Topol in Fiddler on the Roof

Today is the birthday of Jeanne. We celebrated it by having dinner at the Capitol Thai Restaurant in the heart of Sydney. Then we caught the 8:00pm show of "Topol in Fiddler on the Roof" at the Capitol Theatre. We enjoyed the play so much that I think we have just found a common interest in the family. This is only the second play that all four of us had watched together and already we're planning to watch some more.

What was even amusing was we were like 'barkadas' who planned to meet up in the City to have dinner and watch a show. Celine came from her voice lessons in Drummoyne. Jessica was travelling by train from Blacktown. I picked Jeanne up from work and we drove into the City. We called each other on the mobile phone and met up in the restaurant. What I'm saying is - it's beautiful to have grown up kids. (Now, if only they could grow up some more that they actually shout us the dinner and the show).

Palenke - Mid 60s

This photo was in the old photo album in our home in Bayan Park. As our story goes, one-by-one each member of the family left and had their own home. Even Ruben who now reside in our home in Bayan Park, left and lived somewhere for a while. Mum also left and lived in Singapore and Australia. The album was placed in the store room which could get a bit wet during the rainy season and humid in summer.

On one of my trips back home, I took out this photo from the rotting album. There were a few more old photos I salvaged and are now in my care. I feel really bad that they were allowed to decay - these were images never again to be repeated. Some are damaged beyond repair as it disintegrate when touched.

Jeanne began restoring this photo today - 14th of Sep 2005. Click on the photo to see the results of a few hours of restoration. It is a work in progress. As you could imagine, she literally has to re-paint the damaged section by hand using a pen mouse.

Other than Lolo Leon, Mama Lou, Auntie Glo and Uncle Mante - Can you help me identify the people in the photo? Please post your comments.

The Tumalads in Sydney 2005

"Everytime I come to Sydney, we think about moving here", says Manang Helen. Sometimes we forget how beautiful our city is and visitors come to remind us. We took a regular Ferry from Paramatta to Circular Quay amidst the line of million dollar houses and apartments.

Then we walked around the quay into the Sydney Opera House, the botanical garden and ended up having lunch at the Waterfront Restaurants at the Rocks. (The service is lousy btw - avoid the place, but the views were great).

A short train ride away is the Darling Harbour and Paddy's Market. When we got tired walking around, we sat to the spectacle of the IMAX cinema featuring 'Fighter Pilots'. Fortunately for us, the Magdaluyo's have rented an apartment at the World Tower at the 68th floor. We spent some time there and it provided a great birds eye view of the city.

Then the Magdaluyos have treated us with a gourmet meal at Don Quixote Spanish Restaurant in Liverpool Rd, Sydney. It was a wonderful, fun filled day we wished it never ends.

Click on the photo to see the pictures taken that day.

More photos added by Manang Helen, uploaded 7 Oct 2005.

Rare Family Photos

These 3 images were originally from the Family Albums of Amado "Mading" Pascual-Santos. The original prints are now in the family albums of Arch. Caesar Pascual in Surrey BC,Canada (near Vancouver). It includes a group photo of a World War II Philippine Scouts. The encircled person in the group is the late Caesario Pascual Sr. There were a lot of family stories surrounding this man , about his courage under fire. He died an officer and in service of his nation in the war. His legacy lives on through Cesario Pascual Jr., now a retired Engineer himself, currently residing in New Zealand, and Teresita Pascual-Papa, currently residing in U.S. The third photo is that of Linda "Pagta/Jr." Pascual-Rivera (deceased) and Cesario "Boy" Pascual Jr.

Teresita Pascual, is the daughter of Lola Cion and Lolo Caesario. I am one of a number of fortunate Pascuals who benefited from the generousity of Lola Cion. In my early professional life, my residence was Lola's house in Sucat,Paranaque.

The Beth Montoya-Borland Family Tree Update

50th wedding anniversary of Ima and Tatang taken l0 June l996

There is an unexplicable joy felt when you discover a large network of your family that you never knew existed before. How I wish that one day we all see each other face-to-face and experience the bond of blood that runs in our veins.

Before Beth's updates, the family tree has one entry for Tempora "Puring" Balberan, her name. Today, this tree is a lot more healthier with these updates:

Descendants of Tempora "Puring" Balberan
========================================
1. Tempora "Puring" Balberan (b.Dec 1928)
   sp: Conrado Montoya (b.Apr 1923;m.Jun 1946)
   2. Elizabeth "Beth or Betty" Montoya (b.May 1947)
      sp: Harold Borland (b.Sep 1944;m.Aug 1999)
   2. Flodeliza "Liza" Montoya (b.Dec 1948)
      sp: Luciano Bulaon (b.Jun 1945;m.Jan 1968)
     3. Joel Bulaon (b.Feb 1969)
     3. Jonathan Bulaon (b.Aug 1970)
        sp: Rubi Panlican (b.Jul 1972;m.Jul 1995)
        4. RJ Bulaon (b.Apr 1996)
     3. Giovanni Bulaon (b.Nov 1972)
     3. Gemmalyn Bulaon (b.Dec 1974)
     3. Judeelyn Bulaon (b.Dec 1977)
        sp: Ronaldo Mercado (b.Feb 1975)
        4. Mica Andrea Mercado (b.May 1996)
        4. Maryann Mercado (b.Sep 1997)
        4. Jorenell Mercado (b.Apr 2000)
        4. Charles Joven Mercado (b.Jul 2003)
        4. Neal Ivan Mercado (b.Aug 2004)
     3. Jericho Bulaon (b.Sep 1985)
   2. Julieta "Jeth" Montoya (b.Jul 1951)
      sp: Bernabe Hipolito (b.Mar 1951;m.Jan 1976)
     3. Jimmy Hipolito (b.Jul 1981)
     3. Bernice Hipolito (b.Dec 1982)
     3. Joan Hipolito (b.Feb 1989)
     3. Beatrice Hipolito (b.Feb 1992)
   2. Ricardo "Ric" Montoya (b.Aug 1954)
   2. Cynthia "Cyn" Montoya (b.Jan 1957)
      sp: Romeo Paquit (b.Apr 1968;m.Jan 1985)
     3. Randy Carl Paquit (b.Nov 1985)
     3. Ria Camille Paquit (b.Jul 1987)
     3. Robby Charles Paquit (b.Dec 1992)
   2. Marissa "Aissa" Montoya (b.Sep 1961)
      sp: Manuel Aguilar (b.Apr 1961;m.Sep 1988)
     3. Adrian Aguilar (b.Oct 1989)
     3. Alyssa Aguilar (b.Jul 1993)
   2. Edgardo "Edgar" Montoya (b.Oct 1963)
   2. Noemi Montoya (b.Dec 1967)
      sp: Jessie Dayrit (b.Dec 1964;m.Jan 1990)
     3. Ariel Jason Dayrit (b.Jan 1991)
     3. Jeffrey Dayrit (b.Jul 1992)
     3. Jerome Neil Dayrit (b.Jul 1999)
     3. Aira Nicole Dayrit (b.2003)

The Family Tree has even pictures of some of the family members in this line.

The Emily Merca Family Tree Update

Emily e-mailed me a few months ago, introducing herself. She saw the old Family Tree in my website and said that she should be in the list. She's seen the names of the siblings of her mum but with somewhat inaccurate ascendants. Nevertheless, I must say that she is also influential in the revival of this family tree.

I asked her to list her family, it took a while but when she e-mailed me the list this morning, I was very impressed and happy on the wealth of information she accumulated. Here is her complete list in summarised form:

Descendants of Ricardo Talavera (Last Updated 11 Sep 2005)
1. Ricardo Talavera (b.20 Jul 1925)
   sp: Manuela Gacayan (b.24 Dec 1925;m.2 Sep 1945)
   2. Guillerma "Emma" Talavera (b.25 Jun 1948)
      sp: Aurelio Nisperos Catbagan (b.7 Jul 1958;m.28 Apr 1978)
     3. Gilbert Catbagan (b.30 Jan 1980)
     3. Aurelio Catbagan Jr. (b.18 Aug 1981)
     3. Cristina Catbagan (b.3 Jan 1983)
     3. Liberty Catbagan (b.8 Jun 1984)
   2. Hipolito "Warlito" Talavera (b.13 Aug 1950)
      sp: Candida Valdez (b.6 Jun 1957;m.6 Jan 1982)
     3. Cecile Talavera (b.10 Oct 1982)
     3. Henry Talavera (b.14 Oct 1983)
     3. Napoleon Talavera (b.13 Dec 1985)
        sp: April Anne Romero (b.4 Apr 1986;m.2004)
        4. Alyssa Ashley Talavera (b.19 Aug 2004)
     3. Edna Talavera (b.7 Nov 1990)
   2. Juanita Talavera (b.12 Jul 1952)
      sp: Evaristo S. Merca (b.13 Dec 1947;m.8 Jan 1973)
     3. Jacquelene Merca (b.8 Apr 1974)
        sp: Dexter Delmonte (b.18 Dec 1976;m.28 Apr 2002)
        4. Jade Ralph Delmonte (b.19 Oct 2003)
        4. Nathalie Ritz Delmonte (b.24 Dec 2004)
     3. Evaristo "Jojo" Merca Jr. (b.19 Aug 1975)
        sp: Marlyn Molina (b.22 Jan 1981;m.23 Dec 2001)
        4. Chrysler Merca (b.21 Sep 2001)
        4. Ford Russell Merca (b.24 Jun 2003)
        4. Shanaiah Kate Merca (b.7 Jan 2005)
     3. Emily Merca (b.8 Sep 1977)
     3. Wilma Merca (b.16 Jul 1980)
     3. Arnold Merca (b.13 Nov 1982)
        sp: Christine Arizo (b.28 Dec 1983;m.25 Apr 2004)
        4. Arabella Wayne Merca (b.3 Jun 2004)
     3. Noel Merca (b.13 Nov 1993)
   2. Bernard Talavera (b.20 Aug 1955)
      sp: Dominga Cabading (b.17 May 1958;m.20 Apr 1982)
     3. Bernadeth Talavera (b.9 Mar 1981)
     3. Brenda Talavera (b.21 Aug 1982)
     3. Brandy Talavera (b.8 May 1985)
     3. Virginia Talavera (b.20 Mar 1987)
   2. Santos Talavera
   2. Floro "Atong" Talavera (b.16 Oct 1958;d.Dec 1992)
   2. Florencio "Kiko" Talavera (b.28 Feb 1960)

You can see this in graphical form by searching for Emily Merca in the Family Tree.

Exciting Updates to the Family Tree

Aunt Litz and Aunt Neng-Neng has been bugging me to update the Family Tree for years. And why not - there were so many babies born in the family and the their names were notably missing.

There were also new wedding bells and unions that have occured over the years and they ought to be in this Family Tree. But most exciting of all is the discovery of branches like the massive updates in the line of Darang Puring Balberan-Montoya as listed by Beth Montoya-Borland.

Check out these updates:

Tempora Balberan Family Line as listed by Beth Montoya-Borland
Vangie Rivera-Schulz updates
Estrella Rivera-Jones updates
Ernesto Rivera-Sabal updates
Sheila-Marie Macaraeg-Bone update
Geraldine "Jingle" Talavera-Cabato update
Judy Cid-Nabong updates
Meldeine "Emem" Frick-Sipes updates
Aurelio Austria Jr. updates found in a photo sent to Kuya Mel

Watch out also for some updates from Emily Talavera-Merca and Cynthia Arceo-Manio soon.