Brigida Lolita Patena

Brigida Lolita Patena was born in Lipa City, Philippines on March 15, 1931 and peacefully passed away on January 15, 2022. Married to Santiago Patena on July 21, 1949. Lolita was a loving mother, sister, aunt and grandmother. Always having a cheerful smile, she was a great entrepreneur and a hard worker. A person who had a big heart. Survived by nine children: Gene, Ric, Fred, Mercy, Sonny, Dedet, Norman, Len and Heidi. Has 22 grandchildren: Hentji, Troy, Ross, Patrick, Paul, Jeck-Jeck, Casley, Kathrine, Kia, April, Noel, Jeza, Jezel, Julius, Jeboy, NJ, Ar-ar, AJ, AV, Ivan, Belle and DJ and has 11 great grandchildren. At a very young age she started to help her parents by sewing native bathrobes made up from remnants of parachutes during Japanese regime. During those time there was no doors or walls or shower room /bathrooms, they wore bathrobes in taking a bath outside, in rivers or anywhere. When she got married and moved to another town in Ibaan, Batangas; her husband had a jeepney which he drove as a source of livelihood. Then she shifted from sewing bathrobes to mosquito net for livelihood until 1965. Then they moved to Maypajo, Caloocan City to start a business as a grocery store owner. Her first 6 children were born in Batangas while the last three (7,8,9) were all born in Caloocan. She started her business selling eggs, rice and other grocery items.  During that time (1968) she can sold 100 sacks of rice (50kg) from 7am -12nn every Sunday.

In couple of years, she had her own truck which she used to go to Bulacan to Nueva Vizcaya to purchase unhusk rice from farmers, then had in milled in Valenzuela as a rice and then had it delivered to her customer. Until such time she became a retailer and whole seller of different varieties of rice (around 20 types) and she stopped selling groceries. There was an instance were she supplied rice to RVQ productions known as Dolphy Quizon company. She established three stores and employed 10 male helpers and 2 female helpers besides her 3 children (7,8,9) and some nieces as well. It was 1999 when she retired from selling rice and established a water refilling station in which she also sells juices, bottled water, sodas and ice candies (home-made frozen flavored fruit juices in a pack). A lot of people loved her ice candies, so it was always sold out. In 2003, she was petitioned and stayed with me (Heidi) for 19 years until she passed away. During her first year here in US, she was 72 years old until 77 years old, we both enjoyed being together.

She loved shopping for clothes, bags and shoes. On my day offs we always go for shopping at Del Amo Mall from morning to late afternoon. We rode the bus or train if we wanted to go to LA (Torrance-LA or Carson-LA). Do you know the quote “shop till you drop?”. That’s what we were during that time. At the age of 77 she had no arthritis, no complain of pain while having a long walk. This was changed when she reached over 80 years old, she developed all her sickness and became weaker. Though her health deteriorated, she remained cheerful and stayed a compassionate mother, sister, and grandmother. She loved to help to the best she could with other people emotionally and/or financially, as she lives a simple, happy life with her loved ones. We love you Nanay and we are happy you and Tatay will be together again.  For those available family and friend, the Memorial Services will be held at Forest Lawn 4471 Lincoln Ave., Cypress, CA 90630 at 11:30am on February 5, 2022.