by Lerina C. Saludes-Galvez Pacita Cabulera Saludes was born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte on March 27, 1930. She attended Badoc Elementary School and her first three years of high school was at Juan Luna Memorial Academy, also in Badoc.
She finished her high school education at Colegio del Sagrado Corazon in Bangued, Abra. Pacita finished her Bachelor of Science Education at Divine Word College in Bangued (DWCB) majoring in English, and a minor in Science. She took electives in short story writing, poetry, drama, and stage presentations.
Soon after graduation, she accepted a teaching position at Abra Valley College. While teaching, she also pursued other journalistic endeavors. She edited Anaraar, a newsletter in Bangued, Abra, as well as a columnist for the Lowland Herald in San Fernando, La Union.
She organized GUMIL Bangued in l967; and GUMIL Abra in 1968 and was elected as president of the organization. She migrated to Hawaii with her seven children on January 27, 1970, to join her husband Fred Saludes, an American citizen.
Upon her arrival in Hawaii, she discovered that there was no organized group of Ilokano writers. With her friendly attitude, she was able to gain the trust of many people.
They’ve also come to know about her through Filipino radio as well as reading about her from the Bannawag, the national magazine of Ilokanos with international circulation, including Hawaii.
Shortly after arriving in Hawaii, she organized GUMIL Hawaii on January 16, 1971, and has acted as president for more than three decades.
From l971-1980, Pacita was hired as a professional bilingual by the University of Hawaii (UH) to teach Nutrition Education and parenting classes to immigrants and locals.
While working at UH, she also took the opportunity to take up courses to further her teaching career. Upon her retirement from UH in 1980, she accepted teaching positions at KCCA from 1980-1983; St. Luke’s School from l983-1985; Hawaii Child Center from 1986-1989.
Pacita was also a Community Worker for Susannah Wesley Community Center. She was a case manager for Filipino immigrants under the Immigrant Refugee Support Services Program. She helped many of her newly arrived countrymen with their concerns and problems.
Aside from her major activities, Pacita had also engaged in part-time jobs. She worked as interpreter-translator for an agency called Bilingual Access Line. This agency employs translators for materials written in English to different languages like Iloko, Tagalog, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.
She also wrote and edited books for children for Bilingual/Bicultural Program, Hawaii Department of Education. She also served as a Counselor of Valley of the Temples Memorial Park.
Pacita also organized Ilocos Surians of Hawaii in 1977; Annak Ti Kailokuan (AKA) in 1986; and later, Annak Ti Badok. She tirelessly led and served in these organizations which are still in existence today.
Besides her countless activities, Pacita is a tireless media-woman. She served as an announcer at KAIM Radio from 1970-1973; KORL Radio in 1993; KISA Radio with her program GUMILIANA SHOW on Sundays and her early morning program called Early Filipino Community Hours on Thursdays to Sundays from 1973-1996.
On television, she appeared on Channel 13 with her Ilocaniana Variety Show from 1971-1974; and on Oceanic Cable Channel 23 OLELO from 1985-1996. Lately, her channel was changed to OLELO OAHU SPEAKS—a community programming on Channel 52 and 53 until 2017.
As a writer, she served as a columnist for the Bannawag with her Dateline Hawaii from 1972-1973. In Hawaii, she also served as a columnist for various papers: Pacific Courier, 1972-1979; Pacific Journal, 1979-1981; Hawaii Filipino News, 1977-1987; KISS Magazine, 1984-1988; managing editor of Paradise Magazine, editor of Ilokandia Magazine, 1976-1977; Phil-Maui Wave Bulletin, 1995; Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, 1995-2019; Mahogany, the magazine of “People of Colors”, 1978-2015.
Along with her various accomplishments, Pacita is highly recognized as a literary writer and a playwright. She has written plays and directed them for the annual programs of GUMIL Hawaii and Fiesta ti Kailokuan of AKA.
The following are plays she has written and directed: Gapu ta Patpatgenka, (Because you are Dear to Me), 1973; Agtangkayagen ti Init (The Sun is Rising), 1974; Biktima a Naitan-ok (The Victim who was Elevated), 1977; Balikbayan (A Returnee to the Homeland), 1979; Keddeng ni Gasat (Dictate of Fate), 1980; Iti Rabaw ti Bullalayaw (Over the Rainbow), 1981; Naibelleng nga Anak (The Cast Away Child), 1982; Pangngeddeng ti Langit (The Dictate of Heaven), 1983; Clarissa, 1984; Uray Lakay no Landing (Even if He is Old if he Comes from Abroad), 1989; Iti Likud ti Sipnget (Behind the Darkness), 1991; Paladmo ti Paladko (Your Fate is my Fate), 1988; Bullalayaw ti Ayat (Love is a Rainbow), 1992; Saan a Matay ti Umona nga Ayat, Part I (First Love Never Dies), 1993; Part II, 1994; Natiltil nga Ayat (Devastated Love), 1995; Sangaraay a Kari (A Bunch of Promises), 1996; ken Ti Nabileg a Kalasag (The Powerful Shield), 1997.
Pacita also edited and co-edited books which were published by GUMIL Hawaii. These are among them: Dagiti Pagwadan a Filipino iti Hawaii (Eminent Filipinos in Hawaii), 1973; Dandaniw (Poems), 1974; Idi Kalman ken Ita (Yesterday and Today), 1975; GUMIL Hawaii, Agtangkayagen (GUMIL Hawaii has Risen), 1976; Bullalayaw (Rainbow), 1977; Utek ni Kayumanggi (Brain of the Brown), 1978; GUMIL Hawaii iti Sangapulo a Tawen (GUMIL Hawaii in a Decade), 1980; Bin-i (Seed), 1983; Dawa (Grain), 1985; GUMIL Hawaii iti Duapulo a Tawen (GUMIL Hawaii in Two Decades), 1991; Beggang (Ember), 1993; Tugot Vol. 1, 1993; Tugot Vol. 2 (Footprints), 1995; Guyod Dagiti Ramut (Pull of Roots), 1995; Agamang (Granary), 1997; Bagnos (Guide), 2001; and Allagongan (Echoes), 2003; Allangonan, 2004; GUMIL-Hawaii iti Uppat a Dekada, 2011; Dagiti Ballaigi ti Puli, 2012; Ballaigi Dagiti Tugot, 2013; Baul, 2015.
For all her contributions and accomplishments, Pacita was a recipient of many honors and awards. She was awarded first prize in a poetry writing contest sponsored by KAIM Radio in 1971.
She received an award given by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos for her role in preserving Ilokano culture and arts in the State of Hawaii. She was an Outstanding Writer of the Year of GUMIL Hawaii for several years.
Among other awards include: UMPIL Award (Union ng mga Manunulat sa Filipinas); Leona Florentina Award from GUMIL Filipinas in 1978; the United Filipino Council (UFCH) 2001 Progress Award in Arts and Entertainment for her contributions in the preservation of traditions and culture through her plays; 2002 City and County of Honolulu’s prestigious award for the preservation of culture and arts through drama presentations.
She also received plaques and certificates from various organizations she served from 1971-1996 such as the Abranian Club of Hawaii, the Ilocos Norte Aid Association to name a few.
Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren recently celebrated her 94th birthday. In the course of her declining health, Mama Pacita continued to talk and show concern about the future of GUMIL-Hawaii and Annak ti Kailokuan, the two organizations that she founded and nurtured.
After the death of her husband Fred in 2018, her nine children: Lydia, Lina, Lerina, Lerma, Dan, Dino, Dennis, Laarni and Lyra all continued to support her in her endeavors. Pacita sadly passed away on October 22, 2024.
Mama Pacita has been blessed with 22 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great children.
Pacita’s Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, December 20 from 4-5pm at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park – Makai Chapel. The funeral service will be help on Saturday, December 21, at St. Philomena Church, Honolulu from 10am to 1:15pm. Burial to follow at 2pm at the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park.
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