I did not feel the need to express this previously but now that this blog is being read by so many people — usually 1,000 but as many as 3,000 in a day — I feel that I must say something about it…
I am amused, but simultaneously alarmed, that many people have mistakenly pegged it as a blog ABOUT Philippine High Society; the country’s Rich and Famous; Manila’s “Old Rich” and “New Rich”; the city’s Fashionable People. It isn’t and I never intended it to be such.
I began “Remembrance of Things Awry” in August 2006 as a compilation of family stories — however trivial and nonsensical — for eventual submission to an archive of Pampanga History. After so many years, it dawned on me that in my immediate family, I am the last one to maintain ties in the old hometowns of Sulipan – Apalit [ Gonzalez / Arnedo / Escaler ], Bacolor [ Rodriguez ], San Fernando, Angeles [ Quiason, Henson ], and Arayat [ Reyes / Dizon ] in Pampanga as well as perhaps being the last living witness to already neglected and forgotten, but nevertheless significant and considerable, unwritten familial histories.
Somewhere along the way, I was joined by like-minded people with similar backgrounds and interests. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that so many of them actually come from the country’s most hallowed families. It is their continued presence and participation that has established the “social” tone of this blog and given the impression that it is entirely about affluent Filipinos, which is not true.
Apologies for the disappointment, but this blog is NOT about Philippine High Society; NOT about the country’s Rich and Famous; NOT about Manila’s “Establishment” and “Nouveaux Riches”; NOT even about the city’s Fashionable People. The Unexpected Truth is that Toto Gonzalez is not even interested in “Manila Society,” if it even exists. For how can one truly be “Society” if one has less than USD $ 10 billion these highly inflationary days??? To him, the only “Society” that matters is the fantastically rich international one that shuttles between New York, Paris, London, Hong Kong, and now, Moscow, Beijing, Shanghai, New Delhi, and Singapore.
In this blog, I write about The Things that went The Way They Shouldn’t Have — oftentimes funny, occasionally sad. Come to think of it, it’s about Life. Nothing more and nothing less than that. The notions of “High Society” are actually very far from its essence.
Welcome to “Remembrance of Things Awry”…
cristine rojas said,
October 4, 2008 at 7:09 am
love your blog! i hope i can invite you for lunch, merienda, or dinner. have a nice day!
cristine
Diana Limjoco said,
December 23, 2008 at 1:15 am
Toto, Well put about the intent of your blog! Jollie good show!
Diana Limjoco
http://www.limjoco.net
http://www.djl.net
Diana Limjoco said,
December 23, 2008 at 1:19 am
How I wish I had some of my family stuff. My family stuff has been whittled down to my granfather’s pince nez, a mother of pearl handled, and gold tipped writing pen of my great grandmoter. A silver match box, and a silver, actually I don’t know what you call it, it slips over a belt and a tiny 1800’s purse was hung on it, from my great grandmother, Anastacia Ochoa Arguelles.
Being from such a large family, my dad Ramon Limjoco had 10 brothers and sisters, much of the family “beautiful stuff” was parcelled out and now resides in hundreds of households around the world.
At least each of us have a little slice of our ancestors lives. I treasure mine, they take up little space and are personal items that remind me so well of them.
Thanks again for your blog, it’s really fun to read.
Diana
toto gonzalez said,
December 25, 2008 at 10:31 am
Diana:
Thank you so much.
Old Families like the Arguelles and the Limjoco have beautiful heirlooms. I’m sure so many are just hidden in the closets of the family houses.
But what is so nice about families like yours is that the substantial resources have been maintained through the generations. Much better than mere heirlooms in my opinion.
Cheers!!!
Toto Gonzalez
mike reyes said,
January 27, 2009 at 7:55 am
I just stumbled upon your blog, I like your intent and that you keep it real, not “trying hard” high society. You’re right, it can’t exist in Manila anyway. By the way, weren’t you known as Gon* before? I do remember you in my disco days with my sister. You were funky and fun, and also very nice to all. Congratulations on this successful blog and keep it up!
Francis Navarro said,
February 8, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Hola Toto,
I am a Filipino living in Madrid. After finishing my PhD at the Universidad de Salamanca I decided to stay over and work here. I am about to embark on a research project on Filipinos/Spanish Nationals who were involved in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939. I came upon photographs at the archives showing some Filipinos during the turmoil here. Would you know of any sources that might help me in my research. Thank you!
alfred de oglou and cecilia abad gonzalez said,
February 15, 2009 at 10:27 am
Greetings, Toto!
Alfred says hi…long time no write…wants to share with you the good news that he is a new and improved husband…we were married in a simple, but beautiful ceremony in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on 12/31/08. Interestingly, I am a Gonzalez as well from the same line as Maita, Cita, Patty, Ditas, Joe, Naty and Mig
Gomez’ Dad, Tito Pepe, who was my maternal grandfathers’s half brother. He was Carlos Cuevas, son of Guadalupe Gonzalez from her first marriage, while Tito Peps was from her second. His wife , Tita Cecing, was actually also his first cousin… daughter of my great grandmother, Guadalupe Gonzalez’ sister Ramona Gonzalez de Favis. I am sure you know Ters and Freddie Olbes who are among Ramona’s many grandchildren. My Mom, Nena Cuevas Abad comes from a huge family…I read so many blog entries about our relatives earlier in the beginnings of this most interesting site. I posted something about the passing of Tita Betty Favis Gonzalez many months ago.
I have known Alfred since I was 14, so it is truly remarkable that we found each other again in our 50’s…it’s like going home again after being away for so many many years. At my late father’s 80th birthday party last September he very touchingly asked for my family’s blessing to marry me…such a old fashioned gesture from the Madman ( ex DZRJ DJ and rocker!) We know we are blessed to have found love at our age…and we are enjoying every moment!!
Thanks for this fabulous site…it brings those who have not been back to Manila (notably, more than 25 years for us) a little bit of the life we left behind.
Alfred recently became a grandfather to a beautiful baby girl, Stella Teresa, daughter of his younger son Freddie and daughter in law, Anne …so I know that will motivate us to get back there for a visit soon! Alfred is dying to see his very precious first grandchild!!!
Wishing you continued success…
Our warm regards,”primo”…
Alfred and Cess
PS If you see my cousin Betsy Malca, say hello for us…she and Margie Moran published a coffe table book full of anecdotes about “Growing Up Gonzalez”…Have you read it?
alfred de oglou gonzalez and cecilia abad gonzalez said,
February 15, 2009 at 10:35 am
Clarification: Somehow the post did not print Alfred de Oglou Gonzalez and Cecilia Abad Gonzalez for the previous post!! thanks
alfred de oglou gonzalez and cecilia abad gonzalez said,
February 15, 2009 at 11:27 am
Hi Toto!
Don’t have a clue what just happened…We posted something that showed up as comment no.7 and added an additional comment that should have been no.8…and suddenly the original post disappeared!!!
In a nutshell, hope we are not being redundant, Alfred wanted to pop in and say hello…it has been quite some time since his last post…he wants you to know that he just became a new and improved husband. We were married in a simple but beautiful ceremony in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve… we are thrilled and so very happy!
Interestingly, I happen to be a Gonzalez from the Guadalupe Gonzalez line (my Mom, Nena Cuevas Abad’s father, Carlos Cuevas is a son from Guadalupe’s first marriage.) Her sister was Ramona Gonzalez de Favis,
mother of Tita Cecing Favis Gomez (mom of Maita et al) and Tita Betty Favis Gonzalez (In fact, I posted something on this site about Tita Betty’s passing some months ago. )I’m sure you know Ters and Freddie Olbes, who are the children of Tita Teresa Favis Olbes, Guadalupe’s other daughter…
Alfred and I have known each other since we were 14 and 16, respectively, and feel so fortunate to have found each other in our 50’s. For two people who have not been back to Manila in over 25 years…finding each other was like like finding our home. He asked my late father, Tony Abad, for his blessing to marry me at my Pop’s 80th birthday party…such a romantic, old fashioned gesture from the Madman, ex DZRJ DJ and lifelong rocker…We know we are lucky to have found love at our age!!!
I must say, sites like yours provide us a venue for reliving the life we left behind so many years ago and it is always such a pleasure!
We are hoping to get back there sometime soon as Alfred is dying to see his first grandchild, Stella Teresa, daughter of his son Freddie and daughter in law, Anne. So that’s the other big news…Alfred is a grandfather!!! And he couln’t be more excited about it!
If you happen to you see Betsy Malca say hello from us… she and Margie Moran published a coffe table book of anecdotes about “”Growing Up Gonzalez” Have you read it?
That’s all for now…thanks for your wonderful site…
Wishing you all the best, continued success, “primo”,
Alfred and Cess Gonzalez
Dr. Taddy Buyson Gonzales said,
May 20, 2009 at 12:59 pm
toto
ayintindyan cu, balu ta nung ninu ing “dyengwin”, e wari?
toto gonzalez said,
May 20, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Taddy:
Wa naman. Heehee.
Kathleen Tetangco Dolorin said,
July 2, 2009 at 7:43 am
Hello Toto,
We enjoyed your luncheon to honor St. Peter’s fiesta on June 27. Although I can’t remember the name of the delicious, flaky cookies you served, they were really good and reminded me of the “Jesuits” we used to buy from a French baker at South Coast Plaza. I told my husband about them and the way I described them was, “remember those pastries you used to inhale from Champagne Bakery?” He surely remembered soon after that.
Anyway, your site is quite interesting, being that you touch on both Filipino history (specifically about Pampanga) as well as current events. I’ve been away from the country for quite a while that I have not kept up with all the changes that have transpired here in the Philippines.
That’s quite a remarkable collection of fine china and antique collection you’ve got there, would you happen to have any Eames you’d like to part with? Ditto, I also became quite enamored with anything French on my first visit there. There’s no better place to spend the day than basking in the sun at the Jardin du Luxembourg or window shopping at Galleries Lafayette. Better yet, sipping one shot of espresso after another (heck, make it an afogato while I’m at it) over a historical based book, (preferably about the Boleyn’s) on a bench along Le Marais.
Age of Innocence is a great period movie, have you had the chance to watch “Perfume?” It’s an excellent movie based on Patrick Suskind’s novel. It’s set in 18th century Paris and centers around a boy who becomes consumed with finding the right scent. He eventually finds it in the least expected source: dead women…
Anyhow, I look forward to future updates on your site as well as next year’s fiesta.
Kind regards,
Kathleen Tetangco Dolorin
toto gonzalez said,
July 2, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Kathleen:
Nice of you to visit me online!!!
It was wonderful to have met you last Saturday at Saint Peter’s Shrine in Apalit, Pampanga. We were honored to have had many members of the Tetangco family, including your father Jaime “Boy” Tetangco, at our Gonzalez-Arnedo gathering in honor of “Apung Iro.” I hope to see you and your family again next year.
Cheers!!!
Toto Gonzalez
Jesus Oria said,
September 30, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Every Thursday afternoon, I play Scrabble at the Sylvania Senior Center located in Sylvania (suburb of Toledo, Ohio) and one of the persons I play with is Filipino whose name is Ramon Taroy. Anyone familiar with that name?
J. Oria