Moises "Eseng" Olaes' Obituary
Moises (Eseng) Olaes was born to Bernardo and Dionisia Olaes on October 28, 1923 in the town of Kawit in Cavite, Philippines. Born to a musical father, Moises and his four other brothers learned to sing and play guitar and piano by ear at an early age. As a young man, he belonged to a singing group and would perform at parties and serenade ladies in his town. His love of music was one of the most important things that he passed on to his nine children. Moises moved to the town of Naic where he met his wife Luz Diosomito Viloria. They married during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in May 29, 1944. He was 20 years old, and Luz was 17. Their first born, Rogelio, was born more than a year and a half later. Moises had always been a very motivated and hard-working man. He held various jobs in his younger years to support his family. He was a boxer, a fisherman, and most of all, a driver. He worked for the Philippine National Railways as a bus driver for Luzon Bus until he left for the United States in 1974 at the age of 51. Shortly after his arrival to the U.S., Moises became restless after a few weeks of being unemployed and began to seek any job available including picking grapes in the fields of Delano, California. He worked for 6 years in housekeeping at the Coronado Naval Base until his health forced him to retire in 1981. The last 6 years of his life was tough for Moises due to complications he suffered from diabetes. He was receiving hemo-dialysis treatments three times a week and mostly used his wheelchair to get around. His strength and motivation to live was more apparent to everyone during these years. He continued to sing, and would spend hours singing karaoke with his family and friends especially with his daughter Emirose, even if he found it difficult to hear and sing in tune. He often said that he didn’t feel hunger whenever he was singing. He continued to do most of his activities and chores independently, including gardening, saying that it was his way of exercising. Unable to drive his car, he insisted on a motorized wheelchair and used it to meet his friends to chat and buy whatever he wants to eat in the store. His family referred to him as “Superman”, and he was more than worthy of the title. Moises left a legacy of 9 children, 16 grand-children, and 7 great grand-children. He is survived by his wife Luz, children Rogelio, Eden, Ellen, Ronnie, Elsie, Evelyn, Randy, Emirose, and Rommel, along with their spouses and children.
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