Mike Castillano; He Fed Both Ivar And Seattle's Filipino Community

Sometimes, when the Castillano family would stop at a restaurant while traveling, old Mike Castillano would disappear.

They always knew where to find him.

"Every time, there he'd be - in the kitchen, introducing himself," said his son-in-law, Fred Cordova.

The anecdote captures the gregarious spirit of Mike Castillano, who died last Sunday (April 5) at the age of 85. The story hints also at his sheer love of cooking.

Mr. Castillano worked for more than 40 years as a cook at Ivar's, starting at the fish bar on the Seattle waterfront and eventually training dozens of Ivar's cooks.

For a time in the 1940s, it was pretty much just him and Ivar Haglund rustling up the fish and chips. The two men were close. Mr. Castillano brought Haglund home-cooked food as the fish-and-chip baron lived his last days in a hospital bed.

The man known as "Papa Mike" was born Miguel Bello Castillano on Sept. 22, 1906, in Bauang, La Union, Philippines.

He came to the United States in 1926 for reasons that would seem quaint if one forgets that they amounted to life and death for generations of immigrant Americans: He wanted work and a future for the children he would someday father.

He worked in sawmills in Grays Harbor County before making his way to Seattle. He chauffeured for a Mount Baker family and ended up traveling around the United States.

Even when he took the job with Haglund, Mr. Castillano worked as a chef at many other kitchens: at Seattle University, the Rainier Club, the Hungerford Hotel, the Town and Country Club and the Sorrento Hotel.

Two jobs - always.

"That's how he put us all through parochial grade schools and high schools," said his son, Michael Castillano.

Among his children, Mr. Castillano was able to count a college professor, a university administrator, a City Light manager, a Boeing Co. marketing executive, a historical-society director, a graphic artist. . . . the list goes on.

"To him, the thing was: Improve yourself, all the time," said his son, Michael.

Mr. Castillano and his mate, Bibiana, married in 1936. At the time, Bibiana was a new widow. Her husband had been murdered, said Michael Castillano. She also had four children and was pregnant with a fifth. The couple had four more children together.

"He took all the kids on and there was never any difference between this set and that set, or these grandchildren and those," Cordova said.

Mr. Castillano never could be described as a visible leader in the local Filipino community, but he was usually involved. He and other men started a Knights of Columbus chapter when that Roman Catholic organization excluded them because of their race. He also enjoyed his membership in the Bauangenian Club, whose members are from his hometown in the Philippines.

Usually, Mr. Castillano's contribution came through his professional skills. He'd handle the food.

"Weddings, baptisms, funerals - in our community with many large Filipino families, these are tremendous events," Cordova said. "And especially if you needed a good baron of beef, a good roast, Dad was the one who would carve."

Besides his widow, Bibiana, son Michael Castillano, Mr. Castillano's survivors include sons Val Laigo, Gerald Laigo, Edward Laigo and Ben Laigo, all of Seattle; four daughters, Dorothy Laigo Cordova, Marya Castillano-Bergstrom, Jeannette Castillano Tiffany and Frances Castillano, all of Seattle; a brother, Fred Castillano of Stockton, Calif., and 34 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

A vigil service for Mr. Castillano was scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 820 18th Ave.

A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Memorials are suggested to the Immaculate Conception Restoration Fund, or to the Mike B. Castillano Memorial Fund, payable to the Seattle Central Community College Foundation to benefit students in the hospitality culinary arts program.