Senator/Governor Rene G. Espina, the Veloso/Gandiongco bloodline

Cebu’s only surviving governor (elected in 1963 and reelected in 1967) and senator (elected in 1969) Rene G. Espina (89 years old) belongs to Cebu’s old families of Parian.

Rene Espina was born on December 26, 1929 and grew up in Tinago or what was called then the old Pier Area. He is the son of Rafael Espina and Tarcela Gandiongco. Rene finished his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Southern Philippines, was admitted to the Bar on January 22, 1955, and made to the list of Bar topnotchers.

Their old house is located along Bagumbayan Street which has been renamed as Gervasio Lavilles Street (he was the brains of the Cebu City Charter). The old house stood where the Lite Shipping Company used to hold office.

Don Cresencio Gandiongco married Petra Veloso (Mana Tunay) who was the daughter of Don Guillermo Veloso and Antonina Gantuangco. Don Guillermo Veloso was from Leyte and is related to Don Mariano Veloso, the patriarch of the Veloso Clan of Cebu and the godfather of Don Nicasio Chiong who changed his family name into Chiong Veloso upon his entry into Cebu society. That is why the Chiong Velosos all come from Cebu and can trace their roots to Don Nicasio Chiong Veloso, who became the father-in-law of the Grand Old Man of Cebu, Don Sergio Suico Osmeña Sr.

Antonina Gantuangco was from Parian. Petra Veloso Gandiongco had the following siblings; Tereso, Pacita (who married a Rivera), Maquer, Cresente, and Lourdes. Her sister, Lucia married a Sanson and, after being widowed, married Don Policarpio Vano.

Tarcela Gandiongco Espina, the mother of Rene Espina, had a sister by the name of Natividad who married a Singson. On the other hand, on the Gandiongco side, the relatives of Rene Espina, among them was Victoria Gandigongco who married Gregorio Escario. They became the parents of Dr. Nicolas Escario who became Cebu City mayor from 1945 to 1946 and is the founder of the Cebu Institute of Technology (now CITU).

Governor/Senator Rene Espina married Rufinita “Pining” de Leon Remollo of Negros Oriental. They have three children; Rene Mari, Jean Franco, and Erik Miguel who was appointed as Cebu City councilor in 2018 by President Rodrigo Duterte, and is now running for a council seat in Cebu City’s South District.