MikeLigalig.com

Hi, Lorenzo (and other Tan relatives). Kumusta na?

I just realized that it has been some 13 years since I last joined the discussion on the Tan family in Bohol. Now I am prompted to re-start conversation because my family is organizing the first-ever reunion of the descendants of my greatgrandfather--my "Oyong"--Tan Peco (a.k.a. Ruperto Tan-Roa, nicknamed by the residents of Tabajan, Guindulman "Insik Perto"). We hope for this to happen sometime in the summer of 2017.

To get the ball rolling, my immediate family invited some cousins from the Tan side to join the family reunion of Tan-Salise (that is, the family of my Lola Conching Tan and Lolo Jorge Salise, Sr, the latter of Valencia, Bohol). This took place just last May at Badiang Resort (Valencia).

The last surviving child of Rufina Bernaldez and Tan Peco, Rosario "Sayong" Tan-Tubig (Tabajan, Guindulman), passed away around 3 years ago at the age of 93. My Oyong had 11 children, however, only one child was a boy--Bartolome Tan, Sr. My Lolo Bartolome had 4 children two of which were boys. Of the two boys, Bartolome, Jr. has only one child, a girl. The other Tan boy was became a priest who later died. Thus, the Tan family name did not prosper in my branch of the family because the 10 daughters all got married and acquired married names.

I reviewed some of our exchange above where you noted that your greatgrandpa Tan Ngai was a first cousin of my Oyong. This is accurate because my Lola Conching was close to his children (your grandma and grand uncles, etc.). She referred to them as "mga pag-umangkon ni Papa". In the family history written by my Lolo Jorge he mentioned that my Oyong was responsible in bringing a few cousins to the Philippines just before the turn of the 20th century and these cousins settled in Leyte, Bohol, Sulu. Again, to recap, it was a cousin from Sulu who encouraged my Oyong to return to China on the eve of the communist revolution in 1949.

Some of my cousins had been asking me to locate the village where our Oyong came from. I told them I have no knowledge of this but that I recall you posting a picture of Tan Ngai (Mariano Tan) here in Tubag Bohol. I told my cousins I would take a look at this again to look at the place of birth of your greatgrandpa. So now I can tell my cousins most likely our Oyong was also from Guangzhou.

Just as an aside---you mentioned that your mother is a granddaughter of Ricardo Salise, Sr.? That makes me your uncle because your mama would be my second degree cousin:)). We also just concluded the grand reunion of the Salise clan of Poblacion Sur, Valencia (to distinguish from the Salise group of Anas) where the descendants of Lolo Ricardo (younger brother of my own Lolo Jorge) were possibly the largest representation. Kinsa diay imong Mama? I thought I had met all of Lolo Ricardo's children (first cousins of my mother Clarita). Kabilaan ang atong relationship )

Additional trivia to Tan relations. My Oyong had another cousin who died many years ago in Jagna where she settled. She was called "Shoga". That doesn't sound like a Chinese name to me...sounds more like a title (not sure....I know the Chinese are fond of calling people according to their rank/status based on Confucian practice). Shoga married another Chinese: A-be Uy, also of Jagna. They were childless but adopted 3 children, one of whom was my uncle, Arsenio Tan-Roa, who I mentioned in an earlier posting.

If you happen to be in the Philippines in the summer of 2017 please join our Tan family reunion. Do you still have folks left behind in Valencia? I should very much like to meet them.

Cheers,

Ricky

I'm very glad to come across postings re the origins of the Tan family in Bohol as my greatgrandfather was one of the Tan  "originals" in the province. Based on the narrative written by my late grandfather (Jorge Salise, Sr of Valencia...who married Concepcion Tan of Guindulman), my greatgrandfather was believed to have arrived in Bohol around the mid-1870s. His name is Tan Pico, later baptized as Ruperto Tan-Roa. He settled in Tabajan, Guindulman where the folks at the time called him Insik Perto. It looks like my Oyong Perto had first come and then left the Philippines another time to fetch his brothers and cousins. These Tan relations had scattered to parts of Southern Leyte, different towns in Bohol, and as far as Jolo. In fact, it was a relative from Jolo who convinced my Oyong to return to China...which he finally did sometime 1948, on the eve of the Communist takeover in 1949.

Oyong Perto was a small-time gentleman farmer in Guindulman who later sold all his properties after the war...in order to pay for his steerage accommodation when he travelled back to China for the last time. Oyong was married to another Guindulman native, Rufina Basa Bernaldez, whose own roots, particularly on the Basa and Bernaldez side, I am also trying to trace. My Oyang Rufina's mother was Lorenza Basa who was married to Francisco Bernaldez. I am quite intrigued about my Basa origins because Lorenza Basa's father was named Jose Basa and according to my Lolo Jorge Jose Basa was originally from Cavite and was directly related to Jose Ma. Basa, the respected patriot from the said province who figured very prominently in the Propaganda Movement in the latter part of the Spanish administration of the country.

Going back to my Tan relations. When Oyong went back to China in 1948 he was accompanied by my mother's first cousin, Arsenio Roa, who was known to the older folks in Jagna as Arsing or Arce Roa, a very good-looking man who once figured in some Cebuano films in the 1950s.  The family used to own a small carenderia at the Jagna Pier called Roa's Store ( I think). Oyong Perto had a cousin...a female who was called Shoga (or something like that). I remember seeing her for the first and only time when I was child in the late 1960s. Shoga wore a gray cheongsam and had really small but stubby feet --pak-kha. Shoga was married to another Chinese in Jagna by the name of A-be Uy.

We never heard from our Oyong after he left the Philippines in 1948.  It is unfortunate that my Uncle Arsing never kept records or told older family members as to which village in Guangzhou he settled back in.

It would certainly be nice to hear from you, guys, in case we are related one way or the other because of our common Tan ancestry. Oyong and Oyang had 7 daughters and only 1 son. That is why very, very few in my family carried the Tan family name. The only Tan relations left in Tabajan, Guindulman are Maning Tan Tubig and his brother Elpidio. Other relatives in the area are the children and grandchildren of my late uncle, Ondoy Tan Fortich.

I will be going home to the Philippines in May and hope to attend the Tabajan fiesta on May 3rd. It would be nice to meet our Tan relatives

Ricky

The NHI should not expect the playing and singing of Lupang Hinirang to be executed in the exact same fashion. I find this physically (bodily) impossible. While I support and appreciate the role played by the NHI as guardian of Philippine historical heritage, it should also be considerate of certain limitations. The lyrics of our national anthem came after the music was composed by Julian Felipe to be played by the San Francisco de Malabon band.  Its tempo is understandably martial (a march) as suggested by President Aguinaldo himself. If I remember correctly, it took Julian Felipe only around 3 days to compose the music...just in time for the declaration of Phil. Independence  on June 12, 1898. Later, Palma Gil (if I remember correctly) would add the lyrics (first Spanish, then later versions in English and Tagalog).

Certainly, playing a march is easier than singing to a martial beat.

But I certainly disagree with the overstylized approach in singing our national anthem.  It should really be given the respect it deserves. Attention should be given to the music and the lyrics of the anthem---NOT TO THE PERFORMER!

As an aside, I remember my old bandmaster, Sgt. Fajardo---who was a member of the famous Phil. Constabulary Band when it participated in an international competition in the US in the 1930s I believe---telling us that during that competition the Philippine National Anthem as adjudged one of the best national anthems in the world, second only to Le Marseillaise (hope I got my French right). And perhaps one major consideration when that award was given was because of the very martial and emotional and nationalistic nature of our national anthem.

As to Arnel Pineda's performance that fateful night, personally I thought he was forcing the issue..that is, forcing himself to start on a very high pitch as if to prove his singing prowess...fully aware that the song will eventually go higher...much higher than his vocal chords could tolerate. Or maybe he had colds. Knowing Arnel's capacity for high pitches....the moment he struck the first note...I already had a foreboding he will not end with a good finish, sad to say.  The moral of the story: just play it again (the normal way), Sam (with apologies to Casablanca).

Just my 2-cents' worth on the subject.

This is very informative, as it is edifying.

Thanks for sharing, Buwad.

I thought I'd also add the trivia that in many instances the first apostles/disciples subsequently also became the first bishop of the place.

Ricky

Hi, Lorenzo.  What a small world indeed. I visited my Mom at the nursing home yesterday and asked her if she has heard of a Mariano Tan. Guess what....without a moment's hesitation...she immediately said "yes". She said Mariano Tan was my Oyong's (Tan Pico, a.k.a. Ruperto Tan) cousin.  Interestingly enough, a few days ago....she was telling me of an incident involving a certain Juliano Tan. She said Mariano was Juliano's father. She added yesterday that my Oyong himself told her that Mariano was his cousin. Mommy said Mariano had other children with nicknames of Balbing and Nating (she says Juliano was often called "Yanni"). Mommy says Nating has children in California.

Well, going over the names of your Chinese greatgrandpa's children as you wrote, I notice that the nicknames  above in fact correspond to your grandmother's and grandauntie's and granduncle's names!

Looks like we are in fact related afterall!  Now, I have a bit of tsismis to tell you about Juliano but which, obviously, I can not post here. So, better give me your email address if you want to know what this is ))))

Further, if Tan Ngai and Tan Pico were close relations (as my Oyong had intimated)....how big do you think is the probability that they came from the same village in Guangzhou? Your family might just be able to help mine finally solve the mystery of our Oyong's circumstances when he returned to China in 1948, like where and when he died, if we are able to trace his direct relations, possibly through your family's help.

Cheers,

Ricky

FURTHER ON THE TAN'S OF BOHOL

Hi, Lorenzo. Sorry for this delayed reply. I actually attempted to respond to your previous posting right after I read it but my lengthy reply got deleted by accident. I hope this doesn't happen again this time. My cursor seems to be jumping all over the place, that's why...and that's when the s*** hits the fan (pardon my French!).

With the indulgence of other readers, I continue to post this reply for public consumption considering that the Tan family could be quite numerous in Bohol.  Hopefully, in so doing, we might just get more related comments .

Now, it is really very intriguing for me to note that you mentioned somewhere that your Lolo Cecilio (or some other ancestor) came to Bohol from Jolo..."smuggled", as you wrote. I am intrigued because my Oyong---Tan Pico--according to my Lolo Jorge (Salise) was known to have brought to the country (or to Bohol perhaps at least?) many of his relatives. It is presumed that my Lolo Ruperto (called Insik Perto in Guindulman) first arrived in Manila. But from there Oyong said his batch of relatives proceeded to Leyte, and from there to Bohol. Some proceeded to Jolo (quite contrary to the migration pattern originating from Jolo and ending in Bohol).  There is no doubt that Lolo Perto had direct Tan relatives there because it was a relative from Jolo who encouraged him to return to China in 1948.

And before I forget, the only other cousin of my Oyong whom I met when I was a kid was named Shoga (or possibly spelled Sioga).  I remember meeting her in the mid-60s in Jagna where she married Catalino Uy (possibly a pure Chinese himself). Lola Shoga dressed in cheongsam and made small steps when walking because she had the pang-ko or bound feet. For all her years in Bohol, she still spoke with a thick Chinese accent, calling my Mom "Calalita", when her name is Clarita. 

My branch of the Tan family is sad to note that the last child of our Oyong Perto, Rosario "Sayong" Tan-Tubig of Tabajan, Guindulman, passed away today, July 21st. She was 91. Unfortunately, I never had a chance to her about our roots when I used to visit the Philippines and when she still had full control of her faculties.

You are lucky to still possess your  ancestors'  immigration papers. I wonder if you could scan these for me, just to have sense of what information is contained in those travel documents.

All for now.  Will comment on the Salise family next time.

Cheers,

Ricky

This is a very interesting topic---the role the Chinese played in Bohol politics and society.  I am particularly interested in this discussion because my roots are also Chinese. In fact, I have been trying to connect with any member of any Tan family in Bohol.

My greatgrandfather was named Tan Pico.  His baptismal name was Ruperto Tan-Roa (as explained earlier, Roa was his native sponsor's name).  He is believed to have migrated to Guindulman sometime in the 1880s. According to family lore, he came when he was only in his early teens, together possibly with other brothers and cousins of the same surname.  They came by way of Leyte.

My Oyong (I suppose this is some Chinese rendering of "lolo") returned to China in 1947/48, at the height of the Chinese revolution.  Presumably, he returned to Amoy.  My late uncle, Arce Roa (who used to own Roa's store at the Jagna pier), was a teenager when he accompanied Oyong to China.  Unfortunately, no one bothered to document things about our Chinese ancestor, until I started doing research on the subject, mainly because of my own specialization in History.

Ruperto Tan-Roa, a.k.a Tan Pico, married Rufina Basa Bernaldez of Guindulman. I have the genealogy of the Basa side of my family but only until Jose Basa, my Oyang's grandfather.  I have been trying to establish the direct connection between my greatgreatgreatgrandfather Jose Basa with the noted Propagandist, his namesake, Jose Maria Basa of Cavite.

I am also interested in getting a reference to someone who has done research on the Philippine revolutionary and Fil-American war periods in Bohol.  My other greatgrandfather, Fernando Salise (Valencia, Bohol), is believed to have been the youngest revolutionary to surrender to the Americans (presumably at least in the Valencia area).

My limitation is that I live in Toronto (Canada).

Any help would be appreciated.

Ricky

Hi, Luisa. I hope you will be successful in your search for relatives in Dimiao. I have been doing some search of my own myself....pertaining to the Basa side of my family in Guindulman.

I suppose it would be a big help if you would mention the names of your mother's parents as these would definitely connect them to people.

If your mama studied in the local high school, this would be a lead, too.  Presumably, this high school might have an alumni association that has a presence on the internet.

Or, try to get hold of the baranggay captain of the barrio where your Mama was born.  The captain's network is very extensive.  In fact, he might just be the best person to assist you in your quest.

Good luck.

Ricky

Hi, everyone.  I am trying to complete our family tree. I belong to 6th generation of the Jose Basa Family of Guindulman. Is there anyone who could help me accomplish this?

So far, here is what my grandfather (the late Jorge Salo Salise, Sr. of Valencia, Bohol, who married Concepcion Tan of Guindulman) has written:

                                                 Jose Basa --- (name of wife)
                                                                   I
                                                                   I
                                          Lorenzana Basa - Francisco Bernaldez
                                                                   I
                                                                   I
                  Rufina Bernaldez ---Ruperto Tan Roa (Tan Pico, original Chinese name
                                                                   I
                                                                   I
                                          Concepcion Tan ---- Jorge Salise, Sr
                                                                   I
                                                                   I
                                        Clarita Salise ---- Godofredo Caluen  (my parents)
                                                                   I
                                                                   I
                                                      Ricardo Caluen (that's me)

I wanted to place an ad in a publication in Guindulman but I am not sure if they have a local newspaper or something of this sort.

Any help....leads....would be appreciated.

I am visiting the Philippines in September this year and I would be happy to meet any member of the Basa family of Guindulman.

Thank you.

Ricky