Dr. Adelamar (Dely) Novino Alcantara
Category : History , Uncategorized
(January 19, 1948 – November 3, 2019)
We love you, Dely. You’ve touched our lives. Your legacy will live on.

Mass and Memorial Service
Dec. 13, 2019, Friday
St. Augustine Catholic Church
71 Tribal Road 35, Isleta Village Proper, 87022
Take I-25 South, Exit 213 for Isleta Blvd (NM-314), turn left on NM-147E (Turn slight right to Tribal Road 40, slight left to stay on Tribal Road 40, slight left onto Tribal Road 42.). The church is located at the plaza. Please check your GPS just the same.
10:00 am – Mass
11:00 am – Memorial Service
12:00 noon – Reception
Contact Myrna (505-319-8821) if you have questions about the reception.
Any Memory of Dely?
Check “WRITE AN ENTRY” located at the bottom of this page and feel free to write your memory about Dely. THANK YOU.
In lieu of flowers,
Please make a donation to Adelamar (Dely) Alcantara Memorial Fund, established by the Albuquerque Community Foundation. This fund will be disbursed to various organizations close to Dely. Here is a link: http://bit.ly/DelyMemorialFund
Latest Press Releases and Video Clips:
Albuquerque Journal: Article about Dely, Dec. 8, 2019.
Video Clips of FAFNM Christmas Party honoring Dely:
Dr. Christopher Gonzaga, medical doctor and composer, dedicates song, Di Na Magtatagal (It Won’t be Long) to Dely’s legacy.
Past Presidents of FAFNM Recognized as a continuation of her legacy
A great leader and friend
Written on Nov. 4, the day after Dely passed away, by Kristelle Siarza, siarza.net (Photos from this website, MAJICAL, Norma and friends.)
The world mourns the loss of an amazing woman, Dr. Adélamar (Dely) N. Alcántara. Dely was a smart and dedicated woman who brought vision and passion to all that she did.
At age 71, she passed away on Nov. 3, 2019 while en route home from the Philippines. She was survived by Dr. Theodore (Ted) Jojola, PhD, a Distinguished Professor and Regents’ Professor in the Community & Regional Planning Program, School of Architecture + Planning. She was preceded in death by her son, Manoa Alcántara Jojola.
She was survived by sisters Aurora Alcantara, Digna Pena, and brothers Elilberto Alcantara, and Noel Pedro Alcantara. (She was preceded in death by her brother, Alejandro Alcantara, Jr.)
Dely joined UNM in 1985, served as the New Mexico state demographer for decades, and served as the director of Geospatial and Population Studies since its founding in 2011. She worked well with people of diverse economic, racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. She had at least 20 years of community organizing and non-profit management experience, and served as a community advocate for diversity, human rights and social justice.
Dely was the founder of the New Mexico Asian Family Center. She was a leader in the Filipino community, having been president of the Filipino American Foundation of New Mexico, Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation of New Mexico, and the Filipino American Community Council, and also co-founding the Filipino American National Historical Society – Rio Grande. She received the 2018 Si Se Puede Award from Dolores Huerta at the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Cesar Chavez Day in Albuquerque.
In honor of her late son, Dely made significant contributions to the Albuquerque Academy and Tricklock Theater in honor of Manoa. She co-founded the Manoa Alcántara Jojola International Center for Arts & Language MAJICAL Learning Montessori School in the province of Tarlac, Philippines, where she was just visiting to help kick off the school year.
She was a stellar role model and mentor to everyone, with a sharp mind and humorous wit, wisdom, and courage.
From Dr. Ted Jojola
(Written on Nov. 9, 2019, six days after Dely passed away. )
Dear friends and colleagues: Thank you all for reaching out. Sorry I have been so remiss in returning calls and messages, but all of this was so sudden and overwhelming . They have picked up Dely’s body from the airport now and took it to the funeral home in Chiba (Japan).
She will be cremated 2 pm on the 10th, Japan time. So that will be 10pm on 9th for The US.
Our Japanese friend who helped us there said her face is peaceful. Dely was returning home from the Philippines when she had a heart attack in Narita. She passed away within the hour after she collapsed so, thankfully, she did not suffer. One of our Hawaiian spiritual friends said, “I tried to ‘feel’ Dely’s spirit after I got your message, but instead I got this powerful vision of your son Manoa reaching out to Dely with a huge smile while she was suffering her heart attack–she left with him instantly!”. I leave next Tuesday with Dely’s sister Digna to get Dely’s ashes and effects at Tokyo. Then onto her family in the Philippines on Friday. I will return with her sister and her husband on the 23rd and bring back some of ashes here as she had wanted.
I wish you all continued good health. I have learned the hard way how important this is for all of us.

Thanks to:
Albuquerque Academy for opening the Medicine Wheel area (photo) from Nov. 4 to 7 for allowing the community to grieve and for hosting the gathering on Nov. 8.
Kyoko Sonoda, a family friend who worked at the NM Asian Family Center, for taking care of Dely in Japan where Kyoko now resides.
NM Asian Family Center for co-sponsoring the event on Nov. 8 at the Medicine Wheel at the Albuquerque Academy.
Myrna Samson and Fr. Joel Bugas of the Filipino American Ministry for hosting the 9-day Novenas (Nov. 7-15) at Myrna’s Place.
Kristelle Siarza for writing about Dely (first article above) and for coordinating the communications.
Sheila Jojola and Myrna Samson for coordinating the Memorial service and reception and all those who brought food.
Isleta Pueblo and St. Augustine Catholic Church for the Mass and Memorial service.
Filipino American Foundation of NM (with Dr. Christopher Gonzaga of Gallup) for honoring Dely at the annual Christmas Party (Dec. 7, 2019) by recognizing her legacy.
Filipino American National Historical Society Rio Grande and the Filipino American Community Council (two organizations Dely founded) for putting together this page (and all the video links).
Thank you to all who came to the events.
Dr. Dely Alcantara, 2006 Dely with Dr. Ted Jojola at 2018 Santacruzan

Oct 12, 2019 – with staff of her MAJICAL School in Tarlac. Dely with Ted, strolling in Tarlac, Philippines a month before she passed away. Pearl King, Dr. Ted Jojola & Dr. Dely Alcantara with Manoa Youth runners up, Gabriela & Angelica Velez and awardee, Bianca White (2015)
With FAFNM Members at Halle Manoa With State Auditor Brian Colon With Kulintang group from CA and friends
More about Dely:
Dely founded or/and pioneered the following:
- Founded the Filipino American National Historical Society Rio Grande the 20th Chapter of FANHS, 1998 in which she introduced the
- Pamana Awards (for adults), 2000.
- Manoa Youth Awards, 2000 (co-sponsored by Manoa Foundation) named after their late son, Manoa Alcantara Jojola.
- Visit: 2019 Pamana Award and Past Pamana Awards.
- Founded the NM Asian Family Center, 2006.
- Pioneered the Filipino American Foundation of NM, 2004 (former Filipino American Association of NM).
- Founded the Filipino American Community Council, 2012.
- Founded with Dr. Ted Jojola the Manoa Foundation.
- Manoa Endowment for Cultural Diversity at the Albuquerque Academy, Manoa’s alma mater, New Mexico, USA.
- A Medicine Wheel was built in Albuquerque Academy in honor of Manoa. See video clip: Medicine Wheel in honor of Manoa.
- Manoa Teen Apprentice and Ensemble Performance (summer program) with Tricklock Theater Co., New Mexico, USA.
- Halle Manoa, a building which was used by NM Asian Family Center and Filipino American meetings.
- Founded with Dr. Ted Jojola MAJIC Learning Montessori School in Moncada, Tarlac, Philippines, Dely’s birthplace. MAJIC stands for Manoa Alcantara Jojola International Center. Click on: MAJICAL
Awards (See some articles or video clips)
Dely received a lot of accolades we could not keep track of. Among them were:
-Frank Miranda Most Prestigious Human Rights Award, 2001
-Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women by Commission on the Status of Women, 2004.
-Dolores Huerta Award, 2018 (During Cesar Chavez Day). View Dely on YouTube accepting the Dolores Huerta Award.
President of Organizations
Among the many organizations she led were:
-Asian American Association of New Mexico
-Bataan Corregidor Memorial Foundation of NM
-Filipino American Community Council
-Filipino American Foundation of NM
-Filipino American National Historical Society Rio Grande (She also served as Trustee for the National FANHS.)
-Heritage Council
READ article from the book published by FANHS RG, 2014:
Read: Dely (first article after she passed away): UNM ARTICLE ABOUT DELY.
Compiled by Tessie Greenfield (FANHS RG with help from FACC) for this website.
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