MOTHER DEAR…A Legacy of Resiliency
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She was born Potenciana Fernando Castaneda,
second daughter of Agatona, grammar school
teacher and Mariano. former Mandaluyong, Rizal
mayor. Strong believer of the value of Education,
the family moved to Paco, Manilaand all four
children attended and graduated from the
University of the Philippines in Padre Faura.
Poten, BSE'32, became a biology teacher in the
city school and this is where he met Eliseo
Quesada of Paete, Laguna, and a history
teacher. With students and teachers matching
the co-teachers, their courtship was known and
enjoyed by all in the school, leading to their
grand wedding at the San Marcelino Catholic
Church.
However, a victim of World War II, Eliseo died in
1945, leaving Poten a widow at age 33. She was
left to raise her two girls single-handedly, then 4
years old and 2 months old.
Poten "Pat" Castaneda Quesada Bunales joined
the 1998 UP Homecoming with her daughter
Menchee Quesada Fulgado, PhD who was the
UPAA Service Awardee. Pat received her
Diamond Award in 1992.
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When the schools reopened, Poten went back into teaching, taught at Arellano, Feati and the University of
the East, took a mortgage to rebuild her mother’s house in Paco, Manila as a two-family house. She, with
her mother and two young daughters, lived in the upper unit and the rent from the lower unit boosted her
salary as a teacher. Her two girls were her inspiration for living, pursuing the dream that she and Eliseo
started, a family of love and dedication. She sewed look-alike dresses for them, providing them with
privileged amenities such as ballet classes, piano and swimming lessons, private schooling and the best
education one can get, at the University of the Philippines. Poten also tried her luck in jitney proprietorship,
later sold it for profit to enable her to finish her MA at the University of San Francisco, which led her to a full-
time college teaching in the Department of Education at the University of the East. Later retired she left for
the USA.
From a single parent biology teacher in three schools, to a full-time psychology professor, to a sales person,
later credit authorizer at then San Francisco’s prestigious department store The Emporium, then, the
upscale Gertz Department Store in New Jersey. Pat, as she became known in the United States was an
active fundraiser in NJ’s Ladies Circle, UP Alumni chapter, a hospital volunteer, a patient tutor to her seven
grandchildren, has left a legacy of RESILIENCY. Pat's mantra: Be happy with what He gave you…and make
the most out of it.
Pat is my mother, the epitome of resiliency. From her I learned “ Life is not a problem to be solved, it is a
mystery to be lived. At age 91, she joined my father on March 23, 2003. In 2001 my sister Nora and I donated
the lands inherited from our father and now on it stands the first public high school of the town of Paete. The
Poten and Eliseo Quesada Memorial National High School. Visit: http://peqmnhs.tripod.com/index.html
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