MELBOURNE – The Filipino-Australian community is mourning the loss of one of its most resilient figures, Pablo Macalinao Soledad, who passed away on 9 December 2025, at the age of 104.
A dedicated community volunteer and recipient of Victoria’s Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs, Mr Soledad was a familiar and beloved face in Melbourne’s west. He died peacefully at 5:30 pm at St George’s Nursing Home in Altona Meadows, following a battle with the flu and declining health.
Born on 22 May 1921 in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, Mr Soledad’s life spanned over a century of immense change. In his early years in the Philippines, he was a man of the land, personally tending to his rice fields in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija. He later moved to Aduas Centro, Cabanatuan City, where he and his first wife, the late Florentina Castelo, raised five sons.
His journey to Australia began in 1981 when he was petitioned by his youngest son, Adriano, and his late daughter-in-law, Carolina Cuevas. He migrated permanently, embracing life in Victoria and eventually becoming an Australian citizen. He remarried Henrietta Horca on 17 February 1990.
Mr Soledad was a pillar of the community, serving alternately as President and Vice-President of the Philippine Cultural Society for Families & Friends, Inc. He was also an original volunteer for the Damayan Filipino Support Group.
His decades of service were formally recognised on 10 December 2003, when he received the Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs from the then-Governor of Victoria, John Landy, at a state reception at Parliament.
Mr Soledad had intended to retire back to the Philippines in 2020, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic halted his plans. Despite the challenges, he demonstrated remarkable resilience.
In February 2021, he suffered a stroke but fought to recover, celebrating his 100th birthday in a rehabilitation centre before moving to aged care. In his final years, he survived bouts of pneumonia, COVID-19, and shingles.
He is survived by his wife, Henrietta, his sons, and a large extended family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral Arrangements
Family and friends are invited to celebrate the life of Pablo Soledad at the following services:
Tuesday, 16 December 2025
- Venue: San Fernando Funerals (Unit 8, 105 Derrimut Drive, Derrimut)
- Time: 6:00 PM (Holy Mass, followed by Eulogy and Viewing)
Wednesday, 17 December 2025
- Service Venue: Chapel of Repose, Altona Memorial Park (2-14 Dohertys Road, Altona North)
- Burial: To follow the service within the grounds.
- Reception: A late lunch will be served after 1:00 PM at the Altona Function Room (within the Memorial Park grounds).
