Obituary of Catalino Macahilig

"Catalino Macahilig, Jr., lovingly known by many as Jun, passed away peacefully on Monday April 25, 2022. Jun was born on September 3, 1963 as the youngest of 8 children born to Catalino Macahilig, Sr. and Lucena Ibo in the Philippine province of Aklan. A few years after receiving his Bachelor's Degree from PATTS College of Aeronautics in the Philippines, he immigrated to the United States, making his way through Illinois, California, and New Jersey before ultimately settling down in New York. While in New York City during the 1990s, Jun worked as an EKG Telemetry Specialist at Mt. Sinai Hospital. It was during this time that he met Froilyn Galdones, whom he fell in love with and married on December 10, 1993. Together, they started a family and had two children, Christian-Joseph (born 1995) and Caitlin-Nicole (born 1996). Though he was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease, Jun did not let the diagnosis stop him from enjoying life even as he started undergoing dialysis in the year 2000. To many who knew him, Jun was always laughing and smiling and enjoyed the company of family and friends. He was an avid boxing fan, looking up to fighters such as Manny Pacquiao, and hosted many watch parties for each major boxing match on pay-per-view. He enjoyed watching rooster fighting, a popular Philippine sport, and falling asleep to 80s soft rock. Jun was a passionate chef who loved to cook, experimenting with traditional Filipino recipes and techniques. He loved watching comedy shows like Eat Bulaga - a Philippine variety show - and stand up performances from comedians such as Dolphy (the Philippine King of Comedy) and Steve Harvey. Jun was an amazing storyteller. This was especially true for his children, who grew up listening to bedtime stories of his experiences growing up in the Philippines and his journey living in America in his 20s. Many of his stories also included his loving mother, whom he missed dearly after passing away when he was only 15 years old. Like many in his family, Jun was a devout Catholic and man of prayer, often praying the rosary at St. Lucy's Grotto in the Bronx. Ultimately, Jun took pride in being a father, often saying that despite the hardships of life, the smile of his children made each day worth living. His family will always remember him as a man of love, laughter, sacrifice, and most importantly strength. Jun is survived by his wife and two children. He is also survived by his brother Edilberto, his sister Marianette, and his many nieces and nephews."