Author Topic: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father  (Read 5253 times)

Lorenzo

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Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« on: December 30, 2010, 05:44:11 AM »
This is a tribute page for my late great-grandfather, Mr. Mariano Tan. Lolo Mariano, who was born in Guangzhou, China, immigrated to the Philippines in 1903 and would call Valencia, Bohol his home as he developed a life and a business in the Philippines.
His full Chinese (HAN) name was: Tan Ngai He. He was the husband of my late great-grandmother, Mrs. Gabina Ingnalan, a Spanish-Filipina mestiza. They would have 4 children and they will be named accordigly from eldest to youngest.

1. Fortunata Tan
2. Ceciliano Tan
3. Balbina Tan
4. Juliano Tan

Their oldest child, and first daughter, anhing Fortunata Tan-Salvo is my maternal grandmother. My Lola Nating.

This summer 2010, I was able, for the first time in my life (as an adult) to visit the grave site of Lolo Mariano and my late Lola Gabina. It was a heart pounding and tearful experience to visit the grave of my Chinese Lolo. To give and offer my homage to his memory, as is the custom, the Chinese custom, of a male Chinese son/grandson before the memory of his grandfather/grandmother. I offered onto his grave fresh flowers, and 24 candles. 12 candles for my Lolo Mariano and 12 candles for my lola Gabina. Each candle symbolized each year that I was unable to visit them. As I sat with them, a gush of cool breeze covered my face, and none of my candles, which were lit, were blown off. The wind touched the flowers I presented in offering for my great-grandparents. I could not help but smile and had this feeling that my Lolo Mariano was there watching me. It was a beautiful experience.


Thanks to the help of my uncle Romeo, I was able, through Grace of God, to see the face of my Lolo Mariano. I have always wanted to see how he looked like, but thought that all his pictures disappeared or were lost in time. It was not the case, apparently so.

My uncle saved a picture of our Lolo, one that was taken when he just arrived in the port of Jolo, Philippines in 1903. This picture was of my Lolo Mariano when he was only 22 years old. If you look closely, his dress attire and his hair cut style is that of the Qing-Dynasty China. It was a standardized by the Qing Emperors that all male Chinese would shave their top hair and keep the back long and tied in a knot. Seeing this picture makes me happy, to see how my Lolo looked like when he was my age, and also to see and reaffirm that I have such a long history, an undiscovered history in Guangzhou, CHINA.






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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2011, 04:26:03 PM »
Kuyawa kaayo kai almost exact copy si Ondoy Andre Nicholas (my youngest brother) ni Lolo Mariano. Isug diay ang dugo sa Inchik...hehehe ;)


Andre when he was 7 years old


Tae Kwon Do ! 7 years old pa si Ondoy Andre


Ondoy

---------


Lolo Mariano when he was 22 years old


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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2011, 04:27:56 PM »
He has Lolo's almond eyes...hehehe. When I first saw Lolo Mariano's photograph last year, the first thing I thought was, "Andre". :)

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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2011, 05:24:21 AM »
Back in January 1998, my Lola Babing (Mrs. Balbina Tan-Salingay) told me about the time when she was only 4-5 years old. She remembered the time where Lolo Mariano carried a bell to the top of the Valencia Church bell tower all by himself. As he was a friend of the church priest at the time. This was during the late 1920's - early 1930's.

It was really amazing to talk to Lola Babing (the younger sister of my maternal grand mother, Fortunata Tan-Salvo) about the yesteryears. In the time that she stayed with us, I was given information of how Lolo worked, what his personality was like. He was adamant kono that they all know how to speak, and write in Chinese (Cantonese). Sa balay nila, dili kono mo sulti si Lolo Mariano og Bisaya, Cantonese ra gajud.

Naka katawa ko kai it was so hardcore that the kids (Fortunata, Ceciliano, Balbina) would sometimes speak Cantonese when they were at school. Lola Babing told me that when she and my Lola Nating were in Valencia Elementary sa una, the kids would tease them kai inchik sila and inchikon ilang nawong. Not to mention, that they had a Chinese father. I asked Lola Babing why this was--and she explained to me that during the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's etc, the Filipino people looked down on Chinese kono.

Mo hilak daw kono si Lola Nating og si Lola Babing after school kai the local kids would tease them and say things like, 'Baho Inchik', 'Inchik Mata'.

They would cry to their father. Lolo Mariano told them as he dried their eyes, "Do not ever be ashamed of being Chinese. Be proud that you are Chinese. Just ignore them, and continue to study..."

Powerful. Talk about resilience...

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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2011, 05:35:49 AM »
In the early 1930's, Lolo Mariano took the entire family back with him to Guangzhou, China. When I was talking to my Lola Babing about this , I asked her how the climate was like, how the environment in China was like compared to Bohol. Her response to me was, "Daghan kaayo og tawo didto, Ondoy. Ang mga tawo didto sa village ni Papa, puro sila tanan og TAN. Paryente sila namo."

So i asked her if she was able to see her grandparents, the mother and father of Lolo Mariano. Naka kita siya nila kono. When Lolo Mariano returned to China in the early 1930's, his father was already old, as so was his mother. When Lolo met his father for the first time since he left China in 1903, he kowtowed to his father and mother. Kowtow is the act of bowing / kneeling before the parent in act of reverence and filial piety. It was an ancient Chinese custom.

Lolo introduced his Filipino wife to his parents as well as his children. Strikto kono to ang Papa ni Lolo Mariano, pero ang Mama niya, dali kono to siya mo kogos sa mga bata. The favorite of Lolo Mariano's father was Ceciliano Tan, a boy. Ceciliano Tan was the younger brother of my maternal grandmother, Fortunata Tan.

After 4 years in China, the family returned back to Valencia, Bohol. When I asked Lola Babing why they returned back to Valencia, she cited the main reason was that her mother was becoming really homesick. For the sake of his wife, Mariano Tan, bid a final farewell to his mother and father and extend relatives, and brought his family back to Valencia, Bohol.



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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2011, 05:49:47 AM »
Chinese Filial Kowtow


This is an example, an illustration, of what kowtow looks like. It is a sign of complete obeisance, and filial respect, and love.

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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2011, 06:03:41 AM »
A good family friend, Dr. Plinio Lim, a former Mayor of Valencia, shared some very warm stories with me concerning my great-grandfather, and my grandmother. After I was introduced to Dr. Lim by way of another family friend, Mr. Jan Palaca, I was amazed that Mayor Lim said to me, "Ondoy Bran, kahibalo ba ka sa imong Lolo Mariano?"

I smiled. Of course I knew, however, I was delighted to know more about him from another viewpoint. So I replied, "Oh, pero gamay lang..."

He said to me, as he put his arm on my shoulder, his eyes looking at mine, "Your Lolo Mariano was pure Chinese. You know that? He was from Guangdong. Strikto kaayo to imong Lolo."

Ning katawa ko. I replied back, "Mao ba diay?"

"Oo! Strikto to siya." "Do you know that when your Lola Nating was younger..she was very beautiful? Pure Chinese beauty...Pure Chinese beauty..." hahaha I could not help but smile when he said that.

It was apparent that close diay to ang pamilya ni Dr. Plinio Lim ni Lolo Mariano. In fact, Dr. Guido Lim and Dr. Plinio Lim were close friends with my Lola.

Dr. Plinio Lim shared more stories with me....it is really amazing how much  you learn about your family just by going back to your hometown. Amazing, truly.

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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2011, 01:32:03 PM »
My grand-uncle, Ceciliano Tan, studied abroad in China. As the oldest son of the family, he was sent to finish collegiate schooling at Zhongshan University in Guangzhou City, Guandong Province, China. Lolo Ceciliano studied Finance at Zhongshan, however, he suffered acute renal failure during his studies in China. The entire family, including Lolo Mariano and Lola Gabina, were devastated at his passing. As the oldest male son, his death was catastrophic for Lolo Mariano.

Ceciliano Tan was buried in the family's funeral plot. He was laid to rest next to his grandfather, grandmother and all relatives of his father's side. He was buried in China.

His death was painful for my Lolo Mariano. I was told of this during a conversation with my Lola Babing (Balbina Tan), the  younger sister of my maternal grandmother.

It was painful for me to hear this. Luoy pod si Lolo Ceciliano.

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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2011, 01:48:35 PM »
Ceciliano Tan.

According to the words of Lola Babing (Balbina Tan), his brother, Ceciliano, was a prolific academic. He was an intellectual when he studied in Valencia Elementary. He was a top student in the school and a constant honor's student. Since he lived in China for 4 years during the time when Lolo Mariano took the family back to Guangzhou, he actually assimilated into life in China. That is why he actually preferred to speak in his father's language. It was said by my Lola Babing that he and my Lola Nating were the favorites of  Lolo Mariano's parents. 

Ceciliano Tan was a polyglot. He was fluent in Cantonese (a southern Chinese dialect), Mandarin (a northern Chinese dialect), in Binisayang Bol-anon, Tagalog, Spanish, and English. He was a prolific writer. Because of my great-grandfather's influence, he was a delicate calligrapher kono and when he would write letters to my Lolo Mariano , he would write not in Filipino, but in Chinese.

Ceciliano Tan applied and was accepted to Zhongshan University, of Guangdong, China. He was a Finance and Business Student. And according to Lola Babing, was also an honors student there as well.

Pinangga to siya kaayo ni Lolo Mariano.

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #9 on: January 10, 2012, 11:28:08 AM »
Mrs. Fortunata Tan - Salvo



Lola Nating pictured with my cousin, Christian Grace.


Mrs. Fortunata Tan-Salvo was a decorated Filipino War Veteran and served with the Philippine Army during WWII. She braved with American and Filipino insurgents in fighting the Japanese during their occupation of Bohol Island.

After the war, Ms. Fortunata Tan married Mr. Casiano Salise Salvo Sr. They both had 5 children. Mrs. Fortunata Tan-Salvo passed away in July 18, 1998. She was a beloved mother and grandmother.

Mrs. Fortunata Tan-Salvo is my Lola Nating.  :)





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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #10 on: January 10, 2012, 11:42:57 AM »
Lola Nating and Lolo Ciano and Grandkids


Joseph, Forlyn, Lola Nating, Bran Lorenzo, Lolo Ciano, Christian Grace, Lorraine Angeli



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Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #11 on: January 10, 2012, 11:43:59 AM »

With my Lola and Lolo  :)

My beloved Lola Nating. Many times she would sing to us grandkids Chinese songs at night. How I wish I had been able to learn Cantonese , the language that Lola spoke so fluently.

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kinsa tong mag pa pintal sa ilang balay etc., just inform me, naa koy kaila nga d best.09487352092

Lorenzo

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Re: Mr. Mariano Tan: My Great-Grand Father
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2013, 01:02:48 AM »
he he he, the spirit of family unity, the love of family is strong.

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