Romeo Cabiling Reales

Celebration of A Life Well Lived

ENGR. ROMEO REALES SR.
June 06, 1946 - May 20, 2022


Who is Romeo? Many have asked. He is a man who Loves and Fears God, A very Devoted and Loving Husband, A Loving and Supportive Father and Grandfather, A good Provider, A Loving and Supportive Brother and Brother In Law, A Loyal employee , A writer, A Poet , A friend. He Loves to be called Romeo or Romy. He passed away in Methodist Hospital, Omaha, NE on May 20, 2022, 11:00 pm at the age of 75. Survived by his loving wife Perla, children ( Ronald and spouse Ethel, Venus and spouse Renante, Sharon Kate and spouse Shannon and grandchildren ( Erin Rose, Gian Ron, Driven, Dazzle, Victoria and Katelyn) here in Omaha, NE. Via messenger face chat by his children, Romeo Jr., and spouse Divina, children ( Queenielynn, Richard and Michael) of Australia, Robert and spouse Loulit, children ( Louribeth and Jameel John) of Saudi Arabia and Philippines, Atty. Roger Reales and spouse Esther, child ( Precious Maya) from Philippines, Lovella and Cherry Ann from Philippines.

He was born in 1946, on the 6th of June and grew up in Batuan, Ormoc City, Leyte, with 6 siblings. He was the second child but have taken the role of being the Big Brother and Breadwinner together with his brother, now, Atty. Celso Reales, both worked as laborers as a child, carrying heavy loads of stones in a construction company. When he was a young student , he would also shine shoes that at times he could not attend class but he always made sure that he takes the exams every Friday. His teachers were so amazed that even when he is not physically in class, he would still get a perfect score. The teachers have decided to asked influential people in their town to have their shoes shined every Saturday so that he can earn money and be able to attend school. He fondly mentioned Don Larazabal, who was his most frequent customer who will let him shine his shoes even if it is still clean and shiny. A neighbor once ask the brothers what they want when they grow up, Romeo would say " I want to be a Civil Engineer" , while his brother, would say "I want to be a Lawyer". Then that neighbor would say " Both of you are so ambitious, I doubt you would be one, look at me, I am rich, I could afford to send my children to college, but none of them became one, how much more you, you have nothing, I will kiss your foot if you become one, I promise". Those lines kept playing in his mind and served as an inspiration. He did boxing, buy and sell chicken, anything, just to earn money and make it through high school and then college. In high school he graduated Physicist of the Year and got a scholarship in Cebu Institute of Technology where he took Civil Engineering in college. He was also offered a teaching job in college while he was still studying because his grades are so exemplary. After his Graduation from Civil Engineering , He took his Licensure Exam right away, and was a topnotcher, 10th place all over Philippines. After topping the board Exam, he went back home to Ormoc City straight to that neighbor who said would kiss his foot if he becomes an engineer. When he reminded that man, the man replied, " You should thank me, because of what I said you were inspired to prove me wrong and now you are an engineer".

While in College he found his Perfect One, Perla Abuzo Casenas, a student in the same school taking BS Education, he was so devoted to the love of his Life that he writes to her Poems and to keep the relationship working he would take time to visit her even if he has to walk from 9pm to 5 am, cause he can't afford to ride a jeepney and because there were no more jeepneys running around the city when he gets home. Perla would tell him you don't need to visit me often, but he insist to just let him be. Both decided to get married and finally got married May 10, 1968 after 2x of cancelled wedding day due to work assignment conflict and the second one, was the priest forgot the wedding day because of a town fiesta in another place where the priest was invited. Their love and devotion raised 8 children. At 21, right after graduation he worked at Public Highways of the City of Ormoc, then transferred to Marawi City and at the same time teaches in St. Peters College, Iligan City as a Dean of Engineering Department. Then an opportunity to work in a bigger company came and he was the chief designer in PICOP ( Paper Industries Corporation Of The Philippines) for 12 years. Even when he is sleeping he would use his wife's belly and use it like a paper, solving something. Despite his busy schedule and a growing family, he would take time to make his children feel loved. When he comes home he always have a box of curly tops chocolate or a bag of cookies, then when comes home late he would still carry each of the girls who fell asleep in the living room waiting for him to their room. He does this twice because the girls would go back to the living room just to be carried again. Then he would say "Okay girls, you have to sleep, I still have to work tomorrow". Then the day came when he has to make a big decision to work in another country to support the education of his children. He would sacrifice being together with his wife and children to be in a Long Distance Relationship. He knew he could trust his wife, he dedicated the songs of Kenny Rogers, She Believes in Me and Through The Years. He worked in the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia for 23 years. Despite the distance he made sure he wrote a letter to his Family, each child a pad of yellow paper, everyday. He always put God first, so he could get through the loneliness. In every life's journey, there is always obstacles, but he is a man of Faith, when things are good or bad, he always calls on God and remember his promises. The first company he worked with did not give their salaries on time at times don't pay them, he would beg for some alms so he could send to the Philippines. When they were given a choice to go home to Philippines or get their iqama and look for an employer, most chose to go home but he chose to take the iqama and stay in Saudi Arabia and was able to find another Company, Abalkhail Consulting Engineers, his only request, the the salary be given on time, from that moment on, till he left Saudi Arabia in 2005, he stayed in that Company. Those big water tanks you see in the desserts of Saudi Arabia for the Desalinated Water were his projects in which the Saudi Ministry of Water Resources will give to the company only if Romeo Reales is the engineer. His Honesty and dedication resounded even to the Head of Agriculture and water resources of Saudi Arabia that he befriended. He made sure all the specs were followed, he was never blinded by the monetary bribes that contractors offer, He believes that you have to do everything in God's way. He made sure filipinos that he works with also gets compensated and well provided. Every year he gets only 1 month of vacation to be with his family for all that 23 years. He would come home every March because he wants to be part of his Children's achievements in school, he is such a proud father to his children who all were honor students and A -1 child. In many ways he lets his presence in his children's lives be felt. When he sense that there is a problem, he would read verses, or give verses in the Bible for his children to read to get through, just how he made it through the lonely nights and very warm and hot days in Saudi Arabia . His Endurance is above and beyond, all because of his Love to his family. He was always there to lend a helping hand in taking care of his grandchildren. He is an active member of the Toast Masters, Saudi Arabia chapter, He won Chess Competition in Saudi Arabia, He was taking Masters of Civil Engineering class online while in the Middle East. He would take Computer courses and get certified. He never stopped learning. Year 2002, He came to America and stayed for a month and went back to Saudi and worked for another 3 years. Finally he came and settled here in Omaha, Nebraska on May 5, 2005.

The American dream started in 2005, in the process his health needed to be given attention to. Two of his heart valves were defective. On July 2009, he had it operated. That never stopped him. He took the Board Exam for civil engineering here in the US, which he passed the First one. The Second one was never completed because of medical issues. Despite the limits imposed by his medical conditions, he wrote PROOF OF BEAL CONJECTURES, including Root equations for Fermat and Conjectures with Powers to the "n" and "p", Mathematics Fundamentals for Students and Teachers from grade 1 -12 and he wrote is autobiography. He loves Bowling, Tennis, table tennis, chess and reading books. He is a selfless man, he would give as long as he can both his time and money. He made sure he attends Sunday services in previously Harvey Oaks Baptist Church, now Converge Church. When the pandemic started, and his health was slowly declining, he still made sure that he would listen to the Sunday Service online and on TV. He is an Honest and Selfless man. A Life well lived indeed.