Tributes to our beloved Francine

From Karen Horse~ by His Excellency Ambassador Cuisia and the Philippine Consuls.

My heart is broken. My body physically aches with the grief of losing you. All day yesterday I struggled with the thought of even trying to put what's in my heart into words. There is too much and no words could ever be enough. My brilliant and beautiful bestie. My dearest Francine. You have always been my person. 32 years of friendship. Oh how blessed I have been to have you in my life and to be in yours. You were more than just my friend. In every way that matters, you were my family. My sister. You loved with your whole heart. You were always an unstoppable force. Whatever you set out to do you did with excellence. You were endlessly kind, unquestionably talented. You lived, loved, and accomplished more in 41 years than most people do in twice as many. Cancer attacked your body, but I knew it had no power over your indomitable spirit. You fought back with grace and courage. You used it all as a tool to inspire and to give hope to others. Oh how I prayed that you would be healed and now you are, just not in the way that I had hoped it would be. You are dancing now on streets of gold and all of heaven is your stage. Somehow I know that you stopped at the pearly gates long enough to do the most perfect layout. Mahal kita, my dear one. I love you forever and I'll miss you till heaven.

Originally from Cavite City, Philippines and raised in Chula Vista, Francine Maigue received her master’s degree from Harvard University and bachelor’s degree from UCLA. Francine is the District Director for California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez. She is the Immediate Past President of the Filipino-American Chamber

“Her movement, her energy, her projects went beyond just people that knew her one on one but those that were able to see the beauty of her work.”

Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, Mayor of National City

“We are devastated, San Diego. Francine helped out all of our districts. She was a model of service…committed to those thousands of Californians that need help. Francine was caring, kind, compassionate, she wanted to do good. She was a great leader for that office and for San Diego as well.”

Christopher M. Ward, California State Assembly of Commerce of San Diego County, Board Member for the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Foundation and Los Chabacanos of Cavite City, and is a former Miss Philippines of San Diego. Got an organization, business, or event Francine should know about?

Email: thepamperedpinay@yahoo.com.