Eric Villaflores Pangilinan

Eric Villaflores Pangilinan was born on May 19, 1981 in San Leandro, California to parents Oliver and Adma Pangilinan. He was the second of two sons; his older brother Dennis was born five years prior. In 1986, Eric and his family moved to Vallejo, California. There, Eric attended school and excelled in his classes, often receiving many honorable achievements and high grade scores. Eric found a passion for Polynesian Dancing while in High School and joined the Hui Tama Nui dance group. While in the group, Eric competed and won a solo dance performance. He graduated from Vallejo High in 1999. Eric went on to attend Cal Poly State University where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. While at Cal Poly, Eric was very active in the Filipino Cultural group “Pilipino Cultural Exchange” (PCE). There, he made many lifelong friendships and gained the opportunity to travel to the Philippines. Eric received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2005. After college, Eric pursued several Mechanical Engineering positions. He worked as an engineer for companies like Meggit, United Airlines, and Mektec. At each position, Eric gave one hundred and ten percent. He worked very hard and made lasting friendships along the way. He was a dedicated employee at each company. The decision to leave each position was made only after careful consideration following major life milestones. In 2011, Eric married Joyce Arevalo. They had their first son Elijah Pangilinan in 2013 and their second son Noah Pangilinan in 2014. Eric was a natural at fatherhood. His patient demeanor and witty sense of humor helped shape his sons into the wonderful young boys they are today. In 2015, Eric and his family moved to Fairfield, California. While there, Eric made the bold decision to switch career paths. He was in search of a career that would afford him more time with his wife and sons. In addition, he wanted to make a direct impact on people’s lives. In 2016, Eric pursued his real estate license and partnered with The Velasco Team of Remax Gold. Eric found his passion. Being a realtor was second nature to him. Helping families find homes was his calling. He enjoyed overcoming the unique challenges that each transaction brought and he triumphed over every win. His clients often referred to him as their “hero.” Eric embodied the phrase “Hustle Like a Hero.” In March 2020, Eric was diagnosed with Stage 4 Extra Osseous Ewing’s Sarcoma. This is a very rare and aggressive cancer, often only seen in pediatric patients. When informed that this cancer was predominantly only seen in children, Eric thanked God. He truly believed that God spared his sons by giving the illness to Eric instead of one of them. Thus began Eric’s true definition of being a “hero.” Though faced with a dreary prognosis, Eric always remained positive and faithful. He fought hard to be here for his wife and sons. He often said “I’m not going, not until I hear GOD calling me, I’m going to fight.” On June 11, 2021, Eric heard God calling him. He passed peacefully surrounded by his wife, sons, parents and brother. It is important to understand that Eric did not lose his battle with cancer, he won his way into Heaven. God was ready for him. We love you Eric. You will forever be in our hearts.

Eric Villaflores Pangilinan

May 19, 1981 - June 11, 2021