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.,
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