Family ties
It was time to bond with family when several relatives arrived from abroad after decades of being absent. Relationships were further strengthened and the younger generation was introduced to one another.
A large number of Filipinos have strong Chinese ties with a huge number of our forebears coming from the then-Amoy region in Southern China (now called Fujian province). During the Spanish times, many males came to Philippine shores to pioneer and even build a fortune that was elusive to them if they had remained in their native China. Finding a local bride, being Christianized and choosing a Spanish surname made them assimilate faster into the community.
One example was Antonio Tan Quinco Osorio of Cavite. He will be remembered as one of the province’s top citizens and the father of illustrious children that include Philippine hero Francisco Osorio (one of the 13 Martyrs of Cavite), Leonardo Osorio, Cavite’s first governor during President Manuel Quezon’s time, Felisa Osorio vda de Aguadode Tirona (widow of one of the 13 Martyrs of Cavite, Luis Aguado) as well as Mariano Osorio and Tomasa Osorio.
Isabelo Pantangco’s great-grandchildren bonded during a lunch to reminisce about the good old days when his four daughters — Mercedes P. Rufino, Vicenta P. Lim, Felisa P. Syyap and Rosario P. Jacinto — used to have humongous family parties in each other’s homes. The sisters were very close to each other and grew up in pre-war Binondo during gentler, kinder times.
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