Rosario Ramada

Rosario Ramada was born on November 5, 1930 in the province of Calbayog City in Eastern Samar of the Philippines. Rosario, endearingly called Chayong, was the third child of seven to Felisa Tacmo and Bonifacio Ramada. Their family nurtured one another by tending to the land - planting rice, sweet yam, coconut and harvesting tuba.

Rosario left behind provincial life to pursue a career in business in Manila, Philippines. Married to Antonio Co, Rosario began her career serving snacks to students during recess time through a sari-sari store and then, co-owning a restaurant. For 50 years afterwards, Rosario owned and operated a wholesaler / retailer grocery business where she worked tirelessly, from dawn into late evenings, to ensure the store’s earnings would benefit her children’s education and the wellbeing of her family in her home province. Over the years, Rosario employed much of her community from Gadgaran, and her hard work paid for the tuition of many who became teachers, priests and nuns, nurses and doctors.

Rosario managed her store in Paco, Manila through environmental calamities and the declaration of Martial Law. Around this time, Rosario’s children began migrating to the United States of America and eventually petitioned her for US citizenship. Even in her new life abroad, many benefitted from her kindness and abundance, especially when Rosario offered to care for her grandchildren and continued to provide significant financial aid to her remaining extended family in the Philippines. 

In her later years, Rosario traveled back and forth between two homes: Hendersonville, Tennessee and the Bay Area, California. In both places, Rosario cultivated friendships and community rooted in her unwavering generosity and joy. Until her final transition, Rosario was cared for by  her daughters and grandchildren and undoubtedly,  loved immensely by all. 

Rosario imparts her legacy of generosity and familial love to her 4 children; Sally Rada, Christina Abiba, Antonio Ramada Jr. and Sister Josephine Ramada, 8 grandchildren; Oliver and Hector Gaba, Germaine Rada, Samantha Jansons, Christine Abiba, Michael, Mark, and Mary Ramada; 6 great-grandchildren; Payton, Kaylee, Gray, Cason, Severino, and Theo, and to all those touched by her spirit.