Balbinita Mestre Santiago

Balbinita Mestre was born on December 22, 1930 in Silay City, Philippines. She had two older brothers and two younger sisters. Like most Filipinos, she was raised as a Roman Catholic. In 1941, Japan attacked the Philippines. Her father took the family into the mountain forest to hide for several months. In God’s mercy, her immediate family survived World War II. Balbinita met her husband Leandro Santiago in the Philippines. In 1955, Leandro joined the US Navy. A few years later, she immigrated to the United States to work as a nurse in Oregon. In 1960, she and Leandro married in Philadelphia. They had three sons Cesar, Christopher, and Cornelius. The family lived in various U.S. Navy bases in Virginia, Florida, Guam, Honolulu, and eventually settled in Sacramento. She retired after working over 20 years as a nurse. Balbinita was an avid reader. In the early 1980s, through her reading of the Bible and some Christian books, along with the testimony of her son Chris, she came to a better understanding of the Christian gospel and entered into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. In November 1999, she became a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. Balbinita had a warm and approachable personality. Her love for God overflowed from her. She enjoyed sharing her faith and speaking of the goodness of God. On September 30, 2025, Balbinita finished her sojourn in this world and is joyfully in the presence with her Savior whom she deeply loves. In God’s kindness, she fell asleep peacefully and woke-up in heaven. Praise the Lord!

Graveside Service for Balbinita Mestre Santiago

East Lawn Sierra Hills Memorial Park, 5757 Greenback Lane, Sacramento, California

Saturday, October 11, 2025 – 12:00 PM