Trinidad Panajon Salonga's Obituary
Heaven gained another angel on May 1, 2014 when Trinidad Panajon Salonga lost her battle with cancer. We take comfort in the beautiful celebration we know commenced as Trinidad was reunited with her parents Lazara and Eduardo Salonga and many beloved relatives who went before her.
Born November 17, 1948, in San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, Trinidad was well-known for her powerful and commanding voice. After graduating from the Colleges of the Republic of San Jose in 1965, Trinidad went on to study broadcasting communications at GMA in Manila before becoming a DJ and radio announcer at DZTC and DZXT in Tarlac.
In the late 70’s, Trinidad immigrated to the United States to join her mother and siblings. After a few years in Oak Harbor, Washington, she eventually settled in Tacoma, Washington working as a certified nurse’s aide before becoming a mental health technician for Western State Hospital from which she retired in 2011.
With her passionate spirit, beautiful singing voice and great sense of humor, any time spent with Trinidad included a lot of storytelling, debating, laughter and karaoke. An avid book reader, some of her greatest treasures are the books she collected by her favorite author Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb. Inspired by her aunt, Guadalupe DeGuzman, Trinidad picked up crocheting and enjoyed gifting family with scarves and blankets. She has taught several members of the family how to make her famous pianono, and her signature Filipino dishes like afritada. Her cooking legacy will live on, but we will all definitely miss her passion for baking pianono and mocha cakes and cooking delicious Filipino food.
Trinidad, is survived by her younger siblings Teresita (Gamaliel) DeGuzman and Thelmo (Agnes) Salonga and their children as well as numerous close cousins who gave her many nieces and nephews who fondly call her “Ateng”, Filipino for “oldest sister”. To her beloved aunts, uncles and cousins she was Tippy or Trining, to her friends and coworkers, she was “Trini”. In our close-knit family, where cousins treat each other more like siblings, she loved all of her cousins dearly, but especially her childhood playmate, classmate and cousin, Ligaya Dellosa who, with her husband, Ben, was Tippy’s travel buddy and faithful best friend to the very end. The family would also like to recognize Ateng’s dear friend Rita Hegstrom and her husband Roy for their loyal friendship and generosity.
Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, from 10am to 6pm and a memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 11 at 11am at Mountain View Celebration of Life Center at 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW Lakewood, WA, US, 98499.
What’s your fondest memory of Trinidad?
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Describe a day with Trinidad you’ll never forget.
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