Reynold Victor Tagorda
Lucy Peros | Photos courtesy Victor Tagorda ‘Ohana
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow according to Melody Beattie, an American author. This month’s featured Sakada Offspring, Reynold Victor Tagorda surely shows his gratitude to his Sakada grandparents, Silvestre Peros, Sr. and Herminia Peros by creating a vision to honor them in Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur where they were originally from.
Reynold “Vic” Tagorda was born in December 1959 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. He attended Kahului School and Saint Anthony High School on Maui, Hawai‘i. He received his Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering at Saint Martin’s University in Olympia, Washington. He also attended the U.S. Air Force Air University: Air War College.
Reynold was employed as a U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Officer for thirty years and retired in 2012 with the rank of Colonel. He was a Deputy Chief, South and Southeast Policy, Strategic, Plans and Policy Directorate, at their headquarters U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Hawai‘i.
Reynold is married to Joanna Chong Tagorda. She is an Estée Lauder Beauty Advisor. They have two daughters, Jodi Kay Enomoto and Jenney Aurea Pantenburg, and a son Joseph Benjamin Tagorda. Jodi is married to Mark Enomoto. They have two children, Chairo (12 years old) and Emet (9 years old). Jenney is married to Jonathan Pantenburg. They have one child, Quinn Penelope (8 years old). Joseph is still single.
Reynold received these prestigious awards, United States Air Force (USAF) (nine medals): Highest Award – USAF Meritorious Service Medal. He also received Department of Defense (medals): Highest Award—Meritorious Civilian Service Medal.
Reynold is active in the community as well as church community. At Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist Church, he is Sir Knight with the Knights of Columbus. He also belongs to the Stewardship Council, Eucharistic Minister of the Holy Sacrament, Senior Ministry, Bereavement Ministry and church cleaning ministry.
In the community, Reynold is the President of the Santo Domingo Organization of Hawai‘i (non-profit), Founder/President of God’s Farm (non-profit), Board of Director, Ilocos Surian Association of Hawai‘i, Kunia Orchid Society, Mililani Orchid Club and Military Officers Association of America.
Reynold has several hobbies and interests. He enjoys reading, gardening, golfing, fishing and traveling. He has visited twenty-five countries. Besides these, he is also involved in community services.
Reynold has four siblings, Generoso “Gene” Peros Tagorda, Leilani Peros Tagorda Badley, and twins, Richard and Robert Peros Tagorda.
Generoso is a Custodian at Pōmaika‘i Elementary School on Maui. He is married to Maria Tagorda. They have two children. Leilani is an Information Technology Specialist, Department of Veteran’s Affairs in California. She has four children. Richard is a Social Service Specialist, Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Home and Community Living Administration, Washington State. He is married to Lucille Tagorda. They have two children. Robert is a Sous Chef at Palace Luxury Collection Hotel in California. He is married to Mary Jane Tagorda. They have two children.
Reynold’s maternal Sakada grandparents were Silvestre Peros, Sr. and Herminia Torricer Peros who originally came from Camestizoan Baranggay, Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Silvestre, Sr. worked as a blacksmith in the Philippines to support his family supplemented by Herminia’s income as a merchant. Silvestre was one of the thousands of men who were recruited to come to Hawai‘i in 1946 to work in the pineapple and sugar cane plantations. Young Silvestre welcomed the opportunity, so he signed up even if it meant leaving his young wife and his young children, Aurea, Greg and Nenita.
Silvestre came to Hawai‘i aboard the S.S. Maunawili from Port Salomague. HC&S Company sponsored him. He lived in Camp 13 when he arrived on Maui together with other Sakadas. He worked as a fertilizer maintenance man and irrigation system maintenance man until his retirement in 1978.
Life at Camp 13 was a lonesome one for Silvestre because he missed his family. So in July 1946, his family followed him to Hawai‘i. His family was one of the few families living in Camp 13 at that time. Their son James was born in Hawai‘i. In 1950, however, Silvestre and Herminia decided the Philippines would be a better place to raise their growing family. So he took his whole family back to the Philippines by boat. Herminia was almost ready to give birth with their fifth child, Sylvester Peros, Jr. while on their way back to the Philippines on the boat. They were afraid Sylvester, Jr. was going to be born on the boat. Fortunately, he was born on land in Santo Domingo on January 3, 1951.
When the Peros children matured into adolescents, Silvestre and Herminia decided once again it was best to have both parents present in raising their children. So in 1960, the whole family came back to Hawai‘i except Aurea (Reynold’s mom) because she was already married at that time, however, she was able to come back to Hawai‘i a few years later. The Peros family settled in Camp 4 this time. Their youngest son, Jesse was born in March 1962. From Camp 4, they moved to the 6th Increment in Kahului because HC&S was phasing out the camps.
Silvestre, Sr. enjoyed joining his friends at the old Kahului Shopping Center under the monkeypod trees playing cards, checkers and hanafuda. He attended biagans (chicken fights) with his good friend, the late Jesus Tesoro. Silvestre, Sr. was a very talented barber. He cut many of his friends’ hair. Both Silvestre, Sr. and Herminia were very caring and loving parents. They always encouraged their children and grandchildren to have a good education. Their famous line was, “If you no go school, you no mooh good job.”
Silvestre, Sr.’s birthday is on New Year’s Eve and Herminia’s birthday is on Christmas Eve. So those two days were always celebrated by the whole family. Even though Silvestre, Sr. and Herminia are now gone to another life, the Peros family still celebrates every New Year’s Eve together with a feast of lechon (roast pig)!
The following is Reynold’s reflection on Grandpa Silvestre Butardo Peros and Grandma Herminia Torricer Peros: As I reflect on the lives of my dear maternal grandparents, Silvestre Butardo and Herminia Torricer Peros, what first comes to mind is my Tagorda family’s life in their home in Camestizoan Baranggay, Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. My late mother, Aurea Peros Tagorda, was their eldest child. I have vivid memories of the ancient lanka (jackfruit) tree in the yard and attending Mass at Saint Dominic de Guzman Church.
My grandfather, affectionately known as “Biti,” was a Sakada laborer on Maui, Hawai‘i. In May 1966, he petitioned our entire family, my mother Aurea, father Reynante, sister Leilani and brother Generoso to immigrate to the United States. Richard and Robert were born in Hawai‘i. I was six years old at the time, and that move changed the course of our lives. It was the seed of all the blessings I’ve received throughout my journey with Jesus. I am forever grateful to Grandpa Biti and Grandma Erming for who I am and where I am today.
The core values my grandparents instilled in our family were family, education and farming.
While they were alive, we gathered as an extended family at least twice a year, on Christmas and Easter. Today, the Peros family holds an annual reunion every New Year’s Eve to honor my grandfather’s birthday.
All their descendants have graduated from high school and most have earned college degrees. Though my grandparents lived humbly and were extremely frugal, they were generous when it came to education, offering financial and moral support to all of us. They attended our graduation ceremonies, even those held on the U.S. mainland. Personally, they helped my parents pay for my Catholic education at Saint Anthony High School and Saint Martin’s University.
I am proud to be the oldest grandchild in my generation of Peroses. At Grandpa Silvestre’s funeral Mass at Christ The King Church on Maui, I had the honor of delivering the eulogy. I took that opportunity to say: “Grandpa, thank you for all your support. Because of you, I was able to graduate from college and join the United States Air Force and serve our country. I’ve visited almost all fifty states and over fifteen countries. Grandpa, someday I hope to be a farmer like you.
Fast forward to today: Now retired after serving the United States Department of Defense for 44.5 years, I am preparing for the next chapter of my life—returning to live in the Peros ancestral village of Camestizoan, Santo Domingo. There, I will serve as the caretaker of my grandparents’ house and three properties, including a rice farm.
With God’s grace, I hope to establish God’s Farm, a non-profit organization registered in Hawai‘i, dedicated to sharing blessings of time, treasure and talent with widows and orphans in the village. Rooted in God’s Word, God’s Farm will be guided by the wisdom of Saint Mother Theresa: “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”
In Santo Domingo, I hope to continue my grandparents’ legacy and share the fruits of a Sakada’s labor with love, humility, and faith.
Lucy Peros is a retired schoolteacher, having taught at St. Anthony Grade School and Waihe‘e Elementary School. Her late parents, Elpidio Cachero Cabalo (a 1946 Sakada) and Alejandra Cabudoy Cabalo both worked for Maui Land and Pine Company. Lucy enjoys being with other retirees in the Enhance Fitness Program under the Department of Aging three times a week. Whenever she can, she joins other Waihe‘e School retirees when help is needed at the school. Lucy also devotes some of her time as Lector and choir member at both Christ The King Catholic Church in Kahului and St. Ann Catholic Church in Waihe‘e. She enjoys being with her granddaughters after school. She also enjoys writing, reading and gardening in her spare time.