Leon Monje Nacino

Leon Monje Nacino was born in Dasol, Pangasinan, Philippines on April 11, 1924 to parents, Francisco and Simplicia. He was married to the late Juliana Braganza, a teacher, who predeceased him in 2003 and was the second of two siblings -- Esperanza Jimenez and Ireneo - both deceased. As a teenager, Leon moved to Manila to start his third year of high school at Arellano, joining his cousin who was attending college. His studies were cut short at the start of World War II, and he returned to the province, where he met his wife Juliana at his sister's wedding. They married in 1945 and returned to Manila so that he could go to college. With a family to support, Leon completed his degree in Accounting in three years from the University of the East and passed the board exams as a Certified Public Accountant after graduation. He worked for the Philippine government throughout his career, first at the Department of Finance in Manila and then later at the Bureau of Internal Revenue until he retired at age 65. At the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Leon held many positions including Examiner, Revenue District Officer and the Chief of Assessment Branch. With assignments in Ilagan, Baguio, Dagupan, Valenzuela, San Fernando (Pampanga), San Fernando (La Union), San Pablo and Lucena, he was required to work far from his family in Quezon City. He would return home on the weekends to be with his family, always bringing "pasalubong", like pastries and fruits. He served the government with dedication and honesty as his father had always advised. Leon's true passion was in his outside ventures -- a salt farm/fish pond business he started in the mid-1960's and later mahogany-growing. He continued to manage these endeavors into his nineties -- they kept his mind active and feeling young. In his simple home at the Fish Pond, he lived modestly, spending his time in the company of barrio folks. Leon was a hard worker and cared for his family. He was a smart dresser and organized to a "T". He loved to go "pasyal", taking his family on trips to Baguio, Tagaytay, and other resorts in the Philippines when he was younger, and he later traveled to Europe and throughout Asia. Leon loved to take pictures, and the memories with family were captured across many photo albums. When he could take a break from his businesses, he would visit his children in the United States occasionally. Leon passed away early Thursday morning, February 9, 2017, at San Ramon Regional Medical Center. He suffered a heart attack a day after a successful repair of a hip fracture. Since he arrived in the U.S. last May, he was in and out of the hospital and at a care home facility. He always had a positive attitude despite his health problems -- he had hoped that God would bless him with many more years enjoying the fruition of his lifelong plan of constructing from undeveloped lands an income sustaining salt farm that not only supported his family but other families along the way. He died at the age of 92. He is survived by his 5 children --- Sylvia (married to Reza Shahabi), Zamira (married to Sol Laigo), Ismael, (married to Mila Misa), Samuel (married to Felina Dela Cuadra), and Joyce (married to Rafael Montemayor); granchildren --- Samuel Nacino, Jr. (married to Michelle Ramos), Johanna Laigo (married to Vince Redondo), Ismael Nacino, Jr. and Samantha Montemayor; great grandchildren -- Matthew and Sean Nacino. In lieu of donations for the funeral or flowers, donations may be made in memory of Leon to the charity of your choice.

Leon Monje Nacino

April 11, 1924 - February 9, 2017