Teresita Jabiniao (Ordoña) Greenfield

Teresita J. Ordona-Greenfield, born Saturday, January 8, 1949, in Butuan City, Philippines is survived by her husband of 34 years, Rand; her daughter, Sima; sister, Inday Llave; nephew, Andoy Llave, and seven nieces, Rowena Lllave, Grace Isidro, Rose Llave, Caycay Mendoza, Mayet Burns, Messie Azarcon, and Tata Schiffer.

Tessie graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the Philippine Women’s University in Manila and also studied Communication Arts at the Ateneo de Manila University.  She then worked as a TV scriptwriter, advertising executive, and family planning education officer.  Tessie fled Marcos’ martial law regime for Germany. Two years later, in the early 1980s, she immigrated to the US. Tessie worked for 15 years in the Publications Office of NASA White Sands Test Facility, Las Cruces, NM.  For her work there she was personally presented by an astronaut with the Silver Snoopy, the Astronauts’ Personal Achievement Award.  Tessie then was a substitute teacher for Albuquerque Public Schools where she was known by the elementary students as “The Puppet Lady”. Her favorite quote was from her mother, Purita Ordona: “Public education is a gift from the government.  Cherish it.”

Tessie was a lifelong puppeteer and was a founder the Philippine National Puppet Company. She performed, made videos and posted her US puppet projects (and cultural shows) on her YouTube channel, Puppetnettes. One of her great thrills was having lunch with Jim Henson.

Tessie wrote over 30 articles about Filipinos in New Mexico, helped publish a book on the subject and maintained the website, pinoy-newmexico.com, for over 10 years. She worked with Asian and Filipino Cultural Groups but most loved working with the Filipino Youth Group: choreographing Southern Philippine and ethnic dances and playing the kulintang, an indigenous musical instrument of the Southern Philippines. She also enjoyed teaching others how to play the kulintang and composed one kulintang piece, Pangalay Ha Janggay. Tessie wanted to be remembered as a volunteer who was always willing to share her knowledge and culture with the next generation. She was loved by many and will be missed.

A Graveside Service will be held Friday, September 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m., at Fairview Memorial Park, 700 Yale Blvd. SE.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to: The Nature Conservancy, 4235 N. Fairfax Dr., Ste. 100, Arlington, Va. 22203.