Marciano Reasonda Estioko, Jr.: A Tribute to an Amazing Brother
by Elpidio R. Estioko
My brother, Marciano Reasonda Estioko Jr., passed away peacefully at age 88 on December 10, 2023, and was buried on January 26, 2024 at the Lima Family Mortuary in Fremont, California.
He was the one who petitioned my family and me to immigrate to the United States. We arrived in California in 1977 after waiting 19 years for our visa. That’s how long fifth preference visa applications took at the time. Unfortunately, fifth preference petitions are no longer in effect today.
I brought my wife Delia and five of our six children when my youngest Paul was only four years old. He is now 31. My eldest Gigi was the only child when my brother petitioned for my family. Upon the succeeding births of my children Jojo, May, Tweety, Jayson, and Paul, we continuously reported them to the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines.
My brother was born on September 28, 1935. He was an all-around athlete: an excellent player with super moves in chess, tennis, bowling, darts, basketball, and ping-pong. He was my mentor in chess. He taught me that to be a chess player, you need to be ahead at least five to seven moves from your opponent’s move.
In his college days at Central Luzon Agricultural College (now Central Luzon State University), he was a chess caption in Central Luzon who was already playing with rated players such as National Master Glicerio Badilles and International Master/International Chess Federation president Florencio Campomanes.
Had he continued, he would been a Grandmaster by now. However, to pursue a chess profession, you need a lot of time but he didn’t have that luxury because he needed to concentrate on his college degree.
He promised our parents to earn his college degree. So, in 1959, he graduated with a BS in Agricultural Engineering and worked at the Bureau of Soils.
Marciano was born in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Philippines, and the sixth out of 13 children (10 boys and three girls) by our parents Marciano Baguio Estioko Sr. and Leonor Esteves Reasonda. From 13, our siblings are now down to five: Engr. Romy, Dr. Manny, Prof. Elpidio, Computer programmer Mar, and RT Technician Leo, and the deceased siblings were Engr. Leopoldo, Dr. Felicidad, Teacher Aurora, Supervisor Aida, Arch. Quintin, Engr. Marciano Jr., and Rev. Fr. Leonardo.
In 1969, he moved his family to the U.S. to pursue the American Dream where he began his career as a draftsman for Guralnick & Lee Engineering in Palo Alto, California. He later moved on to work at a wholesale nursery in San Jose. From there, he moved on to Real Estate sales and then became a successful Real Estate Broker, until his retirement.
We will miss him dearly, but we are comforted that his memory will live in the hearts of all those who loved him. Marciano is survived by his wife Rosita Sanchez and children Marciano V (Glenda); Ronald (John); Virginia Jane (Doug); and his grandchildren Kristina Rose, Gabrielle Jade, Kendrick Randall (Bailey), and Mikayla Aaliyah.
His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy. His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy! He was encouraging and supportive of all their endeavors.
Heart failure did not stop him from playing his favorite sports and games with his family and friends. No one was spared from his competitive spirit. Each grandchild had the distinct pleasure of receiving one of Grandpa’s spinning backhands on the tennis table.
An active member of St. Victor’s Catholic Church in San Jose for many years, it was Marciano’s dream to be a member of the Knights of Columbus (KoC). His dream came true and became a Faithful navigator, St. Joseph Assembly #2246 on August 20, 2016. He was a member of the color guard and helped make countless rosaries to be dispersed to the faithful.
In June 2023, Marciano and Rosie celebrated 60 years of marriage with a small group of family. Despite having lost his first child Rosemarie suddenly in 2021, he was delighted to be surrounded by all his loved ones.
Marciano will always be remembered for making people feel welcome and loved. We’ll always imagine hearing him say, “Okie dokie” or serenading us with his harmonica, singing Dahil Sa Iyo, or simply peeling us persimmons one more time.
We could not have asked for a better brother, husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather and will miss him dearly.
My dear brother, may your soul rest in peace… forever!
ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and an award-winning journalist here in the US. He just published his book Unlocking the chain of Poverty: In Pursuit of the American Dream which is now available with Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Xlibris Publishing. For feedbacks, comments, please email author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.
