Victoriano Fabros Rigor's Obituary
“All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on –in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.”
-from the book “Tuesdays with Morrie”
Victoriano Fabros Rigor, 89, peacefully joined our Creator on May 27, 2017 at his residence in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Born on July 8, 1927 to Simeon Peralta Rigor and Andrea Pascua Fabros of San Agustin, Victoria, Tarlac, Philippines. Victoriano is the eldest of seven children. He finished his elementary and high school education at San Agustin Elementary School and Victoria High School, respectively.
Straight out of high school, World War II broke out and he joined the Army of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, who was an ally of the United States, from January 31, 1943 to March 2, 1946. He was designated as Private Infantry and was assigned to the “D” Company, 301st Batallion, 1st Tarlac Regiment, South Tarlac Military District, Luzon Guerilla Army Forces, United States Army Forces in the Philippines. He attained the rank of Private and was honorably discharged at the end of his tour of duty.
After the war, he earned his degree of Bachelor of Science in Education from Far Eastern University in Manila, but by twist of fate, he found his first job in Isabela, where he met his would-be wife, Demetria, who was a teacher in the same town in 1956. A year after, Victoriano and Demetria got married on May 11, 1957 at the San Luis Catholic Church, in San Luis, Cauayan, Isabela, the hometown of Demetria. They decided to build their own family in Cauayan and eventually settled in San Luis. They raised five beautiful children, Maria Victoria, Maria Isabel, Maria Cecilia, Maria Teresa and Mario Othello.
Together with his wife Demetria, he pursued his career in education and earned another degree in Elementary Education from Isabela Colleges Foundation to become a full-pledged elementary teacher for agriculture and industrial arts. He retired in 1990 after teaching for 26 years. During those years, he and his wife dedicated their lives ensuring that their children completed their education while continuously imparting their own knowledge to students of the rural village of San Luis.
In 1992, he moved to Sacramento, California and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. His wife followed him in 1994, where they temporarily resided in Hawaii. In between the years after, they also resided in Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands. After seventeen years, they were finally reunited with their children and grandchildren when they migrated to the United States and resided permanently in Hawaii.
His favorite past times in Honolulu was to walk along the beach, especially in Waikiki, as part of his healthy habit. His latest favorite place to hang-out was in the newly renovated International Markets Place in Waikiki. He also specially enjoyed when the family gathers during weekends and special occasions.
Victoriano had always been a simple man. One of his fondest memories was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 2007, where they renewed their vows in the same church where they got married. As a true educator, his biggest achievement was seeing all his children and grandchildren finish their education.
To his wife, he will always be “(Dar)ling”; to his children, he will always be “Dad”; and to his grandchildren, he will always be "Daddy Lo”; a simple and quiet man who had always worked hard and committed his whole life to raise a beautiful family, his only pride and joy.
Victoriano was survived by his wife, Demetria; his children and their spouse, Marivic and Arnold, Maribel and Fernan, Maricel and Szilard, Tess and Wilson, Marlo and Beth; his eleven grandchildren, Aileen, Kit, Trish, Phil, Marvin, Alphonse, Khaiza, Mark, Dave, VP and Rosdem; his two great-grandchildren, Jared and Thea; his siblings, (twin sisters) Juanita and Magdalena, Laureta, Elena, and Romeo.
Celebration of life service for Victoriano will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Diamond Head Mortuary; visitation from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. with service to begin at 6:30 p.m. Committal service will be held at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery on Friday, June 23, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.
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