The Pioneers

The roots of the Ordillas family can be traced to the Ilocos Provinces in Northern Luzon.

Even in the early days, Ilocanos ventured out of the limited resources of the region and sailed southward down the China Sea coast of Luzon. Landing on the Southern part of Zambales, they established trading and farming communities and founded what was later known as the New Ilocos Coast composed of San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso and San Felipe.

With a total land area of 44,004 hectares, San Marcelino was one of the biggest. These towns became the centers of population, commerce and agriculture. The fast progress of these towns may be attributed to the industry, thrift and determination of these hard-working Ilocano forbears.

Among the pioneers of the town were Don Lorenzo Corpus and Don Juan Corpus who became the first leaders as teniente absolutes and later Capitan Municipal.

One of these adventurous traders was Pablo Corpus. It is possible that Pablo was a farmer in the old town and, seeing the wide fertile plains of San Marcelino, opted to settle these unlike his companions who chose to stay in the coast and live by the sea.

Pablo brought his family to the new land. Through the years, the family multiplied and branched out becoming the dominant clan for many years. When Subic was opened as a port merchants from Manila and other places came in. New families were absorbed through inter-marriage. However, until recent years being a Corpus meant belonging to a large close-knit family. This was a big asset to members with political ambitions. Noteworthy to present here was Mayor Faustino “Tinoy” Corpus who headed the town from 1923 to 1925 and from 1941 to 1945.

Among the children of Pablo Corpus was Juliana, our grandmother whom everyone called Apong Ulit. She was also lovingly called Apong Pansit for her particularly delicious “pansit” she sold every market day. She was strong, industrious and frugal. Before market day, she would go to the river about 5 kilometers away to catch shrimps called “kuros” with her “batbateng”. These shrimps made her pansit especial. She cooked her pancit of sotanghon colored with atchuete; placed in a large clay pot which she carried on her head to market. Her pancit was always sold out and when she went home she bought their viand and had some cash in her pouch hung from her waist.

When we, grandchildren were studying and had to go to Iba for High school and to Manila later, had to drop in at their house for blessings, Apong Ulit would invariably get some coins from her pouch and put them in our hands. Now that we have our own children and grandchildren, we try to carry out this tradition.

Apong Ulit and her second husband, Alejandro Pescador lived by themselves. She was tall and erect up to her last days. Apong Candro loved to drink and we never heard of them being sick. They lived through the Japanese-American war.

The first husband of the Apong Ulit was Juan Ordillas and they had four children: Pedro, Pablo, Leona and Meliton.

• Tata Pedro married Rosenda Ladringan and pioneered in the extensive virgin lands close to the Zambales mountain ranges where he raised his family of nine (9) children.
• Tata Pablo married Fausta Artates who had one child Honorato. They had an adopted son, Delfin.
• Nana Leona got married to Eugenio Corpuz and lived at the eastern end of Beltran street. They had six (6) children - 4 boys and 2 girls. Nana Leona was small and frail and when the children were old enough to be left she would go down to her mother with her sewing basket and repairable clothes.
• Meliton, the youngest, married Angela Umipig and raised his family on a lot just across the street from his parents. Their family of six (6) children is composed of 5 girls and a boy.

This narration attempts to present the life of Meliton and Angela, our parents, and their children:

• Genoveva
• Rosario
• Aurea
• Juliana
• Sylvia
• Meliton Jr.,

... and how through the years they went through joyous as well as trying events, and how, with strong faith in God, deep family love and respect for one another, lived peacefully, contentedly with dignity.

Father

We often wondered where Father's parents got the name “Meliton”; no one ever knew anybody else with the same name. And so his name would stand out in a list. When he was in a crowd, he was a head taller than the others, tall and straight like the bamboo among a clump of trees. In his later years, his crown of white, silvery hair made him more conspicuous.

Father's height was surely commanding, more than that his name stood for the dignity of a clean and honest life, upright and independent ideals, unwavering and steadfast to principles. He did not seriously aspire to be a leader but his views on vital community issues were highly respected. His sense of nationalism was shown in his being a pillar of the Philippine Independent Church (Iglesia Filipina Independiente).

This was our much loved and loving father, the guide and inspiration of his family of all generations. More admirable and deeper facets of his personality could be gleaned from this narration.

Mother

Mother was always “Angela” , Cang Angela, Nana Angela, Apong Angela – not Elang, Aning or Geling; however on the back of old postcards, Father dedicated them to “Dear Angeling” during courtship days.

Mother was the eldest of the three sisters born to Alejandro Umipig and Catalina Niedo. The younger daughters were Victoria (Torang) and Rufina (Pinang).

Apong Candro was widowed and then married to Juana Racosas. The second nuptial had Taurina and Lauro. Apong Candro was said to be big and strong. His family name was derived from the reputation that he would “ipig” or hold the neck of his opponent between his arm and forearm. He must have been one of the earliest inhabitants of Santa Fe for he owned several parcels of wide ricelands around the barrio of Santa Fe.

At an early age, Mother and her sisters chose to live by themselves, separately from their Father and were able to acquire lands on their own. We never thought of asking or trying to learn how they did it under the existing conditions.

Mother must have been the manager or planner of their “family”, Nana Torang, or Victoria was physically strong and was the “breadwinner”. She was the farm manager, went out to fish and had a sari-sari store.During the early 20th century, college education was found only in Manila. We often wondered how Mother and Nana Pinang went through college for four years. Mother was the one of the 1st graduates of the Philippine Normal School from Zambales and became the Domestic Science teacher in San Antonio then known as the Yangco Elementary School. Nana Pinang, or Rufina, the youngest, was frail. So although she was a nurse, she was not able to continue her career due to a debilitating illness.

Santa Fe

The barrio where Mother grew up is about six hours ride from the poblacion of San Marcelino. The only transportation then was the carabao-drawn cart. To go to town, two rivers have to be crossed-Carayan Dak-kel (Big River) now known as Santo Tomas River, and Carayan Bas-sit(Small River) nearer the barrio.

Santa Fe was a rich agricultural community on a high narrow-plain along the mountain side. To reach the community, the carabao has to pull the cart up a 45% incline to the top of the ridge with an elevation of about 20 meters. Drivers almost crouch on the carabao’s back, his left hand controlling the reins lead rope while his right hand holds the carabao’s tail. To lighten the load, some passengers or riders alight and walk up the inclined road. The exit ride down was very thrilling with the driver hardly in control of the carabao’s speed.

The Small River was the life of the barrio. Along its banks were shallow wells about two feet deep which provided drinking water - clear, fresh water from an ever flowing spring. Everyday the men-folk would fetch water from these springs in big earthen jars on a sled. On early mornings women and children go down for the daily bath and laundry. The river also provide fish, shrimps, shells (birabid, leddeg, bisocol). For groceries and other needs, inhabitants go to town on market days- Wednesdays and Saturdays.

This was Mother’s early environment which we children got to see on fiestas. We especially enjoyed the cart rides, the carts of town people racing on the way, riding in the cart with the water wetting our skirts as we crossed the deeper Carayan. At dusk, we were greeted by the tweetering of flocks of birds on the coconut tree tops.

The community progressed, roads were made, and cars could travel the distance in about 30 minutes. Deep wells and pump wells were built. Young people went out for education and livelihood and the barrio expanded and progressed. There was a move to have it classified into a town before the World War broke out in 1914.

(Tragedy put a stop to the development of the community. Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, floods from the mountains and lahar buried the barrio making it on the level of the buried rivers. Residents who survived and remained have built home higher up the mountain side and are trying to regain the peaceful, comfortable life they once had.)

The Family

About the start of American occupation, Father, in his youth, worked for an American as a houseboy in Manila. There he learned to do housework, to cook meals and to speak English. He went home and attended school. He once told us, when we, his children were already teachers, that when he was only Grade 3 he was made to teach English!

Angela became a Home Economics (then called Domestic Science) teacher in San Antonio while Meliton taught in San Marcelino. Somehow the two teachers met, fell in love and decided to start an life together in 1917.

GENOVEVA, EUSEBIO and ROSARIO
On January 3, 1919, Genoveva was born. The young couple lived in Subic - Mother as Home Economics teacher and Father as Principal at the Subic Elementary School. A boy, Eusebio was still-born in 1920. Then Rosario was born on November 30, 1922.

AUREA
The third daughter, Aurea, was born on Jan. 20 1926. She was sickly as a baby and mother was advised to change the child’s name. So it was that baby Aurea was lost one morning. She was “stolen“ by a woman in the southern part of the town and had baptized the child, Marcela, in appropriate ceremonies “under the plate”. She was retrieved and hence forth would be Marcela, Cela for short, or else she would be sick again and might even die. She grew up to become the most strong willed in the family. As a teacher, she became an administrator. First as a head teacher of Santa Fe Elementary School, then as principal of Castillejos Elementary School.

JULIANA
Juliana was born Jan. 27, 1928. Because she was a big baby at birth, she was named after Apong Ulit. From childhood, she was the tallest in here age goup, healthy and strong. We felt that father wished she had been a boy.

SYLVIA and MELITON
Another girl, Sylvia, was born on Nov. 3, 1933 making five daughters in a row. Meliton was born on July 24, 1936. The only son carried on Father’s name and became “junior” or Mely for Meliton. Of course, the birth of a son called for a big celebration. His baptism, with Father’s closest friend, Atty. Reynera, as godfather, was a fiesta.

The 20's

In 1924, an incident in school affairs caused an abrupt change in the young couple’s plans. Father had not really told clearly what the issue was, but bit by bit, it was a demotion in position. He once told it this way. “I asked the Supervisor if the assignment was final and he said ‘yes!’ In that case I answered, ‘I am resigning right now.’ I went to another table, wrote my resignation letter and handed it to him."

The couple left Subic and Father retired as a school teacher with a monthly pension of P24.00. Father chose to become a farmer thereafter; The couple and their two daughters moved to start a new life in San Marcelino, the hometown where they built their family home.

By that time, the families of Father and Mother had cooled off from the expected ire of parents when their children elope and get married without their blessing. The couple was given a lot opposite of the lot of the rest of the family besides a farm north of the town.

Father cultivated the farm intensely, made it productive with coconuts, pineapples, caimitos (star apple), mangoes and a fishpond with dalag, ar-aro (climbing fish), paltat (catfish).

To augment his measly pension and farm production, Father sold sweepstakes tickets and insurance plans.

Much later he discovered that making soft lasa brooms was a viable industry. He would buy lasa (boyboy) from the Negritoes and make them into long-handled soft brooms. Being a naturally skilled and creative craftsman, Father made more durable and more attractive brooms with different weaving and sewing works. His “special” brooms were really special and were invariably ordered for Manila housekeepers as gifts although they were priced higher than those in the market.

Broom making was a family affair. After super Mother and the older kids would strip the flower stems from the main stem until sleeping time. Actually, Father did his home industry during his supposed leisure time, when it was too hot to work in the farm. Mother did the marketing.

When there is no cash, she would carry two or three brooms to market and come home with supplies of grocery, and viands enough to last for the next market day. Although a secondary activity, broom making was to be big source of funds for our education.

The 30's

In the early 30s when Mely was not even schooling, Mother had a stroke which left one side of her body paralyzed. With the elder girls studying in Manila and Iba, Father had to manage the home wit two kids and a helpless mother.

Adding to the already heavy burden, a strong typhoon swept over the entire province in 1937 causing floods and extensive destruction. The family had to stay in the granary for several days. Sometimes, mice would run across the granary floor and we would chase them away or try to catch them.

The 40's (War-time)

Mother had a slow recovery. Medical healthcare did not seem to be effective and she had to resort to herbal medicine and therapy. When war broke up in December 1941, she was strong enough to sit and take a slow walk.

In the surprise start of the Japanese-American War, the airport in Iba was one of the first targets of Japanese bombers. When people realized the danger from bomb attacks, they left their homes in the towns and evacuated to safer places. The family together with the other relatives went to the farm north of the town and built cottages for shelter and storage of belongings. Food was not a problem then for Father could go to town and load his cart with rice and other supplies.

To us young people, life seemed to be a camping experience with much time for leisure together. No one expected the war to last. We were sure the Americans would easily conquer the enemy. The United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) was based just east of the town.

Suddenly, on Christmas Eve of 1942, word reached elders that Japanese troops had landed in San Felipe, shooting civilians, burning towns and raping women. All families in town left for Santa Fe that night.

Father packed clothes and other belongings, made a soft place for mother and the two kids in the cart, and we left. All those able walked ahead of the carts, crossing short-cuts through rice fields. Fortunately, it was a moonlight night, but then walking in the open and be spotted by bomber planes was avoided.

After spending the night in Santa Fe, the elders heard that the Japanese were advancing; they could follow the road and find Santa Fe, so everyone must move, go up farther to the mountains. In Matiques, along a creek hidden by clumps of bamboos, huts were built. For survival, shelter and food are essential. At the time, fear for life made us strong.

Life in the evacuation sites kindled strong bonds among the families. Rice, meat, salt could be shared with those whose supplies run out. Elders also organized a look-out warning system from the able-bodied men. Our rice supply was running low so only mother and the two young children had full meals.

Fighting between the US and the Japanese forces was becoming intense. Cannons were firm Bataan and Corregidor.

Cooking and drying clothes in the open were forbidden as these would signal habitation and make us target for the bombers. Another fear came from the rumored attacks of Negritoes who were after supplies and the carabaos for meat. To the evacuees the carabaos were indispensable for pulling the carts. Defense system had to be set up.

In 1943, this life of privation and fear was ended when news of Japanese victory reached people in hiding. Sounds of bombardment had ceased and government was restored. Japanese forces had occupied the public buildings and soldiers had set up their barracks.

Stories of tortures and other atrocities were told. However, people were directed to return to their homes or they were suspected as guerillas and be arrested. So, Father and the other family heads decided to return, but to the old evacuation site north of the town. They thought that if the Japanese become violent and kill civilians, everyone could run and go up in the forest nearby Vega Hill.

Life under this Japanese Occupation period was fun and carefree for the children. Schools were open and Japanese songs and customs were taught. There were even attempts at fraternization between the soldiers and young women. While there were whispered news of guerilla activities and harboring of American soldiers in the mountains, we never talked about these happenings in the family. We did not imagine that Father was active in that movement, involved in procurement of supplies and intelligence service.

Mother had become stronger and was now her former self, managing the housework, even going to the market. The older and bigger girls in the families would go up Vega Hill and gather bamboo shoots. Mother would slice them finely, sell in the market and come home with salt, sugar and canned goods.

Life under this situation seemed to last for years and years. Everyone was growing older and more aware of events around us. Cang Beb had graduated from the Philippine Normal School under the three year combined curriculum of regular and home economics like mother and taught in the elementary school at San Miguel a barrio in San Antonio.

I was caught by the outbreak of the war on December 1941 while in my senior year at PNC. Due to finish in 1942, our batch was declared automatically graduated. With that qualification, I went to apply for a teaching position in Subic. It turned out that Mr. Bada, the supervisor knew Father who accompanied me.

I was accepted and began teaching immediately, Japanese language and writing. Katakana and Hiragana were taught in schools. Opening ceremonies were held facing the direction of the Imperial Palace, bowing from the waist to, the Japanese flag and singing the Japanese anthem, Kimigayo. Relative normality of commerce was established locally and nationally under what was called a “puppet government”.

Food and other basic commodities were getting scarce. Japanese money replaced the Philippine currency and prices soared with the valueless paper money. Guerillas became more active causing more intensive hunt of members, and tempting informers with rewards of rice and canned foods. Thus started betrayal and reprisals among countrymen. Another period of fear persuaded. Anyone pointed at by a hooded informer was arrested, tortured and executed in public.

Father, like most male citizens, avoided venturing into town. Instead, we elder girls were sent to clean the house and yard in town. A neglected house was the home of a guerilla and therefore set on fire. When Japanese soldiers patrol the neighborhood however, we would go and lie down beside Apong Cando, cover our selves with ill-smelling clothes and trembled all over to fake an attack of malaria.

This life of false security and privation went on for about two years. In the middle of 1944, secret radios were catching news of American forces conquering Pacific Islands, the dropping of atomic bombs on cities in Japan. Suddenly, the Japanese were nowhere in town. They had left to join their forces probably for a strong last stand. American forces had indeed landed in Philippine soil. They landed on the shores of San Felipe and in a matter if hours they were coming, tanks ready with firearms while waving at all the civilians waving the V-sign shouting “Victory Joe”.

The Liberation War did not last long. Government was restored, prisoners of war were sent home. American soldiers who had been harbored by guerilla groups in the mountains were rescued by their countrymen. Among the survivors of the war were our cousins, Niceno Dinoso, who was concentrated in Capas, Tarlac, and Joaquin Corpuz who was caught in Visayas.

The 50s-60s (Post-War)

When the country was liberated completely and government, education and other activities were normal. Father began to tell us of his guerilla activities, that he was an officer and would receive a Lieutenant’s pay. We did not believe and even made of his calculated back pay as regular active army officer. He had his turn at mocking us when his official appointment came. He was indeed an officer in the guerilla forces and was awarded all rights remuneration and benefits of his rank.

Then we knew why he was so confident of Mely’s going to U.P.- he would avail of the Educational Benefits of Veterans. He got his back pay and received his paycheck regularly until his death. At his funeral his coffin was draped with a big American flag.

The guerilla forces in San Marcelino surfaced as soon as American victory was declared. There were about two battalions and the now regular U.S. Army soldiers marched in formation wearing their khaki and perishing caps proudly. One of them was Lt. Meliton C. Ordillas.

Rehabilitation of lives and homes began. Our families left the cramped huts and returned to the comfortable homes which luckily did not suffer the brunt of war enemy occupation.

After the war, the family resumed its ordinary peaceful life. Sylvia and Mely continued their studies. Aurea, Juliana and Sylvia got their Elementary teacher’s Certificate and joined the teaching force of the town.

The Family House THEN

The family started a new phase of life in the high second floor of the old house built of strong hard lumber. It had wooden walls and sliding capiz shell windows which had replaced those made of boho (a smaller variety of bamboo taken only from the mountains) some years before the war. Walls and windows were uniquely beautiful and neat and lasted for about 8 years. Repairs were usually done in preparation for the town fiesta in February. Finally to fend against the rain and winds of the next rainy season.

Fronting the street was a wide veranda with supports all around to hold Mother’s potted champaca plants with orange flowers. Later, those were changed with begonia with large leaves and drooping branches. Going up the second floor, were a front and a back stairs with wood steps which had concrete landings halfway up to the veranda and to the kitchen.

On the ground floor, Father raised goats. These goats were let out every morning and returned late afternoon. The smell was awful. Due to the lack of grass for the goats to feed on, goat raising was becoming difficult. Mother then took over with pig-raising. She raised sows for their piglets then fattened them. Call it survival food production.

A lift pump supplied water for drinking, cooking and bath. Throughout our lives that pump never ran dry even during summer. When water levels were very low, wells in the town would dry up; our pump however would only be poured a pail of water and the supply would start to com e up. For laundry, garden and flushing the toilet behind the granary there was a surface deep well which we shared with our neighbors, the Corpuses.

This house was sturdy with its strong foundation but when strong winds and heavy rains came during the rainy seasons, rain came halfway into the sala from leaks on the roof. The three of us elder daughters were already teachers and wanted the house reconstructed into a lower better built one. We were afraid a strong storm would blow it down. But Father could not be convinced. He insisted, “When I am gone you can do whatever you want”.

His wish was respected. Father passed away August 1, 1969 at the age of 84. After 3 years, the old house was razed and a concrete bungalow was built, planned and constructed by Cela and Meliton. The new family home was finished. Mother and Cela occupied the house and eventually with Oscar, Sylvia and their 3 young children.

The 70's

During this period, the siblings begun to lead separate family lives.

Our eldest sister, Genoveva, had married Manong Juan Beltran, whose family had just immigrated from Ilocos Sur. They had two children, Deanna and Jan and lived in a house of their own in the compound of The Beltrans in Central. Years later, Manong Juaning got a piece of land from Nana Torang on the corner of Burgos and Beltran street which was nearer our family house. They were to raise the most children, three girls and five boys. In that house on the corner, Lorna, Ken, Burt, Marilyn and Carl were born there.

In the early 70s, Juliana, now a teacher at the San Marcelino Elementary School after graduating from the Philippine Normal School, married Manong Honorio Cawagas, a Dole employee living in Hawaii. After their marriage, they went to live in Hawaii where the couple had a lovely duplex in Honolulu overlooking the city, her school and the airport. They rented out the other side of the duplex. Manong Honor died in a car accident on a fishing trip with a friend. Alone and becoming sickly, Ulling needed someone.

Cela had been teaching in the San Marcelino Elementary School and was promoted to head the big Castillejios Central Elem School. With her generous heart and family devotion, she decided to sacrifice her carrer and went to Hawaii to live with Ulling. She had finished her Master’s degree in Special Education at the University of the Philippines and had no trouble landing a teaching position at Dole Intermediate School teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) for immigrant’s children in Hawaii.

After graduation at the Philippine Normal School, Sylvia began her teaching career in Santa Cruz, the northern most town of Zambales. After three years she was able to get a “home” position in Santa Fe. There she met and eventually married Oscar of the business-minded Pantaleon family. When she transferred to the Central Elem School, the couple built their house on the lot beside the Beltrans. Their three children are Oscar Jr., Rela (coined from Grandmother Remigia’s and Angela’s name ) and Ria (derived Victoria or Nana Torang).

Mely was our only living brother. At times however, Mother would speak wistfully of Eusebio who was the second child but was still-born. We could imagine their disappointments at the four successive baby girls before another son was born. One would expect Mely to be spoiled by the family but he was not. He had his childhood during difficult war years of insecurity and hunger. He was uncomplaining with his share of linygaw and limited place to sleep.

After he finished high school at the Zambales Rural High School with honors he would go the University of the Philippines and take Engineering, a break away from the family teaching careers of everyone else.

Childhood Memories - Father and Mother

Father and Mother did not seem to have high ambitions for us. They lived very simply, had simple pleasures, peacefully and managed family affairs effortlessly. Loud arguments and harsh words were virtually unknown at home. I don’t remember having heard scoldings but we all felt it when someone needed disciplinary action.

Father was particularly irked by below average studies. Assignments had to be done on the long dining table. The multiplication table had to be memorized and recited or else the “sintoron doble” would be rattled. All of us however were good students from Grade One up and didn’t really need prodding or a stick. In fact, if there were records, we would be proud to show that we all graduated with honors.

Our family loved life in the way our parents showed us how. There was sincerity, dignity, humor, humility, and respect for one another.

Father loved to go fishing, not only to catch fish for the table but more for the wholesome joys he got in it. For one, there was the lasting camaraderie of his “partners”, Tata Jose Corpus and Jose Encarnacion, they would go to distant waters like Look Lake in the afternoon with baon, fishing gear (kitang) in two rattan baskets, the “alat” and “sagupit”. They would return the next morning.

Father would play jokes on some occasions, he would show the small climbing perch on the way (ar-aro) in the alat; these he would open and show to curious people on the way. When he reached home, he would open the sagupit and reveal the big “hitos” and super big dalag with a head as large as our knee. We enjoyed that! Of course Mother was happy - the big kettles would hold the live catch, enough viand for a week or more.

Another joy which we remembered vividly with was Father’s unlikely hobnobbing with the acrobats, stuntmen and roving entertainers during the town fiesta. He would go to the plaza and come home with them, urging them to help themselves to caimitos, tiezas and whatever. One could see his happiness with them. Then he would tell us how they welcomed him in their tent , escorting him to the best front seat. Was that just for food for the ego?

Childhood Memories - Music

Music was a family addiction - band music, that is. The day before the fiesta, Tata Angel Fontillas, Father’s favorite cousin from San Narciso, would arrive. There would be long talks on the porch - presumably on music - what bands would arrive. Father would always be at the town entrance to welcome the marching bands. Invariably, we would host a meal for the band and be rewarded by a serenade of some pieces.

A close neighbor was the home of Banda 27, the best marching town band in the province. Most of the members were generations of the Mauricio family, headed by Alfonso Mauricio. We would listen through the night as each musician learned to play the piece on his instrument, at times interrupted by the loud prodding of the band master, Mr. Jose Peralta. We, children, listened in bed while Father sat on his rocking chair by the window, puffing his pipe until the wee hours when the practice ended for the town fiesta.

A lively march would be presented with fancy drill formation. The band had long intensive practices at the town plaza which was one wide space for community assemblies, baseball, softball or just a playground for children. On moonlight nights that the band held practices, town people would sit on the grass around the marching musicians. We all knew they are competing with known bands like the Band of Pampanga, Band of Rizal, Anak Zapote of Bataan and others. On one occasion, the town was treated to a concert oh Philippine Army Band.

With these rich exposures to fine music, the family cultivated a high level of appreciation for truly great and inspiring music. The extensive collections of classic favorite on records, tapes and CDs in their homes are evidences of this heritage. Father did not live long enough to know but third generation members became active choir leaders and members.

As teachers, Cela and Sylvia organized rondallas in their respective schools. Oscar Jr., Sylvia’s only son has shifted his career from engineering to music, and has achieved national recognition in this field, Oscar was a producer on the staff of the San Miguel Corporation Department of Performing Arts, working with well-known music master, Ryan Cayabyab.

Childhood Memories - Politics

The family had a taste of politics in the middle of 1930’s. Father was a regular member of what was popularly known as the “Acacia Club”. The group was composed of retired professionals, businessman, barangay leaders and some men who just wanted to sit around at the plaza to gather what was to be heard. A number would play Chinese checkers or “dama” while numbers stood around. The favorite venue was in the shade of an acacia tree in front of the presidencia.

The biggest and most lively crowd was usually gathered on days of scheduled sessions of the Municipal Council. Council members hang around to engage in small talk with citizens there, hold informal discussion on town affairs. It was not surprising therefore that Council meeting were held more under the acacia than in the Municipal Hall. Father was an active and very vocal participant in these talks.

With the knowledge and awareness that he had long been an informal council member, perhaps he decided he should be in the proper session venue. He run for and won a council seat. Later he also became a Vice-Mayor. He wanted to be a Mayor and became a candidate, running against the incumbent Mayor Laureta. He was banking on the votes from Santa Fe, Mother’s birth place, and support of the clan.

As practiced by elective candidates up to the present, voters have to be wooed with favors. So our house was always open, food and drinks always available. Father and his loyalists were out every night. At public meetings however, Father was not as eloquent as his opponents. In his younger days as teacher and principal it is said that his big voice could be heard over the baseball field. When he was older, his voice unfortunately became tremulous and ineffective. This must have been one of the causes if his defeat.

On the night of the ballot count, we all felt the burden of disappointment as runners arrived to report the results to him. He suffered wordlessly and we respected his silence. It was months later that he brought out his sentiment not over his defeat but over the information that his near relatives had helped his opponent instead. He never ran again for any position.

Mother’s political career was minor and short-lived. With Mrs. Maria M. Arriola, she sat in the council during the Mayor ship of Juanito Colorado. During sessions, she would wear her saya with train tucked waist level and camisa with stiffly starched butterfly sleeves. She wore this with a headed “corcho”.

She was the Number One Councilor having garnered the highest votes and therefore presided over council meetings. We were doubly proud whenever she told us that the mayor was out and she would be in charge. When her term ended though, she, like Nana Maria opted to quit politics and just be homemakers. The family settled to the peaceful task of setting up and working for the achievement of economic and educational goals.

Childhood Memories - Business and Leisure

When we were still children, circa 1925, Father was probably a pioneer in the transportation business. We had a mini-bus named “Rivera 7” which ran the Subic-San Marcelino trip. The body was red and the wheels had iron spokes. In the late afternoon, we would wait on the road and had great fun from the ride into the garage. We would also gather around to see Perfecto Oliveros, the driver, and Father counts the days’ earnings, then to receive a centavo each. We never saw Father drive.

Besides the bus, Father also had a “kiskisan” rice mill. He would mill the palay, get the rice bran for the service and sell rice bran to pig raisers. I don’t recall what happened to the rice mill but the cars parts were junks in the yard for many years.

In the early half of the 20th century, San Marcelino was primarily an agricultural town. Before daylight carabao-drawn carts rumble on the stony roads carrying farmers to the fields. At dusk, they return home with vegetables, or at harvest time in December, loaded with rice bundles or palay in sacks.

When Father was still strong, he had that routine too, going to his farm south of Vega Hill. On vacations, we would all go with him to spend the day at the bamboo hut and have a marvelous picnic, snacks of young coconuts, boiled camote and pineapples. We would help harvest the long string beans, have a cartload to be bundled at night and ready for market the next day.

The coconut plantation in this farm was the scene of grand picnics where the town's people were invited. The young ladies wore Filipino costumes. Long bamboo tables were set for the feast.

On weekends during summer, the enjoyable activity was the cart to the river with the week’s laundry, bathing in the cool, clear River and lunch on the newly caught “bunog”. Father bought rights to a span of river lot and made piles of stones wherein this delectable fish would gather and live. After about a month, a net would be placed around the pile, the stones removed from inside, and the fish caught in the net. Enough fish for sinigang could be taken from these piles.

In the afternoon, we all go home, tired, tanned, all laundry dried and very clean smelling. On one outing however, there was an anxiety when the carabao had broken its rope and strayed away. Father went to look for it, leaving the family on the river bank. It was getting dark when Father returned with the indispensable carabao.

On June 12, 1991, Pinatubo erupted covering the whole area around for miles around. The river bed became a vast lahar desert. The new generation lost a great heritage of natural resources and a vast potential of joyful experiences and adventure.

The NEXT Generation

The world has come to the start of a new millennium. The year 2000 saw the phenomenal advance in technology applied in communication The use of computers in all fields of science gave rise to intensive and extensive activity in research. Competitiveness in industry became global.

The expansionship of industrialization and trade liberalization was brought about along by the economic policies of world leaders. Major countries in all continents opened their doors to people with skills, abilities and talents which they used in their national development. Employment on foreign lands and immigration were considered as bright hopes for a better life by college students.

In our country, unemployment of the large portion of the employable population has always been a major problem, so when overseas work became available, the government as well as private agencies facilitated the large outflow of Philippines professionals and skilled workers.

This social mobility created and developed by the demand influenced especially the second and third generations of Filipino families. Our family was no exception.

The BELTRAN's - Genoveva and Juan

As early as the 70’s, Deanna and Lorna, elder Beltran daughters, had ventured working in Canada after graduation from college. Deanna got married to Daniel Causon. Their sons, Darren and Jan married Canadians. Jan and Lena now have a son, Spencer, the first Filipino-Canadian in the family.

Lorna got married to Rodrigo Bayani and their son Rodney would marry Erin this coming year. The families have resided in Winnipeg, Manitoba ever since and love the place although it is said that winter are longer and colder there than in other provinces of Canada. They turned out to be forerunners of later immigrant relatives in the young generation.

Jan, the eldest son of the Beltrans, worked with a well-known advertising company at the time of his death in his early 40’s. His widow, Emer, being a chemical engineer, became a successful entrepreneur in toilet soap making and their three daughters Agatha, Kaya and Athena are now professionals.

Ronnie, the second son, migrated to U.S. a few years a go which was very timely for then their parent’s health began to fail. Their Dad’s arthritis had become worse and their Mama was diagnosed of liver and kidney malfunction. Ronnie was with them until Mama passed away on April 19, 2007 and was buried in New Jersey.

Ken, the third son and wife Aida, with daughter, Alana and Kyna lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba close to neighbors to the Causons and Bayanis. They moved to Honolulu, Hawaii in 2005.

Marilyn, the youngest daughter, married Robert Yamnitz and they have resided in Winter Springs, Florida. They are engaged in designing, craft making and marketing while their Dad and Mama lived with them. The Yanmitzs have two sons: Carl Robert and Dustin. They plan to move to Missouri soon where Bob’s family live.

Burt, the fourth son, and Ditas live in Indonesia where Burt works as furniture designer for an international manufacturer while they send their children to the Philippines to study.

Carl, the youngest, and wife, Liza, went to the United States after their marriage and have stayed in New Jersey with their children ever since.

The BINOYA's - Rosario and Aniceto

When Aniceto Binoya and I got married in 1938, the whole nation was still the stage of recovery and rehabilitation from the ravages of war. National issues like repair of infrastructure, setting up of new political systems, and hastening the development of the economy were addressed. The reestablishment of educational systems in all levels of did much in restarting the people’s confidence and ambitions.

The Zambales Rural High School where we both taught was a national agricultural school of secondary level, established on a hectare reservation in Nagbayto, San Marcelino, Zambales several years before World War 2. The war, however, left only a Gabaldon type building, so when schools reopened, the former instructors and other staff members operated in temporary buildings on a borrowed portion of the San Marcelino Elementary School site north of the Poblacion.

Father had donated a large portion of this site. Our parents had bought several parcels of farm lots through their industry and thrift. Most probably, they foresaw the expansion of the town and the lots would become residential, possibly for their own children. Rightly, so far now, the area is a bristling community known as “Amianan ti Ili” with good homes and laid out streets.

These lots were willed to the six of us in a document prepared by then Judge Artemio Manglicmot, one of the closest friends of father. Sadly, the winds of fate carried away the shoots of the bamboo to distant lands; not one of the children chose to live in the old hometown.

In the early 50’s, the ZRHS returned to its original site. School buildings were rehabilitated and new ones constructed under the Philippine War Damage Commission. Machines , equipment and books arrived too from the U.S. Aid. Staff and students worked hard cleaning the area and cultivating the neglected farms. In a number of years, the school progressed in population and production and became the Zambales National Agricultural College.

During this period the Binoya family lived in a cottage on the reservation like all other members of the staff. The children: Seth, Charito, Daniel and Joy were born and spent their childhood in this environment. They commuted to town for their elementary education. Aniceto was appointed Farm Manager. With our combined salaries and supply of rice from produce of a farm north of the reservation, we envisioned a stable future and growth on this spot throughout our lives.

But it was not to be. Aniceto accepted the position of principal of an agricultural school in Can-avid, a remote town in Eastern Samar in 1962. Because going to this school entailed a 12-hour boat trip from Manila to Catbalogan and another 12-hour bus across the big island, we decided to be left in Zambales while he worked in Samar. After five years in Samar, he got a transfer to the Camarines Norte Agricultural School in Bicol. The whole family moved to Labo, Camarines Norte. That was the start of our life-long love of the Bicol Region and although we left the joys and comforts of being with our parents and other family members, we have never regretted the move.

In 1970, the family again transferred to the Camarines Sur Agricultural College in Pili, Camarines Sur. The children were now in high school and in a few years went to college. Seth finished at the U. P. Los Baños with a degree in Agri-business. After working with the Vocational Education Division in outreach programs, he joined the faculty of the Western Luzon Agricultural College, now one of the campuses of the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University. He married Nerissa Gaddi, a Forestry graduate with the DENR, and they have two daughters, Iren Ayla and Anna Gabrielle. They reside in Balaybay , Castillejos, Zambales.

An interesting incident in Seth’s career on the administrative staff of the college revealed his inherited streak of Apong Meliton’s unwavering loyalty to one’s principles, giving no room to compromise. As a member of the Board of Canvassers on school Purchases, he reacted negatively to the Administrator’s transactions without the prior action of the committee. After presenting his stand on the issue, he resigned from his designation as a member. Other members followed suit. He was to pay dearly for his obstinacy. When we heard of this from others, we were not surprised.

After graduating from Nursing, Charito had a brief stint as extension worker of CSSAC then left for overseas work in hospitals in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. She is married to Lino Cepe and they have five children: Leo, Rio, June Ann, Andi Jedd, and Carlo Franco. The whole family now permanently resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Leo, his wife Enerosa, and son Charles were the last to migrate joining their Beltran relatives there.

Daniel and his wife Cely are both with the Extension Division of CSSAC. They have four children: Danielle Grace, a nurse; Rayel, an Information Technology graduate; An Francis and Carl, both still in high school. They live in a two-story home surrounded with well-tended gardens in Central Park Subdivision near the Provincial Capitol Site.

Joy, a faculty member of CSSAC, and her husband, Pablito R. Chy Jr. occupy a cottage an the campus. Their children- Jan Patrick, Anne Pauline, Jon, and Allysa- go to Universities in Naga. Jun (short for junior) works in Saudi Arabia and comes home for vacation between contracts. They have their eyes on migrating to Canada too when the children will have graduated from college courses.

Aurea ORDILLAS and Juliana and Honorio CAWAGAS

The third daughter, Aurea, more popularly known as “Cela” had a very promising career in the field of education. After graduation from the Philippine Normal University, she became a public school teacher at the elementary school in San Marcelino. Her ability as a teacher and a potential as administrator was soon recognized and she was given a scholarship grant for a Master’s Degree at the University of the Philippines.

On her return, she was appointed principal of the Castillejos Elementary School where she was highly regarded as an educator, and an innovative administrator. A few years later, she was being groomed for a higher position, that of a District Supervisor. It is not far-fetched to presume that she would go on to achieve higher positions of responsibility. At this point in her career however, tragedy struck in the family.

Father died in 1969 leaving Mother and Cela to live in the old family home. To do the household chores and be with Mother while Cela was in school, Nana Cresing was taken in. Way back in the 40’s mother had a stroke which left her partly disabled. She recovered and was able to regain strength and ability to do light work.

In the late 60’s her eyesight began to fail, to be lost completely in a few years. With all siblings away, Cela took care of mother, now sightless, attending to her needs, including helping her at meals while teaching in the next town. Mother passed away peacefully in 1977, leaving her alone.

In 1981, Manong Honorio in Honolulu met a fatal car accident on a fishing trip. For a while Juliana kept on with her teaching but her grief and the stress of living alone was too much for her. She became violently ill. She had always been under medication for heart and lung ailments and the heavy emotional burden just brought her down.

In answer to everyone’s prayer, Cela received her immigration papers into Hawaii after a 12-year wait. After resigning from her position, she went to Manila to have her papers presented at the U. S. Embassy. Even at that period, getting travel papers approved was not an easy task. But she had it done personally. The whole visa-getting experience would have been smooth-sailing; however it was not without a dramatic garnish.

When Cela was working on her visa, she needed an NBI clearance. She was confidently walking near the Manila City Hall when suddenly a young man grabbed her bag from behind and began to run off with it. Realizing a snatcher had her bag she shook off her shoes and chased the snatcher meanwhile screaming for help.

Fortunately, a policeman and some bystanders caught the thief and she had her bag back. Relating her experience later she exclaimed, “I would not go through the visa processing again- waiting in line, the interview, the stress, whew!” The snatcher did not imagine that the helpless-looking, not-as-young would-be victim had such a strong will-power and stamina.

Cela and Ulling lived at the Kaikunane Loop house for many years. Ulling recovered under the sisterly loving care and companionship. Cela had a 13-year teaching stint at a school for children of new immigrants. She once commented that newly transferred Filipino students were well-behaved and serious in their studies but easily absorbed in the new culture of freedom and independence which did not go well with some.

In 1995, the two sisters decided to go to mainland U. S. A. Rex, the son of Meliton and Erlinda , and Elvira were blessed with quadruplet babies. They reside in Cleveland, Ohio. Ever self-sacrificing, Cela went to live with them, giving extra hands to the young parents. One of the boys died leaving a boy and two girls. To the three children, two more boys were added to the family. Living with the family, watching how the children have grown into teenagers, speaks lovingly and proudly of her Grandmother role although the kids call her “Auntie”.

While Cela went to Ohio, Ulling went to Orlando, Florida where Manong Juaning and Cang Beb lived with Marilyn’s family. She was happy with the healthful climate of Florida and among close family once again. When she was in Hawaii, she kept our kids in the Philippines abreast with best pictures for the young such as Walt Disney classics. She also sent us tapes of well-loved music and copies of great movies. Her greatest happiness was in giving, giving. She had a very big heart.

Before going to Florida, Julie sold her house in Honolulu, planning to stay with the Beltrans during her remaining years. In the later part of 2003, however, her old health problems began to recur. She had to be hospitalized. When she felt that she would not be getting better, she decided to return to Hawaii. She called Bob Burk, her adopted son, to bring her back home. Bob, a young American, took care of her several years before but was left in Hawaii to continue with his studies.

In Honolulu once again, she went to live at Kulana Hale. There she lived peacefully and happily, making friends with her elderly housemates and involvement in church activities. One of her greatest joys was to be at the graduation of Bob at the University of Hawaii.

Julie passed away in October 2004. She had prepared the details of her funeral which was attended by close relatives and friends. Finally, she was buried beside Manong Honorio in the Mililani cemetery.

The PANTALEONs - Sylvia and Oscar

Sylvia, more known as Betit, was the baby of the family for some years. She was quite frail even until her high school days. However, she was able to go through the farm work of the rural high school and the rigorous curriculum of the Philippine Normal School.

Sylvia and Oscar begun their married life in the "garahe" - the lot beside the Beltrans where they built their starter home and where the commuter mini-bus would park overnight. Thus the term "garahe". They, together with their 3 children - Oscar Jr, Rela and Ria - eventually moved into the ancestral house.

Oscar had been in the transportation business since he began to drive. He had a 20-passenger capacity mini-bus with “Six Brothers” on the headboard and run the Santa Fe trip. At times, he would also go on hired trips out-of-town. The mini-bus would eventually give way to the long jeepney ala-Sarao although there never was one made by those makers.

There were probably a total of 3 jeepneys that were bought then resold because other people would offer to buy them. Written on their headboards - one of them had Baugo for the name of the mountain where the Benguet Mines were working on; another had OPJ-Rela-Ria. The children fondly remember having to take their dad's lunch box to the station or along the highway upon hearing the Let's Go horn sequence - toot-toot, toot-toot-toot, toot-toot-toot-toot, toot-toot! When the children had finished college, the jeep was sold and a van aptly named “Whitie” was purchased for family use as well as for contact trips.

Many say that driving was really Oscar's passion. However, his children think that it is actually the interaction with people that he liked most. Many years after Father and Mother's political careers, interest in politics was revived with the candidacy of Oscar for Councilor. His meetings were made lively with the songs and dance of his children. He won and served as a member of the Sangguniang Bayan under Mayor Juan C. Peralta from 1972 to 1986. As a politician, he had to be with people and therefore more often he was not at home, leaving Sylvia alone in the big house, but Sylvia was used to being alone.

Meanwhile, Sylvia was well known as a dedicated teacher and was assigned to various schools throughout her career. At one point, she was the head teacher of the Nagbunga Elementary School outside of town. When she got her Master’s degree of Education, she was offered a promotion which she declined. She preferred to be in the classroom, particularly as a master science teacher.

When when the population of Pili grew to support the Benguet Mines operation, she headed there together with a couple of the better teachers because the pay and benefits were better there. Sylvia's income as a teacher and Oscar's income from the transport contract with Benguet Mines PLUS driving the Pili/WLAC routes AND from the farm enabled them to send their 3 children to college. Of course, it helped that they enjoyed some scholarship, too.

Aside from the calamansi, camote, saluyot and malunggay in the yard that grew without too much care, Sylvia and Oscar experimented with other crops too. Sylvia literally experimented with mushrooms for her Master's degree. Randomized combinations and ANOVA analysis (by hand!) were used but for the children, it was just the delicious mushroom produce that mattered.

Oscar also tried out planting sandia (watermelon) for crop rotation purposes in the San Rafael farmlands. Everyone in the family got to learn how to select a ripe sandia by looking at the stem area and by listening to the sound of knocking. Whenever the harvest was taken to the market, they were rapidly sold out!

When the 3 children went to college, Oscar and Sylvia made frequent visits to Manila. Oscar Jr., OPJ or Oca to friends and Rela took up Metallurgical Engineering while Ria became a pharmacist. All of them graduated from the University of the Philippines. OPJ and Rela passed their Professional Examinations with high scores and get good jobs immediately. Ria went on to get a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy and was eventually employed by a Astra, multinational pharmaceutical company.

A noteworthy shift in career which was not entirely unexpected was made when OPJ gave up his job to involve himself more in music, his true love. In college, he was an active member of the U.P. Madrigals- and joined tours and concerts of the group. Much later he was in the circle of Filipino music - great composers, conductors, singers and producers. He worked with the Performing Arts groups of the San Miguel Corporation, co-producing widely acclaimed performances. He now focuses his work on church choirs producing “Music for the soul”,

Rela and husband, Al Manigsaca both worked at Intel Philippines and had a home in Greenwoods, Dasmarinas, Cavite. They immigrated to the US in 2003 and transferred to another company in Boise, Idaho. They have since relocated to Austin, TX and working with another semiconductor company there.

Ria got married to Teody Figueroa and soon after marriage migrated to Canada and joined the relatives ahead of them in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are blessed with two sons: Matthew Genesis and Timothy Titus.

Of the immediate family members, Sylvia was the last to leave the ancestral home. When she retired in 1998, the San Marcelino Elementary School lost a model demonstration teacher. After that, she and Oscar preferred to stay in San Marcelino, visiting their children on some weekends in Manila.

After Betit’s retirement, she and Oscar went on their dream tour of U.S and Canada, visiting relatives and friends. They wrote and sent pictures of their reunion with close relatives who had long left the country. About the middle of their tour when they were in Ohio, Oscar was diagnosed for leukemia (CML) which made physicians advise them to return home immediately.

Their travel was cut short and upon arrival Oscar was hospitalized at the Philippine General Hospital. He struggled bravely, even gathering strength to visit the hometown while he could. He lost his fight 16 days after his 61st birthday.

A couple of years after, Sylvia determined to go on tour alone saying “I want to continue our tour, go to all places we planned to see (US, Canada and Australia), visit with all the people we planned to be with.” She realized an obsession and surely the protective guiding spirit of her beloved was with her all the time. She joined Oscar three years, both now peacefully resting near our dear parents in San Marcelino, Zambales. She passed away in December 2003.

The ORDILLAS' - Meliton Jr and Erlinda

Mely, our only brother, and the youngest in the family would he expected to be spoiled but he was not. He was uncomplaining. Even as a child, his needs were simple preferring to be in the house, poring into books and magazines or playing with his cousin, Vido, just across the street.

In the elementary grades, he was among the youngest and smallest. He would have graduated with top honors had not his grade in Industrial Arts pulled down his average. He finished second though. At times, if he could not do a shop project, his teacher would compromise with five whole-length bamboos which Father easily sent the next day.

Going through the agricultural curriculum of the Zambales Rural High School for his secondary education toughened Mely’s resistance to illnesses. Although still lanky, he didn’t fall ill from the strenuous farm work required. He still recalls his memorable days with his group, living in a cottage they built themselves, and cooking their meals farmer style. Their cottage was the consistent winner in cleanliness contests. The members of the group have gone separate ways surely with memories of their camaraderie.

Mely, after finishing his secondary course at the Zambales Rural High School, went to the University of the Philippines. He finished his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of the Philippines on the education grants given to beneficiaries of World War II veterans. Father was happily receiving the rewards of his guerilla services. On one occasion, he and I went to visit Mely bringing some goodies from the province. We had difficulty in locating the Quonset hut where he lived dormitory style with nine other students.

After a brief stint as a mechanical shop entrepreneur, he got a position as instructor in U.P. while taking up courses in Metallurgy. Through his determination and intelligence he went on to achieve his Master’s at U.P.

During this period, he decided to start his own family and married Erlinda Arcelo, a townmate and a nurse. When Lyndia, their first-born was three years old and Rex, their son,was two, the couple went to the U.S on a scholarship grant to Mely at Case Western Reserve, a prestigious technological college in Cleveland, Ohio. The two children were left in the care of their grandparents - Lyndia was left to the Ordillases while Rex stayed with the Arcelos.

When Mely and Erlinda returned to the country, Mely became a Professor in Metallurgical Engineering at University of the Philippines becoming the department’s dean later. He retired from the department but continued serving the university for more years as professor emeritus.

The young Ordillas family bought a lot at the as yet undeveloped Don Antonio Subdivision, a stone throw from the U.P. campus. They built a spacious bungalow which was their home ever since. That home was where anyone in the family could be assured of welcome when a stay in Manila was necessary. It was also the place to run to for medical, education and travel advice and help.

Of the two children, Lyndia was observed to be more aggressive, more strong-willed—a flow from Apong Meliton coming down the line. An incident revealing this trait is long remembered. At one meal, the whole family was eating around a long table when Father noticed that the younger ones were not eating vegetables. In a stern voice he told everyone to do so. Father’s word is law; so, every one began taking the viand to his plate, except Lyndia. In a soft but slightly tremulous voice, Father said, “Anyone who will not take vegetables, leave the table.” We continued eating, eyes only on our plates, but saw Lyndia slide from her seat; go out the backdoor, down the backstairs. No one moved until Cela dared to leave the table, go after Lyndia who was already walking down the street. We left the table one by one, leaving Mother talking softly to Father.

When Mely and Erling returned, the two children were ready for Pre-school. Now with a Ph.D. in Engineering, Mely became Professor, later a Dean in the College of Engineering. He was well-known for his high standards on scholarship and discipline. In recognition of his invaluable contribution to the college of engineering, the University and to the Profession, he has been the recipient of awards from the University and Professional Organizations.

Lyndia, now a practicing Physician in Miami, Florida, lives with husband, Julio Jorge, also a Physician, and their children, Alexis and Nikki.

Rex and and his wife Elvira have lived in Cleveland, Ohio since they moved to the U.S. Rex is a metallurgical engineer and Elvira is an industrial engineer. She took up a nursing degree and now works at Metro Health Hospital in Cleveland. Their five children are Abigail, Michelle, Daniel, Joseph and Timothy. Their Auntie Cela lives with them.

The Family House TODAY

The family house in Barangay Central, San Marcelino, Zambales is empty now. No voice from inside will answer your call from outside the iron gate. No chinelas footfalls will signal the approach of someone to open the door and welcome you with hugs. Children of this and future generations may someday stop to look at the house from over the top of the now mossy concrete fence. It is fervently hoped that memories and experiences written in this humble work will give life to their imaginations and inspire them to keep and honor their heritage of good, clean and honest living.

This work would not be complete without and homage to an icon of the Virgin Mary, a heritage from Grandmother Juliana(Apong Ullit) which is venerated and referred to as Apong Baket! Her care is passed on from one family to another and lavish decoration and bright lights of her carriage during processions speak of the dedication of whoever is presently in charge. She has a permanent niche clan wherever they may be.