I was on vacation overseas with my wife in the Fall of 2015, when Bother Jonah Molina left us. It was a great loss to hear the news for me. It came over on an email from one of the Brods that he passed over peacefully last September 13, 2015 after a week of activities with the Brods. He was seriously ill but he did not show it to the Brods. Such was the character of Brod Jonah Molina, always with the APO brods that he loved.
He was from the Eta Chapter batch of 1963 B Bachelors 27, a year before I was initiated into the Delta Chapter, as we were known " The Magnificent Seven" plus Brod Jonah's transfer to Delta Chapter MIT joining us that year. I remember him as an enterprising college student, full of energy, with a penchant for fast motorcycles.
His obits reads......
"Jonathan “Jonah” Carungay Molina was born on June 20, 1944, in Dagupan City in the Philippine province of Pangasinan. Jonah was the third of four (4) children of Romualdo Ponce Molina (born February 7, 1908, deceased), of Buguey, Cagayan, and the former Sofronia Antonio Carungay (born March 11, 1906, deceased) of Malolos City in Bulacan. Jonah joined his parents on Sunday, September 13, 2015. He had a massive heart attack and was rushed to the Dameron Hospital in Stockton, California, United States of America, where he passed at 6:18 p.m., at the age of 71.
Jonah is survived by his wife Rosario Fortes Molina, stepson Edwardo F. Torres Sr. and his wife Marites and their children Jonathan Dexter and Edwardo Jr., and great granddaughter, Alexa; daughter Jo Ann Rose and her husband Marjo P. Bornea and their son Matthias (born January 9, 2015); brothers Edward, George, and David and their families, and other relatives. Marjo and Jo Ann had another son, Matteo, who was born on February 15, 2013, and joined his great grandparents eight (8) hours after birth.
All Molina children were boys and members of Alpha Phi Omega: Twins Brods Edward and George joined the APO-Epsilon chapter at University of the East in Manila in 1962; Jonah was one of the 27 members of Bachelors 27 1963B of the APO-Eta chapter at University of the Philippines Diliman; and Brod Dave belonged to the 23-member Beach Boys with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, also of Eta at UP Diliman.
Jonah completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree in 1972 at the Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, where he affiliated with the APO-Delta chapter.
Jonah, who joined APO at 19, was active all of his 52 years as a brod. He spent college years at UP Diliman and MIT Manila. In 1976, he was one of the 37 charter members of the APO-Pangasinan Alumni Association. He was working at the time as a pharmaceutical traveling agent in Northern Luzon.
On January 28, 1978, Jonah married his wife, the former Rosario Fortes (born October 8, 1952), of Alcala, Pangasinan. Jonah and Rose celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary this year as they would have the 37th birthday of their daughter, Jo Ann (born November 1, 1978).
In January 1993, the Molinas came over to the U.S., first living in California. The family later in the year moved to Chicago where Rose worked at the Masonic Hospital. In 1994, they moved back to California. Rose has since worked at the Valley Gardens Healthcare Center and Rehabilitation in Stockton, while Jonah went into real estate and life insurance.
Jonah joined the APO-AA of Northern California and was charter member of the APO-AA of San Francisco and the Silicon Valley as well as of the APO-Central Valley of California-AA. As a UP Diliman alumnus, Jonah was a member of the UP Alpha Phi Omega AA and the APO-Eta Alumni of North America. Also as an MIT alumnus, he was a former president of the APO-Delta Overseas AA.
At the time of his passing, Jonah and his family were living in Stockton. May his soul rest in eternal peace."
The next time was at the 59th Anniversary celebration at brod Rigel's place
Brods/Sis,
Despite the heavy rain yesterday, some Delta brods came to celebrate the 59th Delta Chapter Anniversary at brod Rigel and Mindy Abueg's place.in American Canyon, CA. It was a very festive celebration with singing and drinking that started at noon. Attached is a series of pictures courtesy of brod Eugene Licauco from Eta Chapter. Hope you still recognize all the brods in the pictures.....
Jonah
 | APO DELTA CHAPTER 59TH ANNIVERSARY |
The picture below courtesy of Brod Ferdie del Rosario on your right, shown above in a duet with Brod Sammy. The rest of the photos courtesy of Brod Eugene Licauco ETA chapter.
The last time I saw him again was at the APO DELTA 23rd annual reunion at Brod Tony Santillan AUG 31,2014 photos below. What I remember that day was the long embrace from Brod Jonah as I left early, as my flight overseas was early next morning. He must have a sense or premonition that this could be the last time he would see me.
I will always miss you Brod Jonah. I still have your thermos cup as a keepsake. Every time I sip my coffee with your cup, I will remember to pray that your soul Rest in Peace.
 |
Sept. 1966: The Brothers Alpha Phi Omega (APO) Fraternity of the Delta Chapter Philippines circa 1966, from L# 1 Renato Perez, L #2 Virgilio Macalinao, L#3 - kneeling, me , 4-kneeling, Warlito Boquiren ChE66, L#5 Johnny Lee, ?,L#7 Roberto Sobrepena, L#8 hidden halfway Camilo Assuncion Standing on the far left Derige (the brother of Rosalina Corbet, Mario Templado, Rolly Calumpong, Joe Calvo, Cesar Frias, Jojie Catibog, ?, Advisor Prof. Sevilla and daughter, Bonni Tong, Alex Tiquia, Jonah Molina. More than 350,000 members have joined Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity since it's founding, at 366 college campuses here in the US alone, not counting other countries. Our mission is to prepare campus and community leaders through service. Our purpose is to develop leadership, to promote friendship and to provide service to humanity....... ASC |
Correspondence from Brod Jonah
Brod Alex,
Very recently, brod Asterio Sandoval gave us your e-mail address. After all these years, it's nice to touch base with you. I hope you would be interesed in joning our Alpha Phi Omega Delta Chapter Overseas Alumni Asociation and also be subscribed to our Delta e-group.
We would be very pleased if you join us and enjoy the camaraderie and reminisce our good old Mapua days during gatherings like the Valentine's get together.
Attached you will find the invitation to the Valentines Affair which will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Stockton, CA on February 19. We hope you could attend and renew the bonding with old brods to include Fortune Cumigad, Norie Cacabelos, Cesar Frias to name a few, and meet our younger brods/sis.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Jonah Molina
Brod Alex,
While there are a few who are tempted to misuse the funds/ contributions intended for particular recipients, there are more who live up to the twelve jewels that characterize the true APO. I am confident that sooner or later the culprits would be exposed and necessary punitive measures will be applied.
I have been with a number of the old guards in the Philippines, and they are diligently working out ways to curb the wrongdoings of some erring members.
Meanwhile, we will be holding a lunch get together at brod Rigel and Mindy Abueg's place this coing Sunday March 06. I have posted this in our egroup today. A number of brods, some of whom you have not yet met will be coming. In case you missed the address, it is 90 Goldfinch Dr., American Canyon CA 94503.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Jonah
Brod Jonah,
In my limited time with the APO yahoo group, my observations led me to believe that the Brods in the Philippines are for the most part playing with us. The funds intended were unaccounted for the most part. Their central e-mail does not even trust us to allow brods to enter data. I think it only one way. They take and we give.
We can have our hub hub group, and refer among ourselves, but still be members of the 1925 group. Do you think it is a good idea, that I established a group under the name
mitAPOdeltaOverseas · MIT APO Delta Overseas
Brod Alex,
Thanks for the reply. We look forward to seeing you . I am sharing your mail with brods Cesar, Fortune and, Norie, I am sure they will be very much excited to know that you will also be coming.
I have sent an invitation to brod Jojie Catibog. I hope he could make it. I have likewise asked Brod Cesar Frias to convince Brod Asterio Sandoval to attend. I am trying to get in touch with Brod George Cardenas. Brod Nick Sanchez has e-mailed that he could not make it. But, I am still hopeful he could still find time to come.
With you and the rest in attendance, the good old APO days will deluge our memories.
Yes, I ive in Stockton. I am already retarded from work. Nonetheless, just to keep myself busy, I do Life and Health Insurance and Real Estate.
Wil you give me your address and phone number so I could update our directory.
Hope to see you soon!!!
Brod Jonah
Brod Jonah,
I will be there to join you for as long as Norie, Cesar, Fortune and others that I know will be around. I will be lost if by chance you guys do not appear. It has been a long while, and was not able to attend any APO functions since 45 years ago.
I have some contacts with Cesar by e-mail and phone, but never personally since the Mapua days. I did want to join you in 2009, but the invite came in a day before the party, besides I was under the weather comming from overseas (may 11, 2009).
Now, about you, so you live in Stockton. Are you retired? tired? well?..It will be fun talking to you guys after all these years. Also, I did not know that Brod Tiquia passed away RIP until I reviewed some old e-mails. (I have already subscribed to the e-group.) So many events that I have missed.
All the Best,
Brod Alexander
Godspeed and Best Regards
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