Biography
Bernardo was born in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, Philippines and lived a simple life as a farmer's son until World War II when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. During that time, he grew up quickly and became Second in Command of Parut Bolomen Company and Combat Training Instructor. He led his men to guard their town from harm, either from Japanese cruelties or looting criminals taking advantage of wartime chaos.
After the war, he boarded the ship USS Maunawili to Hawaii, seeking his destiny as a Sakada. Sakada's are Filipino workers who came to Hawaii from 1906 through 1946, contracted to work in the Sugar Plantations of Hawaii. In Puunene, Maui, he worked as a plantation worker and later as a rail man at HC&S.
In 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in the Korean War. Before he left for Korea, he married Laura Tabisola. He served 24 years in the Army rising to Master Sergeant E-8; serving in places such as Barstow California, Ft. Polk Louisiana, Schofield Barracks Hawaii, Baumholder Germany, Hanau Germany, El Paso Texas and Vietnam. During that time, he and Laura had 6 children: Anita (Gail), Lydia, David, Nanette, Van and Bernadette.
Bernardo and Laura divorced in 1973 and he later married Griselda (Grace) Agbayani. He retired from the military and started his next career at the Pearl Harbor Shipyard as an environmental inspector of the harbor. During that time, he and Grace had 4 children: Damian, Bernardo, Gabriel and Jennifer. He eventually retired in 1994.
When he left the Philippines after WWII, his duty was to his family he had left behind. Over the years, despite the financial challenges of raising 6 children on a Sergeant's pay, he maintained his earlier commitment. He sent money to the Philippines to help his family, and sponsored his siblings Pedro, Francisco (Kiko) and Romula so they could immigrate with their families to the U.S. They settled mostly in Hawaii and thrived and prospered ever since. It is said that the increase in the population of the Benigno clan in Hawaii is due to his efforts. He continued to be generous and supportive to the Four Square Church in Parut in memory of his parents. He also provided scholarship funds each year for the students at F. Camaquin Intermediate School in Vintar where he attended as a boy. He would periodically travel to the Philippines to observe the status of the institutions he helped support.
Throughout the years, he often thought about returning to the Philippines, but the U.S. was good to him and his families. He was content and finally decided to remain in his home and the place he described as Paradise.
Bernardo is survived by his wife Grace, first wife Laura, 9 children, 15 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, his brother Francisco, his sister Romula and many nieces and nephews.
The control below will play an interview with Bernardo Benigno conducted by his daughter, Gail King, in 2011. The interview is 27 minutes in length.