Emily's Visit - No Pictures - Forgot the Camera

Well, Emily, Donna and I connected on Friday, February 8; but did not get to see each other until Monday, February 11th. Had a lot of things going on my plate, collapsed after church on Sunday.

Talked to Donna a lot and Emily as well, - when I could. Stayed at Lauren's house for some TLC. John is a good cook and Dominic always, always cheers my spirits.

Donna and Emily came to the university on Monday. We stole away to Ann Arbor - taking one car so we can all talk. It was great fun to get caught up with each other. Leto joined us in Ann Arbor and treated us to a great lunch.

Haven't had a face-to-face visit with Emily for a while - I think our paths crossed in San Francisco a few years ago. We try to maintain contact through e-amil and Facebook. Thank goodness for the new technologies!

It was just so great to see her in person. We talked about history (both family and national history) after all - national history is a compilation of individual and family histories. Talked at length about our family - how much it has grown and expanded, the efforts to preserve legacy and of course who's who. Talked about Mecmec's project and website getting the family connected.

I am currently gathering photos - have some restored but restoration proved to be very expensive - so it is a very slow process.

Of course, in the excitement, none of us remembered to bring our cameras.

My Family - Back In The Day

Donna and I - my swimsuit caused a lot of gossip - my belly button is showing. Not a good thing to do in Catmon in the sixties!



Daddy and Mama goofing around in the water. Happier days!



Lola Bette wading in the water - near suba and Tata Batyong's payag.



This family photo was taken during one of the summers we spent in Catmon with Lola Bette.

Family, Family, Family!!!

This is John, Lauren's partner and Dominic. All these photos were taken on my 60the birthday party.


This is Alexander - Nicki's youngest son - a character for sure.


Frank is Donna's hubby. Gabriel is Nicole's middle son. He has a very Montecillo face, I think.



Can you believe it - Donna is Leto's godmother. Look at him now!


With two of my grandsons - Dominic and Emmanuel. Taken on my 60th birthday party. Oh How time flies - I do miss Ro and her boys a lot - Gus and Zachary.

The "Lolas" and the "Apos"

I have two of my grandchildren today - Manny and Dominic. It brought up some memories about the Lolas and the cousins growing up in Catmon. We were the "pinikas" - how I am not sure how it translates in English - roughly "designated" grandchildren.

There was me, Ethna - Teresa's daughter living with Lola Beatriz (Emilio). My mother was living first in Michigan and then California. My mother was the eldest and I am the eldest also. Later on, I was replaced by Eva (I called her Bambi)- Tia Geline's eldest. Tia Geline and Tio Edgar were living in Kiburiao, Bukidnon.

Michael - the son of Tio Lorenzo and Tia Loreto lived with Lola Vidad (Mateo). His parents also lived in Bukidnon. We went through school together. Later on, Louella lived with Lola Vidad. Her parents Tio Vicente and Tia Quiling lived in Iligan.

Lola Milyang (married to Regalado and De Dios) had Manoling and later on Riza - both daughters of Tio Dodo and Tita Remy. The family lived in the city but the two girls, especially Riza stayed in Catmon.

Lola Sayong (Gervasio - Tata Batoy)had Roy and later Villeza. They are the son and daughter of Titi Bebeng and Tia Moning. The family lived in Medellin.

Passing the Connections On

I showed the Catmonanon web page to my grandson Dominic yesterday, I told him that the angel is her cousin Ella. He seemed pretty impressed but lost interest quickly - typical of his age. Although he expressed his desire to go and see Catmon.

Well, my mother is Teresa Montecillo. Her parents are Beatriz de la Cruz and Emilio Rivera Montecillo. I don't know Lola's side of the family. I know that my great grandfather was Pantaleon Montecillo who was married to Teresa Rivera and Catalina Loyola.

I remember Lola Taling vividly.

My father is Juan Oro Rojo who is married to Julia Menchavez. If I am not mistaken, Pantaleon's mother was a Menchavez. To the best of my memory, we used to go to Sogod and Bao - a lot for birthdays, weddings, deaths, ordinations at the Menchavez branch of the family.

I married Donald Leroy Rankine II and have three children. Leto (Donald III), Rosanne Maria and Lauren Alexandra. Dominic Elliott Oro Rankine is the son of Lauren Alexandra and Michael Halam.

So Dominic and his cousins, Emmanuel, Zachary and Auguste are at least 3 degrees away from being a Rivera, Montecillo, Menchavez. Still I want them to have solid knowledge of my branch of the family.