Jose Y. Lauchengco, Jr.

José Yujuico Lauchengco, Jr. of Hollywood, California passed away surrounded by loved ones on March 27, 2017. He was 80 years old. He is survived by his wife, Elisabeth, and their four children Birthe, Martina and her spouse Chris Jones, Duane and his wife Pamela, and Lance and his wife Susan Riggs; grandchildren Christian, Connor, Heather and Ethan Lauchengco, Anya and Taryn Jones, and Michael and Benjamin Lauchengco; and dear friend Duane Reineccius. Atty. Lauchengco — or Joe, as many fondly called him — was born on December 6, 1936 in Manila, Philippines, to José Celis Lauchengco and Angeles Yujuico. He came to the United States at the age of 14 and studied at the Brown Military Academy in San Diego, California, where he graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1955. He went back to his country of birth to attend the University of the Philippines, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science. During his time, he was an entrance scholar and Corps Commander of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), and served as a regular officer in the Philippine Army (Ranger), Serial 0-4529. He made his way back to Los Angeles to pursue a master's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California in 1964. Then, he received his juris doctor from Loyola University of Los Angeles in 1971 and went on to lead a distinguished career as a criminal defense lawyer, handling both civil and criminal cases, for over four decades. He was rated "AV" in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest rating any lawyer can receive. With "a gentle disposition and a jovial smile," Atty. Lauchengco had represented criminal defendants for homicide, armed robbery, rape, drug trafficking, child molestation, and insurance fraud. Also known as a lawyers' lawyer, he defended lawyers and members of their families, as well as doctors, in criminal proceedings. In 1975, he sued a socially exclusive restaurant in Orange County, which refused to give the Barong – considered the national dress of the Philippines – the same dignity accorded to Western formal attires. The sophisticated restaurant was compelled to capitulate, apologized and modified its dress code to include the Barong. One of his notable cases came in 1986 when he served as the counsel to the Philippine Presidential Commission on Good Government in a lawsuit to recover former President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos' assets stored inside accounts at a Los Angeles bank. He also represented Victor B. Lovely Jr. in federal grand jury proceedings in which the United States sought to obtain evidence against Senators Benigno Aquino, Raul Manglapuz and Jovito Salonga, Congressman Raul Daza, and Steve Psinakis, among others, during the Reagan administration's efforts to thwart or impede the revolutionary activities in the United States of anti-Marcos forces. He was the lead counsel in a Securities and Exchange Act 10(b) and Rule 10(b)-5 litigation in federal court, has assisted in the formation of a national bank, and had successfully represented injured claimants in wrongful death, insurance matters, libel and slander, negligence law and other torts. He participated as a panelist in a continuing education program for lawyers on trial techniques sponsored by the Asian American Bar Associations, taught trial advocacy in seminars held by the Philippine American Bar Association, and lectured to doctors on medico-legal issues. He was a member of the Commission on Judicial Procedures for the County of Los Angeles, of the Human Rights Commission for the State Bar of California, and of the Board of Directors of the Philippine American Bar Association. He was honored with a commendation from the City of Los Angeles for Outstanding Pro-bono Publico Services, with a recognition for Pre-eminence in Trial Advocacy by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America. Atty. Lauchengco was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, the Criminal Courts Bar Association, the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. He was a member of the Beta Sigma Fraternity (UP) and the UP Vanguard. He was listed in the Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Who's Who in American Law and Who's Who in America. Additionally, Atty. Lauchengco was a staunch advocate for Filipino political empowerment in the United States. In the 1978, together with other Filipino-American and Asian American leaders, he was one of the pioneers of the "Browns for Brown" movement when California Governor Jerry Brown ran for re-election. Up until his passing, he made it his life's mission for future generations of Fil Ams to advance professionally and be represented in the political sphere. Chapel services and a vigil will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Green Hills Mortuary Chapel (27501 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275). The viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m., the rosary at 7 p.m. and the sharing of stories (open to all) at 7:30 p.m. There will be a viewing on Friday, April 7, 2017 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Green Hills Mortuary — The Cove Suite (27501 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275). The funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Philomena Catholic Church (21900 S. Main St. Carson, CA 90745), followed by the gravesite interment services at Green Hills Memorial Park (27501 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275). Flowers may be sent care of Green Hills Mortuary, 27501 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 or donations in lieu of flowers to Filipino Migrant Center, 2325 E. 3rd Street, Long Beach, CA 90814.

Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275