Macario Bihis Calinisan

Macario “Caring” Bihis Calinisan, born March 10, 1934, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2025, at Abbotsford Regional Hospital.

Predeceased by his parents Basilia Bihis and Benito Natanuan Calinisan, Macario was the second youngest of 8 siblings: Virginia 'Vinying' Degrano (Jacinto), Flaviano 'Faving' Calinisan (Edna), Aurora 'Auring' Gonzales (Miguel), Celerino 'Celi' Calinisan (Rosita), Nonato 'Noni' Calinisan (Amalia), and Adela Diego.

He is survived by his loving wife, Antonia Asayo Calinisan, and his 4 children Bennett (wife Lilibeth, child Maxwell), Miriam Cruz (husband Rommel, children Rachel, Brandon, Ryan), Rodney (wife Crislynne, children Kalayla, Hayden, Weston), Antonette Vitug (husband Nathaniel, children Avery, Jocelyn, Colin), brother in law Alipio Diego and brother Roberto 'Berting' Calinisan (Ligaya).

Macario was raised by Isabel (Bebe) Bihis and Lorensa (Isang) Bihis from age 2 in Balakilong, Laurelin the Batangas province of the Philippines. After studying mechanical engineering at Mapúa Institute of Technology and marrying Antonia on Nov 12, 1967, he emigrated in 1968 and started his family in Abbotsford, Canada. In 1980, he flew his family back to the Philippines to reunite with his siblings, many nieces and nephews, his titas who raised him, and showed them the places he grew up. After retiring from Flex Lox industries in 1999, he spent years travelling the world with his wife, camping, gardening, watching wrestling, and making strawberry jam.

A strong, quiet man, he spent decades of sponsoring family from the Philippines to Canada, where parties eventually became so large they had to be held in parks and gymnasiums. He was known for his passion of improvement and invention, having designed model rocket launchpads, security locks, homemade knives, woodchippers, and countless more gadgets.

Macario will forever be cherished by family and friends, all of whom strive to honour his legacy of appreciating heritage, passing on traditions, and finding pride through providing for others