Ceferina Milanes Fontanilla

Dr. Ceferina Milanes Fontanilla (Nena), 98, born on August 26, 1924, in Tubao, La Union, Philippines, passed away January 5, 2023 at San Antonio Regional Hospital. She resided in Rancho Cucamonga, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, California 91724. Viewing will be on February 24, 2023 - 5:00 pm to 9:00 p.m. Memorial Service will be on February 25, 2023 at 12:00 noon. Cremation Service will be on February 28, 2023 at 8:00 a.m.
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Mom had a degree in medicine and surgery. She practiced as a family physician in the Philippines. She had a private practice in Balungao, Pangasinan after her graduation using the front room of her parent's house, then she opened a clinic in Carmen, Pangasinan. She loved helping people. At times, neighbors and townmates called for her services even during wee hours of the night and she would go help. She delivered several children throughout her career as a family physician most of them normal delivery but also encountered difficult cases especially when the baby was on breached position. She took care of wounded patients. Many of them couldn't afford to pay but gifted her with their beautiful crops, fresh fish and livestock. Grandma Felisa would keep the animals and they produce babies. They had a big poultry that housed over 100 chickens. They had pigs, goats, ducks, and more. In 1970, the entire family moved to Agoo, La Union. Dra. Nena worked in Pugo, La Union as the Rural Health Phycisian. Because of the road construction in Pugo going to Bagio, she then moved to Aringay, La Union. Again while living in La Union, helped various family members and neighbors with their needs. She performed lots of circumcisions to young teens mostly our cousins and neighbors. The 2 girls (Joy and Gina) were her little helpers/assistants along with their cousins, Helen and Annette. She took care of hand traumas and finger injuries. She helped took care of our uncle who was married auntie Pepay when he had decubitus ulcer. Anybody who gets sick, she was glad to help. Again, as a token of their gratitude for helping out, she received lots of gifts in the form of wonderful crops that people grew in their fields, fresh talangka, crabs, fresh mushrooms, fresh fish and some chicken, etc. We all enjoyed. She loved animals. Just like her late mom, she also had poultry and had over 50 chickens. Raised rabbits, goats, pig and cow. She loved gardening, we had half an acre lot in the backyard that were constantly planted with various vegetables such as tomatoes, ampalaya, eggplants, okra. We had lots of fruit trees like lots of coconut trees, guava, mango, calamansi, avocado,marangkas, and many more. On weekends, we all enjoyed going to mingle with our dad's family. It was like a constant feast every weekend. Everybody playing Bingo, Mahjong, card games, etc. Then there's plenty of food to share. Mom learned to make her own bagoong from auntie Aming. She made lots of them and put them in a clay pot to cure then shared with our families and neighbors. I remember, our uncles used to plant sugarcanes and camote lanot and camoteng kahoy. Then they harvested them and all of our families go to the "dadapilan". Back in the old days, they used the carabao to walk round and round, and they had an old machine that would extract all the juice from the sugarcane then they cook all the juice into a gigantic pot for hours and hours until the juice becomes really thick. While cooking, they dip this big container full of the 2 types of camote to cook. Mon enjoyed those get togethers. On some weekends, mom would cook all kinds of amazing Filipino dishes, and on Sundays we went to church. After church we went to the fish market and buy groceries for the house but also things to take to the beach. Then we go home and pack up the food she had prepared then we all go to the beach, stop by at my dad's family to take them along with us in the jeep. Sometimes, my dad would go back and pick more of our cousins, aunts and uncles so they could join us as well. We barbecued the pork, grilled the fish, cooked some shrimps, plus all the food the my mom cooked (adobo, pinakbet), then everybody ate, played guitar, sing, dance, play in the beach! We had a fun life in Agoo.
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As the 2 girls grew and went to college, Dra. Nena hen migrated to United States in 1982. She worked as a medical and surgical assistant for Dr. Ligorio Calaycay who was a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon as well as a Hand Surgeon until she retired. When she retired, she enjoyed taking care of her grandchildren, Geenno, Matthew and Justin. She liked gardening in our small backyard with his brother, Romy. On weekends, my uncle tagged our mom along going to swapmeet and she would bring home fresh vegetables and fruits and some knick knock items. She also liked to sew different projects and crocheting. She made different things like doyle for tables. Most of all, she loved to read. She read lots of books and magazines especially related to medicine. She also loves to play word games on her phone like Word Relax, Word Connect, Word Search. She loves to eat especially seafood such as crabs, all kinds of fish such as tilapia, pompano, salmon, bangus, tuyo and oysters. She loves all kinds of vegetables too.
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Dra. Nena was married to late husband, Dr. Gregorio M. Fontanilla on June 19, 1958. Survived by their three children, pets and adopted son with their families:
Daughter: Rowena Joy with husband Gerry Mendoza along with their son - Geenno Fontanilla with wife Beverly Fontanilla with their children Vaughn & Cally; Pet - Mufyn dog
Daughter: Georgina (Gina) with her sons, Anthony Matthew Luna and Justin Albert Luna with his fiance', Allison & pet - Ducky cat
Son: Tim John with his daughter, Jazmine Fontanilla
Adopted son: Cesar Ablaya Fontanilla with wife Marie Ablaya with their sons - Greg & Glen