Onofre Hernandez Flores

Onofre Flores was born June 12th, 1934 on the feast day of Saint Onuphrius, and was raised in the Town of Ternate, Cavite, Philippines. His Father was a soldier in the United States Army. At the start of World War II, Onofre’s Father Lorenzo was stationed on Corregidor Island and was captured by the Japanese Army. Lorenzo would spend the rest of the war as a POW. At the war’s end the US Government offered citizenship to all Filipinos who had served in the Army. Lorenzo decided to emigrate to the US with his son Onofre. Lorenzo left his wife Ana and his daughter Narcisa in Ternate until he could get established in the US. They set sail aboard a Liberty cargo ship for long journey to San Francisco California.

Lorenzo and Onofre found work in Stockton California harvesting asparagus. Eventually Lorenzo’s health problems forced him to return to the Philippines. Lorenzo told his son that he should join the military, as it would be afford him better opportunities. Onofre decided he would join the Air Force. After being stationed in Panama for three years, he was lucky enough to be assigned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines.

While at Clark Air Base, Onofre could travel back to his hometown of Ternate. Eventually he married his childhood friend Redencion Catipon. The two of them had two children while in the Philippines. Mary Ann was born in 1962 and Ronald was born in 1963. Later the Air Force transferred Onofre to El Segundo, so the family of four moved to California. They bought their first house in Lawndale California, and would add another child Leilani to the family in 1965.

After serving 12 years in the Air Force, Onofre left the service, used the GI Bill, and earned his Bachelors Degree in International Business from Woodbury University in Los Angeles. He started work at Hughes Aircraft in El Segundo while in college. He continued working at Hughes Aircraft until his retirement in 1988.

Onofre has been active in various civic organizations. He served as President in the United Filipino Armed Services Organization, Ternate Association USA, Palos Verdes Lions Club, and Fil Am Lions Club in Los Angeles. Onofre and Redencion were also active in Couples for Christ. He had always been willing to volunteer his time to the community and help others. The Flores home hosted many relatives who first came to the United States from the Philippines until they were settled.

His wife Redencion lost her fight with cancer in 1998. Sadly his sister Narcisa passed later the same year. Onofre started the next chapter of his life by marrying Cynthia Bautista. The two of them eventually settled in Santa Clarita, California and remained active the the Fil Am Lions Club. They also enjoyed traveling, including trips to Europe and China.

The call of Onofre’s home country of the Philippines was too hard for him to ignore. He eventually separated from Cynthia and moved back to the Philppines in 2014. The next chapter of his life started by marrying Desirey Abero. They settled in the Town of Maragondon, just across the river from Onofre’s home town of Ternate. Provincial life was comforting for Onofre. He found his final peace there on January 2nd 2025.

Onofre will be remembered fondly as a Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, and Kumpare (Friend). He is survived by his wife Desirey, his daughter Mary Ann married to Rommel Limbo, his son Ronald Flores with his wife Elizabeth, his daughter Leilani married to Rico Emnace, his grandchildren, Kaileena Emnace, Ryan Limbo, Alyssa Marie Limbo, Noelani Emnace, and Hanalei Emnace.