Roberto Malabanan Magsino

Roberto Malabanan Magsino, 77, passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2023.


Roberto was born on April 11, 1945, to Mamerto and Eufemia Magsino in Buco, Talisay, Batangas, Philippines. He was the youngest son out of nine children. He graduated from Far Eastern University with a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked for Delta Motors Corporation, an automobile company and Toyota distributor in the Philippines, until he and his family immigrated to the United States in 1984. Mechanically gifted, he relished helping family and friends with their automobile issues, until computer chips became widely used in vehicles which made it difficult for him to diagnose the problem.


Roberto grew up in Buco and met his wife, Norma Tugade, in the first grade. Later becoming high school sweethearts, they got married on December 19, 1966 and lived in Pasig City, within Metro Manila. In 1967, they had their first child, Roderick (Rod). Less than 2 years later, they welcomed their second child, Melvin (Mel) followed by Mayette (May) 3 years later and Michelle 7 years thereafter.


In addition to auto mechanical systems, Roberto loved to play and watch basketball. As a young man, he was a key contributor to the championship-winning Skyhawk basketball team, playing tenacious defense and was an adept distributor of the ball as the team's starting point guard. He likened his play to Robert Jaworski's style, then the point guard of the Toyota Comets of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He loved sports and was a fan of the Chicago Bulls during Michael Jordan's dominance as well as the Los Angeles Lakers during Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's and Magic Johnson's "Showtime" era. He was also a fan of the Chicago Cubs and was so ecstatic to witness them end their 108-year championship drought when they won the World Series in November, 2016. Just like his oldest brother, Pete, he loved doing crossword puzzles. Possessing an analytical mind, he was also a very good chess player.


Roberto also developed his cooking skills, progressing from traditional Filipino dishes, like menudo and apritada, to perfecting his Filipino BBQ recipe that everyone who has tried it can't help but rave about. His children and especially his grandchildren all loved his BBQ and were the first ones to sample a stick of BBQ right off the grill...quality control they would say. Such a hit his BBQ was, he gained the moniker, "Mr. BBQ".


Above all, he loved his family, especially his grandchildren, whom he showered with love and affection.


Roberto is survived by his wife of 56 years, Norma; his four children, Rod, Mel, May, and Michelle; his grandchildren, Robert, Matthew and Ella. His beloved grandson, Mark, passed away at the age of 10 in 2004. Additionally, he has four surviving siblings, Lilia, Helen, Billy and Alice and countless nieces and nephews who all adored him.

You are invited to share happy memories and celebrate Roberto's life in the way he would want to be remembered. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 9:30 AM at the Church of our Heritage at Forest Lawn Covina Hills, located at 21300 Via Verde Drive, Covina, CA 91724.