Evaristo "Bert" Agcaoili Albano's Obituary
Evaristo “Bert” Agcaoili Albano, 95, of San Francisco, CA, joined his Creator on May 30, 2019 while his beloved family bid their goodbyes.At his core, Bert was a life-long student and teacher. His passion for learning and teaching was intimately woven into his life story.Born on April 14, 1924 in the town of Vintar, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, Bert was the ninth of ten siblings. Growing up as a child, his parents and grandparents sparked and nurtured his desire to study hard and excel in school. In his youth, he joined various student activities that honed his leadership skills. Those early memories were the foundation to his later career in teaching.He put himself through school by working as a clerk for the US army office based in Manila. Balancing work and school during the war was difficult for him, but he persevered. He strongly believed that getting a good education is an important stepping stone towards a good career. Through his discipline, dedication and determination, he was able to achieve his Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance. He would later teach his students that these qualities, the “Three D’s”, were the keys to success.After working in a bank for three years, Bert was still in search for a more fulfilling career and started teaching part-time. He fell in love with the academe and pursued his Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1966 and years later, his M.A. in Education. To him, no career was more beneficial to mankind than educating the youth.He first taught at St. Joseph’s School in San Jose, Nueva Ecija, where a Franciscan nun introduced him to Josefina Rustia, his wife of 61 years. They were married on April 10, 1958 and blessed with two daughters.Bert’s academic career took off when he became a teacher of Ethics and World History and then vice principal of the boy’s high department of Malate Catholic School in Manila, a private K-12 school run by St. Columban priests and nuns and later the Religious Order of the Virgin Mary. For 24 years, he touched the lives of thousands of students and guided them to be true to their faith by serving in the church and community through Student Catholic Action where he served as their adviser. He truly cherished his time at MCS and kept in touch with his students through the years, always present at alumni homecomings and reunions. (Note: The MCS Alumni Association will soon launch a scholarship fund to honor their “Sir Bert’s” legacy.)In November 1984, Bert and Josie relocated to the United States and made San Francisco, CA their new home. To familiarize himself with the American educational system, Bert took further studies at the University of San Francisco. He taught for ten years to 5th Graders at St. Joseph’s Elementary School until his retirement in 1992. While at St, Joseph’s, he was nominated by his colleagues and became a recipient of Project Star, the Teacher’s Award of Honor and Merit given by the City and County of San Francisco.As Bert would often say “A teacher never truly stops being a teacher. While enjoying retirement, he continued to teach his grandchildren, passing on his wisdom through captivating stories at the dinner table. He taught Catechism at St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick Church for 30 years. He was very active in the Eucharistic Ministry of St. Patrick, the Legion of Mary, the Mother Ignacia Del Espiritu Santo Movement and their Charismatic Prayer Group and the Rosarian Community of San Lorenzo Ruiz Center. His apostolate was bringing communion to home-bound seniors. Most of all, Bert continued to teach anyone who was blessed to know him how to be young at heart and live a full life rich with love, laughter, and faith.Those who will miss him dearly are his wife Josefina, daughters Marie Therese Locsin and Marie Anne Yupangco, son in law John Martin Yupangco, grandchildren Stephen and Linda, Katrina and Asumu, Kimberly, Kiara, Karlo, Christjan and Michelle, his youngest sister Francisca “Paquita” Calapini, sisters and brother in law Virginia Paraiso, Leticia Miranda and Dr. Sergio Rustia, nieces and nephews, close friends, parishioners, SLRC community, former students and fellow teachers.He is reunited in Heaven with his parents Jovita and Mario I Albano and siblings Rizalina Cera, Beatrice Figueras, Uderica Pacis, Pacifico Albano, Robert Albano, Mario Albano II, Alicia Albano, and Alfonso Albano.Visitation and vigil to celebrate Bert’s life will be held at St. Patrick Church on Thursday, June 13 from 6:30pm-9pm. Funeral Mass at St. Patrick will be held on Friday, June 14 at 10am, followed by his interment at 12pm at Skylawn Memorial Park, Hwy 92 at Skyline Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94402.
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