Gina & Sunny Giron--Childhood Years
Childhood Pix
Jean Arquiza
June 25, 1928 – July 15, 2007
Jean Arquiza was born in Malate, Manila on June 25, 1928, to Nacionalista Party lawyer, Tomas Arquiza, and Bulacan beauty, Mercedes Ongtiangco Lopez.
Jean entered the 1952 Miss Philippines (Universe) and won the Miss Visayas second runner-up slot (Teresita Sanchez was Miss Philippines. In 1953, Jean married one of The Manila Times reporters covering the pageant, Eric S. Giron of Manila. They had two daughters, Gina, now an editor in Hong Kong, and Sunny who lives in Maryland with her husband, Pat, and son, Bryan, 25. Jean and Eric separated in 1962. In 1969, Jean and partner, Tito Carballo, left for Vietnam to cover the Indochina war, and eventually taking up residence in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. After the fall of Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge, they moved to Bangkok in 1975. Carballo is now deceased. Jean later lived in the US before joining Gina in Hong Kong where, between 1987 and 1997, Jean was an active thespian in Asian theater and later starred in an episode of popular British TV series, Soldier, Soldier. She became famous for her role as a Wanchai-bar mamasan, Madame Chao (Season 2, Episode 6, aired 26 October 1992). Immortalized in film, Jean has gained a listing in the world's annals of actors and entertainers (http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/420322?view=credit). In the past six years, Jean lived in Calamba, Laguna but continued to travel to Hong Kong regularly (the last time was Christmas/New Year 06-07) to visit the grandson that she raised, Arthur Urquiola, 23, who is now a broadcast news reporter at Hong Kong's ATV.
Jean turned 79 on June 25, 2007 and after a brief illness, passed peacefully onto the spiritual plane on the morning of July 15. Jean is survived by Gina Giron-Urquiola and Arthur Urquiola, Patrick, Sunny and Bryan Johns, Rikki, Mylene, Patricia, James and Shawn Carballo. Her funeral services and cremation were held at the Sanctuarium on Araneta Avenue on July 23, 2007.
Jean & Gina, Hong Kong '80s
Bryan & Arthur in Macau, August 2007
Gina, Bryan & Arthur in Macau, August 2007
Welcome to my childhood years photo album.
They're long gone now, our beloved Wowo Tommy Arquiza and Wowa Mercedes Lopez Arquiza, but they will live in our hearts forever. For our sons: Here are some pictures of happier times in San Juan, where Sunny and I grew up.
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The Women
Our family in San Juan--Growing up
Our family in San Juan--Growing up
