71. 12 EN GRANDE PAMPANGA WEDDINGS HELD IN 1936

One of the most significant milestones in one’s life is the Wedding, in which two people are united in marriage. “Kasal”, is our term for marriage, “kasalan”, the wedding ceremony. The customs and traditions of present-day unions were primarily influenced by a blend of Filipino, Spanish, American and Chinese models. One thing is certain though—when Kapampangans get married, they leave no stone unturned to make sure that theirs is a wedding to remember—the flashier, the better! Here are 12 notable Pampanga weddings in 1936, half of which were held in the “marry” month of June!

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LOURDES ALBA & RAFAEL C. HIZON

Married: 30 September 1936, Paco Church, Manila

Sponsors: Dña. Victoria H. vda. De Rodriguez, Don Jaime Hernandez

Notes:

The groom was a successful insurance agent of the National Life Insurance Co. insurance agent at the time of his marriage.

CARMEN DEL ROSARIO & VIRGILIO RODRIGUEZ

Married: 25 January 1936, Sto. Domingo Church, Manila

Sponsors: Dña. Victoria H. vda. De Rodriguez, Dña. Rosa del Rosario Valdezco, Dr. Teofilo Villongco, Hon. Cayetano Rivera

Notes:

Carmeling, a 19-year old Centro Escolar de Señoritas beauty,  and her beau Virgilio Rodriguez ( eldest son of sugar planter  Dña Victoria Hizon Rodriguez and the late Godofredo Rodriguez of San Fernando), had already planned on getting married after college, when the 1935 Manila Carnival intervened. A friend of Carmeling’s father badgered him into allowing her  daughter to run for Miss Philippines.  Thinking that her chances of winning were slim, Carmeling’s father persuaded his reluctant daughter to run. To their utter surprise, Carmeling won the Miss Mindanao title. Her name had already been announced in national newspapers when Carmeling resigned her title to marry the man she loved.

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JOSEFINA BUYSON & DR. JESUS EUSEBIO

Married: 12 April 1936, San Guillermo Church, Bacolor

Sponsors: Dña. Bartola S. de Dizon, Hon. Mariano Buyson Lampa

Notes:

Dr. Jesus Eusebio was the eldest son of Don Andres Eusebio,  a prominent sugar planter and businessman, with Asuncion Santos. Jesus was already a practicing ophthalmologist when he proposed to his fiancee, Josefina Buyson. Pitang, as she was called,  was one of the children of Mariano Buyson and Dña. Maria de la Paz Miranda Angeles.  Their well-documented wedding at San Guillermo Church was officiated by Fr. Andres Bituin. The church was decorated with flowers especially brought in a day before by Manila’s foremost florist, Mr. Francisco Hilario. The bride was resplendent in a gown made by Pacita Longos, the most famous couturier of the era. Reception followed at the Buyson residence. Entertainment was provided by Serafin Payawal and Tirso Cruz, Manila’s best big bands.

ESPERANZA PAHATI & ATTY. CARMELINO ALVENDIA

Married: 4 April 1936, Lourdes Church, Manila

Sponsors: Dña. Francisca Pascual de Pahati, Hon. Eusebio Orense

Notes:

Atty. Carmelino Alvendia was the valedictorian of his University of the Philippines law class in 1930. He was the winner of the Callaghan Prize given by the U.P. College of Law. He taught Mercantile Law at  Far Eastern University, and worked with Orense and Belmonte law firm. He hails from Floridablanca, Pampanga.

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LUZ HIZON & RAFAEL P. HIZON

Married: 25 April 1936, San Fernando Church, Pampanga

Sponsors: Justice Jose Abad Santos, Dña. Miguela Hizon Teopaco

Notes:

The groom is one of the 8 children of Primo Hizon and Maria Perez of Mexico. Primo was a U.S.T chemistry graduate who carried out researches and scientific studies of diseases and their cures. He would go on to found Hizon Laboratories Inc., the very first pharmaceutical manufacturing company in the Philippines. The pharmaceutical firm still operates today, run and managed by Hizon descendants.

EMILIA P. RORIGUEZ & AMADO R. LUCIANO

Married: 3 June 1936, San Beda Church, Manila

Sponsors: Dña. Josefa Rodriguez, Dr. Andres Luciano

Notes:

Amado is the son of Antonio Luciano, former mayor of Magalang who served for 2 terms, with Nicolas Quiason.

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AMPARO Z. DIAZ & DEMETRIO S. SANTOS

Married: 7 June 1936, San Ignacio Church, Manila

Sponsors: Don Mariano J. Santos, Dña. Nieves S. Santos, Justice Anacleto Diaz, Dña. Sotera Z. Diaz

Notes:

Demetrio is the son of Mariano and Nieves Songco Santos. Her bride, Amparo, was two years older. He was 24 when they got married, and he would precede her in death, passing away at just age 43 in California, where they settled with their 6 children. Amparo died in 1985.

MANUELA DE LEON & AUGUSTO HIZON

Married: 20 June 1936, Mexico Church, Pampanga

Sponsors: Dña. Maria Hizon, Don Rafael de Leon

Notes:

Augusto Hizon comes from a very large family—parents Ramon and Maria Hizon had seven daughters and five sons. Coming from a landed class, the Hizons owned haciendas in the province. They also figured in politics, known for being staunch Liberal Party members.”  Augustor’s brother, Rodolfo Hizon, became a post-war mayor of San Fernando mayor. A sister, Corazon, reigned as Miss Pampanga 1933. Meanwhile, Manuela, who hails from Mexico, was the daughter of Don Rafael de Leon, a PASUDECO stockholder,  with Rosario Basa (daughter of patriot Jose Maria Basa).

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CORAZON MALIG & BENITO GOLDING

Married: 24 June 1936, San Ignacio Church, Manila

Sponsors: Dña. Remedios Soto de Malig, Don Emilio A. Santos

Notes:

Benito (“Beniting”, “Ben”) Goldman is of Polish-American-Filipino descent. His grandfather, Poland-born Herman Golding, emigrated to the U.S. from Bremen, Germany in January 1856. His father,  Benito “Bennie” Golding Sr. (Herman’s son), married Rosenda Francisco Abriol Santos of Sta. Ana. His bride, Bacolor-born Corazon Malig, was the daughter of Lazaro Malig and Remedios Soto. The couple settled in the U.S. with their children. Benito would pass away first; leaving Corozaon a wido, She died at home in Waldorf, Maryland on 19 April 2003, age 88.

ESTER DE LEON & NORBERTO RODRIGUEZ

Married: 27 June 1936, Sto. Rosario Church, Angeles, Pampanga

Sponsors: Don Jose de Leon y Joven, Dña. Josefa Rodriguez

Notes:

The bride, Ester, was the daughter of Alonzo de Leon and Vicenta Paras of San Fernando. Besides being a sugar planter, Alonzo was a respected leader in finance and agriculture.

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CONSUELO CONSING & ARTURO LUMANLAN

Married: 8 August 1936, U.S.T. Chapel

Sponsors: Don Rafael Consing, Dña. Potenciana Cuyugan Lumanlan

Notes:

Arturo Lumanlan is the son of Porac sugar planter Bonifacio Lumanlan, with Potenciana Cuyugan. Consuelo was the eldest child of Rafael Consing with Porfiria Quintana. She would outlive her husband by many years. Arturo’s sister, Juanita Lumanlan-Nepomuceno became Pampanga’a governor and congresswoman.

ANTONIETA PANLILIO & DR. ALFREDO ORTIZ

Married: 27 June 1936, Knox memorial Church, Manila

Sponsors: Dr. Mariano Lamson, Dña. Camila Panlilio

SOURCES:
All photos, Pampanga Social Register, 1936, by Kabigting.
www.viewsfromthepampanga.blogspot.com, various articles
Ninu't Ninu Qng Capampangan, by Kabigting