Manuel Galiza Visaya's Obituary
On Christmas Eve , December 24, 1922, in the town of Bacarra , Ilocos Norte , Philippines ,
MANUEL GALIZA VISAYA was born. He was the fourth child of six children. The oldest was his brother Doroteo, then his sister Maria (Corpuz), his brother Macario, Manuel (himself), his brother Mariano and the youngest was his sister Celerina (Ramelb), the last surviving sibling.
His father, Casamiro Visaya, drowned when a wave washed over him while fishing. Manuel was only four years old. His mother was Euleteria Visaya.
He had three children in the Philippines: Victoria Dumayag, Eloy Visaya and Mildred Toledo.
Life was hard in the Philippines, living in third class primitive conditions. Imagine riding the carabao
(water buffalo) for transportation or washing clothes by hand in the river!
During the 1940s, the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association (HSPA) came to the Philippines to import Filipino men to work on the sugar plantations in Hawaii. These filipino recruits were known as the sakadas. They offered “free passage to the Hawaiian Islands - a paradise of happiness and prosperity!” Dad became one of the sakadas. He sailed to the Island of Kauai in search of a better life.
But when he arrived in Kauai, he faced inadequate wages, poor housing, abusive plantation foreman or Luna, strict plantation police and general isolation. Plantation work was extremely difficult since it involved planting, hoeing and carrying sugar cane. There was segregation and discrimination. The lowest paid white worker was paid $140 a month. The Japanese and Filipinos did back breaking work for at least 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, 27 days a month for $20 a month.
Dad cried some days when he had no food or no money. But he persevered. He prayed and had faith. Eventually, he moved out of the sugar plantation and moved to the island of Oahu.
In 1946, he became a carpenter, his dream job. He joined The Hawaii Carpenters Union. He worked for several companies including Dillingham Corporation and the Hawaiian Dredging and Construction Company Ltd. He thoroughly enjoyed being a carpenter. In 1991, he retired as a carpenter.
On August 21, 1959, when Hawaii became the 50th state of the USA, Manuel applied for naturalization and became a very proud American citizen. He adapted to the American culture and English was the primary language in his household.
On November 1, 1956, Manuel married his soulmate, the love of his life, Mary Clarida Acorda. No
matter where he was, he was always conscious of her whereabouts. His famous saying was, “Where Ma?” One of the sweetest memory of their love was at the Avalon Care Center, a rehabilitation and nursing facility. He was recovering from his stroke. He lay on his bed. She sat at his bedside. He held her hand…, lifted his blanket…, pulled her down to lie next to him… and covered her with his blanket.
They had five girls together: Gloria Reynon, Marilyn Visaya, Adela Visaya, Beverly Visaya who passed away at age 2 and Susan Visaya who passed away at age 8.
Manuel worked hard all of his life: as a child in the rice paddies of the Philippines, as a young man on the sugar plantation, as a carpenter and even at home as husband and father. GO, GO,GO… GASA, GASA! Dad was always active, never idle. When he retired and was physically slowing down, he took up sewing. He cut his pants and made in into shorts, he mended tears and sewed hems. He even made pillows.
Manuel was a perfectionist. When he folded the blanket, the corners had to match. He would have a fit, if the coffee table was not in line with the floor tiles.
Manuel knew the value of the dollar and he really believed, “A penny earned is a penny saved.” He was never too proud to pick up a penny on the ground.
He was an expert at recycling, long before anyone thought about it. His best invention was his trash can. He got a plastic bag and lined it with newspaper, in a way that it stood upright and looked like a regular trash can. After it was full of trash, you just dump the whole thing. Genius!
Manuel wasn’t always serious. His brother, Macario would tell stories of a naughty, mischievous rascal little boy who would run away and climb the tree to hide and escape punishment. He loved to party. When the music played, he was up on the floor dancing up a storm. He was all smiles and sometimes he was the life of the party. He loved music. He taught himself to play the ukelele and sang sometimes.
Manuel had charisma, a special charm about him. He was known in the neighborhoods of Kalihi and Salt Lake. He always said,”Hi!”, when he went out walking or riding his bicycle around the block.
Manuel had a green thumb. He loved planting fruits and vegetables. He always shared his bananas, mangos, marungay, etc with his neighbors and relatives.
Manuel was a simple man. He wasn’t a scholar but through real life experiences, observation, watching the tv newscast and reading the newspaper and Reader’s Digest, he learned a lot.
Whatever he believed in, he stuck with it. He knew exactly what he wanted. He was true to himself.
He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. He would debate with the sunday missionaries and even the police. He never gave in or gave up.
No matter what his mood was, he minded his manners. Whether he was grouchy or angry, he always, always remembered to say, “Thank you!”
Lucky, some people called him. He was born on Christmas Eve. He was almost shot in the Philippines. He was a young boy walking to school when the Japanese thought he was a spy and pistol-whipped himself. He survived falling from the eleventh to the seventh floor of the Ilikai Hotel during construction. He survived falling into the Kipapa Gulch during the construction of the H2 freeway. He survived prostate cancer. He survived a massive stroke. He survived congestive heart failure.
Manuel was not lucky. He was blessed! Manuel means “God is with us.” God was with him every step of the way. Because he believed! He had faith!
I CAN ! HARD WORK…, DEDICATION…, and FAITH… ! LIVE…, LOVE…, LAUGH… !
This was Manuel’s life.
On October 7, 2014, at 1:24 pm, Manuel took his last breath and lost his battle to pneumonia at the
Kuakini Health System.
He lived a full, rich life. He will live on forever in our hearts
Manuel is survived by:
Wife - Mary Clarida Acorda Visaya
Daughters and Spouses: Gloria Lorraine Reynon and husband Damien Lee Reynon, Marilyn Grace Visaya, Adela June Visaya, Vicky V. Dumayag and husband Pedro Dumayag, Mildred V. Toledo and husband Roger Toledo
Son and Spouse: Eloy Visaya and wife Basilia Visaya
Step daughter: Jean C. Lagua
Sister: Celerina Ramelb
Grandchildren:
Kimberly M. Torres and husband Ronnell Torres, Damien L. Reynon II, Brandon K. Gonzales, Jeremy M. Reynon and wife Kelli Reynon, Rodney Dumayag and wife Panella Dumayag, Rose Dumayag, Ryan Dumayag, Sharon Bertelmann and husband Chad Bertelmann, Shirley L. Toledo, Ana Galangad and husband Joel Galangad, Lisa Visaya, Edgar Visaya, Yogi Visaya, James Lagua, Andre Lagua
Great grandchildren:
Kalea-Lani Torres, Micah Torres, Isaiah Torres, Noah Torres, Chastity Theno and husband Jack Theno, Elijah Galangad, Chevelle Bertelmann, Chaden Bertellmann, Michael Visaya, Jojo Visaya, Daniel Visaya, Arriana Visaya
Great, great grandchild:
Jasten Theno
Preceded in death by siblings
Doroteo Visaya, Maria Corpuz, Macario Visaya, Mariano Visaya
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