Felicidad Pasion Padilla

The youngest of eight children, Feli was born on October 22, 1931 in Artacho, Pangasinan, Philippines to Venancia Bado and Modesto Pasion. She passed on August 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.

As a young child Feli became fascinated with the written word as she observed American missionaries read the bible. It was then that she embarked on an educational journey. A quick learner with photographic memory, she passed an exam that earned her full scholarship at Bulacan High School where she was the news editor, sorority club president, class vice president, and volleyball player. She graduated as salutatorian and received Best Senior Scholar and Journalism Awards.

Although her ambition was to be a journalist, Feli accepted a full scholarship at Philippine Normal College, a school dedicated to education, where she accidentally found her true calling - teaching. Still clinging to journalism, she was an associate editor of the school newspaper. She graduated salutatorian with high honors and received her teaching certificate.

Feli's teaching career started in 1952 when she was recruited to teach fourth to sixth grades specializing in English and music at Puerto Princesa Pilot School in Palawan, Philippines. She was the editor of the school paper, vice president of the District Teachers' Association, Head Teacher, Music Conductor, and Adviser to several groups. She was awarded Model Teacher of the Year.

It was in Palawan where she met and married Isaac Rodriguez Padilla and their daughter, Blesilda, was born. In 1963 she moved to Manila where her second daughter, Carmen, was born.

In Manila, she taught third grade at Melchora Aquino Primary School in Tondo where she was Grade Chairman, Girl Scout Troop Leader, and Program Committee Chairman. In 1967 she received the Teacher of the Year award.

Determined to provide for her children, she secured a professional visa to immigrate to America. In July 1968, with suitcase in hand, one hundred dollars in her pocket, no place to stay, no job, and no familiar souls, she landed in Los Angeles, California, where she met fellow Filipinos who helped her.

Feli's first job in Los Angeles was at the assembly line for Max Factor Cosmetics assembling cologne decanters. From there she was hired at Pacific Telephone as a clerk. Shortly thereafter, she passed all required exams and received a California Teaching Credential. Her first teaching job was at James Madison Elementary School in Pasadena, California, where she taught grades one through four. She then transferred to Daniel Webster Elementary School, also in Pasadena, where she retired in 1993. She was an educator foremost, and an excellent one at that! Her expectations were high but she provided the tools and skills a student would need to meet those expectations.
In addition to teaching, there was no job so menial that Feli would not do. She sold portrait sessions, Avon, knives, and whatever else she could to make ends meet. Presented with an opportunity to work as a front desk clerk at a hotel, she took the job that began a decades-long career of working two full time jobs. A teacher during the day Monday to Friday, and a front desk clerk Thursday to Monday in the evenings, there was no day off in between for many years.

Altruistic by nature, Feli helped countless people. She provided for her siblings and their children all throughout her life, as well as for those who came into her home where she shared what little she had. She worked at Vagabond Hotel where she met and helped guests that extended beyond her job description, and who eventually became friends. She also loved all animals and plants. She cared for dogs, cats, birds, chickens, pigs, and even a monkey! She was an avid gardener and spent countless hours in her yard.

Feli is survived by her two daughters, Blesilda Padilla Briscoe of Glendale, California, and Carmen Padilla Kriner of Newark, Delaware; four grandchildren Marcus Franklon Briscoe, Felicia Joyce Kriner, Liam Michael Kriner, and Daniel Ryan Kriner; and son-in-law Frank L. Briscoe.

Siblings who went before her were Carmen Pasion Sebastian, Benedicto Bado Pasion, Felisa Bado Pasion, Agapito Bado Pasion, Eugenia Pasion Fronda, and two siblings who died in infancy, and cousins Filipina Lapitan Galera and Sergio Lapitan.

Nephews and nieces include Eugenia's children, Rolando, Hector, Daniel (deceased) and Cecilia Narvacan, and their families; Benedicto's children, Benjamin (deceased), Leticia, Elias, Josefina, and Cecilia, and their families; Agapito's children, Emmanuel, Herman, and Danilo, and their families; Filipina's children, Mely and Felcar Morada, Jonathan, Alex, and Van and their families; and Sergio's children, Lauren and Tricia and her family.