Nonetheless, her social life was active. She sang in the Filipino choir at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and she was involved in numerous Washington-based Filipino community organizations, particularly the Migrant Heritage Commission, which provides legal advice, health care and cultural activities.
A short, slightly chubby woman with wavy dark hair, Apao loved a good party. For her birthday in August, she played hostess to dozens of people and had a roasted pig brought in from New York.
She also loved fashion. She became fast friends last summer with Jennifer Hong, a jewelry saleswoman she met on a bus (Apao didn't have an American driver's license), and with Hong's friend Michele Blanchard, a dress designer.
FOR THE RECORD - A photo caption accompanying an article in Sunday's editions about the suicides of two Filipino teachers misidentified the source of the photo. All photos of Irenea Apao were taken by Manny Lopez.
The Sun regrets the error.
She talked about going into business with them, but she told them she was having financial difficulties, and the plans never materialized.
At the time of her death, she had in her possession several of Blanchard's mannequins and clothes, which she was trying to sell for a commission.
`I am alone here'
At a party in December 2006, Apao hit it off with a pizza deliveryman, a native of India who spoke limited English. They dated for two months, at which point Apao tried to break off the relationship, she wrote in court documents.
Last April, she filed papers in Baltimore District Court seeking a peace order against the man, who she claimed had sexually assaulted her and threatened to kill her. She appeared in court five times, before several different judges. Tape recordings of the proceedings do not indicate that any of them asked her about her assault allegation.
In the courtroom on May 11, Apao broke down in tears after learning that the hearing was being postponed for the third time. She said she could not continue to miss school to come to court.
"Look at my eyes," she can be heard telling the judge in the recording. "I'm not sleeping well because I'm scared. I am alone here. I don't have any family."
Later that month, she finally obtained the order, effective for six months. It was due to expire 10 days after she was found dead.
In June, she found a new companion in Manny Lopez, 44, a Filipino engineer raised in Guam who was the official photographer at the Migrant Heritage Commission's annual ball. Lopez, who lives in Prince George's County, said they met when Apao - wearing an elegant maroon gown - asked him to take her picture with her friends.
