Wake (Up) Service
My uncle died last Tuesday at the age of 58. I was invited to facilitate the necrological service, which made me nervous and grateful at the same time. Why? I used to emcee debut celebrations and other fun activities. Though our family is comprised of cheerful people, I had to adjust to the situation in the chapel. The older family members were there. Nagpapasalamat naman ako dahil ibinigay ang pagkakataon na gawin ko ‘yon para sa tito ko. Truth is, he’s my idol. People would agree that he accomplished many things in so little time. Nasa tabi ko pa ngayon ang libro niyang may dedication na “Isang alaala sa ngalan ng pagbabago.” Sabi ni dad, concerned si tito sa mga maliliit. Dito ang focus niya. At kapag nga naman nakikinig ako sa mga usapan nila, laging lumilitaw ang salitang grassroots.
You might think that we were stiff last night, but I did my best to make everything flow naturally, and in a way celebratory. Masayahin kasi si tito. A lot even expressed their fond memories of him. Before the program, I had the opportunity to talk with my second cousins. Ang lamay talaga ay reunion kung saan may mga ugnayang muling nabubuo o napagtitibay. A wake service can also be considered a “Wake Up Service” because it reminds us that we are limited and we should spend life for something that outlasts it: Love.
Let me share this endeavor of getting to know our relatives and ancestors. I've started this long ago, inspired by the novel Recuerdo by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo.
Family Tree
Dad: Father's Side
I. Rafaela Castor and Nicanor "Canoy" Conti (jeweler)
A. Anselmo Conti (married Virginia Magtoto)
-met at Cavite, Japanese period, Virginia was fourteen
-Anselmo worked at Sangley in Cavite
1. Jovencio "Boy" Conti (married Loreto Rosal)
a. Sheila (married Tetsuro Arasawa)
b. Ferdinand
*Cita-dad’s cousin, left in 1971 for the US, sister of Kristina’s mom
2. Ruben Conti (married Petronila Garcia)
-7 yrs younger than Boy; kalaro ni dad ng "misa-misahan" sa Latin (Ngayon kaya may naglalaro pa nito?)
a. Lendrick (married Rose)
Ø Zek
b. Rionilo (married Rachel)
3. Dad
-6 yrs younger than Ruben
a. Mary June
b. Alma Jessica
4. Amelita Conti -6 years younger than dad
B. Rupino (married Rosita)
1. Ferdinand “Nanding”
a. Dave
b. Xavier – Nung huli kaming nagkita, lagi siyang nakakapit sa ‘kin. Fifteen na siya ngayon at malaki na raw ang katawan.
c. Brian
d. Mark
1. Socrates “Soc” (married Vilma)
2. Aristotle “Aris”
3. Napoleon “Napo”
4. Rey
5. Grace
a. Miko
b. Marlon
c. Marco
C. Eleuterio (married Lourdes)
D. Juanita (married to Mateo, who died in a ship and was no longer found; seaman in Norway)
1. Cita
2. Violeta
E. Estelita (single)
Dad: Mother's Side
I. Mauricia Conrada and Santiago Magtoto (worked at the Olongapo base during Japanese prd)
A. Virginia "Viring" Magtoto (married Anselmo)
B. Filemon (married Anita)
C. Aurora (married Roman Versoza in 1950)
1. Teresita (Tess)
2. Evella (Vee)
3. Elsa
4. Bonifacio (Bon)
5. Mercy
6. Orland
7. Remedio (Remy)
8. Roman Jr. (Joe)
9. Sean Kenneth
D. Felicisima
E. Conrado
Natividad Salenga Fernandez
I. Apolonio Fernandez/Sabino (married Maria Salenga)
A. Almario – deceased (married Romana)
1. Lito
2. Titay
3. Miriam
4. Atong
5. Buda
6. Ambo
7. Girly
8. Gina
9. Lita
B. Natividad - deceased
C. Pablo – deceased
1. Priscilla “Precy” – died in the age of 4 (vehicular accident)
2. Ambo
3. Og
4. “Pogi”
D. Liberato
1. Isang
2. Liezel
3. Rudy
4.
E. Apolonio Jr.
1. Rey – Nung maliit pa siya, hinahalik-halikan siya ni mama dahil super cute. Ngayon daw, hindi na siya ang tipong hahalikan mo.
2. Lisa – deceased
3. Willie
4. Andang
5. Anang
6. Eric
7. Bongbong
F. Florencio
G. Florencio - deceased
H. Alfonso
1. Ronnie
2. Arthur
3. John John
4. Enchie
I. Amelia “Emy” (married Rodrigo Galicia)
1. Ren Ren
2. Ron Ron
3. Rodamei
J. Vicente (married Connie)
1. Jeng Jeng
2. Jennilyn
3. Joel
4. Jonas
5. Jimmy – namumulot ng ipis at isinusubo. Teacher na siya ngayon.
K. Carmen
1. Michael (married Babylyn)
a. Micah
b. Miko
c. Mark
2. Melvin
L. Natividad
1. Mary June – Balita ko, isa siyang napakahusay na bata.
2. Alma Jessica – Mas maganda raw ito sa ate niya.
II. Godong
III. Kano (of Iriga)
IV. Herman (half brother)
Mother’s Side of Natividad Salenga Fernandez
I. Clemente
II. Mileton
As you can see, this is still an unfinished business. Why not get a notepad and start tracing your family tree too?
You might think that we were stiff last night, but I did my best to make everything flow naturally, and in a way celebratory. Masayahin kasi si tito. A lot even expressed their fond memories of him. Before the program, I had the opportunity to talk with my second cousins. Ang lamay talaga ay reunion kung saan may mga ugnayang muling nabubuo o napagtitibay. A wake service can also be considered a “Wake Up Service” because it reminds us that we are limited and we should spend life for something that outlasts it: Love.
Let me share this endeavor of getting to know our relatives and ancestors. I've started this long ago, inspired by the novel Recuerdo by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo.
Family Tree
Dad: Father's Side
I. Rafaela Castor and Nicanor "Canoy" Conti (jeweler)
A. Anselmo Conti (married Virginia Magtoto)
-met at Cavite, Japanese period, Virginia was fourteen
-Anselmo worked at Sangley in Cavite
1. Jovencio "Boy" Conti (married Loreto Rosal)
a. Sheila (married Tetsuro Arasawa)
b. Ferdinand
*Cita-dad’s cousin, left in 1971 for the US, sister of Kristina’s mom
2. Ruben Conti (married Petronila Garcia)
-7 yrs younger than Boy; kalaro ni dad ng "misa-misahan" sa Latin (Ngayon kaya may naglalaro pa nito?)
a. Lendrick (married Rose)
Ø Zek
b. Rionilo (married Rachel)
3. Dad
-6 yrs younger than Ruben
a. Mary June
b. Alma Jessica
4. Amelita Conti -6 years younger than dad
B. Rupino (married Rosita)
1. Ferdinand “Nanding”
a. Dave
b. Xavier – Nung huli kaming nagkita, lagi siyang nakakapit sa ‘kin. Fifteen na siya ngayon at malaki na raw ang katawan.
c. Brian
d. Mark
1. Socrates “Soc” (married Vilma)
2. Aristotle “Aris”
3. Napoleon “Napo”
4. Rey
5. Grace
a. Miko
b. Marlon
c. Marco
C. Eleuterio (married Lourdes)
D. Juanita (married to Mateo, who died in a ship and was no longer found; seaman in Norway)
1. Cita
2. Violeta
E. Estelita (single)
Dad: Mother's Side
I. Mauricia Conrada and Santiago Magtoto (worked at the Olongapo base during Japanese prd)
A. Virginia "Viring" Magtoto (married Anselmo)
B. Filemon (married Anita)
C. Aurora (married Roman Versoza in 1950)
1. Teresita (Tess)
2. Evella (Vee)
3. Elsa
4. Bonifacio (Bon)
5. Mercy
6. Orland
7. Remedio (Remy)
8. Roman Jr. (Joe)
9. Sean Kenneth
D. Felicisima
E. Conrado
Natividad Salenga Fernandez
I. Apolonio Fernandez/Sabino (married Maria Salenga)
A. Almario – deceased (married Romana)
1. Lito
2. Titay
3. Miriam
4. Atong
5. Buda
6. Ambo
7. Girly
8. Gina
9. Lita
B. Natividad - deceased
C. Pablo – deceased
1. Priscilla “Precy” – died in the age of 4 (vehicular accident)
2. Ambo
3. Og
4. “Pogi”
D. Liberato
1. Isang
2. Liezel
3. Rudy
4.
E. Apolonio Jr.
1. Rey – Nung maliit pa siya, hinahalik-halikan siya ni mama dahil super cute. Ngayon daw, hindi na siya ang tipong hahalikan mo.
2. Lisa – deceased
3. Willie
4. Andang
5. Anang
6. Eric
7. Bongbong
F. Florencio
G. Florencio - deceased
H. Alfonso
1. Ronnie
2. Arthur
3. John John
4. Enchie
I. Amelia “Emy” (married Rodrigo Galicia)
1. Ren Ren
2. Ron Ron
3. Rodamei
J. Vicente (married Connie)
1. Jeng Jeng
2. Jennilyn
3. Joel
4. Jonas
5. Jimmy – namumulot ng ipis at isinusubo. Teacher na siya ngayon.
K. Carmen
1. Michael (married Babylyn)
a. Micah
b. Miko
c. Mark
2. Melvin
L. Natividad
1. Mary June – Balita ko, isa siyang napakahusay na bata.
2. Alma Jessica – Mas maganda raw ito sa ate niya.
II. Godong
III. Kano (of Iriga)
IV. Herman (half brother)
Mother’s Side of Natividad Salenga Fernandez
I. Clemente
II. Mileton
As you can see, this is still an unfinished business. Why not get a notepad and start tracing your family tree too?
