In Loving Memory of FBANC Founder Judge Betty Oducayen Buccat (1949-2022)
October 14, 2022
The Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC) honors the life of FBANC Founder and Retired Administrative Law Judge Betty Oducayen Buccat, who passed away on October 4, 2022, at her home in Vallejo, California. Judge Buccat lived a fulfilling 73 years and leaves behind a lasting legacy. Judge Buccat will be dearly missed by those whose lives she touched, including countless members of the FBANC community.
Judge Buccat was born on August 21, 1949 in Davao City, Philippines to parents Pedro and Soledad Oducayen. Her family immigrated to Honolulu, Hawaii, when she was five years old. Judge Buccat graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Sociology in 1972. In 1975, Judge Buccat graduated with a J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles and was admitted to the California Bar in 1976. Later that same year, she married her college sweetheart, Edwin Buccat at St. Jarlath Church in Oakland. They were married for 24 years before Edwin’s untimely passing in 2000. Judge Buccat and Edwin are survived by their daughter, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Melanie Buccat Woo, son Adam Buccat, daughter Natalie Buccat, son-in-law Bryan Woo, daughter-in-law Juanita Buccat, and grandchildren Owen Woo, Devin Woo and Jordyn Buccat.
Upon graduating from law school, Judge Buccat worked with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB), first as a Graduate Legal Assistant and later as Staff Counsel. While working with the ALRB, Judge Buccat was assigned to handle cases in Fresno and Delano where many farm workers were Filipino. She worked to protect farm workers’ rights by prosecuting growers in California who engaged in unfair labor practices against the farm workers under the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). She eventually moved to the California Department of Social Services, Legal Department as Staff Counsel and then the California Department of Social Services, State Hearing Division as an Administrative Law Judge until she retired after 29 years of service. While there, she presided over hearings for various state agencies in connection with a variety of state and federal public assistance programs such as CalWORKs, Food Stamps (CalFresh), California Medical Assistance Program (Medi-Cal), Adoption Assistance Program, Foster Care Program and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). Judge Buccat dedicated her career to ensuring that all parties who appeared before her were treated with respect; her mission was always to dispense justice.
As an Asian-American, and more specifically as a Filipino-American woman, underrepresented in the legal profession, she understood all too well the racial and gender inequalities existing in our society and worked to change them. In furtherance of her commitment to promote representation in the legal community, she and a handful of trailblazing Filipino-American lawyers in the Bay Area established FBANC in 1980.
In 2012, Judge Buccat was recognized by the Filipina Women’s Network as one of the year’s “100 Most Influential Filipino Women in the United States” (U.S. FWN100). During the last nine years, Judge Buccat sat on the Board of Directors of Autism Hearts Foundation. Her expertise in state and federal public assistance programs made her an invaluable resource for individuals and families with Autism Spectrum Disorders seeking such assistance. In October 2021, Judge Buccat and Autism Hearts Foundation were nationally recognized and awarded The Outstanding Filipino In America (TOFA) Award at New York’s Carnegie Hall. From her career to her community service, Judge Buccat has made an everlasting impact on so many lives and her legacy will live on.
Judge Buccat was a woman of determination, perseverance, and personal strength. In addition to being an accomplished jurist, she was also an amazing cook. She was infamous for her Teriyaki, Paella, Sukiyaki and Shrimp and Lobster Sauce that she enjoyed preparing for her loved ones. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing karaoke with friends and family. She also enjoyed traveling and visited many places, including Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong, Italy, France, England and Australia. Her favorite vacation destination was her childhood home of Hawaii that she would often visit with her beloved family.
Her best friends were her three sisters, Retired Administrative Law Judge and first FBANC President Eleanor Nisperos, Greta Ongkeko and Jessie Peluso. In addition to her children, grandchildren and sisters, Judge Buccat is survived by brothers Dante and Ray Oducayen, brothers-in-law, Attorney Mike Nisperos, Judge Ralph Ongkeko, and Nick Peluso, sisters-in-law Lori and Jennifer, nieces Administrative Law Judge Marlo Nisperos, Attorney Alina Ongkeko, and Erika Higgins, and nephews Attorney Michael Nisperos, Christopher Peluso, Mark Ongkeko, Austin Oducayen, Thomas Oducayen, and Andrew Oducayen. Judge Buccat’s light, her love and memory will live on through her children, grandchildren and family.
A celebration of Judge Buccat’s life will take place on October 29, 2022. Her family and friends will gather to remember her accomplishments and honor her contributions to the people and communities she touched throughout her life.
For more information, please contact FBANC President Raymond Rollan at raymondrollan@fbanc.org.
