: City After Dark” (1980). She has always been proud to have been directed by three of the best film directors in the Philippines from that era: Lino Brocka, Mike De Leon, and Ishmael Bernal. In 1994, Aida immigrated to Hayward, California to be with Ron. She embarked on a new adventure as a preschool teacher, eventually attaining teacher-supervisor status. Upon retirement, she had more time to tend to her beloved garden, for she had been born with a green thumb and found gardening to be truly therapeutic. She also enjoyed watching her favorite Filipino shows on TV, writing poems, praying the rosary, and driving with Ron to tranquil places where there are giant redwoods or the ocean. Aida is survived by her devoted husband Ron; her loving children Blesilda (Leandro), Cielito (Angelito), Darwin (Jenneth), and Edna (Joel); her seven grandchildren Bianca Isabel, Basil Angelo, and Benedict Justin (Santiago); Julio Alexi, Jerome Benjamine, Jerwin Clarence, and Jaiden Franco (Carmona); as well as many faithful relatives and friends. Aida was a vibrant, warm, and caring woman whose essence will surely be missed by all who loved and knew her. The Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016, 4:30 PM at the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward.Written by: Blesilda R. Carmona-Dela Rosa 10/14/2016
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