My Father's American Journey- A grateful son reflects on his father's journey to America and the lasting legacy he leaves for his children and grandchildren.

My father, the late Vivencio Cruz Pamintuan, taught me three important lessons about life in America:

Lesson 1: Be a part of the solution…not the problem.
Lesson 2: Just do it.
Lesson 3: When you need help…ask for it.

My dad was born on January 13, 1932 in the small town of San Fernando, a part of Pampanga, which is a province of the Philippines. My mom told me a little bit about his life before he joined the Navy and came to the United States. He was one of eleven children from a very poor family. Their tiny home was a small room and very cramped. Their floor was literally dirt covered with small strips of bamboo. His best friend and childhood buddy; Ben Dizon, nicknamed him “Gan”; short for Gandhi, because he was known to be the Peacemaker between his brothers and sisters. Eating rice with fish caught from the nearby river was his staple diet. Locally grown produce and tropical fruits were readily available. These simple foods sustained and strengthened his skinny body. His favorite treat was toasted pan de sol bread with Carnation sweetened condensed evaporated milk spread on top. But poverty never prevented my dad from dreaming big. He was in his late twenties; during the 1950’s, when he learned about the United States Navy and their recruitment efforts for young Filipino males. He immediately applied for the rigorous selection process and prepared to take the entrance exam. He studied and immersed himself in his limited English and penmanship. His efforts paid off, and he was one of two young men selected from his hometown to join the United States Navy as a steward. He earned his way up to Chief Petty Officer (E-7) and retired in 1976 after proudly serving his new country for 22 years. Afterwards, he worked for the San Diego based Cubic Corporation developing coin token technology for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. Three years later, after buying his dream car: a 1974 beautiful orange Porsche 914, my dad suffered a sudden and fatal cerebral hemorrhage in December 1979 at the age of 47. My dad’s American journey had ended. But his example and legacy of love, family, leadership, work ethic, commitment to service and sense of adventure lives on with his children and grandchildren. I am forever thankful to God and the United States for giving my dad the opportunity to fulfill his dreams and know that a brighter future for his family is yet to come. The BEST is before us!