HONORING ESTRELLITA "LITA" REAL BUSTRIA

On 2026-08-20, Representative Juan Vargas (D-CA-52) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING ESTRELLITA "LITA" REAL BUSTRIA" in the House.

HONORING ESTRELLITA "LITA" REAL BUSTRIA

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 134 (Thursday, August 20, 2026) [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. ____________________