April 14, 2010

  • Juanita Mintac Guleng (September 8, 1918-April 13, 2010)

    Juanita Mintac was born on September 8, 1918, to Evaristo Mintac and Generosa Valenzuela in Alipangpang, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, Philippines. There she worked the fields of the family farmlands. Despite a formal education that only included third grade, she was inherently intelligent, naturally analytical, and innately decisive.

    Juanita married Raymundo Guleng prior to World War II, and they had two children, Edita Guleng (March 12, 1940-October 18, 2000) and Dominador Guleng (February 5, 1943- ). She had many stories of fleeing into the mountains from Japanese forces and finding shelter in empty caves and abandoned buildings. When she was widowed in the war, she married Pedro Norial, and they had one daughter, Marina Norial.

    Juanita continued to live in Alipangpang until her immigration to the United States of America in 1977. In America, she lived with her children Edita and Dominador, helping to raise three of her grandchildren: Bobby G. Roy, Melissa Guleng, and Jennifer Guleng.

    In 1993, Juanita's youngest daughter moved to the United States with her husband, Servillano Gonzales, and children, Chester, Brian, and Sonny.

    In 2005, Juanita welcomed into the world her only grandchild, Acai Gray.

    Juanita was an epitome of strength and a model of dignity throughout her 91 years of life and well-deserving of the love bestowed upon her by family and friends.

    We shall miss her dearly.