Manuel Rombaoa Galeon was born on August 5, 1933 in the barrio of Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines. He met Evelyn Cabrera when they were students together in high school, and went on to marry her nine years later. They had two daughters: Evelyn “Gigi” and Gwen.

Manuel and Evelyn’s ambition was to move to America. They ended up moving to the States in 1969, with only $50 to their name. A notorious hard worker, Manuel at one point held three different jobs at the same time during this period. Eventually, he earned his Professional Mechanical Engineer license and worked for the Gas Department of Long Beach for 20 years.

He was also an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Torrance, and remained a member until his passing. He was one of the founders of the Filipino Fellowship of the church, and served as their president several times throughout the years.

Manuel loved the outdoors, planting and gardening from a young age, and throughout his life. He loved to propagate plants and would give them to family and friends. In his free time, Manuel loved to do puzzles and craft projects; some of his favorite things to make were origami cranes and origami Christmas trees, both of which he would gift to anyone he met.

His pride and joy, though, were his grandsons: Melchor, Anthony, Kevin, and Christian. He was an everlasting presence in their lives, from when they were born, all the way through to their 30s. And on March 14, 2025, he officially became a great-grandfather with the arrival of his great-grandson Elio Sebastian.

Manuel was 92 years old when he passed away on January 15, 2026. He was surrounded by family — his wife Evelyn, his daughters Gigi and Gwen, his grandsons Melchor, Anthony, Kevin, and Christian, his granddaughter-in-law Atria, and his great-grandson Seb.

Manuel will be sincerely missed. He will always be cherished and remembered by his family as an example of integrity, leadership, generosity, and kindness.