Roberto (Bert) Santos
Husband, father, mentor. Born on Aug. 8, 1940, in Manila; died on March 5, 2015, in Toronto, of lung cancer, aged 74.
When Roberto Santos emigrated from the Philippines in 1965, he paved the way for many to follow in his footsteps. As a chemical engineer, Bert availed himself of Canada's immigration policies favouring newcomers with skills, but his motive wasn't solely professional. He was following his heart, travelling halfway around the world in pursuit of the woman he wanted to marry.
Bert grew up in central Manila and although he was the youngest of nine children, and fatherless by the age of 6, he took on the role of older brother to many of his classmates at Adamson University, where he earned his degree in 1964. He came easily to the role of counsellor and mentor, which would flourish later in Canada.
He had known Paciencia (Cita) Padilla since Grade 5; when he was 12, he told his mother he would marry Cita one day. The two were initially just friends but when she moved to New York for her medical residency, initially in pediatrics and then in anesthesiology, he followed her in 1965, tourist visa in hand and $125 in his pocket. Cita was focused on her career, however, determined to help provide for her family back home rather than to start a family of her own.
Bert had a relative in North Battleford, Sask., and Canada at the time allowed visitors to apply as skilled immigrants, so he left New York, heading north and west. He worked as a substitute teacher in North Battleford for a year and then flipped a coin to decide whether to move to Toronto or Vancouver. Toronto won, and he landed a job there using his engineering experience to design bottles for Coca-Cola. He resumed correspondence with Cita, and finally wooed her.
After marrying in Manila in 1968, they began their life together in Toronto. Two children, Maria and Neil, soon followed as Cita finalized her residency in anesthesiology and began her long career as an anesthesiologist in a number of hospitals. When the children were in grade school, Bert became a stay-at-home dad and launched a series of business ventures, from importing Filipino products to property management (buying fixer-upper homes and renting them out).
Over the years their home served as a welcome centre, refuge and even a hospice to friends and family, many of whom Bert and Cita sponsored from the Philippines. (He was a source of inspiration for newcomers, especially when driving around in his first car, a Cougar.) Their home was the scene of many festivities for their extended family. Holidays, birthdays and special events were celebrated with an abundance of food, including the mandatory pancit (noodles), and a good amount of tsismis (gossip). The gatherings would often end with late-night discussions at the table, whisky in hand (Johnny Walker Black whenever possible). Bert would talk politics and provide guidance to the younger generation. He valued education and encouraged his children, four grandchildren, and nieces and nephews to study hard and pursue their dreams.
After Cita retired in 2005, the couple travelled to the Philippines and to Jerusalem, a special place for them because of their faith. They attended mass daily and were actively involved with different ministries at St. Bonaventure Church and a number of Catholic initiatives, including Engaged Encounter and Bukas Loob Sa Diyos (Open in Spirit to God). Bert found much solace in his spiritual life. When he passed away, after having lived, in his own words, "a good life," he was ready to meet his Creator.
Maria Santos is Bert's daughter; Yose Cormier is his son-in-law.