The Alfafara father and son, writers of Carcar
The Alfafara Clan of Carcar, Cebu, produced father and son writers, they were Epifanio and Sergio. The book of Professor Resil Mojares (Cebuano Literature) provides us with the following information:
Epifanio Alfafara was born in 1882 and wrote political and philosophical articles. He studied Law at the Colegio de San Carlos (now USC). He translated the "Ang Doce Pares sa Pransiya", or the Twelve Pairs of France in 1930. The story is the inspiration behind the naming of the world-famous arnis/eskrima style of Doce Pares of the late grandmaster Cacoy Cañete. The translation was printed in the newspaper of Don Vicente Rama's "Bag-ong Kusog". Epifanio carried the pen names: Epimel and Isco Anino.
Epifanio also served as Municipal President of Carcar during the American Regime. The earlier presidents were Florencio Noel, Vicente Noel, Maximino Noel, and Mariano Mercado. He was succeeded by Constancio Gantuangco. During the Spanish Regime the following served as capitans of Carcar: Timoteo Barcenilla, Florencio Noel, Francisco Velez, Gregorio Rodriguez, and Simeon Paraz. Incidentally, Vicente Rama, the publisher of Bag-ong Kusog and the second Cebu City Mayor also served as occupation mayor of Carcar, the other occupation mayors of Carcar were Arsenio Noel and Vicente Enriquez, while the guerilla mayor was Atty. Abundio Aldemita.
Epifanio's son Sergio R. Alfafara was born on July 27, 1920. He studied at the Seminario de San Carlos, was ordained as a priest and was assigned as parish priest of St. Joseph Parish Church in Tabunok, Talisay, Cebu. He once edited the "Ang Lungsoranon", a Roman Catholic publication for parishioners of Cebu. He translated religious books into Cebuano.
Aside from the Alfafaras, there are many other Carcaranons who became famous writers among them were: Vicente B. Alcoseba, who wrote poems and articles to Ang Suga, The FREEMAN, Bisaya, and other Visayan publications. He was appointed Justice of the Peace of Moalboal and Acting Vice Mayor of Moalboal on January 4, 1946 by President Sergio Osmeña Sr., also appointed acting mayor was Vicente Gador. Another Carcaranon writer was Diosdado G. Alesna, a product of the Cebu Provincial High School. He was honored in 1966 as LUDABI's (Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya) Most Outstanding Poet for the Last 10 years.
The Alfafara Clan also produced lawyers: Gerardo (admitted to the Bar on February 2, 1951), Ruperto (admitted to the Bar on April 1, 1953), Dativa (admitted to the Bar on June 15, 1954, and also served as councilor of Carcar), Gilberto (admitted to the Bar on March 23, 1970), Alhambra (admitted to the Bar on May 2, 1983), and Grace Cassandra Aletheia (admitted to the Bar on May 11, 1999).
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