Gerry Ramiscal Hackney
Iluminada Acoba Ramiscal was born on November 28, 1924. She was born in Baccara, Ilocos Norte in the Philipines to Domingo and Damasa Acoba. “ Loling†or “Luming “ Mom’s nickname married Candido Ramiscal in 1942 during World War II and the occupation of the Philippines by the Imperial Army of Japan.She gave birth to our brother, Felix in 1944 before the end of World War II. It was a very scary time for my mom. The men in her village would hide in the jungle to avoid capture by the Japanese soldiers. At one point, my brother Felix was very sick and my parents thought he may die. My father, Candido had already constructed a wood coffin for his first born son. Miraculously, Felix survived. In 1945, my father immigrated to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations and my mom followed about 6 months later with my 1 year old brother. The ship was called the Marine Falcon and it took 3 weeks to arrive at the Honolulu Harbor. During the sea voyage, my mother was seasick most of the time. Mom had 4 children after her arrival in Hawaii. Augustine, who died as an infant, my sister Edith, George and myself. Mommy worked hard to raise her children and make a home for her family. She worked in the Dole pineapple fields harvesting pineapple. It was very hard work. I remember her getting ready in the morning with her bag, her hat, her gloves, goggles, and her meal. She got up early in the morning and came home in the late afternoon. But her work wasn’t done. She had dinner to cook, feed the children and make sure we were ready for school the next morning. I remember every Sunday night; my school uniforms would be freshly washed, pressed ready for the school week. She did this for all the children since we were in private school. On days when she stayed home from work due to rain, she would bake cookies that would be ready for us when we got home from school. Mom helped my dad to help support the family. On her days off, she would catch fresh water shrimp or corose in the rivers or bonog in the sugar cane flumes. She even made base? – rice wine to help make money. Mom even took in laundry from our neighbors for extra income.Mom also loved to make crafts. I remember times when the ladies in the neighborhood would get together and learned to make sushi, smock pillows, crochet doilies, and those beer can hats. She loved her garden and yard. When my father started his orchid hobby, mom started growing anthuriums. Mom also grew desert roses from seed which was difficult, but she was very successful at it. She had quite the green thumb. The yard was her happy place.Her other love was traveling and the senior center. Daddy did not travel since he suffered from motion sickness. He was happy to let Mom go on her own with her friends. She visited Europe, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand Guam, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Korea and of course, the Philippines. She travelled along the East Coast and the West Coast of the US too.In her older years, she loved going to the Senior Center in Wahiawa where they played bingo, went on shopping trips, did crafts and chair exercises. She always stayed active unless she was watching her Korean soap operas. On her trip to Korea she was able to visit the television studios where they filmed some of her favorite shows. That trip was probably her favorite.In her 90s, Mom was stll pulling weeds, pick arugula, and harvest herbs It was a daily ritual to pick paria in the morning and water the yard. She’d come in and watch Korean soap operas and later in the afternoon, she would be out in the yard again.At 99, the doctor advised her that she needed to stop cutting down trees. Mom did take his advice but not for long. My sister Edith had to constantly remind her to slow down.Mom had a life well lived with so many experiences. I wish I had taken the time to ask her more about them. It’s hard to get used to the idea that she’s gone. I miss her with all m