Martin Cajita Celemin

Martin Cajita Celemin, Sr. passed away on Friday, July 15, 2022, at 10:48 pm after his battle of stage 4 renal cancer. He was 84 years old.

Martin was born on January 23, 1938, in Aloran, Misamis Occidental, Philippines to the late Capt. Benito Abao Celemin, a School Principal by profession and Gorgonia Regalado Cajita a schoolteacher. Martin is the middle child of 5 children. His father Benito who was a Captain in the Philippine Scout died in an ambush by the Japanese soldiers during World War II. Martin and his siblings grew up in their grandparents home together with his first cousins.

He attended Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, Philippines. He finished two bachelor’s degree, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Sanitary Engineering.

He worked in several Engineering companies across this country, Syracuse, New York, Bergenfield County, New Jersey, Harza Engineering in Chicago. He joined Bechtel Corporation for job in Saudi Arabia.

He married his wife Jean in March 1982 and moved to Houston, where their two children were born, Martin Jr and Abigail. While in the Houston area, he worked for The Woodlands Corporation an extension of Mitchell Energy and Development. He also worked for the Veterans Administration in Houston for a few months before he moved his family to Las Vegas in September of 1987. He worked for GC Wallace Engineers / Surveyors for several years before joining Las Vegas Valley Water District/Southern Nevada Water Authority, where he retired.

Martin was active in civic organizations that in his college days he founded and became the first President of JASM (Jolly Aloranon Society Movement). He

continued his membership to a couple of organization including VISMIN and Vitamin in Houston. Martin has been an advocate for the underprivileged. He was also one of the pillars of the Regalado-Cajita Clan.

Organizations he was affiliated with:

Philippine Bisayan Society of Nevada (PBSN) - Founder and 2nd President

FAON - Filipino Associations of Nevada - President

Knights of Rizal - Las Vegas Chapter

NaFFAA - Region XI Chair

Aloran Charity Foundation - President and Founder – ACF was the co-sponsor for the PBSN Medical Mission in Aloran Misamis Occidental in 2017 (Martin’s hometown). ACF projects: medical missions, scholarships, distribution of goods to the needy in the barrios of Aloran

Misamisnon, USA – Member (organization’s projects: Medical Mission, distribution of goods to the underprivileged in the province of Misamis Occidental

During Sheriff Jerry Keller and Sheriff Doug Gillespie’s tenure, Martin was an active member of the Asian Leaders that met monthly with Metro. The goal of the meetings was to have an open discussion on issues faced by Asian Community and how to improve the relationship with Metro.

Martin is survived by his younger sister Maria Libertad, wife Jean, children Tisa, Chuck, Martin Jr, Abigail and grandchildren, William and Lucy.