MY HERITAGE

When I was younger, I really could not understand why our family history has to be told over and over again during family gatherings. After all, we already knew that, right? It’s one of those stories we do not find interesting, especially on occasions where the program’s kinda late and everyone seems to be hungry already. But then as I grow older (and perhaps wiser), little by little, I’m seeing the reason beyond the mere telling of the story. As others would say, it is our personal heritage uniting our family’s past and present, and providing a link to future generations. True enough, I realized that knowing our family history indeed promotes family awareness, inter-generation sharing, and appreciation for the family’s uniqueness.

Thus, I’m here for the story of the MORALIZON-RAÑON-PRADO family.

We will begin from the very birth of this family, dating back in the early 1900s, in the days of CRISTOBAL YLLANA RAÑON and AMPARO ASTUDILLO MORALIZON – my great grandparents.

Lolo Tobal hailed from Ilocos Norte. He was then an officer of the U.S. Marine. When he decided to  retire from the service, he, together with other Ilocano comrades, migrated to Mindanao to teach. There he met Lola Paring, from Boston, Davao Oriental, and eventually, they got married. That blissful union produced eleven wonderful off springs.

1.  Felicissima, a retired teacher of Agdao Elementary School, is married to Manuel   
     Villanueva, who worked for the Bureau of Lands.

2.  Avelina, a retired teacher of Rizal Elementary School, is married to Ernesto 
     Gonzales, the principal of the same school.

3.  Consolacion or “Choling” as she is fondly called, is married to Marcelo Prado.

4.  Lucila, former District School Supervisor, is married to a fellow teacher, Ernesto 
     Burgos, who was a high school principal.

5.  Flordeliza, a retired teacher in Manila, is married to Wilfredo Jovero.

6.  Perpetua, also a retired teacher of Rizal Elementary School, Sta. Ana District, is married 
     to a DENR employee, Benjamin Galon.

7.  Thelma, currently working as a nurse in New York City, is married to Reynaldo 
     Cruz, a Medical Sales Representative.

8.  Leonides is a retired teacher of the University of Mindanao.

9.  Ely (the family’s only son), a former DPWH engineer, is married to 
     Herminia Bantayan, a teacher of Roxas Elementary School.

10. Judith, a businesswoman, is married to Urac Udasan.

11. Mildred, presently working in one of the real estate companies in Manila, is married to 
     Lito Enriquez.

Now, let me turn to the PRADO’s side of the story:  my family.. our generation.

The romance started in Davao City High School, circa 1940s, where Lolong and Choling attended high school.

Marcelo Jimenez Prado was the youngest of the three children of MARCOS PRADO and CONSOLACION JIMENEZ of Ibajay, Aklan. He was pretty much on the happy side of life and had a sunny disposition. Though he had his tempers, he was a man of good character.

Consolacion Moralizon Rañon, on the other hand (because of her high regard on education), was determined to pursue a college degree and planned to take up Nursing. However, she met and fell in love with the Ilonggo gentleman, Lolong. By the time she finished high school in 1951, they got married and settled down in Manay, Davao Oriental where they started their family.

At that time, going to and from Manay was difficult, especially if one carries heavy cargo loads. Bridges were not yet built, infrastructures were poor, and people can only travel by sea. That’s why stevedoring was a booming business during those days. My Lolo Lolong was the president and manager of the shipping organization while at the same time, he also engaged in the logging business. He was successful in his endeavors and acquired a substantial property through the well-directed efforts of his devoted wife, Choling, who had been very supportive of him. All was well and good for the family and their marriage was blessed with eight children.

Their firstborn Annabella, currently teaching at Mati Central, is married to Retired Major Santiago Sababan, Sr. They were blessed with twelve children, namely:

• Louraine, who holds Psychology and Nursing degrees, is now working in London. She is married to a fellow nurse, Amiryl Macaludos of General Santos City.
• James Carthney
• Ariane Grace is a teacher, also at Mati Central.
•  Santiago Jr.
•  Chiara Mae has a degree in Business Administration.
•  Marie Chiu, being a Criminology graduate, will soon be a member of the Police force.
•  Twins, Mac Gavin and Marc Crisante, are also would-be men in uniform.
•  Cheenee is now a Nursing graduate.
•  Sharrlymagne
•  Iralstone, the multitalented diva and future hotelier, is a HRM graduate. 

Their first son Virgilio, a Mechanical Engineering graduate, is married to Sonia Visitacion Soria, former Section Head of Davao Oriental Electric Company (DORECO). They have three kids:

• Abigail Joy, a Licensed Pharmacist and a Registered Nurse
• Marc Vergille
•  Christine Shayne 

Their third child Mari Lou is the Corporate Director of Nursing Operations at New York Presbyterian (Columbia/Cornell), married to an Italian-blooded American Michael Inzerillo, the Corporate Director of Pharmacy for Business and Development. They have one child:

• Christine

Their fourth child Marichu is a BSBiology graduate and a Registered Nurse, currently an instructress at DMMA College of Southern Philippines. She is married to a businessman, Samuel Maturan.

• Rick Michelle, working for Honda Motors, is married to Ana Michelle Arendain.
• Angel Rose

Their fifth child is Chona Mar, Personnel Officer of LGU Manay, married to Engr. Renato Gabato of Monkayo, Compostela Valley. They have two kids:

• Renz Josumarco, proprietor of Champ's Agri Feeds, is married to Ressie Ranes.
• Rezy Jianmarie

Their youngest daughter is Cecilyn, a physician by profession, now working in New Jersey. She is married to a fellow doctor, Alimudin Panayaman of General Santos City. They have one child:

• Clydin Marizze

Their seventh child was Marlon Sr., a BSMT graduate, married to a former high school principal, Vivilyn Verano of Hinatuan, Surigao. They have three sons:

• Marlon Crismar, married to Mary Grace Justiniane
• Marlon Jr., married to Frances Pearl Macadagat
• Marlon Dexter

Their youngest child is Marvin Dennis, a Physical Therapist, presently working in New Jersey, U.S.A. He is married to a nurse, Ma. Fe Cabilatazan of Pagadian City. They have three children:

• Jod Queen
• Long-Long
• Marcos   

(To Lola Choling, Lolo Lolong and her children are the most important pieces in her life. They are her successes. Life to her means wonderful family and great friends. She has always placed a great importance on education and has driven her children to success. My father, aunts, and uncles are witnesses to how hard my Lolo and Lola worked. I believe this motivated them to chase after their dreams and achieve their career goals. They saw the difficulties that their parents have endured, and these have spoken louder than any word Lolo and Lola could have said.)

Looking back now, I see that my family’s life have been based on hard work, education, and responsibility. It is these principles, which my old folks believed in, that has the greatest effect on me. And it made me feel a great deal of pride being a part of this family.  =)


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