48. 14 NATIONALLY-FAMOUS KAPAMPANGAN FOOD BUSINESSES

ALING LUCING “The Sisig Queen”

The woman who, in 1974,  gave her name to her modest Angeles restaurant and catapulted “sisig” to national prominence was born Lucia “Lucing” Lagman in Tarlac. A good cook, Lucing experimented with innovating “sisig”, a favorite Kapampangan dish made from chopped parts of a pig’s ears, liver, chopped onions, calamansi, vinegar and spices and served on a sizzling platter. Her Aling Lucing’s Sisig earned a multitude of patrons from even outside the city, that soon attracted national media attention. Dubbed as the “Sisig Queen”, Aling Lucing’s food business helped establish Angeles as the “Sisig Capital of the Philippines”. Her business had not even reached its maximum potential when Aling Lucing was found bludgeoned to death on 16 April 2008. Husband Victorino Cunanan, reputed to be a gambler, was tagged as a suspect. At present, there are Aling Lucing’s Sisig restaurants run by relatives in Pampanga, plus branches in Makati, Pasig and Aklan—all serving different sisig versions. From an appetizer, the Kapampangan sisig had graduated to being staple feature for many landmark occasions.

CABALEN Restaurant

Back in the 1970s,  Maritel O. Nievera used to help run the family food business called “Bahay Pasalubong” in San Matias, Santo Tomas, Pampanga. It achieved a measure of success , so she and her sister Beth, were encouraged to open a small kiosk at SM City North EDSA  in 1986 selling various Kapampangan delicacies. Five years later, the Pinatubo eruption occurred. Holding fast to her faith in the future of her embattled province, she initiated a drive to make San Fernando a showcase of successful recovery  by putting up “Ituro Mo, Iluto Mo”, a restaurant  that promises every guest a classy Kapampangan dining experience. It proved to be a hit. She then went further by establishing Cabalen, the first Kapampangan specialty restaurant chain in Manila, captivating discriminating food lovers with authentic native cooking and signature dishes from the province. Through her fine restaurants, Nievera continues to promote widescale interest for Pampanga’s culinary arts, while showcasing the Kapampangan woman in her best light. Today, the “Queen of Filipino Buffet” , with her Cabalen Group, is on its 30^th year of bringing the best of Pampanga’s cuisine to the Philippines.

EVERYBODY’S CAFÉ

Everybody’s Café and its ubiquitous diner-inspired sign has become a San Fernando landmark, and a favorite stop for many travelers passing by the city along MacArthur Highway. The idea to open a roadside café was conceived by couple Benito M. Santos and Carmen Nogoy during the 40s. A friend suggested a neutral name that’s neither pro-American nor pro-Japanese--”Everybody’s Café”. The Santoses started with 10 tables in a a space along the newly opened Consunji St. with a menu that included merienda items like pancit luglug and 30 centavo mami soup. By the 1950s, it gained a reputation as a favorite eating place of Diosdado Macapagal before going to his miting de avance. In 1967, a second Everybody’s Café building was put up and through the years, the list of customers expanded—from Pampanga High and Assumption students to Dña. Aurora Aquino, Pres. Cory Aquino and her children, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo an showbiz celebrities. Everybody’s Café is known for introducing to a nation such special Kapampangan treats as “adobung kamaru” (mole crickets) a perennial bestseller of the house, betute (stuffed frogs), taba ng talangka, paku salad, morcon (Kris Aquino’s favorite), lumpiang papaya, tsokolateng binatirul and leche flan made of gatas damulag (carabao’s milk). Currently, Everybody's Cafe is operated by the Santos daughter, Mrs. Petronila Jorolan with the help of children Pocholo, Pamela, Kristine and Ma. Carmina. It has been true to its name through its long years of existence—it is indeed, a place for everybody!

HIZON’S CAKES AND PASTRIES

 Hizon’s Cakes & Pastries on Bocobo Street in Ermita, Manila was founded by Inocencia Hizon, a widowed single mother who worked as a department store clerk at Aguinaldo’s, Escolta. The Hizons have roots in Mexico. Family lore has it that the now-famous ensaymada recipe was given to her by an anonymous woman. Inocencia baked dozens of ensaymadas using the recipe, and engaged the help of her sister to peddle the pastries in offices, which, to her surprise, were all sold-out. This encouraged her to put up a bakeshop which she named simply as “Hizon’s”, on Raon St. Today, Hizon’s has branches in Pasay, Greenhills and Makati, run by daughter Milagros Ramos Roasa. The shop, regarded as an institution, (it was the late Dolphy's favorite hang-out place),  is also famous for its taisans, apple pies and ube cakes, but the ensaymada remains a sentimental favorite.

HIZON CATERING

The country’s leading off-premise caterer specializing in weddings, private parties and corporate events was started in 1987 by Baby Hizon, a Kapampangan from Concepcion, Tarlac. She parlayed her interest in culinary arts into an successful enterprise that began as a backyard business –catering to relatives and friends.  She was soon being sought after to cater birthdays, weddings, debuts and other special occasions.  After three decades, Baby’s , Hizon’s Catering has served over 14,543 weddings, 5,673 corporate clients, and 3,653 private events with its nearly three decades of experience. With son Joseph as current general manager, and assisted by eldest son, David, an American-trained chef, Hizon’s Catering has grown into a modern operations housed in a fully equipped 2,500-square meter commissary in Quezon City. Plans for the future include growing the business by about 15-20 percent a year, tapping the corporate and children’s events segment,  while maintaining its hold on the wedding catering market.

LJC RESTAURANTS

Larry J. Cruz, the son of renaissance man, writer and artist Emilio Aguilar Cruz of Magalang, is the founder of LJC Chain of Restaurants, beginning with Café Adriatico—a small café in Malate, that was put up in 1979. Cruz, a journalist, virtually had no experience in running restaurants, but his little café made waves—what with its good food, efficient service and a vintage ambiance that appealed to artists, celebrities, politicos, celebrities and people from the corporate world. Café Adriatico inspired the openings of cafes around the country. Today, despite Larry’s passing in 2008, the LJC Restaurants have expanded to include the management and operations of food outlets  like Abe, Abe Farm, Fely J’s Kitchen, Lorenzo’s Way, Café Havana, Larry’s Café and Bar and Polka Dot Bakeshop.

MANGAN

Cabalen paved the way for the establishments of other Kapampangan restaurants. San Fernando born and bred Ricco Ocampo, owner of several  lifestyle stores (“Sari-Sari”), diversified into the food business and opened “Mangan”, an authentic Kapampangan culture restaurant , to complement his earlier  “Kitchen”, both in Manila malls. Every dish should only be cooked upon order,” says Ocampo, “Cooking everything in the morning and reheating them during lunch and dinner betrays the essence of real Kapampangan cooking. Mangan, an all-day, casual restaurant, also serves merienda items such as puto bumbong, bibingka and halo-halo, Guagua style, with lots of leche flan, sweet bananas and macapuno. Complementing his Mangan Restaurant is Ebun, Kusinang Pinoy, at Greenbelt in Makati.

MEKENI FOOD CORP.

What started as a home-based chicharon and tocino business for couple Felix M. Garcia and Medica L. Santos is now—after 3 decades—a highly successful, giant processed meat enterprise called Mekeni Food Corporation. At the start, the promising meat business gave the Garcia couple supplemental income to send their five boys to school. Luckily, the boys found various employments abroad after college. But when the 1991 Pinatubo eruption wrought damage to their business, the Garcia sons came home to help their parents rebuild the business.  With the help of 30 employees, Mekeni was fully restored with greater success. Not only did the company bounced back from the calamity, but it also gave employment opportunities to a community of people who lost much in the aftermath of the eruption. Its flagship brands include the Mekeni line of cured tocino, tapa and longganisa produced in its world-class plant in Balubad, Porac. It also produces the popular Picnic premium brand of hotdogs and a host of other treats like Spicy Pork Barbecue, Corned Beef, Nuggets, Beef Teriyaki,  Kikiam and Squid Balls. Recently, Mekeni Food Corp. celebrated  “30 Years of Uplifting Filipino Lives”.

PAMPANGA’S BEST

Pampanga’s Best is the most well-known meat processing corporation that has been giving the Philippines and the world a taste of our renowned tocino, longganisa, tapa, bacon, hotdogs, embotido, barbecue, burger patties, nuggets, and more, for over 4 decades now. It was founded by Mrs. Lolita O. Hizon of San Fernando, who helped her neighbor—a meat dealer-- in preserving her leftover meats.  Mrs. Hizon cured the meat by improving and refining on the traditional process of fermenting Kapampangan “pindang” that is endowed with a delectable salty-sweet taste. The result is her famous  “tocino” products that would form the core of ber Pampanga’s Best business, now a multi-million peso venture personally run by her family, including her 12 children. “Always the best—from Pampanga’s Best”, so goes the company motto, a promise that the Hizons vowed to keep in response to the loyal patronage their meat brands enjoy to this day.

RAZON’S

The famous Razon's chain of halo-halo shops began as a small "refreshment parlor" at the Razon home in a Guagua subdivision. It was put up in 1972 by the Razon siblings: Virginia, Severina, Elena and Roger, and catered mostly to residents and local students. But the merienda items—particularly the pancit and the delectably smooth Razon’s halo-halo soon became the talk-of-the-town. Tourists began flocking to the Razon’s Guagua home, moreso when foodie writer Doreen Fernandez discovered it and wrote about “the best halo-halo in the world”. Surprisingly, Razon’s halo-halo only had 3 ingredients—sweet macapuno, sagin na saba, and leche flan. With the death of the siblings, the business flourished,  through several incarnations of the Razon’s refreshment shop ran by relatives.  One niece, Luz Razon-Cabrera operates 3 Razon’s stores. Her sister-in-law in San Fernando owns Teresita’s, which, according to the proprietor, makes halo-halo from the only original recipe approved by Virginia Razon. The first Razon’s of Guagua, owned by Razon Food Corp., opened on 8 July 2003 at the Food Court of Robinson’s Galleria. This chain has over 66 branches in Manila, as of 15 April 2016.

RED RIBBON BAKE SHOP

Amalia Hizon of Mexico, together with husband Renato Mercado, put up a little cake shop called Red Ribbon that drew praises for its cakes and pastries. They set up their first shop in 1978 along Timog Ave. in Quezon City. In a matter of years, the cake shop gained a substantial following, and in 1984, it opened a U.S. outlet.  The bakeshop was popular for its chocolate cake, blueberry cheesecake, black forest cake, ensaymada, empanada and mamon. It was no wonder then that Jollibee Food Corp. acquired the business in 2005. One of the fastest-growing bakeshop chain in the country, Red Ribbon has over 370 outlets all over the Philippines and some 33 stores in US with locations in California, Nevada, Washington, Hawaii, New York, New Jersey and Virginia.

 SUSIE’S CUISINE

Susie’s Cuisine has become a household name in Pampanga, a favorite go-to place for the most delicious Filipino kakanins or native delicacies like bibingkang nasi (rice cake), tibuk-tibuk (maja blanca), kalame, aleyang ube, sapin-sapin and moche. Began in the 1970s as a carinderia by Mrs. Anicia Ayson, she named her stall after her adopted daughter  Jesusa “Susie Ayson-Yabut, an Amerasian abandoned by her father. In time, Mrs. Ayson started adding native kakanins and pasalubong items to her offering, due to consumer demand. Her bestseller turned out to be her “tibuk-tibuk”, a creamy, delicate pudding made from pure carabao’s milk. Eventually, Susie Ayson-Yabut took over the business, which suffered a setback when Pinatubo erupted in 1991. Yabut and husband Glenn moved to Manila, and after earning enough capital, they returned to Angeles to re-open Susie’s Cuisine, with an expanded menu, and additional local treats like saniculas, araro, polvoron, turrones de casuy, brownies, okoy and bobotu. To date, there are about 15 Susie’s Cuisine branches in Central Luzon, raking in up to P5 million during its peak months.

LAPID’S CHICHARON & BARBECUE

D’Original R. Lapid’s Chicharon & Barbecue is rputed to be the largest producer of chicharon in the country today. It was started way back in 1974 as a “kainan” (eatery) by Rey Lapid, then age 23, a transplanted Kapampangan, whose father Frederico Sr. owned a meat stall in Quinta Market. He observed that his father’s customers would ask that the skin be removed; his dad would just often discard the skin away.Thus, Lapid collected the skin and ventured into chicharon-making. He perfected a recipe and began selling his chicharon in a Quiapo stall. Slowly, but surely, Lapid’s business grew, especially when he introduced cooking chicharon in front of customers in giant malls like SM, Robinson’s and Landmark. It is also the first chicharon manufacturer to use imported pork skin raw materials from U.S.A., Europe, Canada, and Korea. Indeed, chicharon has become synonymous to Lapid's, and this cracklin' delicious snack is enjoyed all over the country, thanks to the over 100 branches of R. Lapid's Chicharon and Barbecue in operations today!

CINDY’S BAKESHOP & RESTAURANT

Cindys—the place to be—was founded in 1971 by a group of businessmen in Tarlac who simply envisioned a restaurant that served “good food in a good place”. Thus was born the first Cindys store in Tarlac, that served a standard fare of baked breads, and merienda favorites. The successful reception to the store prompted  them to open more branches and to offer new menu items like burgers, French fries and express meals. But it was the bakeshop that gave Cindys a competitive edge. At its peak, Cindys was promoted through national advertising, a no mean feat for a homegrown business. To focus on its uniqueness,  Cindys re-conceptualized its product in 1996, by opening a store that was first a bakery, and secondarily a restaurant. This gave it an edge above the rising number of fast food joints. Today, Cindys has over forty stores nationwide.

SOURCES:

ALING LUCING, RP's sisig queen found dead in Pampanga home : http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/89628/rp-s-sisig-queen-found-dead-in-pampanga-home/story/

CABALEN: http://www.cabalen.ph/

EVERYBODY’S CAFÉ: Kasalesayan ning San Fernando

HIZON’S: “Piece of Cake: Kapampangans’ Sweet Tooth”, http://viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com/2015/04/381-piece-of-cake-kapampangans-sweet.html

HIZON’S CATERING: http://hizonscatering.com/

LJC GROUP OF RESTAURANTS: http://ljcrestaurants.com.ph/ljc/about/

SUSIE’S CUISINE, Meet Pampanga's 'kakanin queen' : http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/07/14/meet-pampangas-kakanin-queen

MANGAN: “Mangan is authentic ‘mekeni’ dining”.By Alex Y. Vergara

Inquirer News Service

MEKENI FOOD CORP.: http://www.mekeni.com/

PAMPANGA’S BEST: https://www.pampangasbest.com/

RAZON’S: http://razonsfoodcorp.com.ph/about

“Your favorite halo-halo Places”, http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/food/486830/your-favorite-halo-halo-places-luz-the-original-razon-s-halo-halo/story/

LAPID’S: http://www.philstar.com/business/2012-09-13/848300/rey-hope

http://www.rlapids.com.ph/about-us/company-history/

CINDY’S: http://www.cindysbakery.com/about-cindys/history.html

47. 5 INSPIRING PHYSICALLY-CHALLENGED KAPAMPANGAN ACHIEVERS

Five inspiring stories of Kapampangans who surmounted their physical impediments to become leaders, achievers, and outstanding citizens—living proofs of the triumph of the human spirit over personal handicaps and adversities.

*******

ATTY. AHMED C. GARCIA, San Fernando

Disability: Total Blindness

Claim to Fame: Practicing Lawyer for over 30 Years, using Braille.

Atty. Ahmed C. Garcia has one of the most remarkable careers in the field of law—for he was not only a brilliant lawyer, but he was also completely blind. Born with a normal sight, he was allowed to enroll at the U.P. College of Law, on scholarship. Among his classmates were kabalen Renato D. Tayag  and the future president, Ferdinand E. Marcos. Four years after graduation, Garcia went completely blind. He went to America in 1947, but doctors confirmed that he would be blind for the rest of his life. While in the U.S. ,Garcia deemed it wise to learn Braille at a Braille Sight Saving School, which he mastered.

His marriage to 18 year old Marcelina Ocampo  in 1948 prompted him to resume his stalled legal career. His keen sense of hearing compensated for his blindness. He could navigate around the courthouse, recognize a person through his voice, and feel his way through the railings of buildings. In his court appearances, Garcia relies on his wife who reads and reviews his notes with him, helps in preparing his briefs and in describing witnesses’ reactions.  Otherwise, he takes down his own notes in Braille.

One of his high-profile clients was Huk leader Casto Alejandrino. In 1961,  Garcia decried as unconstitutional, a  1957 law that outlawed the Communist Party of the Philippines, because “it denied individuals to group among themselves”.  He assiduously pursued the case all the way to the Supreme Court, but Alejandrino’s conviction was upheld.

At their 1964 Silver Anniversary Reunion, Garcia’s classmates honored him with an award “in recognition of his courage, perseverance and determination in the pursuit of the legal profession as a practitioner, despite adversity imposed by total loss of sight”.

MANUEL ABAD SANTOS, Angeles

Disability: Lost one leg in a shooting

Claim to Fame: The Fighting-est Mayor of Angeles

Elected in 1951, Manuel Abad Santos is best remembered as a town leader who stood firmly on one leg and a crutch, sticking firmly to his principle of standing up for the common good of his people. Born  26 March 1907 to parents Irineo Abad Santos of San Fernando and Teofila Dizon of Angeles, Manuel counts the late martyr-jurist Jose Abad Santos and the great people’s leader, Pedro Abad Santos as uncles.

 An incident in 1926 would leave him physically maimed for the rest of his life. While in a San Fernando entertainment place, he was caught in a gunfire started by a PC trooper who suddenly went on a shooting rampage. He lost his left leg in that carnage. Once recovered from his wounds, however, he went back to Ateneo and earned a pre-law degree,  which he finished in 1927. Manuel, however, opted to work right after college, joining his parents in expanding their burgeoning moviehouse business.

In 1951, Abad Santos, then already in his mid-40s,  joined the political fray. Running as a minority candidate, he won the mayorship of Angeles by a landslide, signalling the beginning of a long, fruitful career.  In 1955, he was re-elected but this time, his term was marked with bitter and contentious moments with Clark Field and socio-civic groups. Nevertheless, this “only one-legged mayor of the Philippines and the one with the most kick inspite of his handicap”, would continue running the affairs of the town with nationalist zeal. To him,  there is no other accomplishment greater than protecting the rights of the people whom he vowed to serve.

NORMA LAPUZ

Disability: Blindness

Claim to Fame: “The Blind Songstress”

Kapampangan Norma Lapuz was just 16 years old when word of the blind girl’s singing talent reached the LVN Studios. She had made waves as a singer in Clover Theater along Rizal Avenue, the one of the hottest entertainment spots in the city back in the 50s, along with Diomedes Maturan and Elsie Oria.  And so, in 1959, Lapuz was given the title role in the movie “Ginintuang Tinig”,  the “blind girl with a silver song” paired with “the most popular voice in the Philippines”, Diomedes Maturan.  The film turned her into a full-fledged movie star, but it was still her extraordinary voice that people remember, with signature songs like “Kung Maging Ulila” (a kundiman by Prof. Jose Silos), “Ligaya Mo, Ligaya Ko” (a Tagalog adaptation of the hit theme song, “To Sir With Love). By 1961, she was one of the top recording artists of the country, ranking along Sylvia La Torre, Diomedes Maturam Tres Rosas, Reycard Duets, Pilita Corrales and Fred Panopio.

RONNIE MANALANG, Angeles

Disability: Lost both hands, part of arms and left leg in an electrical accident.

Claim to Fame: Finished Architecture at age 46

Ronnie Manalang was 20 years old when he was working in the construction of a building in Angeles. It was breaktime, but Ronnie was still at his post, hold an iron rod. Then, the unthinkable happened. The iron rod touched a power line, immediately delivering 13,800 volts to his body. When his arms and left foot were severely burned, 80 % of his body electrocuted. His recovery was long and expensive, but good thing his mother Yolanda met William Pitsenberg who made it possible for Ronnie to get reconstructive orthopedic treatments and surgery at Shriner’s Hospital in Boston and Los Angeles. While undergoing treatments, Ronnie managed to take up drafting courses in California. Outfitted with iron-hooked hands he designed himself and with his health back, he returned to the Philippines in 1997, and continued with his schooling. At age 46, with his wife Catherine and son Tyron in attendance, Ronnie Manalang walked proudly on stage to receive his diploma, achieving his dream against all odds.

ERWIN V. DAYRIT, San Fernando

Disability: Born with a brittle-bone disease

Claim to Fame: Multi-Awarded Visual Artist

An Outstanding Fernandino awardee for 2011, artist Erwin “Weng” Dayrit was born in 1979 with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle-bone disease), which gave him a barrel-shaped rib cage and a short, dwarfish stature. Despite this, the young Erwin flourished and persevered, finishing a drafting course at Don Honorio Ventura State University. He put up an art and sign business along with friends, but it was his amazing artwork pieces drawn using ballpoint pens that made him well known in the local art circle. Soon, Erwin was winning competitions, and began receiving extensive media coverage for his art. His inspiring life story was featured in the popular Channel 7 drama anthology program, “Magpakailanman”, hosted by Mel Tiangco, in an episode entitled “Abot-Kamay ang Pangarap: The Erwin Dayrit Story”, which aired on 18 March 2017. Erwin Dayrit portrayed himself in the biopic, that also starred Aicelle Santos, Ana Capri, Gary Estrada, Jazz Ocampo, and David Remo,  as the child Erwin.

SOURCES:
AHMED GARCIA: Carpio, Solomon T., “Pampanga, Blind Lawyer: Courtroom Celebrity”, The Sunday Times Magazine, pp. 38-39
MANUEL ABAD SANTOS: Manuel Abad Santos, The Fighting Mayor of Angeles 
NORMA LAPUZ: Jessie B. garcia, A Movie Album Quizbook, Erehwon Books and Magazines, 2004.
RONNIE MANALANG: Universitas, Holy Angel University publication
ERWIN V. DAYRIT: Edwin V. Dayrit FB page
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/603707/may-kapansanang-artist-na-si-erwin-dayrit-sasabak-sa-acting-sa-magpakailanman/story/

46. 10 KAPAMPANGAN EUPHEMISMS DERIVED FROM SPANISH

CONTRIBUTED BY: PAPS OSMUBAL

Usually, Kapampangans are very graphic in the use of their language when they engage in conversations. However, when politeness overcomes them, they turn to Spanish terms and words to cloak their discussions that may have unpleasant, sensitive, obscene, embarrassing or mature content.

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR: 
PAPA OSMUBAL(aka Oscar Balajadia) of Magalang, is a poet-artist residing in Macau-SAR, China. A graduate of Holy Angel University,  he has an MA in English Studies from the University of Macau (Highest Honor),and  a post-graduate diploma in education from Universidade de Sao Jose (Highest Honor) As an artist, he has an interest in occidental calligraphy, and has done many solo art exhibits. His writings have appeared in various anthologies and publications, online and hard copy, most recently in Subtle Tea, The Houston Literary Review, Poor Mojo's Almanac, Bulatlat and The Cortland Review. Author of the book series on the roots of Kapampangan language, O Jo Nu'Ca Menibat. A forthcoming book , "Capampangan Roots: Primitive Words and Syllables from Polynesian-Austronesian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Bahasa Languages as Roots of the Capampangan Language" will be published by the Center for Kapampangan Studies.

45. 9 REAL-LIFE LOVE STORIES OF KAPAMPANGAN COUPLES

"Oh Jo, caluguran daca...caluguran sobra-sobra", so goes a Kapampangan hit song just a few years back. But oh, the things Kapampangans will do for love. He will go to great lengths to win the love of his life, including getting parental approval, overcoming differences like race, age and social status, hurdling legal impediments and other adversities. The love stories of these Kapampangan couples--some fascinating, others amusing, all real-life-- illustrate how love can indeed, move mountains.

*****

1. FRAY GUILLERMO MASNOU & PATRICIA MERCADO: A Dangerous Liaison

The accomplished Fray Guillermo Masnou (b.6 Dec. 1827)/d.16 May 1895) , the son of Pedro Masnou and Isabel Gomez, was a  graduate of the Real Colegio Seminario de Villadolid. Three years after professing his vows, he sailed to the the Philippines  in 1852, along with 34 other Augustinians. His first assignment was in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga , followed by Angeles  where he served the longest (1855-1877). There, he worked to renovate the church, build the convent, several bridges, the town cemetery and a school building. While on his first year in Pampanga, Fr. Masnou  met Patricia Mercado of Sto. Tomas (b. ca. 1828/d.4 Apr. 1900), a single mother of 3 children. The two started an affair, which resulted in at least 6 children.

In an effort to spare Patricia and his family from possible disgrace, Fr. Masnou devised a way to make it appear that their children were legitimate. He had their names recorded in the Angeles parish books, identifying Patricia Mercado as the mother and a certain Nicolas Gomez as the father. Gomez was supposedly a Spaniard who went to the Philippines to marry the Pampanga native. Records also show he died in 1861—6 years before his youngest daughter was born and more than 38 years before  his “widow” died. All these entries in the canonical books were signed by Fr. Masnou.

 It has now come to light that this Nicolas Gomez was a fictitious character that Fr. Masnou created, to give legitimacy and respectability to his children and his mistress. It was a final act of love that he did,  before he returned to Spain in 1877. His stay would be brief, as a year later, he was back in Pampanga. Could it be that he couldn’t stand being away from his true love?

As a footnote to this 'dangerous liaison', the couple’s firstborn, Esteban Gomez married Josefa Pamintuan. Daughter Teresa would grow up to be the wife of Juan De Dios Nepomuceno, and the two would start a clan that would shape the progress of Angeles.

2. ROMAN R. SANTOS & JULIANA P. ANDRES: The Comeback Story of a Penniless Orphan and His Headstrong Bride.

The riches-to-rags-to-riches story of Roman Rodriguez Santos (b. 9 Aug. 1880/d.19 Jul. 1959) began in Apalit, as the son of a well-to-do family whose fortunes from their sugarlands were all wiped out by a series of calamities—typhoons, earthquakes and sicknesses. To make things worse, his father Hilarion died of beri-beri, leaving a young wife to fend for their 4 children. The final blow to Roman, the only boy in the family, was the death of his mother when he was but 11.

The orphan came to live with a well-off  cousin, Florencia Rodriguez Sioco, married to Spanish mestizo, Joaquin Gonzalez. They took care of Roman, sent him to Letran, and the boy, in turn, ran errands for the family. Roman went home to Apalit once a month. In one of his visits home, Roman stopped to consult a manghuhula (fortune teller)—who prophesied that he would become wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.

On weekends, Roman would explore Manila, walking as far away as Navotas. Here, he would meet Juliana  Andres (b. 1877/d.2 Mar.1946), who turned out to be a second cousin—both their paternal grandmothers, Maria and Leogarda Ochoa, were sisters. Unlike the deprived Roman, Juliana was the daughter of town principalia, known for their vast tracts of lands and fishponds.  Determined to pursue her, Roman left the Gonzalez household to seek a new life in Navotas. At the onset, Juliana’s father disapproved of Roman because of his lowly station in life. He had earlier disowned his own son because he rejected his choice of wife. But the headstrong Juliana prevailed when she eloped with Roman in 1899.

On the day he ran away with Juliana, Roman had 70 pesos in his pocket, a calesa and a horse. In due time, he acquired a boat, and engaged in trading molasses from Pampanga. Through long years of hard work, the once penniless orphan expanded his business, acquired haciendas from the Zobels, established his own fishing corporations, invested in a coconut business,  founded the Rizal Surety and Insurance Co., Empire Insurance Co., and at age 72, the Prudential Bank and Trust Co. By the time he died in 1959, he was a pillar of Philippine economy, with an estate conservatively valued at close to 4 million pesos. The prediction of the Apalit fortune teller Roman met many years before had come true.

3. JOSE GUTIERREZ DAVID & CONCEPCION ROQUE: All Is Fair In Young Love

The future Supreme Court justice, Jose Gutierrez David of Bacolor (b. 29 Jan. 1891/d. 24 Mar. 1977) first met the love of his life, Concepcion Roque (b. 8 Dec. 1891/13 Jul. 1971) of San Fernando,  in 1905, when the 15 year old was chosen to deliver a speech in front of visiting Secretary of War, William Howard Taft and Miss Alice Roosevelt.  Concepcion or “Chong” was also with a group of girls that welcomed the distinguished visitors.  Only after the chinita beauty was promoted to intermediate level that the two met formally. The young Jose lost no time in writing love letters to Chong that were discreetly inserted in her books by Jose’s cousin. In February 1906, Chong accepted Jose’s offer of love, over rich suitors from Guagua, Tarlac and a businessman from San Fernando.

In one of their dates, he overheard Chong talking to her chaperone friend, Maria Guiao, about a lady’s handbag that she liked for sale at a local shop. Jose was determined to save enough money so he could buy the desired bag for Chong by Christmas. Every so often, he would go to the Bombay Bazaar to check if the bag was still there. In four months, he managed to save 15 pesos, the exact amount that he needed to buy the bag. Jose presented the gift on her birthday, which thrilled Chong and further endeared him to her. But the most precious gift was a poem dedicated to her entitled “Tuqui Ca Baculud” (Come to Bacolor), which saw print in the March 1908 of the daily, “Ing Bandila”.

The first time Chong was displeased with Jose was when he quit school in 1907 after a misunderstanding with his teacher. It was she who convinced him to return to high school, which he finished, after an absence of 2 years. The second time was when the two went out to see a movie. While Chong’s chaperone was walking ahead of them, Jose stole a kiss, in fact, two kisses—which alarmed the young Chong.

Influenced by the prevailing notion that a girl was no longer pure once she had been kissed, Chong conceived the idea that they should marry secretly, but would not live together. On 6 Jan. 1912, the couple were secretly married in Minalin by Jose’s judge-uncle, Macario Julao. In no time, the news leaked out, and Chong would have been punished by her outraged father had her mother not intervened. The couple only lived together after Jose graduated from high school in March 1912.

 Jose topped his law class at the Escuela de Derecho  in 1915, became a trial lawyer and then joined the judicial court system  as Auxiliary Justice of the Peace from 1918-20. He would rise to become an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1959, under Pres. Carlos P. Garcia. Retired in 1961 in San Juan,  he outlived his wife for 4 years. It is but fitting that his last poem, “Misan Pa” (Once More) was dedicated to his beloved Chong.

4. JUAN D. NEPOMUCENO & TERESA GOMEZ: Joined By the Gods of Fortune.

The story of Angeles and its progress is inextricably linked to the remarkable partnership of a Juan de Dios Nepomuceno ((b. 8 March 1892/d.22 Apr. 1973 )  and Clara Teresa Teodora Gomez (b. 12 Aug. 1893/d. 17 Apr. 1970)   whose larger-than-life businesses shaped the course of the town’s economy while serving God and their beloved community. The 2 had contrasting backgrounds--Juan was an academic achiever, a summa cum laude law graduate of UST. Unlike her Jesuit-educated husband, Teresa or Nena never went beyond grade school, but developed uncanny business savvy, while dabbling in healing and folk naturopathy.

Family lore has it that Juan actually acted as a go-between for a friend who wanted to woo Teresa. He would pay regular visits to Nena but was too timid to declare his intentions, preferring instead to “court through the eyes” (maglolo ya qng mata). It took Nena’s grandmother, Severina Pamintuan to help the reserved Juan to open up, by asking him blatantly what his feelings for Nena were. In the end, due to this prodding, Juan and Teresa went ahead with their wedding on 19 March 1919 after months of suffering from tuberculosis. In fact, so emaciated were they that they opted to have their wedding picture taken 6 months after the wedding, after they have recovered sufficiently.

The couple set up house in their Bale Maragul, along Santo Rosario, just across the church. Initially, Juan practiced law but the business minded Teresa sought other means of livelihood. Together, they single-handedly opened the 1st electric plant (1921) and the crystal ice plant of the region. They ventured into softdrinks production, and established the country’s 1st Catholic school run by laypersons—now known as Holy Angel University. In the 60s, they developed the city’s premiere subdivision that reconfigured the layout and social strata of Angeles. Around this, a new commercial business district was laid out by the couple and their children, whose very name today—“Nepo”—bears their enduring influence and legacy which continues to reverberate in the city today.

Juan and Teresa raised 10 children in all, each one raised in good old Kapampangan family values, and each one an achiever in their own right. It is no wonder that in 1969, the Nepomucenos were awarded the Rizal Pro-Patria Award for Family Solidarity by then Pres. Ferdinand Marcos at rites in Malacanang.

Throughout their lives, Juan and Nena shared their triumphs not only with their family, but also with the community through their philanthropic works, socio-civic-political-activities and religious advocacies. The couple lived their life simply, quietly and kindly till the end of their days, remaining steadfast in service and prayer.

5. DR. WENCESLAO VITUG & JUANITA ARRASTIA: When A Royalty Marries A Commoner.

In 1926, few were surprised at the election of Juanita Salgado Arrastia (b. 8 Mar. 1902/d. 8 September 1994.) as Queen of the Pampanga Carnival. Daughter of the richest hacendero of Lubao, the Spanish-Kapampangan comes from a family noted for the legendary beauty of their women, a group that that would come to include actress Letty Alonso, international socialite Isabel Arrastia Preysler and Steve McQueen’s wife, Neile Adams. But the Colegio de Sta. Rosa student had a more practical reason for her triumph- "I won because my father had the biggest hacienda in Lubao”, she said, “ It wasn't about beauty."

It was no wonder that, a few months after being named Miss Pampanga, Juanita did the unthinkable—she married Dr. Wenceslao Beltran Vitug (b. 28 Sep 1892/7 January 1986), considered a “commoner” having come from Concepcion, a barrio of Arrastia sharecroppers. Moreover, “Beses” was dark and plain, not to mention 10 years her senior. But he overcame his lowly beginnings by topping his class at the Pampanga High School, earned a medical degree from the University of the Philippines, practiced at the Philippine General Hospital and taught Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. His whirlwind romance with Juanita served to accelerate further his rise to social prominence.

Their love affair began when she and her sister, Carmen, accompanied their diabetic mother to the PGH for consultation with the accomplished doctor- internist. His diagnosis impressed Juanita’s mother,  Doña Francisca, who did her best to push her daughter to become friends with "Beses".  She did not need much prodding, as Juanita had also fallen in love with the brilliant doctor.

The marriage of Juanita to a ‘commoner’ who made good was big news in Lubao. The Vitugs quickly settled in the town and became hacenderos themselves. Eventually, they would run two households—one in Manila, the other in Lubao, balancing work with raising 5 children.  The hacienda that was left to their management prospered and grew, and in turn, their tenants rewarded them with their loyalty. In the truest sense of the perfect royalty, Juanita Arrastia wore her crown on her heart, not on her head.

6. DIOSDADO P. MACAPAGAL & PURITA DELA ROSA: Devotion Until Death

The poor boy from Lubao and the future president, Diosdado P. Macapagal ( b. 28 Sep. 1910/d. 21 Apr. 1997 and Purita dela Rosa (b. 1916/d.1943) were neighbors in San Nicolas, a sleepy barrio of Lubao, Pampanga. Purita had an admirer, who happened to be a friend of Dadong. Dadong used to accompany this friend in his regular visits to the dela Rosa home, so Purita and Dadong became acquaintances as well. Also, both were hometown zarzuela stars who, on several occasions, had performed alongside each other. Little did Dadong know that it was him that Purita was attracted to, finding him gentle, good-looking and promising.

It took 10 years before their courtship culminated in their wedding on 4 July 1938. On that special day, Dadong recalls his "sublime feeling of oneness with my wife as God meant it to be and as we celebrated our wedding together, there was another celebration in the city—American Independence Day."

In a rented house in Sta. Ana, the newlyweds made their home. Dadong worked as an assistant attorney while Purita played her role as a doting wife, often cooking sinigang for her new husband. Their union was blessed with two children, Cielo and Arturo.

Purita, however, had always been plagued by poor health all her life. After her second child was born, she fell ill, and her sickness was aggravated due to the lack of medical attention in wartime Philippines. Dadong tended to Purita, staying by her bedside, as a dutiful caregiver. She lingered for 3 years, and died in Dadong’s arms, a tragic scene straight from a movie. Purita was only 27, a president’s wife who never became a First Lady, but who definitely was first in Diosdado’s heart, in the short years they were together,

7. VIRGILIO RODRIGUEZ & CARMELING DEL ROSARIO: Giving Up the Crown for the Man She Loves

One of the most striking beauties ever to emerge from the legendary Manila Carnivals of the peacetime years was Carmen del Rosario (b.2 Jul. 1916/d. 17 Apr. 2012), Miss Mindanao 1935. Though not Pampanga-born,  her marriage to the scion of San Fernando’s most prominent family and her long-time residence in the capital certainly qualifies her to be claimed as one of Pampanga’s own. She was one of 9 children to Jose del Rosario and Carmelita de Leon of Manila . Her grandfather, Anacleto Sales del Rosario was the country’s leading chemist during the Spanish times and was an acquaintance of Jose P. Rizal

As a standout campus beauty of Centro Escolar de Señoritas,  Carmeling was wooed and pursued by a number of swains. One of them was the dashing Virgilio H. Rodriguez, the eldest son of the affluent sugar planter and businesswoman Doña Victoria Hizon Rodriguez, widow of the late Godofredo Rodriguez of San Fernando.

The couple had planned to get married after college, but the 1935 Manila Carnival intervened. A La Vanguardia  editor and a friend of Carmeling’s father, had been badgering the latter to allow her 19 year old daughter to run for Miss Philippines under his paper’s sponsorship.  Thinking that her chances of winning were slim, Carmeling’s father persuaded his reluctant daughter to run. They agreed however, that should she win, she would immediately relinquish her title and go back to her studies.

As luck would have it, Carmeling garnered enough votes to place 4^th—and win the Miss Mindanao title behind winner Conchita Sunico. But for her family, there was no real cause for rejoicing for it meant putting on hold all her plans for one full year. Her victory had already been reported in newspapers along with Catalina Zabala (Miss Luzon) and Julieta Abad (Miss Visayas)  when she announced that she was giving up her title.  Her decision ruffled quite a few of the feathers of carnival officials and participants who now believed her to be a nuisance candidate. Celia Araullo, who placed fifth, replaced her.

Carmeling not only went back to school, but the very next year, on 26 June 1935, she married her beau Virgilio,  in spectacular rites at the Sto. Domingo Church. The couple settled in San Fernando, where Carmeling quickly learned to speak in Kapampangan. They had 5 children: Victoria, Godofredo, Gorgonia, Ana Marie and Jo Anne. She settled in San Lorenzo Village, Makati with a daughter until her death at age 96.

8. BENIGNO AQUINO JR. & CORAZON COJUANGCO: A Car Accident Made Them Do It.

The future hero, Benigno Aquino Jr, (b.27 Nov. 1932/d. 21 Aug.1983)  and first female president of the Philippines, Corazon Cojuangco (b.25 Jan. 1933/d.1 Aug. 2009)  first met when they both were 9 years old.  The two families were actually related to each other—Ninoy’s half-brother, Servillano Jr., was married to Cory’s cousin, Trinidad Cojuangco. Cory’s father, Jose Sr., was godfather of Lupita, Ninoy’s sister.

As Ninoy came of age, he was linked to several ladies—including Imelda Romualdez—who was introduced to him by Danieling Romualdez (Imelda’s cousin)  whose wife was Ninoy’s aunt, Paz Gueco of Magalang. Ninoy was often asked by her matchmaker aunt to escort Imelda home, after her work. Imelda once claimed that Ninoy courted her, and Ninoy’s sisters (except Lupita) favored her. But their relationship came to a sudden halt when Ninoy met Cory during one of her vacations from the U.S. where she was studying. Their romance became more definite when she returned for good to the Philippines..

In one of their early dates, Ninoy, Cory and sister Josephine, a chaperone, met an accident when their Buick was hit by a jeep. While the 2 sisters were confined at a hospital,  Ninoy told Cory that the accident was meant for them to get married. To this, Cory gave feeble resistance, after insisting that the accident was planned by Ninoy on purpose. Even Cory’s parents approved of the match and on 11 October 1954 , Ninoy and Cory, both 21, got married and this consolidate the Aquino-Cojuangco family wealth and power, leaving behind legacy of bloodless people power revolution of EDSA.

9. SILVESTRE  LANSANGAN & ERLINDA BAUTISTA: Romeo and Juliet of Mabalacat.

The story of star-crossed lovers Erlinda Castro Bautista (b. 14 June 1936/d. 16 Sep. 2010) and Silvestre Malit Lansangan (b.12 Nov.1932)  is the stuff TV telenovelas are made of. In fact, their story was featured as an episode in the “Miss D” drama series on Channel 7, aired on 12 August 1998. Linda and Beting first met in May 1949, during a town santacruzan where Linda was the Reyna Elena. He was quickly smitten by the young queen and she too, succumbed to her feelings. So, on 3 Sep 1950, 14 year-old Linda went to hear mass and never came back home, having eloped with 18 year-old Beting.

Linda’s mother, Apung Coring, was against Bet, because her daughter was too young to get married. But lovestruck  Erlinda would not come home. The disappointed parents took a drastic measure--they decided to send her to jail for disobedience. There, the police chief, an uncle, took her under his custody but gave her special treatment. Undeterred, Beting secretly saw his beloved Linda by climbing the back wall and peering through the cell’s small window--every day for 21 days—the length of time Linda was incarcerated. Their love story made them popular in Mabalacat, so much so that the people made this line for Linda: "Tadtaran daku man mapinu, ing mitalamsik a daya kang Bet ya pa murin." (Even I were finely chopped, my blood that spatters will still be for Bet).

Eventually, Linda’s parents sent her off to Marikina where her paternal relatives resided. There, she enrolled at the Cubao Elementary School. Beting sought her out and found her in Cubao after a month’s relentless search. For the second time, the two decided to elope again.  But, they were caught in time by Linda’s grandfather—and ex-Katipunero-- who saw her stuffing her bag with clothes. The couple were already in a bus when the old man came running with a bolo, demanding that they alight from the vehicle. Their thwarted plan was reported to her parents. But this time, realizing the depth and sincerity of their love, Linda’s parents gave their blessings to the couple. Linda and Beting were married in San Juan Church and were blessed with 4 children: Joel, Rod, Elvis and Lily, all married with children, all residing in the United States.

BONUS! A Different Love..

THE LOVE OF LOLO PULONG/PULONIA

Never has the voice of the LGBT community been heard much louder than now---what with current issues in the news lately—from same-sex marriage to the victories of Filipino gays and transgenders in unexpected fields like sports and politics. Ours have always been an accepting society—since the ancient time of gender-bending babaylans who were empowered to heal and speak with divinities. The story of Crispulo “Pulong” Luna (b. 10 Jun 1903/d.May 1970) is another proof that indeed, love knows no gender.

His case was first written about by the award-winning writer, J. Neil Garcia in his book, “Performing the Self: Occasional Prose”.  In fact, “Pulong” made it to the cover of his acclaimed book. Born to parents Pedro Luna and Candelaria Trinidad of Sasmuan, Pampanga,  he grew up in Orani, Bataan where his father made a living in fishing, then moved to Paco, Manila.

There, the young Pulong discovered Victoria Studios where he delighted in posing for the cameras---all made up with rouge and lipstick, and dressed in female outfits—from an exquisite baro’t saya to exotic Japanese geisha robes. His permissive family didn’t mind his feminine behavior and his cross-dressing fetish, and when asked why he didn’t get married, he replied, “Por Dios, babae ako!”.

Pulong then fell in love with Juan, a young carpenter and many years his junior, and the two would live together as partners. Pulong’s immediate family and sisters did not object to this arrangement, and their relationship could have gone on had it not been for a tragic accident. Juan died from his injuries he sustained from a fall while doing construction work. Pulong, alone once more, moved in with his sisters after his partner’s death, and found work as a store help and a laundry worker.

In his golden years, Lolo Pulong kept company with gay beauticians in his neighborhood, “Lolo Pulonia” as they called him, passed away in May 1970.

PICTURES & SOURCES:

FRAY GUILLERMO MASNOU & PATRICIA MERCADO: Nepomuceno, Carmelo M.D. The Gomez family of Angeles Pampanga and the Mercado relatives, privately printed, 2002.

DON ROMAN R. SANTOS & DÑA. JULIANA P. ANDRES: Santos, Vicente Roman,, Alejandro, Reynaldo G., TAHANAN, A House Reborn, Duende Publishing. © 2003. pp. 24-49.

JOSE GUTIERREZ DAVID & CONCEPCION ROQUE: My Story, unpublished manuscript of Jose Gutierrez David., picture courtesy of Del Rosario Family

DON JUAN D. NEPOMUCENO & DNA.TERESA GOMEZ Mendoza, Erlita. A Cofradia of Two: Oral History on the Family Life and Lay Religiosity of Juan D. Nepomuceno and Teresa G. Nepomuceno of Angeles, Pampanga. Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City. 2004.

DR. WENCESLAO VITUG & JUANITA ARRASTIA. Castro, Alex R. Aro, Katimyas Da!: A Memory Album of Titled Kapampangan Beauties 1908-2010, Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City, 2013.Picture courtesy of Cathy Hengstrom

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL & PURITA DELA ROSA: "A Love Story Thru War, Poverty and Illness", by Ria Salgado-Llanes, PDI. Northern Luzon, 14 February 2007.
VIRGILIO RODRIGUEZ & CARMELING DEL ROSARIO: www.manilacarnivals.blogspot/com, Picture from Pampanga Social Register 1933

NINOY AQUINO & CORY AQUINO, Tantingco, Robby P. Singsing Magazine, Picture from Bob Rzaon, A Life Devoted to Salon Photography

LINDA & BET LANSANGAN: Wedding anniversary program of Erlinda Castro and Silvestre Lansangan.

LOLO PULONG: Garcia, J. Neil C. Performing the Self: Occasional Prose. University of the Philippines, 2003. (also P