5. GUERILLA OPERATIONS IN MT. ARAYAT

Mt. Arayat facing Magalang, 1938

When Japanese forces invaded the Philippines, resistance movements are already established to resist the new occupiers through guerilla warfare. In Pampanga, various guerilla groups, particularly Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon, known as Hukbalahap and the all Chinese Philippine Chinese Anti- Japanese Guerilla Forces known as Wa Chi took their respective sanctuary in majestic Mt. Arayat because of its defense and strategic importance. The Japanese made numerous to overran their camps however they failed. One of these encounters happened in Camansi in Mt. Arayat. Hukbalahap commander Eusebio Aquino, fondly known as Commander Bio and amazona Remedios Gomez known as Commander Liwayway, led Squadron 3-V and they nearly defeated the attacking Japanese soldiers. Aside from being a battlefield, Mt. Arayat also served as a route for American soldiers to escape from Death March, particularly Capt. Russel Volckmann and Capt. Donald Blackburn. They were taken care by Eusebio Aquino in Camansi until they continued their journey to northern Luzon and there, they established the largest guerilla force in northern Luzon known as United States Army in the Philippines- Northern Luzon known as USAFIP-NL. This guerilla group was responsible for the capture of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita in 1945. 

Before the Americans liberated Luzon, a series of encounters between Hukbalahap, Wa Chi and Japanese forces happened in Mt. Arayat and its environs. On March 5, 1943, Japanese soldiers from Cabiao, Nueva Ecija attacked the Wa Chi camp in Mt. Arayat. Japanese warplanes and artillery shelling initially pounded them and they escaped to northwestern part of the forest. Since then, the Japanese soldiers have attacked different guerilla positions inside the mountain. On September 6, 1944, around 2,000 men of combined Hukbalahap and Wa Chi squadrons attacked the Japanese camp in Mt. Arayat. They managed to capture the camp while the Japanese retreated. In this all-out offensive of Hukbalahap and Wa Chi, they killed and wounded more than 300 Japanese soldiers and captured 140 Japanese-sponsored Philippine Constabulary troops. 

When the Americans came to liberate Luzon, these guerilla groups came and welcomed American liberators. When the Japanese encircle the advance units of 148th Infantry, Sixth Army in barrio Sta Maria in Magalang, squadrons of Wa Chi came to aid the Americans. They were able to kill 40 Japanese soldiers. On January 25, 1945 when Magalang was on the verge of liberation, Hukbalahap conferred with American forces and attacked the town center around 11:00pm. In this short fight, Hukbalahap managed to kill 40 Japanese soldiers and one of them was a captain. On the following day, Americans entered the town. 

After the war, the US Army recognized Wa Chi as a guerilla unit, while Hukbalahap wasn't recognized due to accusations of being a Communist group. Huks continued their armed struggle until they were totally defeated in the 1950s. More than twenty years later, they were finally recognized by the Philippine government as a resistance group during the Japanese occupation. 

Photo Credits: 

Mt. Arayat, Pampanga, Luzon, P.I., 1938, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Sources: 

Bartolo, Louie Aldrin L. and Dizon, Lino L., The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015), National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2016 

Lanzona, Vina A. Amazons of the Huk Rebellion, Gender, Sex and Revolution in the Philippines, University of Wisconsin Press, 2009

Phil Chinese Anti Japanese Vol Corps guerilla recognition papers, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO)

The Liberation of Magalang 

amlatmagaleno.blogspot.com/2017/01/24the-liberation-of-magalang.html

4. EXCERPTS OF 1918 SPANISH INFLUENZA PANDEMIC IN THE PHILIPPINES (PART 1)

 

At this moment, we are experiencing the effects of COVID-19 in our everyday lives. We are hoping that someday, that there will be cure or vaccine that will help us to stamp out and overcome this dreaded virus.

However in 1918, there is a pandemic that struck the whole world. This so called Spanish Influenza pandemic claimed millions of lives around the world including in the Philippines. The origins of this dreaded virus is still unknown. However, in 1918 the virus was already observed in some countries in America, Europe and Asia before spreading to almost every part of the planet within a matter of months.

In the Philippines, the virus initially appeared between the middle of April and first week of May, 1918. It was believed that the virus was brought by the movements of boats in main Philippine ports. It was acquired through repeated and rapid passage of individuals in a year when the volume of traffic and business of the whole country brought about continuous coming and going of people from one point to another.

The first wave was occurred in May, June in the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Tayabas (now Quezon Province), Pampanga and Nueva Ecija characterized by slight mortality; the second wave was occurred in late September, the whole October, November and December, leaving no locality, town or hamlet unscathed, no matter how far or isolated. The wave attended with high mortality percentage through respiratory, cardiac and renal complications.

The virus showed a preference for the age groups between 10 and 29 years and amongst these groups of patients where the greatest degree of mortality was encountered. The measures taken against the pandemic are the implementation of personal and collective prophylaxis (health protocols) and treatment of the sick at their homes and hospitals. However, many of the medical personnel became also sick and the insufficiency of doctors and nurses was acutely felt. Schools and places of amusement were also closed in certain provinces.

The district health officer of Tayabas shared his experiences towards the pandemic in his province. According to him, the first cases were hospitalized and placed under the direct supervision of the health service. The diffusion of the pandemic was so rapid and astonishing than in less than one week. The results obtained failed to meet the expectations of the measure taken; isolation of the sick whenever possible; disinfection of infected premises, contacts and sputum of the sick, hospitalization, popular lectures, and direct instruction to the people to escape infection and distribution of pamphlets written in Spanish and local language.

To contain the spread of the virus, the public school teachers were tapped and voluntarily distributed medicines, nursed the stricken and gave wholesome information to the people regarding to the virus. A heroic feature of the pandemic was the highly commendable nature of the services rendered by the teachers who stayed in barrios which they are assigned and worked day and night. The schools at those times are closed for four weeks and it will require strenuous efforts on the part of the pupils and of the teachers to make up the time lost.

All known and approved sanitary measures failed to check the spread of the virus, which finally died out when fresh cases were no longer available in the following years.

Photo Credits:

marketwatch.com

Sources:

Nineteenth Annual Report of the Director of Education January 1, 1918 to December 31, 1918, Bureau of Printing, Manila, Philippine Islands, 1919.

Report of the Philippine Health Service for the Fiscal Year from January 1 to December 31, 1918, Bureau of Printing, Manila, Philippine Islands, 1919.

3. ASIATIC CHOLERA OUTBREAK OF 1902 AND COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE PHILIPPINES

 

In the beginning of this year, one of the dreaded virus spread not only in China, but also in neighboring countries including the Philippines. Coronavirus or so called COVID-19, claimed hundreds of lives around the globe. As of today, there are 187 cases are recorded in the Philippines, 14 of them died. Precautionary measures by different countries were implemented to eradicate this dreaded virus. The Philippines was placed under State of Public Health Emergency; OFWs and travelers who traveled from Coronavirus stricken countries are required to undergo quarantine. Workers, employees and even students are advised to stay at homes to prevent further contacts with persons carrying this virus. Schools from all levels are suspended indefinitely, government offices and some of the businesses were indefinitely closed. Transportation by air and land was partially crippled due to lack of passengers because of scare.

Way back 1902, there is an epidemic occurred in the Philippines. This so called Asiatic Cholera outbreak is one of the epidemics that claimed many lives. How this Asiatic Cholera outbreak occurred in our country? In those times, the Philippines was heavily dependent on the importation of fresh vegetables from Canton, China. A strain of Asiatic Cholera spread throughout Canton and five days later, it reached Hong Kong. The Chief Quarantine Officer of then Philippine Islands ordered the total ban on importation of vegetables from Canton. However, the disease managed to slip into the islands. On March 20, 1902, a report was received by the secretary of Board of Health (precursor of Department of Health) from San Juan de Dios Hospital in Manila. And it was stated, that there are two patients are showing symptoms of Asiatic Cholera. The series of tests done by the Government Laboratories confirmed that the two patients are suffering Asiatic Cholera. On the following days many cases were reported; thus the outbreak started.

Health officials deployed quarantine guards around the entrance and exit points of Manila to prevent the persons contacted with disease to leave Manila. Water patrols are activated and all vessels leaving Manila required to undergo quarantine for five days in Mariveles, Bataan. If the disease was detected on the board, a longer quarantine period was imposed. Sanitary cordons were established in the limits of the Manila and other towns, and no one can leave Manila without a pass except for the health officers. Thorough cleaning of houses and streets was ordered, the use of raw fruits and vegetables are banned, and a corps of sanitary inspectors was organized to see that these orders were complied properly. Major General Adna R. Chaffee, Military Governor of the Philippine Islands issued General Order No. 66 in regards to the precautionary measures to contain the spread the disease in the provinces. The order stated that the medical officers assigned on their respective stations are hereby members of the board of health. The board of health were charged to ensure the sanitation of every municipalities by monitoring the water supply, non contamination of food, removal of fecal matter and garbage with burial at a distance from the towns. Isolation camps shall be established in every towns where the victims were isolated until they will recover or die. If the victim died, his body will be burned or buried in the quicklime. If the victim’s house was made up of nipa, it will be burned and if it was made up of wood, it will carefully disinfect. In the towns with number of cholera cases, their drinking water must be boiled and the selling of raw vegetables will be prohibited.

Quarantine of the victims is the most effective way to stamp out the disease. However, many persons for one reason or another, denied that the disease was cholera. And even absurd stories were circulated and gained credence among the lower class, thus making the task of the health authorities more difficult. The spread of this disease in the provinces was caused by disobedience and lack of discipline, especially from the boatmen escaping from the strict guard of the quarantine guards during evening; and others who slipped away from the quarantine guards by way of escaping through the rice paddies. In addition, many persons are ought to have known better were reluctant to admit its true nature, and probably the deaths of thousands of its victims have been ascribed to other causes. Many municipalities have no sanitary organization in those times; and even no sanitary records were kept. In many instances, cases were hidden and burial permits for the dead obtained upon false returns with reference of cause of their death, so that their families and friends might evade the annoyance and inconvenience of quarantining and disinfection.

In Pampanga, the disease was initially reached the town of San Simon in April 6, 1902. It was spread to the towns of San Miguel (now Masantol) on April 10, Macabebe on April 12, Sexmoan on April 15 and later, it spread throughout the province. On the middle of July, the spread of the disease started to subside. Only in the towns of Bacolor, Betis, San Fernando and Arayat where the disease is still existed. In the town of Candaba, it registered with 403 cases, 186 of them died. The town of San Miguel has the highest cases and deaths ever recorded, it reached to 349 casulaties. To further eradicate the disease, some of the Augustinian friars formerly stationed in former parishes volunteered to return. Fr. Galo Ma. de la Calle, OSA returned in Lubao to assist and nurse the victims of the disease. However, the beloved friar itself contacted the disease and died in the same year. Fr. Fernando Garcia, OSA returned to his former parish in Macabebe to show once more in such a sorrowful occasion his charity and zeal for the salvation of the souls of those who were his beloved subjects. The disease was totally disappeared in the province in September, 1902.

Throughout the outbreak years, the Philippines recorded 166,252 cases and 109,461 of them died. On April 27, 1904, the Board of Health officially declared the Philippines free from Asiatic Cholera. While its disastrous effects will be felt for many years to come, it is not without its valuable lessons, from which it is hoped that much has been learned.

Photo Credits:

gutenberg.org

Sources:

Annual Report of the Commissioner of Public Health, Covering the Period from September 1, 1903 to August 31, 1904; (1905) Bureau of Public Printing, Manila, P.I.

Flores Para Los Frailes: The Augustinians in the Philippines; Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City, Pampanga.

2. AQUINOS AND GILS: HOW THEY ARE RELATED?

We know from the very start that the Aquinos of Concepcion, Tarlac and Gils of Porac, Pampanga are one of the prestigious and powerful families in Pampanga. Both of this families owned large tracts of land and engaged in lucrative sugar industry. Aquinos owned several haciendas in Concepcion, Tarlac and formerly in barrio San Roque in Magalang, Pampanga. While the Gils owned the large Hacienda Pio in Porac, Pampanga and others in Floridablanca, Pampanga. Aquinos engaged in local and national; and they had Ninoy, a staunchest critic of late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos and his son, Noynoy who served as the 16th president of the Philippines. And even in movie industry also, the Aquinos had Kris Aquino and the Gils had Rosemarie Gil and her children, Mark, Michael and Cherie and even several of her grandchildren.

However, how Aquinos and Gils are related? In past genealogical researches regarding to the Aquinos and Gils, the researchers reached their dead end on their ancestors of both sides. According to Marco D. Nepomuceno, family historian of Nepomuceno and Henson families of Angeles, the Aquinos traced their ancestry to the couple, Don Dionisio Aguilar Hipolito and Doña Petrona Henson of Angeles. Doña Petrona is the daughter of Don Mariano Paras Henson and Doña Juana Ildefonsa de Miranda of Culiat (old name of Angeles). Doña Juana is the only daughter of Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda, founder of Angeles and Doña Rosalia de Jesus. However, according to some researches, the husband of Doña Petrona Henson-Aguilar’s roots and family are still unknown.

And even for the Gils of Porac, the roots of their ancestor, Doña Carlota Aguilar is still unknown. According to some sources, Doña Carlota married Don Rafael Ocampo Gil, the only son of Señor Don Felino Talens Gil and Doña Francisca Javier Ocampo. Other children of Don Felino are Luisa married Vicente Toledo; Dolores married Roberto Toledo; Rosa married Carlos Molina Nalda; and Vicenta. Don Felino was a Spanish military officer assigned in Porac. One of his tasks was to supervise the logging industry and secure the friar missions. Due to his exemplary service, he was awarded vast tracts of land which he converted into rich sugar and rice lands. He also founded Escuela de Artes y Officios de Bacolor, (present day Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University) the oldest trade school in Far East together with the Filipino secular priest of Lubao, Fr. Juan Zita. Up to this day, no one can identify the roots of Doña Carlota.

Recently, with the help of Familysearch.org a website run by The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, i found some precious documents in form of notarios and testamentos that will trace the ancestors of both Aquinos and Gils. According to a notarial record signed by the Aguilars in June 7, 1894, a couple named Don Anselmo Aguilar Hipolito and Doña Maria Dimaliuat had eleven children; Benito, a former cabeza de barangay of undivided Magalang married Hermenegilda Zablan; Jacinto married Fausta Cabigting; Mariano married Severa Jimenez; Maria, a single mother; Dionisio married Petrona Henson and later he married Petrona Avillar of Gerona,Tarlac; Eugenia, a single mother; Vicente married Victoria Dizon; Antonio married Catalina Paras; Engracia married Eugenio Medina of Arayat; Josefa married Fructuoso Vergara of Apalit, Pampanga and Hilarion.

The couple according to the will of Doña Maria Aguilar Hipolito signed in February 19, 1868, they are identified as mestisos de sangley, and they are from Santa Ana, Pampanga. The couple had several lands in Concepcion which later sold to Guillermo Baron and in barrio Buensuceso in Arayat measuring seventy one hectares mortgaged to Don Tomas David of Magalang in 1894.

The couple’s son Dionisio married Petrona Henson of Angeles in then makeshift church of Angeles around 1852. The couple had three children, Maria Petrona, Policarpio and Paula. Maria Petrona married Don Braulio Laxamana Aquino of Magalang in February 4, 1873 in Angeles. The couple had six children. One of them is Servillano, a farmer and revolutionary general married three times, first to Guadalupe Quiambao and their son, Benigno Aquino, Sr. is the father of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. After Guadalupe died, he married Petronila Quiambao. In his old age, he married Belen Sanchez and they had son, Herminio, a former congressman of Tarlac. Servillano’s sister Brigida married Andres Limcolioc Ganzon of Magalang, and their great grandson, Edgardo D. Pamintuan is the incumbent mayor of Angeles. Another great grandson is Conrado Titus del Rosario, a known musician. Another daughter Maria married half brother of Andres; Alfredo Gonzales Ganzon, municipal president of Magalang in 1916. Their grandson, Carlito Ganzon was a former city councilor of Angeles.

Dionisio’s sister Maria was a single mother. She had two natural children whom their father is unknown. Her children are Carlota and Felino. According to her will, Carlota married Don Rafael Gil of Porac, Pampanga; while his son Felino pursued studies in Spain. Rafael and Carlota settled in Hacienda Pio in Porac and they had three children, Pilar married Manuel Bonilla Murciano; Maria and Felino who also resided in Spain. A certain Carlos Gil, Sr. probably son or grandson of the couple married Isabel Herreros and they are childless. Later, they adopted Carlos Worrel, Isabel's nephew and they renamed him as Carlos Gil, Jr. fondly known as Carlitos. Later, Carlitos married Maria Dolores Castellvi and their daughter Rosemarie Gil married Eddie Mesa (Eddie Eigenmann in real life) and their children Michael, Mark and Cherie are also seasoned actors and actresses as well.

Today, the descendants of Don Anselmo and Doña Maria spread in other towns in Pampanga. Some of their children intermarried with Cabigtings and Medinas of Arayat, Lapuzes, Oretas and Noveras of Candaba and Vergaras of Apalit. Some of them permanently settled in Santa Ana, Angeles, Arayat, Candaba, Magalang in Pampanga and in Gerona and Concepcion, Tarlac. Their surnames nowadays still uses Aguilar, while the descendants of Benito, first child of the couple prefer to use Hipolito instead of Aguilar. They are permanently settled in barrio Santa Rita in Concepcion, Tarlac and formerly in barrio San Miguel in Magalang.

Photo Credits:

Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.: mb.com.ph

Rosemarie Gil: starforallseasons.com

Sources:

Numero Ciento Sesenta y Seis: Remincia a la recompre de una finca rustica por $5.700 otorgada por Don Dionisio Aguilar, Doña Maria Aguilar de Dizon, Don Antonio Aguilar, Doña Engracia Aguilar de Medina, Doña Josefa Aguilar de Medina, Don Silvestre Aguilar, Don Catalino Aguilar, Don Agustin Lapuz, Doña Eusebia Aguilar de Lapus y Don Pedro Aguilar a favor de Don Tomas David y Pineda; signed June 7, 1894.

Numero Ventinueve: Testamento de Doña Maria Aguilar Hipolito: signed February 19, 1868.

Juzgado de la Alcadia Mayor de la Pampanga: Autos de testamentaria del finado Sr. Don Felino Gil y Talens, donde obrar los inventarios del caudal. promovidos por el albacea testamentario Don Rafael Gil, piduendo la aprobacion judicial de dicho inventario, previa la enfrimidad de sus coherederos; signed January 1, 1884.

Virtual interview with Manny Coronel Jose, a descendant of Don Felino Gil y Talens.

Note: All of these documentary sources are culled through familysearch.org of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints

 

1. BLOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CECILE LICAD AND GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO AND THEIR BARTOLO ROOTS

Before i wrote and launched my first book, The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015). My first love in terms of historical research is the genealogical research. When i was high school and education student of Holy Angel University, i am already conducting researches regarding to my ancestry especially to my Bartolo side. My research was start out of my curiosity, my father and his siblings didn’t familiar to their Bartolo roots in Lubao, Pampanga. They only know their grandfather, Felix Bonifacio Bartolo (1898-1942) of Pasbul, Sta. Barbara, Lubao, Pampanga married a Magaleña, Virginia Tayag Manalili (1908-1970) of La Paz, Magalang, Pampanga on May 4, 1925. Felix is older brother of Cornelia Bartolo Atengco, (1900-1979) mother of Gavino Atengco, owner of Bestman, a renowned haberdashery during 70s based in Quiapo, Manila. Felix’s family settled in La Paz but he was lost during World War II. My grandparents didn’t heard his fate from that time.

My first genealogical research when i was fourth year high school in Holy Angel University was very challenging. I found numerous Bartolos at that time but i didn’t know on how to connect those names. But through the help of staff of Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, i was able to connect all of my relatives into a wide family tree. I found out that great-grandfather Felix was a son of Toribio Valencia Bartolo (b. April 26, 1873) and Teresa Isip Bonifacio. Then, Toribio was the only son of Julian Miguel Bartholo (1846-1921) and Rosa Sibal Valencia of Sta. Rita, Pampanga. Julian is the firstborn of Emigdio Ycban Bartholo (1822-1882), a long time serving cabeza de barangay of Lubao and Sabina Mendoza Miguel (1822-1890). The other children of Emigdio and Sabina are, Valentina, Eduardo, Agaton, Pedro, Maria and Mariano. Then, Emigdio is the son of Josef Malit Bartholo (1782-1851) and Bernarda Paule Ycban. Josef is the son of Nicolas Macaspac Bartholo (1745-1809) and Angela Flores Malit.

Interestingly, Josef has an older sister, Gregoria Malit Bartholo (1776-1838) married Jose Pingul Linggad (1777-1833) on September 10, 1807 in Lubao, Pampanga. The couple has two children: Bernabe and Maria Concepcion Linggad. Bernabe married Cayetana Lalic Lugtu on July 7, 1823 and they had three children, Julia, Carlota and Crispulo Linggad. Maria Concepcion (1812-1888) married Roman Tolentino Miguel (1815-1867) on July 1, 1832. The couple has ten children, Celestina, Julian, Genoveva, Eulalia, Manuela, Nicolas, Blas, Jacinto, Ciriaco and Vicente. With their ten children, only Celestina (1833-1903), Julian (1836-?) and Genoveva (1838-1913) survived until adulthood. Later years, all of their three children got married, Celestina married Eduardo Dampil Macaspac on February 6, 1854, Julian married Cornelia Sibal Valencia (1834-1910), sister of my great great great grandmother, Rosa Valencia de Bartolo, on July 1, 1856 and Genoveva married Pascual Morales Pangan (1836-1909) on May 1, 1856. The families of Celestina and Julian chose to settle in Lubao while the family of Genoveva migrated to the vast frontier in barrio Gutad in Floridablanca.

Celestina and Eduardo has large tract of rice land located in the present barrio of Sta Maria, Lubao. Eduardo was also served as teniente del barrio of Sta Maria and later, as cabeza de barangay. The couple had ten children, Hilaria, Pablo, Apolonia, Narcisa, Domingo, Josefa, Teodora, Basilia, Atanacio and Tecla. Their two sons, Pablo and Atanacio also served as cabezas de barangays as well. Teodora (1870-1914) married Feliciano Beltran Vitug, son of Celedonio Miguel Vitug, a gobernadorcillo of Lubao and Eusebia Macaspac Beltran. The couple had eleven children, Maxima, Benita, Placido, Maria, Pia, Agapito, Cirilo, Benedicto, Severino, Fabian and Isabelo. The couple had also an adopted Aeta, Paciencia. Only Maxima, Maria and Benedicto survived until adulthood. When they reached on marriage years, Maxima married a Chinese mestiso, Lorenzo Paule Limsingian and they had daughter, Dominga (1922-2017) married Vicente Barin Dimson. Maria married Fermin Bautista Licad, a schoolteacher from Arayat, Pampanga and Benedicto married Belen Zuniga Velasco.

Fermin and Maria chose to settle in barrio Sta. Maria in Lubao. The couple had nine children, Bienvenido Gualberto, Felicisimo, Gloria Asuncion married writer and astrologer, Serafin Lanot and their daughter, Marra Lanot married to writer, Jose “Pete” Lacaba; Jesus Santiago, a doctor in profession married Rosario Buencamino of Bulacan; Jose, Maria Rosario Dolores, Africa married Norberto Alfonso, Conchita and Marita. Dr. Jesus S. Licad and his wife Rosario Buencamino had a daughter, Cecile Buencamino Licad who became a famous Filipina pianist.

Genoveva and Pascual were permanently settled in barrio Gutad, Floridablanca. And the couple had ten children; Marcela married Juan Punu de los Reyes, Atanacio married Lorenza Suing Antiberos, Enrica married Cipriano Calma Manalansan, Felipa, Modesta married Mateo Manuel Paule, Lucio, Proceso married Lutgarda Galvez Mallari, Crisanta married Melecio Chundiam Vitug, Gabino married Maria Sundiam Dizon and later, Cornelia Lampa Vitug and Martin married Gabriela Calma Manalansan. Genoveva’s two sons Atanacio and Martin served also as cabezas de barangay in Floridablanca. Atanacio and Lorenza’s fourteen children are, Eulalio, Sixta, Francisco, Paula, Romana, Isabel married Raymundo Martin Tolentino; Eusebia, Alejandro, Santiago married Eusebia Montemayor Manuel; Andrea married Francisco S. Sangalang; Enrique, Tomas and Angelo.

Atanacio’s daughter Romana (1883-1940) married Segundo Dabu Lascano of Lubao and they had two children, Silveria and Macario. Silveria got married to Juan Pangan Cabrera. After Segundo’s death, Romana married Urbano Romero Macapagal (1887-1946) on January 10, 1907 in Floridablanca. And the couple had five children, Araceli, Israel Nicolas, Diosdado, Angel and Lourdes Epifania. Diosdado, fondly called as Apung Dadong; served as 9th President of the Philippines married Purita de la Rosa, sister of actor and diplomat Rogelio de la Rosa. The couple had two children; Cielo, former vice governor of Pampanga; and Arturo (1942-2015). After Purita’s death, Apung Dadong married Evangelina Macaraeg of Pangasinan and they had two children, Gloria, former President of the Philippines and present Deputy Speaker married Jose Miguel Arroyo; and Diosdado Jr.

Lastly, the only brother of Celestina and Genoveva; Julian and his wife Cornelia bore five children: Toribia, Bartola, Mariano, Luciana and Valente. Later, the couple settled in barrio San Antonio, Lubao. From their five children, only Bartola (1859-1920) and Mariano (1860-?) survived until adulthood. Bartola married Pio Manuel de la Cruz and their children are Antonina I, Antonina II, Bartolome married Josefa Barlit Sambat; Damaso, Simeon, Francisco, Juana, Maxima, Barbara, Braulia and Fortunata married Eugenio Vitug Mallari. Mariano married Filomena de la Cruz Balatbat of Floridablanca and they bore seven children: Francisco, Dalmacio, Juan married Isabel Flores Beltran; Andres married Dorotea Lalic Pingul of Floridablanca and after Dorotea’s death, Andres married Paulina Manuel Danan; Maria Concepcion, Dimas married Isabel Singian Flores and Rufino married Joaquina Kabiling Barlit and later Maria Velasco Paras. After Filomena’s death, Mariano married Modesta Isip Bonifacio (the sister of Teresa Isip Bonifacio de Bartolo; wife of my great great grandfather, Toribio. At the same time, Toribio and Mariano are also first cousins in Valencia side); and their children are, Pablo, Jose, Florentina, Silvestre, Lucia and Quirina married Aurelio Panlilio Susi.

According to my findings, Cecile Licad and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo are both fourth cousins. Cecile’s father, Dr. Jesus Licad and Diosdado Macapagal are both third cousins. Their both mothers, Maria Vitug Licad and Romana Pangan Macapagal are both second cousins and the mother of Maria, Teodora and Romana’s father Atanacio are both first cousins. Thus their both mothers, Celestina and Genoveva are siblings! And both of them are also related to the large Bartolos of Lubao, Pampanga as well! And lastly, according to some stories of Macaspacs in barrio Sta Maria, Lubao, when Apung Dadong is studying law in University of Sto. Tomas, their great grandparents are also sending allowances to him to support his studies; aside from financial aid that was granted by his philanthropist, Don Honorio Ventura.

Thus both Cecile Licad and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo are both the greatest not only as Lubenans, but also the proud offspring of the large Bartolos of Lubao, Pampanga.

The notes of the author are based on his researches obtained from old records operated by microfiche machines of the Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints; with the assistance of their member, the late Mr. Francisco M. Pangan, a descendant of Genoveva Miguel-Pangan. Tatang Frank is the grandson of Proceso Miguel Pangan, son of Genoveva Miguel-Pangan. He is also the father of former 1993 Ford Supermodel of the Philippines, Lorena Pangan-Flores.

Photo Credits:

Cecile Licad: southfloridaclassicalreview.com

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: simple.wikipedia.org