National Federation of Filipino American Associations

Benedicto G. Menor may have passed away early this week yet his legacy lives on. He was the oldest NaFFAA member (in absentia) in the Northern California region. Although the last NaFFAA R8 Summit he attended was in 2003 at the Northside Community Center in San Jose, CA, he stayed in touch with our members. Some of us were there during his 100th Birthday Celebration in 2007, travelling from all over the US — and beyond. We also have our own stories about Benedicto G. Menor’s acts of kindness and generosity. We will miss him!

The Memorial and Funeral Services schedule is at the bottom of this entry.

Joanie Cordova said: “Benedicto Menor Sr voted for Barack Obama … before he died 28 October 2008. His life inspires many of us.”

Thank you to Emil Siapno for putting this video on Vimeo.com.

TFI’s Balitang America reporter, Henni Espinosa, wrote this video story about Benedicto G. Menor.

Oldest Obama Voter from Emil Siapno on Vimeo.

BENEDICTO GALINDO MENOR
March 15, 1907 – October 28, 2008
  
Benedicto Galindo Menor was born on March 15, 1907 in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, He was one of the 100,000 sakadas and manongs (early 1906-1933 overseas Filipino workers) who arrived in the United States to work in the fields of Hawaii and California, armed with an optimistic mindset in fulfilling his American Dream.
 
During World War II, Benedicto proudly served as a member of the Leyte Landing’s Filipino First and Second Regiments of the US Army that arrived with General Douglas MacArthur. During the “mop-up operation,” Benedicto was introduced to his future wife in Villaba, Leyte, a strikingly beautiful Visayan named Espectacion Menor (no relation), who was 20 years his junior.
 
After Benedicto became a citizen of the United States in 1946, he went back to the Philippines and brought his family to Santa Clara Valley in California. The three oldest children who had been born in the Philippines were Rose Mary, Betty, and Benny Benedicto (a.k.a. Ben Menor). Benedicto and Espec were blessed with six children: five girls and one boy. Like most fathers, he wanted another boy after Ben was born. The couple tried three more times — and three more daughters arrived: Rita (deceased), Anna, and Darlene. He was 52 years old when Darlene was born.
 
A family friend recently wrote, “Mr. Benedicto Menor was an exemplary centenarian who left a rich legacy for his family.”
 
Rose Mary Miguel, the oldest sibling, acknowledged that their father had indeed raised his family to honor inclusivity in their social, political, cultural, and spiritual values and principles.

 
“I learned from my dad that I had to make sure my younger brother and sisters ate their share of the food before I could eat. He would say to me, ‘Take care of them first,’” Rose Mary continued. The food shortage in World War II had taught Benedicto some valuable lessons in servant leadership.
 
As the family’s sole breadwinner, Benedicto barely earned enough money as a busboy at Ricky’s, a landmark restaurant in Palo Alto, to sustain his family’s growing needs. The tips he got from customers were used to purchase daily groceries, especially fresh cuts of meat. One of the children observed, “We’re not rich, Dad. We don’t have a lot of food. I have this friend who was able to get food stamps. Can we have food stamps, too?”
 
Benedicto replied, “No, there are other people who are more in need of food stamps.”
 
His physical fitness regimen included using a bicycle as his preferred vehicle, especially to work, five days a week and two miles each way. Benedicto was 60 years old when he started driving an automobile.
 
Growing up in a multi-ethnic, middle-class neighborhood amidst the cacophony of the emerging civil rights movement of the early 1960’s also meant freedom from racial and economic boundaries. Benedicto made sure his family felt the pulse of the times. He instilled these principles to his children. “Everyone is equal. Everyone is treated with respect. Always be kind and pleasant,” Benedicto emphasized. Benedicto’s kindness, generosity, and respect for his friends revealed his genuine love for them.
 
Benedicto Menor believed in the rights and privileges of American citizenship. As a true American — and a Democrat, he treated Election Day as one of the most important events in his life. Voting was so important to him that in October 2006, after a serious life-threatening fall, Benedicto, who had openly shared his disappointment about the current state of the nation, promised his family that he would live long enough to vote for a democratic president of the United States. He thought the presidential elections were going to be held in 2006 but was told it would be in 2008. Thus, Benedicto amended his promise to live long enough to vote. He voted “absentee” on October 24, 2008 and was featured on ABS-CBN International (The Filipino Channel). 
 
Although he had been diagnosed with congenital heart and kidney failure for the past few years, Benedicto Menor was a person who possessed such indomitable courage and spirit that he continually amazed his family and friends with his resilience and sheer will to live. Benedicto’s last act as a proud American was about exercising his duty and responsibility to vote for the right leader who could help poor people with opportunities to live the American Dream, thus becoming a true example of civic engagement to his eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
 
In the end, Benedicto Menor was surrounded by his wife, children and their children as he said, simply and lovingly, taking in a last breath of air — “Goodbye.” He returned to God, timeless and elegant.
  

God saw you getting tired,
And a cure was not to be,
So He put his arms around you,
And whispered “Come to Me”
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer,
And saw you fall away.
Although we couldn’t bear to lose you,
We could not ask you to stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hardworking hands laid to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
That He only takes the best.
 
(Unknown Author)
 
Benedicto G. Menor Funeral and Memorial Services:
 
Wednesday, November 5, 2008: Viewing from 3-8 p.m. at the Cusimano Colonial Mortuary
96 West El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040  (650) 968-4453
 
Thursday, November 6, 2008: Vigil and Rosary from 5 to 6 p.m.  Eulogies: 6-8:30 p.m. at the St. Cyprian Catholic Church, 1133 W. Washington Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 739-8506
 
Friday, November 7, 2008: Funeral Services start at 11 a.m. at the St. Cyprian Catholic Church

DIRECTIONS FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO SOUTH BAY: (Mapquest)

FOR:
Wednesday, November 5, 2008: Viewing from 3-8 p.m. at the Cusimano Colonial Mortuary
96 West El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040  (650) 968-4453

Total Estimated Time: 48 minutes

Total Estimated Distance: 40.95 miles

• I-280 S.
• Merge onto US-101 S via the exit on the LEFT toward SAN JOSE. (32.3 mi)
• Merge onto CA-85 S via EXIT 398B toward CUPERTINO/SANTA CRUZ. (1.9 mi)
• Merge onto CA-237 W/MOUNTAIN VIEW ALVISO RD via EXIT 22A toward CA-82 N/EL CAMINO REAL/MOUNTAIN VIEW. (0.5 mi)
• Turn RIGHT onto W EL CAMINO REAL/CA-82 N. (0.2 mi)
• End at 96 W El Camino Real Mountain View, CA 94040-2643

FOR:
Thursday, November 6, 2008: Vigil and Rosary from 5 to 6 p.m.  Eulogies: 6-8:30 p.m.
Friday, November 7, 2008: Funeral Services start at 11 a.m. 
St. Cyprian Catholic Church, 1133 W. Washington Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 739-8506

Total Estimated Time: 51 minutes
Total Estimated Distance: 42.18 miles

• I-280 S.
• Merge onto US-101 S via the exit on the LEFT toward SAN JOSE. (32.3 mi)
• Merge onto CA-85 S via EXIT 398B toward CUPERTINO/SANTA CRUZ. (1.3 mi)
• Take the CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY exit, EXIT 23. (0.2 mi)
• Keep LEFT at the fork to go on CENTRAL EXPY/CR-G6 E. (1.3 mi)
• Take the MARY AVE SOUTH ramp. (0.2 mi)
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto N MARY AVE. (0.5 mi)
• Turn RIGHT onto W WASHINGTON AVE. (0.2 mi)
• End at 1133 W Washington Ave Sunnyvale, CA 94086-7019