SARAP talagang mabuhay. May Panginoong pinagkakagastahan ng buhay. Makabuluhan ba ang pinagkakagastusan ng buhay mo?” (“Life is pleasurable joy. When God is the center of your life. When your life is spent in the service of God. Has your life been spent with meaning and purpose?

Rev. Fr. Camilo Pacanza, 2013

Fr. Camilo Pacanza has not met Fe Israel Benito. Yet, his homily’s essence on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary might as well have been about Fe ’s life of charity and compassionate service to others for 40 years.

Fe has served a lot of people through the Catholic charities in the Philippines and in the United States. Her love for family and for our community’s culture were made manifest in food, plays, concerts, haranas and kundimans.

Serving God by helping the needy

Fe said: “I believe I was created by God to serve humanity.”

She was born Oct. 20, 1930 and was named “faith” by her parents, Primitivo Macaraeg Israel and Rosita Estantino Parajas.

After graduating from the University of the Philippines, Fe immigrated to the United States in 1964.

Following her calling to serve God, she became involved with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. GMA News reported that “Fe has been credited for the development of important service programs focused on the needs of the hungry, the homeless, the poor and the new immigrants, including coordinating the annual Christmas program of Catholic charities, a festive affair for the city’s indigent children. She was behind the success of the food bank at the St. Mary’s Center in Hollywood that distributed food to low-income and impoverished families.”

In the 1980’s, Central American refugees came to America, fleeing war and genocide. Faced with a tsunami of needs from thousands of them, Fe became their advocate, looking for resources which she can mobilize for their needs. “Long before the internet and the computers, Fe became known as ‘TFC’ — the Filipino connection, who knew how to access resources for these needy families,” said Rev. Msgr. Padraic Loftus.

In Los Angeles, she became a case manager directing four community centers in East and South Los Angeles, Hollywood and central city for Catholic charities. She saw her budget line item of $100,000 dwindle to zero, while helping needy families with their utilities.

Fe remained undaunted and looked for resources. Paul Kahn of Dunn Realty donated a huge space for St. Mary’s Center, free of rent, according to Rev. Msgr. Loftus.

On Feb. 16, 2007, at a gala attended by thousands in Century City, Fe Israel Benito became the first Filipina to be recognized by Cardinal Roger Mahony for her distinguished service to Catholic charities, along with the luminaries of Los Angeles: Richard Dunn, Anita Finie, Philip Hawley and Steven Sample. Since 1994, this gala event has been credited with raising millions for the needs of indigent families.

Daring, loving and feisty Wonder Woman

To Ted’s friends who met Fe, she was a “Wonder Woman,” — “a working woman who made us all laugh,” said Meg Thornton.

To some, she was the life of community events. She was always looking for a partner for her son, Theodore (aka Ted) and reveling in his accomplishments.

On Ted’s 40th birthday party, “his mother was determined to outperform Ted by putting on a Wonder Woman’s costume and chasing her son in a champagne water fight in a rented reception hall. She taught her son how to be a leader, how to be an activist, but also a lover of Philippine culture and community,” Mina Layba said. Ted took her to theater to see plays and to enjoy concerts, some of which he produced himself. Fe enjoyed her photo moments with the stars: Lou Diamond Philips, Tia Carrere, Martin Nievera, Morris Alpert, Becca Godinez, Lea Salonga and Tamlyn Tomita.

Fe attended the opening night of The Romance of Magno Rubio — a play about the manongs and their struggles in the agricultural fields of California.This play was dedicated to Fe’s husband, Max, who worked as a chef for the US Navy, preparing 6,000 dozen eggs to serve a mess hall of soldiers. “She loved theater and plays because it brought her closer to home,” Ted said.

She enjoyed traveling to visit with family and friends, “terrorizing leather makers in Italy and jewelry makers in Greece,” added Ted.

Ted would affectionately say, “But I love you, Mom, “ and she would respond: “I love you, too!”

Even while she was in much pain at the hospital, she gave unequivocal love to Ted.

“She adored Ted,” said Msgr. Loftus.

Tita Pat Delacruz, her loyal friend and caregiver recounted one of Fe’s outrageous comments: “Suntukin mo nga iyang mga nurses na iyan.” Fe’s feistiness and sense of humor were irrepressible, even while hospitalized. Fe always thought of others, before herself. When she was living at the Nazareth House of West Los Angeles, she perked up when we brought her pinakbet and daing na bangus.“I see people here who are sad because they have no visitors. But I believe God has chosen this place for me at this time so that I may fulfill a mission here: to offer counseling to those who are lonely, to sit and talk and listen with them, to draw them out of their loneliness,” Tidings.com reported.

“She thought about our youth and how fortunate they are to have all the technology today. But, she laments that many of them lack goals and the motivation to achieve them. Her dream was to help them discover their goals, which she believes can be done, with an education in spirituality, “ Tidings.com added.

Greatest lesson from Fe

Ted admits that the greatest lesson she learned from his mother is to help one’s fellowmen in whatever capacity one can.

“On her service as a volunteer for the Manila Archdiocese: ‘I didn’t mind. I loved it. Because I have always done my best to live the Holy Gospel. I have always believed in what Matthew 25 says: ‘What you do for the least of my brethren, you do for me,’” wrote Tidings.com about Fe.

Fe devoted herself to parish and community work. “At St. Gerard Majella in Mar Vista, she was a eucharistic minister and the first president of the parish Filipino Rosary Group. She is proud of her association with the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (Courts Isabella and St. Michael), and directed the philanthropic committee of the Los Angeles Filipino American Women’s Club. I really enjoyed leading those parenting classes in East LA. It is so important that parents serve as good role models, because there is a much better chance of reducing crime when there are good examples in the home.”

Ted meticulously made Fe’s funeral arrangements, honoring his mother’s classy, fun and funny ways. He prepared a slide show about her life’s journey in the Philippines and in the United States, accompanied by the haranas of the early periods, when men sang “Dahil Sa Iyo” to the women they courted and a program, entitled “Remembered in Love.” The reception was tastefully prepared by the meticulous staff of LA Rose Cafe, owned by Lem Balagot, who served all with loving care. Fe loved and cherished each person, believing each is God’s gift to her. “So, put on your favorite hat, cook your favorite sinigang, play your favorite harana song, smile, look up to the heavens and you will see this beautiful angel named Fe,” said Mina Layba. Her life of demonstrating God’s love to others was a vibrant, well–composed life of compassionate service. She lived an extraordinary life of joy, filled with unequivocal love for family, friends and community! We love you, Tita Fe! We will look after your pride and joy, Ted!