Pablo Macalinao Soledad was a long-time community leader within the Filipino-Australian community, particularly in Melbourne’s west. He passed away on 9 December 2025 at the age of 104.
A familiar and much-loved figure, Mr Soledad passed away peacefully at St George’s Nursing Home in Altona Meadows following illness and declining health.
Attended by family members and friends, he was laid to rest on 17 December 2025 at Altona Memorial Park.
A life of service
Born on 22 May 1921 in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, Mr Soledad lived through more than a century of social, political, and cultural change. In his early years, he worked as a farmer in Pabloan, Nueva Ecija, personally tending to rice fields that sustained his family. 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 later becoming an Australian citizen. He married his second wife, Henrietta Horca, on 17 February 1990.
Mr Soledad became a pillar of the Filipino-Australian community, serving alternately as President and Vice-President of the Philippine Cultural Society for Families & Friends, Inc. He was also an original volunteer of the Damayan Filipino Support Group, offering support and companionship to fellow migrants during times of need.
His decades of service were formally recognised on 10 December 2003, when he received Victoria’s Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs at a state reception, presented by then Governor of Victoria, John Landy.
Resilience in later years
Mr Soledad displayed remarkable resilience, particularly in his later years. In 2020, he had planned to retire and return to the Philippines, but these plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite suffering a stroke in February 2021, he worked to recover and went on to celebrate his 100th birthday while in a rehabilitation centre before later moving into aged care. In his final years, he survived bouts of pneumonia, COVID-19, and shingles, remaining surrounded by the care and support of his family.
Mr Soledad is survived by his wife, Henrietta, his sons, and a large extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He will be remembered not only for his longevity, but for a life marked by humility, service, and a quiet dedication to community — a legacy that continues through the family and community he helped build.
