Florence Reyes Dabuit

Dear All,

With heavy hearts, we share the news of the passing of our beloved Mother, Florence Petilo Reyes Galuego Dabuit. On Saturday, March 23, at 7:00 PM California time, at the age of 92, she peacefully transitioned to the next phase of her journey. As we reflect on her remarkable life, we are reminded of the enduring legacy she leaves behind. 

With profound sorrow, we share the details of the funeral arrangements for our cherished Mother; 

Funeral Details:  
Location: East Lawn Cemetery, Elk Grove, California 
Date: April 6, 2024 
Time: 
- Viewing: 9:00 AM 
- Funeral Service: 10:00 AM 
- Burial: 11:00 AM 

Our mother's life was a testament to love, courage, and resilience, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew her. From nurturing her eight children with boundless affection to facing life's challenges with unwavering faith and determination, she embodied the essence of maternal love and strength to provide a bright future for her family, a goal she undoubtedly achieved. 

Like all good mothers, she was not only loving to herself but also to her family and fellow human beings. Just like a good mother, she ensured the welfare of her children, guiding them towards a better future and teaching them to be loving and compassionate individuals. 

Our mother epitomized the values cherished by those who truly appreciate life. Even in her final days, she fought hard to prolong her time on this earth, a testament to her enduring spirit and her unwavering commitment to life. 
She leaves behind a legacy of courage, teaching us to bravely face life's challenges every day to find happiness in this world. 

Our mother hailed from a family of warriors, from her Tingguian (Itneg) ancestors in Abra, Philippines, known for their bravery. The Reyes family name was adopted from the Spanish soldiers who integrated with the Tingguians. 

On her mother's side (Petilo), our mother's ancestors were from the Sambal tribe in Zambales, known as fierce warriors during pre-colonial times. 
The qualities and characteristics of Filipino indigenous tribes—bravery, resilience, compassion, and reverence for nature—were instilled in us by our ancestors, and our mother passed them down to us, setting an example for others to follow. 

The ancestry of our mother, originating from Abra, Philippines, proudly boasts a legacy of brave warriors who valiantly defended their homeland. From her Tingguian forebears to her father, brothers, sons, and grandchildren, the spirit of courage runs deep in our family's bloodline. Her father, a revered war hero, exemplified this courage during World War II as a Filipino soldier in the US military, enduring the harrowing Bataan Death March after being captured by the Japanese. Inspired by his bravery, her brothers and her father's grandchildren followed in his footsteps, serving honorably in the US military, thus continuing the noble tradition of defending freedom and justice. Their commitment to service and bravery serves as an enduring inspiration for us all to uphold the values of courage, honor, and dedication in our own lives. 

An ancestor of our mother, hailing from Abra, was among the courageous indigenous Filipinos who journeyed to America to toil as farmers and laborers under the employ of affluent yet oppressive American households. Despite enduring daunting challenges upon arrival, they chose not to nurture bitterness towards their adopted land. Instead, they embraced America with love and zeal, bequeathing this profound affection to future generations, a legacy cherished by our mother and her descendants. 

Our mother was incredibly resourceful, possessing a blend of academic intelligence and practical street smarts. She navigated life skillfully, exploring countless avenues to secure a livelihood that not only supported her family but also extended a helping hand to others. Teaming up with our stepfather, Francisco Dabuit, affectionately known as Papa, they ventured into diverse business ventures in the Philippines, creating opportunities for employment and offering aid to fellow Filipinos. 

Our mother was the inspiration behind our late PAPA, who conceptualized the beautiful and fitting development plan for Laguna De Bay in the Philippines, which will help address the flooding issues in the Laguna region during heavy rains. This will also serve as a solution to the clean water shortage needed by the people around the Laguna De Bay area. 

This wonderful solution for Laguna De Bay is dedicated and offered by our mother's family to the Philippines, as assistance to the people living around Laguna De Bay. 

Here is the link that Shows the Proposed Laguna De Bay Development:   
[ https://youtu.be/d7mSSsxa0mU?si=y9BcCurK7ylFA1JD] 

Another inspiration our mother bestowed upon PAPA was the idea of establishing a BIOGAS system, which PAPA utilized to construct an actual BIOGAS system in our backyard in the Philippines in the early eighties. This BIOGAS provided gas for cooking for our family and the workers in our Handicraft factory and other businesses, and the gas from BIOGAS was also used for various other purposes. 

Our area was the first to have a BIOGAS system on private land in the Philippines. Our mother and PAPA also planned to present the concept to the Philippine government, but they were unable to do so at that time. However, now, our mother's family will attempt once again to promote the beautiful BIOGAS concept in the Philippines, which our mother and PAPA collaborated on. 

Here is the link detailing the proposed Manila Landfill BIOGAS to Energy Project:  
[ https://youtu.be/cqF1f_OIea4] 

Our mother inspired her late nephew, Clarence Reyes Jr., and her son, Joel Galuego, to engage with indigenous communities in America, in their noble pursuit of fostering development within their community through fostering connections between Filipinos and Native Americans. This endeavor aims to establish bilateral partnerships between Native American and Filipino indigenous communities, where they will collaborate to achieve their shared goal of uplifting their respective communities. 

To advance the noble idea of community assistance, it was our mother who conceived and inspired the creation of a non-profit organization, the Amazing Grace Angel Foundation (AGAF). AGAF is envisioned as an entity that will actively participate in providing the right ideas and resources for community development. It will serve as a gathering of kind-hearted individuals from diverse backgrounds united by a common goal of helping communities flourish—a beautiful mission that AGAF will fulfill through the collective efforts of its members, who share their talents to achieve AGAF's noble aspirations. 

The shared information about our mother reflects her kindness, bravery in facing life's challenges, love for family and fellow human beings, and being a shining example and inspiration to those who seek to make a positive impact on others. She left behind a legacy of compassion that her family will continue to uphold, striving to fulfill her noble principles. Her loved ones will remain compassionate towards others and continue to lend a helping hand. 

Now that our beloved mother is no longer by our side, we, her family, will carry on her legacy and continue her honorable mission of assisting others, especially the less fortunate. This is a mission that will be carried forward not only by her children but also by her grandchildren and future generations. 

In closing, we bid farewell to our dear mother, knowing that her spirit will forever guide and inspire us. Though she may no longer be with us physically, her love, wisdom, and cherished memories will live on in our hearts forever. May her soul rest in eternal peace.