[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 134 (Thursday, August 20, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING ESTRELLITA ``LITA'' REAL BUSTRIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JUAN VARGAS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, August 20, 2026

  Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Estrellita ``Lita'' 
Real Bustria as our Constituent of the Month for her outstanding 
volunteer work with the City of San Diego Bay Terraces Community & 
Senior Center.
  Lita is an exceptional volunteer at the center, where she supports 
meal distribution for seniors, helps with information fairs, assists 
with the crafts booths, and hosts line dancing activities. As the 
President of the Bay Terraces Fil-Am Senior Association, she leads an 
organization of more than 400 members and ardently hosts weekly line 
dancing classes.
  Even before the center was built in 2021, Lita was dancing with 
community members outdoors at the Bay Terraces Community Park. Now, she 
leads, teaches, and choreographs line dancing classes, both for 
recreation and special performance events around the community.
  Lita first came to the United States in 1970 to join her late 
grandfather in San Francisco. Her childhood sweetheart John Bustria, 
Jr., joined the U.S. Navy and immigrated to the United States, where 
Lita and John married in 1972. They left their hometown of Dasol, 
Pangasinan, Philippines, to make a life in America. They lived in 
Virginia, Washington, Florida, and finally settled in San Diego, where 
they raised their son and daughter.
  While John served in the military and Lita worked as a government 
contractor, they picked up ballroom dancing skills, and learned tango, 
cha cha, swing, bachata and more. They attended ballroom dance classes 
at Southwestern College, but also had friends teach them more dance 
techniques in their own home. Lita has been dancing routinely with 
community members at Bay Terraces Community Park for more than two 
decades.
  Today, Lita continues to bring seniors together to stay active and 
healthy. She volunteers with grace and passion, and I am honored to 
recognize her.

                          ____________________