My Cordilleran (Igorot) Ancestry

Both of my father and mother's ancestries are of Cordilleran origin as well.

My Maternal Tinguian Ancestry

All I knew my Dela Cruz ancestry was from Calle Real of Tacloban, Leyte. But I was brought wider into the rich perspective of my indigenous ancestries both paternal and maternal. This was way back in 1998 when I was surprised to go deeper in the lineage of my mother's side because of Fr. 

The Tinguians also known as Itnegs
from the mountains of Abra, Cordillera Administrative Region

Vicente Payuyo, CM also known as Fr. Vic during my visit at the office of Fr. Jimmy Belita, CM, the President of Adamson University in Manila.

In the course of my conversation to these Vincentian priests, Fr. Vic after knowing my Dela Cruz ancestry in Tacloban, he summoned his employee to get the files from his office. I was in awe when Fr. Vic showed to me the research works of his friend historian Mr. Martin Tinio y Imperial about the Marcos ancestry. In the research works of Mr. Martin Tinio y Imperial, I saw and read the name of my maternal great grandparents Don Regino Joaquin Dela Cruz y Felix who married Her Grace Jacinta Ortuoste y De Los Santos, Princess of Lanao as stated. Wow!

From that very moment, I eagerly read and copied partly the Marcos bloodline of my maternal great grandfather Don Regino Joaquin Dela Cruz y Felix who was the pharmacist of Dr. George Lucas Adamson in 1933 back in Intramuros, Manila. My maternal great grandfather Regino Joaquin was the instructor of Basic Pharmacology of Adamson School of Industrial Chemistry, the former name of Adamson University. This was from 1933 - 1934. Here is my Marcos ancestry.

Gregorio Marcos was from Batac, Ilocos who married Maria, a Tinguian from Bangued of the present province of Abra. They had the following children namely Maria Felicisima, Damaso, Maria Francisca, Diosdado, Marcos, Maria Fabiola and Mariano. My maternal great great great great great grandmother among the daughters of Gregorio Marcos and Maria was Maria Fabiola Marcos who was born on 24 February 1807 at old Bangued and who died on 16 October 1884 at the age of 77 at Balaoan, La Union, The Philippines. She was married to Jose Vicente Dela Cruz y Cariño, a teacher who was born on 10 March 1801 at Nagpartian, Ilocos and who died on 08 October 1897 at Angeles, Pampanga, The Philippines at the age of 96.

Maria Fabiola Marcos and Jose Vicente Dela Cruz y Cariño had eleven children namely

1. Vicente Teodoro Dela Cruz y Marcos (05 April 1822, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 18 October 1899, Angeles, Pampanga). He died at the age of 77. He was married to Josefa Mallorca y De Centenera. They were the ancestors of the Dela Cruz clan of Davao City.

2. Jose Mariano Dela Cruz y Marcos (12 June 1825, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 04 December 1901, Angeles, Pampanga. He was married to Adriana Sarita Tiglao y Vitug (24 February 1824, Mabalacat, Pampanga - 19 July 1918, San Fernando, Pampanga) who died at the age of 94 due to old age. He was shot to death by the Americans because he supported the cause of General Macario Sakay of the Katipunan. He was 76.

3. Maria Amada Dela Cruz y Marcos (12 June 1825, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 24 February 1916, Bulacan, Bulacan). She married Don Lucio Dela Concha y de Bautista. She died at the age of 90.

4. Gregorio Juan Dela Cruz y Marcos (03 March 1827, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 24 February 1865, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija). He was the proto ancestor of the Dela Cruz clan of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija. He died at the age of 38. He had three wives.

5. Francisco Cristobal Dela Cruz y Marcos (04 October 1829, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 12 April 1925, Pasuquin, Ilocos). He died at the age of 95. Many of his descendants are still in Pasuquin and in Cagayan, in Quirino and in Isabela.

6. Padre Simplicio Dela Cruz y Marcos (23 June 1831, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 21 January 1905, San Fernando, Pampanga). He died at the age of 72 due to asthma. The last church he served was the Porta Vaga in Cavite.

7. Marcelo Francisco Dela Cruz y Marcos (18 December 1833, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 15 September 1868, Lingayen, Pangasinan). He died at the age of 35. He was married. His heirs are in Pangasinan mostly in San Carlos, Binaloan, Aguilar, Dagupan, Bayambang and Lingayen.

8. Maria Clotualda Dela Cruz y Marcos (03 January 1836, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 20 December 1935, Sta. Cruz, Manila). She was married to Rafael Nolasco y Paterno. She died at the age of 99.

9. Madre Beatriz Dela Cruz y Marcos (24 December 1836, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 23 April 1899, Santa Cruz, Manila, The Philippines). She died due to asthma at the age of 61. She was buried at La Loma Cemetery in Manila.

10. Teofilo Andres Dela Cruz y Marcos (30 November 1837, Pinili, Ilocos - 12 August 1903, Meycauayan, Bulacan). He was married. He died due to asthma.

11. Fabian Fortunato Dela Cruz y Marcos (15 July 1840, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 19 December 1938, Santa Ana, Manila). He died at the age of 98. He was married to Eufronia Valdez y Fonacier. 

12. Maria Salud Dela Cruz y Marcos (13 June 1845, Pasuquin, Ilocos - 23 November 1941, Santa Ana, Manila). She died at the age of 96.

One of Jose Mariano Dela Cruz y Marcos and Adriana Sarita Tiglao y Vitug's children was Felipe Benedicto Dela Cruz y Tiglao (22 August 1842, San Fernando, Pampanga - 03 April 1902, Angeles, Pampanga also known as Ka Ipe. He was married to Maria Salvacion Crisostomo y Talentin (15 December 1850, Basey, Samar, The Philippines - 03 February 1944, Tacloban, Leyte) also known as Baya who died of heart attack at the age of 92. He was shot to death by the Americans because he was assigned as the Secretary of War of General Macario Sakay of the Katipunan. He was 54. He was buried at Angeles, Pampanga.

Moreover, Baya was the daughter of Juan Crisostomo y Avelino (24 June 1821, Basey, Samar - 18 February 1918, Tacloban, Leyte) and of Andrea Esperanza Talentin y Angelia (09 February 1820, Basey, Samar - 12 March 1912 at Basey, Samar). Juan died at the age of 95 and his wife at the age of 92 both of old age. Aside from Baya, their children were

1. Francisco Crisostomo y Talentin (04 October 1852, Basey, Samar - 26 March 1945, Tacloban, Leyte). He died at the age of 93 due to heart attack.

2. Sor. Agueda Crisostomo y Talentin (05 February 1860, Basey, Samar - 21 September 1897, Pandacan, Manila). She committed suicide because she was raped by influential Spaniards. She was buried at La Loma Cemetery, Manila.

3. Maria Crisostomo y Talentin who became the partner of Fray Fancisco Lopez of Granada, Spain. They became the parents of Trinidad Crisostomo y Lopez who married Daniel Romualdez of Manila, Antonio Lopez y Crisostomo who married Maximiniana Mendiola and of Miguel Crisostomo y Lopez. Trinidad Crisostomo y Lopez and Daniel Romualdez were the parents of Miguel Romualdez y Lopez, Norberto Romualdez y Lopez and Vicente Orestes  Romualdez y Lopez who was the father of the former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Remedios Visitacion Romualdez y Trinidad - Marcos, the daughter of Remedios Trinidad y De Guzman of Bulacan.

4. Alejo Crisostomo y Talentin

5. Tiburcio Crisostomo y Talentin

6. Mercedes Crisostomo y Talentin.

Ka Ipe and Baya's children were Lupo Miguel Dela Cruz y Crisostomo (29 July 1868, Tacloban, Leyte - 14 January 1928, Tacloban, Leyte) who married Maria Corazon Felix y Enriquez (25 January 1867, Espiritu, Ilocos - 31 August 1928, Calle Real Tacloban, Leyte), Ambrosia Dela Cruz y Crisostomo and Demetrio Dela Cruz y Crisostomo. 

My maternal great great grandparents Lupo Miguel died at the age of 58 due to fever and Maria Corazon expired at the age of 61 due to diabetes. They were both buried at Tacloban, Leyte. They had the following children.

1. Feliciano Dela Cruz y Felix who married Maria Sydiongco

2. Gregorio Dela Cruz y Felix who married Concordia Lopez

3. Victoriano Dela Cruz y Felix  who married Julia Velarde

4. Regino Joaquin Dela Cruz y Felix  who married Her Grace Jacinta Ortuoste y Delos Santos,

The House of Regino Joaquin Dela Cruz y Felix and of
 Her Grace Jacinta Ortuoste - Dela Cruz y Delos Santos.
Cotabato City. Circa 1950s.

Princess of Lanao. They were my maternal great grandparents who were the parents of Felix Dela Cruz Sr. y Ortuoste, Regino Dela Cruz Jr. y Ortuoste, Trinidad Dela Cruz y Ortuoste (30 May 1924 - 19 December 2011), Leticia Dela Cruz y Ortuoste, S. Ma. Luz Dela Cruz y Ortuoste, RVM (b. 30 April 1929) and Reynaldo Dela Cruz Sr. y Ortuoste. Among the children, Regino Dela Cruz Jr. y Ortuoste (22 July 1922, Cotabato, Maguindanao - May 1989, Kidapawan, North Cotabato) also known as Nene was my maternal grandfather who was first married to Aniana Abad whom he had Aniano, their only son. After being a widower, he married my maternal grandmother Dolores Sauza y Embrado (born 08 August 1929, Opon, Cebu) also known as Dolly. Nene and Dolly's children were Ma. Luz, Oscar, Virgilio Angelo, Estela Soccoro and Ana Dolores. Estela Socorro is my mother who was married to Reynaldo Salamat Jr. y Jumaquio (22 September 1952, Paombong, Bulacan - 08 January 1985, Toril, Davao City).

5. Augusta Dela Cruz y Felix 

6. Pablo Dela Cruz y Felix.

Before Lupo Miguel married Maria Corazon, he had relatonship to Luz De Dios y Manalang of Pampanga. Lupo Miguel and Luz' son was Geronimo Dela Cruz y Dios who married Antera Tolentino y Salviejo of Pampanga.

Let's go back to Gregorio Marcos and wife Maria. One of their sons was Damaso Marcos who married Leona Galimba of Batac, Ilocos. They were the parents of 

1. Crispina Marcos y Galimba who married Hilario Valdez y Maulit.One their children was

Mariano Marcos and wife Joseafa Edralin

with their children Pacifico, Elizabeth and Ferdinand.

Angela Valdez y Marcos who married Narciso Ramos y Rueca (1900 - 1986)of Asingan, Pangasian. Angela and Narciso's children were former Philippine President Fidel Ramos y Valdez, former Philippine Senator Leticia Ramos y Valdez - Shahani and Gloria Ramos y Valdez - Da Rodda, a Philippine Consul in the USA. Moreover, Narciso, the widower of Angela, married Alfonsita Lucero y Galeos of Cebu.

2. Fabian Marcos y Galimba who married Cresencia Rubio y Mangla-lan of Batac, Ilocos. They were the parents of Maria Marcos y Rubio, Mariano Marcos y Rubio, Antonia Marcos y Rubio and Pio Marcos y Rubio.

Furthermore, Maria Marcos y Rubio was married to Raymundo Ramos and Quirino Lizardo. Mariano Marcos y Rubio was married to Josefa Edralin y Quetilio of Sarrat, Ilocos. They were the parents of the Philippine President Ferdinand Emmanuel Marcos y Edralin, Elizabeth Marcos y Edralin as Mrs. Michael Keon of Australia, Pacifico Marcos y Edralin and Fortuna Marcos y Edralin as Mrs. General Marcelino Barba of San Nicolas, Ilocos.

Lastly, Antonia Marcos y Rubio was married to Melchor Rubio y Luis.

My Ifugao Ancestry

Tan Ardong in 1899 at The Manila Times

Don Ricardo Gerardo Del Rosario Embrado y Alcover de Garchitorena also known as Tan Ardong, short for Capitan Ardong was born at the present town of Quiagan (particularly in Antipolo now the town of Asipulo) in Montañosa now the province of Ifugao on 03 April 1861 to Don Romano Silvano Embrado y Cajes, the Lieutenant of the Comandancia in Nueva Vizcaya for Quiangan and to Doña Placida Agatha Del Rosario Alcover y de Garchitorena, a music teacher from the well-known Alcover clan of Latid, Carcar, Cebu and of Mantalungon, Barili, Cebú and from the well-known Garchitorena clan of Camarines Sur and from the notable Zapanta clan of Aroroy, Masbate. His Ifugao birthname was Hulibaw because it was a celebration when he was born at the house of his mother's first cousin Apo Pullupul, the chieftain eventually the cabecilla of Kiangan.

He was an Ifugao because of his maternal grandmother Clara Alcover y Zapanta, a Spanish teacher from the Pullupul and Pawid clans. His maternal great grandparents from old Quiangan of the present Ifugao province were Apo Pagadut Pullupul who chose the surname Alcover during the Claveria Decree in Carcar, Cebu and Apo Baya Pawid whose heirs eventually chose the Zapanta surname back in old Aroroy, Masbate. These Pullupul and Pawid heirs reached the lowlands and the islands because of the Dominican priests of Nueva Vizcaya.

In 1868, his family moved to Cebú City from Quiangan where he was educated eventually by the Augustinian priests at Colegio Seminario de San Carlos in Cebu in 1877 under the care of the Lazarist fathers where he took Bachelor of Arts and in Intramuros at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in 1881 where he advanced more himself as an escritor and calligrapher. His writings in 1880s and 1890s are still kept by his great great great grandsons . These can be seen only in the Fiel Facebook group.

In 1881, he went back to Quiangan where he, an educated young man, helped their chieftain Apo Pullupul in government negotiations and other trading purposes. This was the time as well when an influx of young Ifugaos went to lowlands, in Manila and in Cebu for studies, trade and other ecclesiastical works.He left his post as cabeza de comercio in Quiangan in 1883 when he was called to serve Cebu City as maestro principal for young men.

His paternal grandfather was Don Pablo Antonio Embrado y Fiel, the 1821 – 1822 Gobernadorcillo of Carcar and the 1823 jefe de paz of Barili and Carcar in Cebu. His maternal grandfather Don Vicente Garchitorena y Basa, a business magnate was from Navarre, Spain and one of the four Garchitorena forefathers in Camarines Sur. His maternal grandmother Clara del Rosario Alcover y Zapanta, a resident cantora of Parroquia de Santa Ana of Barili from Tubod, Barili, Cebu.

Doña Basilisa Fortirch - Ozamiz y Embrado

In his teen years at Carcar, Cebú, at their ancestral Latid, Carcar, he and his neighbor Pilar Fortich y Gonzales became teen sweethearts that eventually gave them Basilisa Fortich y Embrado, their only child. Tan Ardong and Pilar’s relationship did not last because Pilar went to Spain and he went to Colegio Seminario de San Carlos to study.

On 19 June 1888 at Parroquia de Santa Catalina de Alejandría in Carcar, he married Dolores Consuelo Alesόn y Raz de Rangcajo also known as Loleng the bestfriend of Pilar. Loleng was born in Lapoc, Alburquerque, Bohol. She was the daughter of the Carcar born Don Juan Evangelista Alesόn y Campugan, a lawyer and the Custom Chief of Cebú City and of Doña Ynocenta Vicenta Raz y Cielo, a sangley businesswoman of breads and noodles from the Cielo Clan of Batanes Islands. Loleng’s parents owned the first noodle restaurant chain from Argao, Barili, Carcar, Sibonga to San Fernando. The maiden name Raz was also known as Rangcajo in Parian, Cebú. The maiden name was also spelled as Ras that was originally from Oas, Albay, The Philippines. Their home back in old Alburquerque was in Sitio Sambog (now Abucay Norte and Abucay Sur of Sikatuna, Bohol) where the first Ifugao community lived. Within his marriage to Loleng, his wife finally found out that he and wife's cousin and godsister Ajeja Aranas y Bulac had a son named Lorenzo Laureano Aranas. In Alburquerque, Loleng eventually knew Aleja was pregnant of her second child to Ardong. Ardong and Aleja's second child was named Placida Agatha after his mother. This was the start of the painful year of the Embrado - Aleson household.

On 14 July 1888, he was appointed by Governor-General Valeriano Weyler as the Gobernadorcillo of Alburquerque, Bohol, Loleng’s birthplace. His political term only lasted for almost three months because he fought for equality of burial of the yndios and insulares in Alburquerque which Padre Pablo Navarro, the parish priest of Parroquia de Santa Monica de Alburquerque strongly opposed. Finally, on 23 November 1888, the verdict came out about his final removal in office as the Gobernadorcillo of Alburquerque. He was eventually exiled together with his family to Islas de Marianasfor two years from 01 December 1888 to 12 December 1890. In Alburquerque, he was politically succeeded by Don Gabriel Bitoy y Aleson also known as Tan Gabring, the first cousin of Loleng. He and his family returned to the Philippines from exile on 01 January 1891 and lived at Nagpartian in Ilocos, the birthplace of the Briones ancestors of Loleng where he served as Custom Chief and Teniente del Barrio until 01 January 1892. The Aleson surname of Carcar, Cebu was orginally Briones by ancestry.

On 07 January 1892, upon reaching Cebu City, he received a letter from Intramuros that he was appointed by Governor - General Eulogio Despujol as the Gobernadorcillo of Barili in Cebu. He resided at Casa Pañares as the Gobernadorcillo of Barili and took his white horse every time he came back home to his family’s residence in Latid in Carcar.

He was the Gobernadorcillo of Barili until 07 March 1892 before going back to Manila to study Law as what his Garchitorena cousins encouraged him to take at University of Sto. Tomas. While as the Gobernadorcillo of Barili, he stood equality of rights between yndios and mestizos in Barili. He opposed the racism of peninsulares and insulares against the sangleys and yndios of Barili.

In 1898, his American colleague Thomas Gowan asked his advice about establishing an American printing press and English newspaper in the Philippines. Thomas Gowan read the feasibility study of Tan Ardong about the benefits of an American printing press and English newspaper in the Philippines. Thomas Gowan approved the feasibility study of Tan Ardong and eventually founded The Manila Times on 11 October 1898 at Intramuros, Manila. Tan Ardong worked as the proof reader of the articles for The Manila Times from 1898 until 1907 before working for Assemblyman Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina.

Because of his skills in English communication, he was requested by Governor – General Adna Chafee to be the main diplomatic companion of the visit of Superintendent General of Public Instruction Fred Washington Atkinson in Cebu from

Doña Dolores Consuelo Aleson
y Raz de Rangcajo in 1898

20 to 30 November 1901. In Cebu, the first stop was at Osmeña’s Mansion in Cebu City from 20 to 22 November 1901 and second stop 23 – 25 November 1901 at Mercado’s Mansion in Carcar. He brought Mr. Atkinson and fellow Thomasites to Barili in Cebu from 26 – 30 November 1901 to inspect the educational system of the municipality of Barili before heading down to Sayaw in Barili for education inspection in Dumaguete in Negros.

In 1903, one of his dangerous tasks to do was in Barrio Can-ogong (now Clarin, Bohol). He was there to pacify the land feud between the Lofranco clan of Inabanga and the Vaño Clan of Tubigon. He was sent there by Solicitor - General Gregorio Araneta. Because of Tan Ardong's brilliance in diplomacy, the people of Barrio Can-ogong were spared from death. The Lofranco and Vaño clan agreed mutually over land dispute of family members.

In the summer of 1918, Tan Ardong, a godbrother and a Cajes cousin to Ciriaco Lumen, was one of those workers of the Philippines Senate who scrutinized personally for the establishment of the town out from Barrio Can-ogong that eventually became the town of Clarin in 1919. He was one of those workers of the Philippines Senate who recommended to Senate President Manuel Luis Quezon to recommend Clarin as the new town of Bohol to Governor - General Francis Burton Harrison. After the creation and foundation of the town of Clarin in 1919, he was assigned there as the visiting Corporal until May 1919.

During the Taft Commission, he worked as the secretary of Victorino Mapa, the Associate Justice of the Philippines. He was the editor and proofreader of legal documents in English of Justice Mapa. He served as the secretary of Secretary of Justice Mapa from 01 November 1913 to 17 January 1917 when the latter was the Secretary of Finance and Justice.

During the outbreak of the Philippine - American War, he was sent by The Manila Times to personally document the war. He wrote the news fairly. Though there were Americans who mandated him to give favor to the Americans, he stood firm to his principle as a media practitioner free from bribery.

When William Howard Taft became the Governor - General of the Philippines, Tan Ardong's honesty in media caught the attention of the anti-racist Governor - General Taft. Because of his skills in writing and teaching and because of his Ifugao ancestry, in 1903 together with the Thomasites, he was sent by Governor - General Taft to Mt. Province to help convince the natives to learn and to study the English language. He was assigned by the same Governor - General Taft to act as the writer-in-charge for Camp John Hay in Baguio from 28 October 1903 to 10 December 1903.

On 10 January 1907, he became the Presidente Municipal of Barili in Cebú until 31 January 1907. He started to establish the better trading businesses of Negros and Barili and nationwide advertising of Barili rice cakes. These Barili rice cakes were introduced, produced and sold in Luzon in various American schools and government offices. Mr. Fred Washington Atkinson provided the vocational materials to Tan Ardong in Barili where Barili Vocational School started to work on 15 January 1907 at the farm house of his godbrother Don Ysabelo Alcordo y Sagolili and of Doña Hilaria Barcenilla – Alcordo y Alvarado at Santa Ana, Barili, Cebu.

Tan Ardong, as the founder of Barili Vocational School, he provided technical skills in driving, welding and car mechanics to men in Barili and also to men from nearby municipalities of Cebu and Negros. This school was completely burned by the men of Don Florencio Noel of Carcar on 26 February 1908 as revenge to the Alcordos of Barili who managed Barili Vocational School. The Alcordos of Barili condemned the conspiracy of Don Florencio Noel to the Velosos of Cebu City. The conspiracy was revealed by the Velosos of Cebu City to the Alcordos of Barili that Don Florencio Noel wanted the American welding materials to be shipped directly to Carcar port and not to be delivered in Barili because he would like to establish Carcar Vocational School.

On 02 February 1907, the brilliant Tan Ardong went back to Manila and left The Manila Times on 06 February 1907. On 07 February 1907, he started to work as the writer and editor of the speeches of Assemblyman and Majority Floor Leader Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina of the Nacionalista Party. Manuel and Tan Ardong bécame bestfriends at University of Sto. Tomas when the former was still a Law student and the latter was looking for a lawyer to defend his co-teacher in Tayabas from the anger of the residents against the Americans.

In 1908, he was appointed by Governor – General James Francis Smith as the interim District Supervisor of the Bureau of Education for Barili, Carcar and Sibonga in Cebu from 01 July 1908 to 30 November 1908 until Carcar-born Vicente Abellana was installed as the District Supervisor of Barili, Carcar and Sibonga.

From 01 January 1909 to 30 May 1909, he was appointed by Governor – General James Francis Smith as the interim District Supervisor of the Bureau of Education for Quiangan, his birthplace and for Nueva Viscaya schools in Northern Luzon.

After his post in the Bureau of Education, in June 1909, he was called by his bestfriend Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina to be

back in the Assembly as their speeches editor and proofreader. He went back to the Assembly and travelled with the Assemblymen from across the country and to USA for enhancing the political and educational system in the Philippines.

When Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina became the Senate President in 1916, he recommended Tan Ardong as the editor and proof reader of all public speeches of his fellow Senators including himself. This was unanimously approved by the senators. Tan Ardong should replace Senate Secretary Felipe A. Buencamino Jr. as the Senate Secretary. Because of Tan Ardong's big tasks in writing, editing and proof reading of the public speeches of all the senators during the Fourth Legislature, he suggested to Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina to give the Senate Secretary position to Francisco Maria Guerrero who eventually became the Senate Secretary. His brilliant contributions in English writing and in editing and proof reading of public speeches of the Philippine senators encouraged more Filipinos to study and to learn the English language. The Spanish-speaking Philippine senators, Assemblymen and Municipal Presidents down to the tenientes del barrio were also motivated by him to study more and to learn more the English language.

One of his big achievements as writer, editor and proofreader of the Philippine Senate was promoting Mt. Province as a place of peaceful, educated and English-speaking natives. He made efforts to lowland people to respect and to like the cultures and traditions of the peoples in the Cordilleras. One of his protégés was Rafael Bulayungan, his second cousin and godbrother and the first Assemblyman from Ifugao. Tan Ardong encouraged more men in Ifugao to study and have seat in the Assembly representing Mt. Province. Even after he was lost in 1920, through his brother Gregorio Vicente Del Rosario Embrado y Alcover de Garchitorena who married Nicolasa Sotto y Pawid, an Ifugao from Tinok, he continued financing the education of Assemblyman Rafael Bulayungan and Luis Pawid Sr., his third cousin from the Pawid clan of Tinok and the first Civilian Governor of Ifugao who both became great political leaders of the Cordilleras.

Because of Tan Ardong’s wisdom, he became the political advisers of Philippine senators Filemon Sotto, Jose Altavas, Joaquin Luna, Celestino Rodriguez and Jose A. Clarin. As a tenor himself, he suggested to Senator Joaquin Luna to establish a Conservatory School for Filipinos. Eventually, Senator Joaquin Luna sponsored a bill of Conservatory School in the University of the Philippines.

While in the Assembly, he also became one of the part time English instructors of Philippine Normal School in Manila from September 1909 to May 1910. He was so loved by his students because of his wit and patience in teaching.

It was in Manila at the house of his compadre Sen. Joaquin Luna, 30 November 1920, where he was last seen by his son Julian and by his family. From then on and to date, he was missing and no whereabouts of him. The news from Manila came out that he was lost because he knew about the case of Sen. Joaquin Luna. He was put in a safe place as said in another news. The other news was he was with his new family in the USA with a new identity. According to her daughter Criselda (biologically born, 08 February 1896, Carcar, Cebu – 30 June 1999, Kidapawan, North Cotabato) back in 1990s, it was very difficult to lose a father. She did not narrate further because it was so excruciating to remember.

Senator Jose Ozamis y Fortirch, my maternal
grandmother Dolores' first cousin

He and Loleng had seven children namely 1. Pedro Alison who married Maria Avila. They became the ancestors of the Alison clan of Ubay in Bohol. 2. Demetrio who left home and no trace of his family. He went back to Quiangan. To date, no information of him. 3. Beatriz who died in her teens 4. Faustino, the former teacher and principal of Barili Elementary School in 1910 to 1915 and the former principal of Barili Elementary School in 1917 and in 1922 to 1925 and one of the pioneer teachers of the town of San Antonio de Padua School of Sikatuna in Bohol from 1917 to 1922. He married Catalina Davis and Gloria dela Vega. He also taught at the Catholic school in Quiangan. 5. Julian who married Bacelia Anoba y Ybañez 6. Criselda, my maternal great grandmother who married first Fernando Vilo. She eventually married Demetrio Sauza y Mendoza, my maternal great grandfather from The Royal and Noble House of FitzGerald of Ireland in an Ifugao rite in Quiangan. Finally, she married Ignacio Gregorio. Because of the great influences of the American women and female Thomasites, she was the brainchild of St. Michael Academy of Clarin, Bohol and became its first school benefactor. She donated huge amount of money from her relief businesses to help the sons and daughters of fisher folks in Clarin to go to school. Eventually, she worked philanthropically with her childhood best friend Leonila Dimataga - Garcia, the wife of Bohol Governor Carlos P. Garcia and with Fr. John Simon, SVD for this first Catholic school in Clarin. She also financed the establishment and other academic needs of St. Joseph School in Quiangan. 7. Pastor who died a bachelor. 8. His daughter Basilisa by Pilar Fortich y Gonzales married Genaro Ozamis. Basilisa and Genaro's son José became one of the Philippine senators and martyrs during the Commonwealth of the Philippines. 9. His daughter Maria Rosita De Vera y Embrado by the teacher Maria Consorcia De Vera y Malicdem of Aguilar, Pangasinan had illicit relationship to one of his Pullupul cousins in Quiangan. Maria Rosita and this Pullupul man had a son named Macario or Medardo who married a Mandaya - Mansaka of Davao Oriental. To date, no info of any of them.

Many of his articles and the write ups of his father Don Pablo Antonio Embrado y Fiel, the 1823 jepe de paz of Barili and of Carcar were also burned together with the important documents of Barili when the municipal hall of Barili was brought into ashes. His other pieces of Literatures and family memorabilia were also burned when their Alcover ancestral house was one of the houses near Carcar Rotunda that was burned by the Japanese in 1944. Most of his descendants are lawyers, accountants, public servants, musicians, religious, doctors, health care workers, businesspersons, journalists and sports enthusiasts.

My Kankanaey Ancestry

From The Enchanting Moutains of Buguias in Benguet

Apung Bakyat was one of the strong yet kind-hearted chieftains of the Kankana-ey tribe, one of the Igorot tribes of Benguet, Philippines. Through Apung Bakyat, I am proud and grateful that I am an Igorot! Again, Igorot ak! His daughter was Apung Daweg also known as Belle del Rio in Christian name because she born by her mother along the riverbanks of Buguias, Benguet, Philippines.

Apung Daweg name in English translation is "beauty of the river". She was a widow with five children from her first husband who died in a tribal war in Benguet. She worked as a head helper in a hacienda of a rich Spanish family or encomenderos in La Union, Philippines until she married Don Guillermo Luis de Ejercito de Dios de Baraquio, a rich Mexican mestizo businessman from Acapulco, Mexico. She and her second husband had nine children including Honoria Bakyat Daweg de Baraquio (b. c. 1760's, Buguias, Benguet, Philippines) was born while her father was in Mexico.

Apung Honoria married, at the age of 15, Hipolito Caguioa (b. c. late 1750's either 1757 or 1758 or 1759, Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines) who was born in an old Franciscan convent. Few days after Hipolito's birth, his father Don Francisco Del Buenviaje de Caguioa of Castille, Spain, the Grand Patriarch of the Caguioa bloodline in the Philippines and Maria Banga went back to Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Don Francisco Del Buenviaje de Caguioa first set foot on the soil of the Philippines particularly in Bolinao, Pangasinan in early 18th century together with the arrival of Franciscan missionaries. While in Lingayen, Pangasinan, he met Zhang Mei also known as Maria Banga, a lovely long haired Chinese merchant from Guangzhou, China. Maria Banga stood for her pot business. Hipolito's recorded siblings were Francisco Caguioa, Ygnacio Caguioa, Juan Caguioa, Enrique Caguioa and the only Matilde Caguioa.

Apung Honoria and Hipolito Caguioa's children were
1. Valentino Caguioa y de Baranquio
2. Segundo Caguioa y de Baranquio
3. Damian Caguioa y de Baranquio
4. Ciriaco Caguioa y de Baranquio who was the ancestor of the Salamat-Ballesteros bloodline in Bugallon, Pangasinan, Philippines.
5. Magdalena Caguioa y de Baranquio
6. Francisco Caguioa y de Baranquio 
7. Maria Caguioa y de Baranquio
8. Ambrosio Caguioa y de Baranquio
9. Protacio Caguioa y de Baranquio
10. Felipe Caguioa y de Baranquio
11. Beatriz Caguioa y de Baranquio married Lorenzo Dizon y Litawen, a Spanish-Chinese-Don Hector Dizon was a rich Spanish-Chinese mestizo who had a long family history of Chinese-Spanish trade along the coastlines of Lingayen and in the lush mountains of Benguet and the vast fields of Central Luzon, Philippines. Their daughter Maria Dizon y Caguioa married Fortunato Tungol y Cabrera. Their daughter Margarita Tungol y Dizon married Uldarico Galvan y Mamba of Cagayan Valley. Their daughter Crisanta Galvan y Tungol married Deciderio Pajati y Pangan. Their daughter Lucena Pajati y Galvan married Juan Salamat y Capili. Their son Pedro Salamat y Pajati married Florencia Calayag y Balweg (First Wife) and Marcela Gonzales (Second Wife). Their son Jose Salamat y Calayag married Felicisima Jumaquio y De Leon. Their son  Reynaldo Salamat Sr. y Jumaquio married Juliana Jumaquio y Marasigan. Their son was my later father Reynaldo Salamat Jr. married Estela Socorro Dela Cruz y Sauza. 

The sisters Leoncia Salamat - Lopez and
Trinidad Salamat who were daughters of
Pedro Salamat y Pahati and second wife
Marcela Gonzales.

Kankana ey mestizo from Magalang, Pampanga and Buguias, Benguet, Philippines whose father
12. Clemente Caguioa y de Baranquio
13. Quiteria Caguioa y de Baranquio 
14. Jose Caguioa y de Baranquio
15. Pedro Caguioa y de Baranquio
16. Juan Caguioa y de Baranquio
17. Anselmo Caguioa y de Baranquio
18. Amado Caguioa y de Baranquio also known as Mading (1795, Itogon, Benguet, Philippines - 1897, Dagupan, Pangasinan, Philippines) was a strong man until his death at the age of 102. Even days before his death, he still did farming. He was considered as the the pro historian of the Caguioa bloodline. His mind was still clear to narrate the beautiful and remarkable history of the Caguioa bloodline. This family bloodline was passed from him to her great grandniece Margarita Dizon y Tungol and great grandnephew Amadeo Tungol y Dizon down to the Salamats of Paombong, Bulacan who were teachers and church recorders.
19. Miguel Caguioa y de Baranquio (1800, Sison, Pangasinan, Philippines-1901, Lingayen, Pangasinan, Philippines) like his elder brother Mading, at his old age, he was a farmer and a fisherman. He married Dionisia Macaraeg whose parents were Ifugaos from Lagaw, Ifugao, Pangasinan, Philippines. Their son Marcelino Caguioa y Macaraeg married Carmen Dela Rosa. Their son Miguel Caguio y Dela Rosa married Miguela Caguioa. Their son Crispin Caguioa y Caguioa married Juana Malicdem, an Ibaloi from Tuba, Benguet, Philippines. Their son Domingo Caguioa y Malicdem married Victoria Castro. Their son Juan Caguioa y Castro married Hipolita Sorio. Their children were Guillermo Caguioa y Sorio married Isay Garingarao, Encarnacion Caguioa y Sorio and Teresita or Teresa Caguioa y Sorio.

The children of Domingo Caguioa and Victoria Castro were also Falavio Caguioa y Castro, Melecio Caguioa y Castro, Marcelina Caguioa y Castro and Pedro Caguioa y Castro whose second wife was Genoveva Aquino whom they had the following children Alipio Caguioa from 1st wife, Raymundo Caguioa y Aquino, Maria Caguioa y Aquino married the policeman Vicente Decena y Dela Cruz, Amelia Caguioa y Aquino, Nenita Caguioa y Aquino, Teofilo Caguioa y Aquino, Cecilia Caguioa y Aquino, Gloria Caguioa y Aquino and Natalia Caguioa y Aquino.

(Nota Bene: My big thanks to great great grand uncle S. Paula Salamat, DC (1908-2010), a teacher, a family historian and a religious sister of the Daughters of Charity in the Philippines, who provided me as well the copy of this bloodline on in July 1998. The bloodline above will surely help the present and future generations.) 

My Paternal Tingguian Ancestry

SUMMARY OF OUR CALAYAG - TIONGSON and BALWEG - ORTEGA BLOODLINES.

Fulgencia Balweg y Ortega's In-Laws

Our ancestor Juan Tiongson was from Bulacan and his wife Maria Dela Cruz Joson was from Nueva Ecija. My paternal great great great great grandmother Hipolita Tiongson y Aquino (14 August 1839, Malolos, Bulacan - 27 January 1862, 22 years old) also known as Inang Itang eloped with my paternal great great great great grandfather Jose Roque Calayag y Lopez (23 February 1833, Polo, Bulacan - 31 October 1904, Polo, Bulacan, 71 years old, heart attack) also known as Amang Pepe to Bauang now town of La Union and lived at the house of Zita Aquino - Ortega.

Zita and Antera Aquino - Tiongson were sisters. Zita was married to Julio Ortega. Inang Itang gave birth to their first child Gregorio Calayag y Tiongson also known as Amang Goryo. The people of Bauang were informed that Amang Pepe and Inang Itang were married in Polo now Valenzuela City though they were not. They did this to protect Inang Itang from shame though they planned to get married in Ilocos.

Before Amang Goryo turned one, Inang Itang was taken back by her family to Bulacan to marry the rich man betrothed to her by her Tiongson kin. Amang Goryo married Fulgenia Balweg y Ortega also known as Inang Enyang, a Tingguian from Malibcong now of Abra and a scion from the prominent Ortega clan of La Union which was part of the province of Pangasinan.

Our Ortega roots came from Bauang and Bacnotan in the present province of La Union. Our Balweg roots came from the present province of Abra.

Moreover, my late father Reynaldo Salamat Jr. y Jumaquio also known as Papa Rey and the late Fr. Conrado Balweg, SVD (1942 - 1999) were third degree cousins. My Papa Rey was inspired by Fr. Conrado's conviction to help the marginalized sectors of the society during the Marcos regime's Martial Law.

Information from personal interviews and letters.

1. Gregoria Salamat - Dela Cruz y Jumaquio in 1995, Paombong, Bulacan

2. Trinidad Salamat y Gonzales in 1997, Las Piñas City.

3. Mayor Domingo Gonzales of Paombong, Bulacan in 2001.

4. Sr. Paula Salamat, DC in 2001, Daughters of Charity Provincial House, Parañaque City

Moreover, direct information as well from my maternal grandmother Juliana Jumaquio - Salamat y Marasigan in 1980s during our visits to our Tiongson kin in Malolos, Paombong and Hagonoy, Bulacan.