ALIGUAS MANGALDAN: Celebrating Life, History and Culture of Mangaldanians

Calling on MAONCA and MANYJER

Aliguas Mangaldan is pushing its drive to connect with the various associations of Mangaldan Residents in USA and Canada. We do know that there is MAONCA (Mangaldan Association of Northern California) and MANYJER (Mangaldan Association of New York and New Jersey). From another website, we saw 2006 picnic pictures of Mangaldanians in Toronto. Do they have an association? Who do we get in touch with?

Are there Mangaldan residents association in LA, in Chicago or in Texas (Houston and Dallas)? Help us connect with them.

We still have to hear from our townmates back home. This website has a feature that allows instant comments. Click the button: Comment found at the bottom of each posting. The editors will do their best to keep contributions along a constructive and positive direction.

I recall my own visit to Salinas, California a few years back. My good friend Bobby Biala and spouse Linda took me around the scenic Monterey Bay. They told me about MAONCA and how it organizes an annual Mangaldan town fiesta counter part in the SF Bay area. I just wonder who among the MAONCA can be contacted to inquire about their events in celebration of life.

To all our Kabaleyan, come join us in Aliguas Mangaldan. Share with us your triumphs and hurdles in the migrants' journey and allow us to reconnect with each other. (Djoma)

Goodbye Toronto, Welcome Vancouver

Last April 2006, Jun Cadang (son of former policeman, Tony Cadang - Poblacion) and wife Marissa Limon arrived in Toronto with their four children to start a migrant's life. After 4 years of waiting, their papers were finally approved and Marissa's relatives in Toronto offered to start them there. Coming from a tropical climate, Jun and Marissa found the spring season in Ontario too cold. They also encountered difficulties in looking for work. Three months after their arrival, Marissa's brother Ronnie flew in from Vancouver to take a look at their condition. After some discussions, the new migrant family opted to try it out in Vancouver.

Jun, Marissa and family arrived in Vancouver last Aug. 24, 2006. In this picture, they are joined by three of their children (r-l) Renz Bryan, Michael and Christian. Their daughter, Alyssa Joyce, was not feeling well when I visited them last Saturday, Oct. 13th. Ronnie Salcedo-Limon and wife, Espie (nee: De Vera) generously took them in to their home and currently share the accommodation. Their Canada-born son, Mark, is such an eager host and tried to entertain me. More than just sharing their dwelling, Ronnie took in Jun to his workplace at the Northwest Produce and got a fulltime job for Jun. On the other hand, Espie took Marissa to the laundry service shop where they now both work.

Great work, Ronnie and Espie. You kindhearted souls will be gifted by the Heavens for taking good care of our new Kabaleyan migrants: Jun and Marissa and family. Aliguas Mangaldan co-editor Marie Aquino-Junio visited them earlier to find out their needs.

To Jun and Marissa, welcome to Vancouver!

Daing na Bangus

Rene Palaganas treated his friends last Saturday at their Collingwood-Vancouver home to a delectable home-cooked dinner to celebrate his birthday. Wife, Grace (nee: Domagas) was all over the place making sure that guests returned to the table for a second serving from an overwhelming array of choices of native Filipino dishes. The "daing na bangus" was brought back by Rene from his recent vacation in Mangaldan to visit their children who are currently enrolled in nursing courses.

Food was terrific and there was also the karaoke system that help digest (or trigger indigestion depending on who is singing --joke only). When you eat, you must sing. Behind Rene and Grace is former two-time municipal councilor Engr. Philip Fabia who arrived in Vancouver in January 2005. He is currently eyeing manager positions in several multinational chain stores while currently doing his studies in financial management. We wish Philip the best in his final panel interviews and hope that he gets the well-deserved work he aspires for.

Some of the guests were from our town of Mangaldan.

In this picture (l-r), Grace joins: Jing Martinez-Ho who arrived in Vancouver in 1997, Marie Soriano-Palmari whom I met earlier in a 2001 visit to Vancouver and her husband Lyndon Palmari who arrived last October 2005.

Thank you Rene and Grace! Thank you Philip for tagging me along to this occassion so Aliguas Mangaldan can continue to document the lives of our townmates. (Djoma)

Ontan Labat so Belai!

Wala ney pigaran litrato ya arumog ko. Cada pistay baley, nan daragupan iray toto-o ed plaza ta anbabangel ya 'ocacion' so nagawa. Amay tatawagan ya "Barangay Night" so makala na san karaklan na toto-o, lapud aray amin ya barangay et mangipawit na delgacion.  Aray oficiales na Barangay Poblacion maslac et completo: Kgd. Raul Serafica, Kgd. Cesar Velasco, tan Barangay Captain Art Fabia.

Say imbeneg ya Mayor, Don Tito Sarsaba tan First Lady Mely Sarsaba so maleket ya angi gapo na balce "waltz".

Say arum balet a kabaleyan tayo et mas labay da ya mas maermen ya panu-ulupan. Angi paraan iray lamisan diman ed abung nen Napo Frianeza-Castaneda diad Arellano St. (asalatan la na Golea St.). Ed sayan litrato: Danding (?) tagalog ya aca-asawa ed sakey ya Paragas ya agi ni Tia Nena Paragas-Castro tan Tia Metching Paragas-Murillo, Dr. Jorge Torralba, Napo Castaneda, Eddie Cera, balik-bayan Bobbit Rovillos, (Ret.) Col. Dado de Guzman, chitcharon-king "mang" Sayas Martinez and legal counselor Lauro Ferrer.

Mother's Day in 1960's

Hoorray! I just received the first response from our town of Mangaldan to participate and contribute to our website. My cousin (Atty) "Tot-tot" Ma. Paz G. Serafica (youngest child of Paz Generosa and the late Atty. Luis E. Serafica, both from Poblacion) took the time to scan some old pictures of the Serafica clan and our matriarch, "Imay" Felicisima Evangelista Serafica, and sent them to me today by email. Ah, technology! So far, yet so near. We are indeed a global village. To all our "kabaleyan", wherever you are, come and join our website. Share your pictures of the golden past and the glorious present.

This is what the Serafica clan looks like, one Christmas season in the early 1960's. This was taken in the front entrance of the old house located near the public market along Frianeza St. (at that time it was called Esperanza St.). Our matriach, Imay Serafica, is seated in the center wearing the traditional "saya". Most of the grandchildren are from Leonora Serafica and husband, Pedro de Guzman (lower right corner). Seated on the upper left and upper right corners are Rudy and Luis Serafica and their respective wives, Joving and Paz. The other siblings are on the lower left corner with Benny and Ping (Felisima).

The impact of the American occupation of the country and of the town can be seen in this annual celebration of Family Day, a kind of Mother's Day. Matriarch "Imay" Serafica acknowledges the recognition given to her and the Serafica family. 

The occassion was done in what looks to me as the frontage of the Central School in Poblacion or in the Gabaldon elementary school building which was torn down to give way to the new 4-storey municipal building.

Here's another picture of what the CWL (Catholic Women's League) looked like in those days during one of the monthly meetings. The officers really dressed up for the occassion. Breakfast would be served and I iamgine there would be the traditional "tsokolate" and puto plus some pancit bijon. Our matriarch Imay Serafica is seated seond from left.

Kabaleyan, come and send in your pictures and stories. So that the present may know and acknowledge the past as we chart a brighter future for us and the next generation.

Birthday on Thanksgiving Day

Charmagne  Gordon (nee Junio) was hosted to a surprise evening dinner celebration of her birthday last October 9, 2006 which coincided with Canada's Thanksgiving Day. Her mother, Marie Aquino-Junio quietly arranged to bring a small group of relatives and friends to Uncle Willy's restaurant at the Metro Town area in Burnaby, BC. Charmagne arrived with husband Allen  Gordon expecting a quiet dinner with Marie and husband, Remo  Gambioli .

Yes! Remo was there and so were others who are close friends to Charmagne. Given that the restaurant crowd was growing as the evening went waiting for Charmagne's arrival, most filled their plates at the smorgasbord line topping their selection with slices of roast turkey and roast beef. At one table sat (l-r): Remo, Marie, Mona Tan, Pepe Tan,  Briggy Miraflor  and wife Rusty Cervas Miraflor  and Maridel de Guzman ( husband Djoma was taking these pictures ).

Earlier in the morning, Marie secured an 'ube' flavored birthday cake from Goldilock's Bake Shop. The celebration would not have been complete without the ritual of making a wish and blowing the candle. Others joined the ritual of candle blowing (l-r): Marie, Remo, grandson Gabriel Gambioli-Lefort , Charmagne and  Clarissa  C.  Cox . Other guest were Michael and Gina ( former Carvajal ) Perez and sons Mark and Matthew ; Peter and Carol ( nee Carvajal ) Cox and young daughters Clarissa and Lenina .

There were others who would be marking their birthdays right after Charmagne's . Franz's birthday is Oct 10  and   Allen's is Oct .11 ( Picture :l-r): Charmagne, her husband Allen , Marie, Remo, Nora Gambioli -Lefort , son Gabriel and husband Franz Lefort .

The evening was capped with a "class picture" gathering all the guests and celebrant in one corner of the restaurant. Charmagne gave her mom, Marie, a big hug for making the occassion a special moment to remember.

New Doctor

Another milestone was added into the family of Atty. Benigno E. Serafica (Poblacion) and spouse Consuelo. Their daughter, Monet, is already a PhD in Economics and an international consultant. Last May 27, 2006, their son, John Paul who took his medical studies at the University of the Philippines, successfully passed the Philippine medical doctor examination and is now licensed to practice.

Cendana-Hernandez Wedding

James Mejia-Cendaña and Vanessa Hernandez recently (Sept. 2 , 2006) got married in Bremerton, Washington, USA. James' parents are Henry Cendana and Baby (Filipina) Mejia, both from Mangaldan. Some of the guests in the reception were: (seated L-R) Mona Lopez-Tan, Dolor and Carding Mejia, Marie Aquino-Junio and Tess C. Marier, current chairperson of the Mangaldan Residents of Greater Vancouver Group.

Other guests were: (seated from left to right) Estrella Mejia-Espinosa, Luz Mejia-Clemente, Dolores Mejia, Mrs. Esther P. Mejia, Virgie Enriquez and Leny Dalupan. Standing: newly weds Vanessa and James Mejia, Joel and Jury Mejia, and Marie Aquino-Junio.

Wedding in Japan

Aliguas Mangaldan co-editor Marie Aquino  Junio recently flew to Japan to attend the wedding of her youngest  child, "CJ" Cesar Angelo Junio, Jr. to "Janie" Mary Joanne Coronel ( youngest child of Lilia Aquino Coronel , co-founder of Cherished Moments  School in Mangaldan , and Remigio Coronel ) which was held last September 8, 2006, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Roppongi, Japan. The officiating priest was Fr. Sweeny. One of the witnesses was Emma Yamada (whose husband , Joseph not in photo, was the other  witness ). The Junios and Coronels are long time close family friends but CJ and Janie barely knew each other  until  about  eight years  ago  when the Coronel children visited  Vancouver . Both CJ and Janie teach at the Berlitz International Language Center in Japan  presently .

On a lighter note: given that the wedding ceremony was held away from the homes of CJ and Janie, given that Marie flew in from Vancouver and, given the tight hotel room availability in the embassy row (where the Philippine-owned consulate building is also located) is at Roppongi ....bridegroom's mother Marie, had to share the newly weds' room on their wedding night. Ooooppppssss!

Edmundo Mir in Vancouver

Vancouver recently got a visit from Edmundo Mir (Poblacion) and spouse Fe. In this photo, the couple (joined by Marie Aquino) pose with their niece Karen and grand daughter, Kitara. Lito (Edmundo's brother) and Tessie (nee De Guzman-Quinto) Mir are the parents of Karen.

Reception for the baptism of Kitara was held last May 28, 2006 at Shabusen  Restaurant. Some of the guests were from left to right: (seated) Lilia Ceres , Mona Tan, Marie Aquino Junio , Fe Mir and Claire Torio-Alejandria (Poblacion); (standing) Pepe Tan, Carlito Torio, Edmundo and daughter  Eva Mir Blasco.