Alfredo Delizo Bonilla

In the early hours of March 6^th, the world lost one of the last few true gentlemen: Alfredo Bonilla. Although he was 75 years old, he held within him the life, optimism, and strength of men half his age. He was born on August 26^th, 1949, in Surigao and was one of ten siblings to parents Cecilio & Catalina. At the age of 17, with nothing but pocket change, he traveled to Manila to seek greater opportunity.

At eighteen, he enlisted in the Philippine Air Force to obtain a higher education and earned the title of Staff Sargeant as an enlisted man and Second Lieutenant as an officer. Throughout his military career, he expanded his education and became a decorated drill sergeant and aeronautics engineer. After over a decade of teaching and ensuring the safety of his country’s airmen, he left the military in 1981.

The story of how he met Nancy is one that hopeless romantics could only wish for: they were next door neighbors. They married in 1978 in Manila and, throughout their lives, called many places home. They were blessed with four children: Lea, Theresa, John, & Joshua. He ensured they knew that a happiness and success is not rooted in material wealth but rather in the joy of family. They boys were taught that a real man is one who is courteous, kind, humble, and strong because of their family. The girls were shown a nigh impossible standard for any man in their future to achieve. They, in turn, are teaching his grandchildren the same values he imparted on them.

Despite his successes in the Philippines, he never lost focus of what was truly important to him: providing the greatest opportunity for his children. In later years, his children acknowledged the courage he had to leave a successful career and start anew in a foreign country.

In his final years, he faced not one, but three major health crises: cancer, heart surgery, and ALS. Yet despite the overwhelming weight of three simultaneous health conditions, he stood tall and fought to maintain his independence. Even with the loss of his voice, he never faltered in continuing to impart wisdom to his growing family of children, in-laws, and three grandchildren.

Throughout his life, he held onto his love of reading, watching basketball, home improvement, carpentry, exercise, chess, cooking, dancing, and singing. His go-to song for karaoke was Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” When his children were asked why he loved the song, they joked “because it’s easy to sing.”

But next time you hear it, listen closely. Every verse personifies who he was and the life he led. Everything he did was with purpose and carried his own personal touch. He was intelligent and consistently curious. Self-assured yet humble. Physically strong and incredibly soft-hearted. He loved fully and was loved deeply. When he faced the final curtain, he stood tall, reflected on the full life he led, and walked into God’s arms his way.