Fermin was born on October 12, 1924 in Catuging, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte to Lorenzo and Clara Bonilla Baguio. While the world was at war, he met Marcela Abiva in 1945 when he was 21 and she was 14. Love blossomed and they married on December 12, 1949.To provide for his family, Fermin's father left the Philippines to work in the sugar cane fields of Waialua Sugar in Hawaii. Fermin and two brothers traveled in 1946 to join their father in the island's booming sugar industry. Although he traveled back and forth between work in Hawaii and his birth country, Marcela and his first daughter, Imelda, eventually moved to Hawaii in 1959 where the family made a new home in Waialua, Hawaii.
In 1960, Fermin transitioned from a career in the fields to the prosperous Hawaii construction industry as taller buildings and the cranes to build them became a common sight in Honolulu. He was employed with various construction companies and was a proud member of the Carpenters Union 745 until his retirement in 1986. With this profession Fermin in time also moved his wife and six children to a new home in Kalihi.
It was in this industry in 1973 when a photo of an injured Fermin appeared on the front page of Honolulu Advertiser newspaper after the scaffolding he stood on collapsed at the under construction Four Paddle condominium in Waikiki. His warnings of the collapse helped save two of his co-workers. Unfortunately one co-worker died while another was injured. Fermin himself suffered a fractured femur which required an artificial metal replacement.
The legacy of sugar cane workers were not forgotten. Fermin and other employees of Waialua Sugar were honored as Sakadas (migrant workers) in 2006. He was among four living Sakadas in 2017 to be accorded further recognition at the 3rd Sakada Day Celebration by the Philippines Consulate General, State of Hawaii and City & County of Honolulu.
By far Fermin's greatest loss was the death of his loving wife Marcela who passed in September 2021. He is preceded in death by his siblings Melchor Baguio, Florencio Baguio, Cleta Coloma and Francisca Coloma.
Fermin is a cherished husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. But to his grandchildren he will always be lovingly remembered as Papa. He is survived by his daughters Imelda (Alfredo) Gonzales, Clarissa (Larry) Duclayan, Juliet (Gary) Hiraga and Rosalina (Michael Sr.) Armstrong and sons Larry Baguio and Fermin (Noreen Pasatiempo) Baguio, Jr.; grandchildren Coty (Michelle) Gonzales, Caryn (Brice) Dwiggins, Sean Duclayan, Anja (Juan Carlos) Cordero, David Hiraga, Michael (Pualani) Armstrong Jr., Joshua Armstrong, Megan (Grant) Demesillo, Jeremy (Brittany) Armstrong, and Jordan, Jacob, Jace & Shelby Baguio; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services are at The Valley of the Temple Main Chapel (47-200 Kahekili Highway). Wake is Friday, December 16, 2022 starting with visitation from 5:00pm to 6:00pm with services to follow. Funeral is Saturday, December 17, 2022 with services to commence at 9:00am. Burial follows at 12 noon.
Services may also be viewed online at the following links:
Friday, Dec 16th, 6pm: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/63142/hash:A70006C16C2DE8EB
Saturday, Dec 17th, 9am: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/63143/hash:3E374E58D87E7136
Arrangements Provided By: Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary
