In Loving Memory of Gma: The Pocket Sized Gangster

What is it that constitutes a meaningful and fulfilling life? For Lourdes Penny, it was simple: kindness and faith in humanity. Every day, she practiced these traits, no matter the obstacles in the way. Sadly, she passed away in the early morning of New Year’s Eve. 2025 will not be the same without her, but her memory lives on. And it is my family and I’s greatest wish to fulfill her last request: to be buried next to her husband.

Gma was born on May 18, 1937, in the Philippines, around the beginning of the Filipino-Japanese War. By this time, the providence she lived in was entirely occupied by Japanese forces. She lived with her parents and three siblings on her family's rice farm. Her family was wealthy, but they were humble people. Her father was a farmer and a fisherman. and he always made sure to help out his fellow villagers.

Though their providence was completely occupied, the attack on the Philippines officially began in 1941 and lasted through 1945. The death toll for Filipino people during this time is estimated to be close to a million people, amongst those were many members of my grandmother's family. Her father was murdered in front of her by some of their fellow villagers, who had become Makapili (Filipinos who fought alongside the Japanese). They wanted to gain control of her family's farm and resources. My grandmother and her siblings were separated from their mother. As the war progressed, the Filipino people suffered inhumanely at the hands of the Japanese. Conditions were comparable to the same horrors seen across Europe at this time. They were executed in the most insufferable, inhumane ways: Bombed, shot, stabbed with bayonets, experimented on by surgeons, tortured, babies speared for sport and stress relief, women and children were kidnapped and held in "comfort homes" where they suffered unimaginable sexual, physical, and mental abuse; the list goes on forever. However, during this time, my grandmother persisted. She tried to continue her education throughout the entire war. She looked out for her siblings while they were in hiding up until the end of this tragic event. The hardships she witnessed and endured were unfathomable, but she survived by any means possible. By the end of the war, she was reunited with her mother, but her mother endured her share of hardships and was in no shape to care for what remained of her children. The country was in shambles in the aftermath, so my grandmother dropped out of school in the fifth grade to work and raise her siblings by any means, while her mom worked somewhere else and sent money to them. After many years of dedicating herself to the role of caretaker, she went off to have many fulfilling experiences and live her own life.

She immigrated to America alongside her husband, a first-class petty officer in the United States Navy, whom she met in her home country. He bought her a house, they had three children, and they were on their way to living that "American Dream." He saw her devotion to the people she loved and matched it with his own, treating her like the queen she truly was. Unfortunately, the love of her life passed away from cancer just a few years after their last child was born. Still, she persisted. Left alone with three young kids in a foreign country, she wasted no time getting down to business. She taught herself many skills and reached out to other Filipino immigrants who could help her get a handle on living in America. But for the most part, she did everything herself: simple skills that we are so commonly used to and can sometimes be taken for granted, like speaking and writing English, accounting and paying bills, driving, operating a bank account, enrolling kids in school, renewing an I.D. card, etc. She learned how to apply for work and got herself a job. She had many jobs during this time. She managed to raise all her children and keep her home until her passing. While Lourdes may have struggled here and there, she fought every day to give her family a better life, and never once let the horrors of her history hold her back. Instead, she chose to write a better future, and her heart carried her husband with her every step of the way, never once remarrying. She visited her husband's grave any chance she had, every time declaring her love for him and assuring him that she had everything under control. She would say how much she missed him, but she knew that they would be together again when it was time. And now, she finally is reunited with him.

After everything she went through, she was still the most selfless person I had ever met. She never faltered or lost her faith. She was fearless, independent, confident, humble, incredibly strong, wicked smart, and kind to strangers and friends alike. She loved to laugh and share her culture and knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn, and she was an incredible bowler (which she did for most of her life in America}. But arguably, the most beautiful thing about her was that even after all the suffering she endured at the hands of humans, she still had the utmost faith in humanity. She believed in people and could empathize with anyone. She was the embodiment of all that is good in the world. That's why we call her G-ma. Only a true gangster could go live the life she lived and come out of it so wholesome.

She never took credit for any of it. It was just her life, and she was okay with it. She made her peace and made the most of every moment. She was truly a hero to me, and I aspire every day to be like her, as we all should. She never asked for much, but this one final request meant the world to her. After everything she’s given to us and mankind, it is the very least we can do. Any help you can offer towards our cause would be greatly appreciated. But even if you can't donate, I hope her story resonates with you. As much as we need help with the funeral expenses, it's also important that we carry on her legacy and celebrate her life.

Thank you so much for reading her story. My family and I greatly appreciate your condolences, support, and any help you can give during this time. All funds raised will go toward the estimated cost of her funeral and burial.