remembrance of things awry

We are having clan reunions left and right and it is becoming quite maddening… specially if one [ like I ] belongs to several!!!

According to the Western astrologers, in recent years there has been a “planetary alignment” of some sort in the universe which is causing people to gather in family / clan reunions.  I don’t take planetary alignments seriously but it must serve as an explanation to all these ever-increasing family and clan reunions… !!!

Last November 2008, the Hizon-Singian clan of San Fernando, Pampanga had its bi-annual reunion at the residence of Pilar “Piluchi” Luciano Ocampo-Fernandez at the old Fernandez [ Fernandez de “Compania Maritima” ] compound in San Juan.

Last 13 December 2008, a Saturday, the Cacnio family of Apalit, Pampanga celebrated the 80th birthday of their doyenne, Esther Mercado Cacnio-Atienza, with a joyous clan reunion.  They were so generous to invite their Gonzalez, Arnedo, Espiritu, and Mercado relations as well.  It was amazing to see a senior relative, former Quezon City mayor Adelina Santos-Rodriguez “Imang Daling” still so attractive and fit even in her 80s!!!

On 14 December 2008, a Sunday, the descendants of Augusto Diosdado Sioco Gonzalez [ 1887 – 1939 ] of Sulipan, Apalit, Pampanga gathered to celebrate the 90th birthday of his only surviving daughter, Natividad “Naty” B Gonzalez-Palanca [ born 14 December 1918 ].  The holy mass was celebrated by [ Cubao ] Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, D.D. and her second cousin, Bishop Federico “Freddie” Escaler.  Tita Naty was a senior Gonzalez family member beloved for her kindness, uprightness, and generosity and was revered, but most importantly loved, by the whole family.  It was a wonderful occasion with an almost complete attendance by that particular branch of the “Gonzalez de Sulipan” clan.

The Ongsiako and the de Santos clans had a reunion in Makati.

On 11 January 2009, the Coronel clan of Santa Rita, Pampanga [ cousins of the Valdes de Pampanga clan;  the clan owns the classic prewar house where the tearjerker classic “Tanging Yaman” was filmed ] had their reunion 2009.

Last Sunday, 18 January 2009, we had the annual “Valdes de Pampanga” Clan reunion  [ as differentiated from the ValdeS [ with an “s” ] de Manila of the Tuason- Legarda-Prieto-Valdes clan and the ValdeZ with a “z” clan from Ilocos Norte ].  We did have some pretty Spanish mestiza members of the Valdes de Manila clan because it’s slowly turning out that there are actually blood relations between the two Valdes with an “s” clans.  The Valdes de Pampanga clan has _____ branches:  the Ignacio Valdes [ yellow group ] — the Camilo Quiasons, the Edgardo Yaps, and the Sergio Naguiats;  [ blue group ] the Armand Fabellas, the Bates, the Africa Reynosos, and the Ely Narcisos;  [ red group ] the Guanzons, the Florencia Coronels, and the Lita Lilleses; and the Roman Valdes [ green group;  Valdes de Bacolor, Pampanga ] the Carlos J. Valdeses, the Erlinda Gonzalez-Rodriguezes, and the Raquel Gonzalez-de Leons.  It was held at the new gym of the Fabellas’ Jose Rizal University “JRU” along Shaw Boulevard.  We honored our Valdes relatives who had passed away in the past year 2008:  Remedios “Remy” Valdes-Panlilio, Carlos “Charlie” J. Valdes, Armand V. Fabella, Milagros ___, and Mandy ____.  There was a nice lunch followed by a great set of games conducted by Justa Yap Bautista and Martin Reynoso which got everybody going!!!  It was completely easygoing and needless to say was a lot of fun!!!

On Sunday, 25 January 2009, there will be the annual “Rodriguez de Bacolor” reunion.  It will be held in a Sibal building in Quezon City.  I received the reunion menu of homestyle Kapampangan dishes by text from R cousins Evelyn Dayrit Rodriguez and Vita Rodriguez-Laki and it sounds really good!!!

(On 28 February 2009, Saturday, there will be a “Gonzalez de Sulipan” / “Gonzalez de Baliuag” [ descendants of Fray Fausto Lopez, O.S.A. and Maria Amparo “Mariquita” Gonzalez y de los Angeles ] reunion on the occasion of the 69th birth anniversary of Brother Andrew Gonzalez, F.S.C. at Gene Gonzalez’s “Cafe Ysabel,” # 455 P Guevarra Street, San Juan.  It is being organized by the Dr Virgilio Sioco Gonzalez branch of the clan [ the Cebu branch ], and that means Arch. Jackie Gonzalez Cancio – Vega, Charo Gonzalez Cancio – Yujuico, Dr. Vicki Gonzalez Belo, David Gonzalez de Padua, Dr. Donna Gonzalez de Padua, et. al..  Entrance fee is Php 1,500.00/xx per person so that the food will be “suitably Gonzalez” and also to raise some funds for the “Gonzalez Doble Zeta” organization.  Gene Gonzalez will recreate “Cocina Sulipena” [ old Sulipan cooking ] for his Gonzalez cousins.  Since “Cafe Ysabel” only has a seating capacity of 120 persons, attendance will be limited to 20 persons for the “Gonzalez de Baliuag” [ the Soledad Gonzalez -Mariano Gonzales, Jose Gonzalez – Francisca Carrillo, and Francisco Gonzalez – Maria Lloret branches of the clan ], and 90 persons for the “Gonzalez de Sulipan” [ the Joaquin Gonzalez – Florencia Sioco branch ], only ten descendants each for the ten Gonzalez – Sioco brothers Dr. Fernando, Dr. Jesus, Dr. Emilio, Atty. Augusto, Octavio [ died young; no issue ], Dr. Virgilio, Atty. Francisco Javier, Dr. Bienvenido, Dr. Joaquin, and Congressman Fausto.  So let this be an announcement to our cousins!!!)

This is the Philippines after all, where everyone is related!!!   😀   😀   😀