“One poignant moment three hours before she died encapsulates Rina’s spirit and character. Msgr. Lorenzo, his sister Dr. Elva Miranda, and I gathered at her bedside. As soon as she saw us, she offered a broad, beautiful smile—the last one I will forever cherish. She then raised her thin, weak hands to give us a thumbs-up, whispering in a faint voice, “Godsfidence!” This was a term she lived by throughout her cancer journey.”
– Fr. Rodel G. Balagtas, brother to Rina
“Rina Balagtas Bentajado passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025, at 7:16 PM, at the age of 62. She was born on December 6, 1962, in Minalin, Pampanga, Philippines.
Rina went to St. Scholastica’s Academy in San Fernando and pursued her college education at Centro Escolar University in Manila before immigrating to the United States in 1983 to begin a new chapter of her life with her parents and siblings.
Rina was married to Alvin Bentajado, and together they raised their daughter Ann, instilling in her the values of faith, family, and service.
Rina was a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished daughter, caring sister, beloved aunt, and a loyal friend to many. She was also a faithful servant of God and a treasured member of the Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Santa Barbara. A lifelong Catholic, she found strength and purpose in her faith, attending Mass regularly and living out the Gospel through acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion. She lived by her values, and often by her favorite words. One quote she loved was: “Do small things with great love.” — Mother Teresa. And that’s exactly what she did.
Whether it was a handwritten card, a warm meal, or a late-night phone call, she gave of herself in ways that made others feel seen, heard, and cherished.
Professionally, Rina dedicated nearly 25 years of her life to her role as a Key Account Sales Manager at Lallemand Health Solutions [global leader in microbiology]. She was admired for her strong work ethic, result-driven approach, and exceptional ability to build lasting relationships with clients and colleagues.
She held several leadership roles with Club Minalin of Southern California, including serving as President and member of the Board of Directors. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Rina found great fulfillment in exploring the world, nurturing her plants, experimenting in the kitchen, and enjoying peaceful walks along the beaches of Santa Barbara.
Over the course of her life, she journeyed to over 50 countries for work and pleasure. I was blessed to have travelled with her, especially during her cancer journey. I remember the way she’d marvel at sunsets like they were painted just for her. She had a gift for finding beauty in the ORDINARY, turning a simple walk through a cobblestone street in Europe or a shared cup of coffee at her favorite café into a MEMORY I’ll never forget.”
– Rose Toy, sister of Rina
Fr. Rodel shared more about his sister:
“Rina was a brave soul, a true testament to living life with confidence in God and a positive spirit. “It’s already a miracle that I survived six years of cancer,” she once told me. In one of our heart-to-heart conversations, she said, “I have two choices, brother: to get depressed or to be positive. I choose to be positive; I choose to trust God.”
Reflections on the Funeral
Have you ever attended a funeral mass, burial, and more, feeling hopeful, inspired, composed in your tears? This is the first time for me to have silent, muted tears as did the rest of the nearly a thousand who came.
Not sure where they all came from. And at the burial—500 more came. And the wake the night before—another 500. All in all, in two days, nearly two thousand attended to celebrate Rina Bentajado’s life.
I want to call her my own local saint, not even related by blood, but by heart, soul, and Catholic faith. She did not say much, but her actions were deeply caring, thoughtful, and loving.
Do you know that the Queen of the Night plant she gave me in 2024 now has 9 flowering shoots? It only had half that number the last time I checked. Two days forward, it has 12 shoots. Could that symbolize the 12 Apostles who welcomed her in heaven?
The flowers at her wake, graveside, and reception tables carried the most beautiful colors, heart shapes in some, and had a dominant color of purple, white—even in the calla lilies.
These must have been special-ordered, as they were tastefully chosen—just like her care packages and her thoughtful presence at important family celebrations. She was there, saying yes to folks, never sparing herself.
Her first “no” to me was in June 2025, feeling the ravages of therapies robbing her body of strength, telling me to coordinate with Ann, her daughter, by mid-July as to when to visit.
She died mid-July, 7/16/2025 at 7:16 PM, on the Feast of Mount Carmel. She knew her life’s end. Yet, she opened an opportunity for me to visit by writing my name on her iPad, at the top of a list of five that she wanted to see. I received this request on Sunday, and by Tuesday, I was so grateful to have held her hand and to answer her two precious questions—so lucid and alert.
I treasure her spiritual wisdom laden in those questions, and it is why I call her my local saint. For in my seven decades of life, knowing her well in the last two years of her life—she renewed me with joyful positivity, inspiration, love, thoughtfulness, and profound wisdom.
Aren’t those the feelings one gets in visiting saints in holy pilgrimages? The feelings I got while holding her hands and responding to her questions that gave me a special energy—much like attending her wake, her burial, and more? As to those questions, they remain ours to treasure.
Continuing on that theme, Ann Bentajado, her only child, mirrored the virtues of her mom: warm, caring, listening, praying, reflecting on the goodness and love she “harvested” from her mom’s and Fr. Rodel G. Balagtas’ friends. She calmly said, “I will live my best life for the two of us.”
Speaking of Fr. Rodel’s friends, imagine mobilizing a beautiful voice—an idol of Pampanga, the jazz voice from the Philippines—responding to my late-night text at 2 AM to say yes to sing at the mass prelude for Among Odey, as they fondly called Fr. Rodel?
Mon sang “Abe Muku,” accompanied himself playing his guitar, and moved us all to be present to Rina.
Fr. Rodel graciously thanked everyone and recognized the love and help that he got from Incarnation Catholic Church’s priests, deacons, and staff.
Equally moving were the songs sung by one of the best tenors in LA, Pete Avendano, who sang “Raise Me Up” and “Farewell,” and even took a personal day off to be there. While a full-time bakery entrepreneur, Mike Zuñiga sang the Alleluia verses after waking up at dawn baking bread. Folks wouldn’t think twice about sacrificing for Fr. Rodel’s sake.
At mass, there were eight priests (known to me are Fr. Ernesto Roxas Cordero, Fr. Ramon Valera, Msgr. Lorenzo Miranda, and Fr. Christian) and two deacons.
The last day of the nine days of novena, organized by Raquel Aureus, had 58 participants.
It was two days of mass, reflections, and serving food to folks during the wake and funeral reception with seamless flow and quite welcoming to all of us.
The flow of the man-made waterfalls to the koi pond at Coco Palm in Pomona, vibrantly streaming down from the stone ledges, echoed the responsorial psalm: “As the deer longs for running streams, so I long for you, my God!”
The readings at her mom’s burial mass were chosen by Ann Bentajado.
What a brilliant coherence to match the eloquence of the ballet performance of Ann’s cousin, Lauren! Lauren danced upwards to her ascent, mimicking the dancing joy of her aunt’s life till her last breath—open arms to hug two priests, Fr. Rodel and his brother priest, Msgr. Lorenzo, whose timely visit coincided with Rina’s peaceful end of life. “There was a special calm, a certain peace, which I believed God passed and took her home,” Msgr. Lorenzo said.
He described her mysterious heart and how her faith was made more alive with her music—music of “In Moments Like This” that Fr. Rodel sang so well during his memorable and touching homily.
My dear St. Rina, pray for me. May our ailments be healed.
You know what, I had the energy to attend the mass, the burial, and the reception thanks to the graciousness of Cris and Benel Se-Liban, who gave me an unforgettable experience of riding in their new red sports car.
Rina, at the last minute, I too experienced #graceupongrace.
Are you dancing now with your mom and dad in heaven?
Fr. Rodel shared more:
“A fierce, unwavering, and courageous spirit; an unconditional love for the special people in her life; and a constant joyful disposition—where did she get all these qualities? They came from God, from Jesus, with whom she nurtured a deep relationship, and from Mary, the Blessed Mother. Her favorite devotion was to Our Lady of Lourdes, whose image was placed next to her bed. It was the Holy Spirit who poured so much love and passion into her heart. By the way, she died on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Carmel. What a coincidence—her parish church, where Ann went to school, is Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Montecito, Santa Barbara County.”
In 2024, Rina posted this:
Thank you for honoring my sister, Rina!
What a beautiful reflection on the life that Rina lived. It was so very moving and it stayed with her last words for quite sonetime.
She had so much to give and gave it all. Rina had a strong faith
and touched the lives of so many people who will never forget her.
Thank you 💜
So profound tribute to Rina!
I hope she heard it all from Above.
Rina, pray for us! Pray for the world! Thank you for revealing the KINDNESS OF GOD to us!