Alberto Gabriente Gonzalo

Alberto Gabriente Gonzalo, 95, Born to Life - November 21, 1921, in Dagami, Leyte, Philippines, Born to Eternal Life - September 20, 2017. He resided in Burbank, California at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, California.

The gift of life was bestowed on Alberto in Dagami, Leyte, Philippines. After completing his Grade VII in Dagami, the entire family moved to Tacloban City. In 1939, he graduated from Leyte High School and enrolled thereafter at Leyte Normal School, the only teacher-training institution in Leyte. At the end of World War II in 1944, the Department of Education declared all graduating students passed and qualified.

During the Japanese occupation, he joined the guerrilla movement as an intelligence officer. Caught, incarcerated, tortured for more than a year by the Japanese Kempetal (military police), fortunately, he was later released. He still served his underground work until the liberation of Leyte by the American forces on October 20, 1944.

He worked with the U.S. War Veterans Office in Tacloban after liberation which later transferred to Manila. Then he taught at San Juan de Letran while schooling at the University of Sto. Tomas for his Master's Degree in Education.

Back to Tacloban City in 1948, he started teaching at the St. Paul's College (SVD School) then he was assigned as Registrar of the Divine Word University where he received a Distinguished Service Medal award on March 21, 1981, for his dedicated service to the University – 1950 to 1981.

In 1950, he married to Angeles Callera, a town mate and co-teacher at St. Paul's College and blessed with three children, Marilou, Maribeth, and Alberto Jr. who at present resides in California with their spouses and families.

In 1982, he and his wife joined his children in the United States where he worked at First Interstate Bank as Senior Processing Item Specialist until his retirement age at 70 years old.

The survivors are Jose and Marilou Zosa, Walter and Maribeth Ventocilla, Alberto and Elsa Gonzalo, Melody Ventocilla (granddaughter), and Kyle Gonzalo (grandson), and the youngest sister Severina Gonzalo Cam who resides in Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines.

~A Tribute prepared for Alberto Gabriente Gonzalo by his sister Severina Gonzalo Cam.