Everywhere in the world people
love to tell stories about how certain folks came into a certain place. How my
grandparents started a family and gained the respect of their neighbors being
the old folks in the neighborhood called “Looban” is already a pride among the
Ortega clan.
This story is powerful and an emotional profound truth because my grandparents, PERFECTO ORTEGA AND CLEMENCIA STA. MARIA born on May 8, 1901 and April 26, 1909 respectively found their niche at 44 A. Bonifacio St. Poblacion, Macati Rizal.
Perfecto was the typical
playboy and found bliss in the bosom of Clemencia. Together, they started a
family and built a huge house made of nipa and bamboo erected by the historical
Pasig River. The main living area was designed to let in as much fresh air and
natural light as possible. The floor made of bamboo slats allowed cool air from
the ‘silong’ that is why guests during the San Pedro at San Pablo town fiesta would
often lie down especially at siesta time. The walls made of ‘sawali’ tend to
let some coolness flow naturally especially during the summer season. The main
door has lush and stunning red bougainvillea flowers that welcome visitors from
all walks of life. A huge window would greet the guests where the view of the
river could be seen from the living area surrounded by the ‘aratiles’ tree in
the front, the kamias tree close to the rear end of the house, the guava tree near
the kitchen, and the ‘kakwate’ tree located right at the ‘batalan’ or the laundry
area. Indeed, the Ortega abode symbolized the simplicity of life and the overflowing
love of Perfecto to Clemecia.
Perfecto and Clemencia raised
seven children. Delfin, (+) the oldest, Juliana, my mother, 82 years old, Jose
(+), Carmelita (+), Corazon, 74 years old, Lourdes (+), and Feliciano (+), the
youngest. Perfecto worked hard at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Forbes
Park Macati to sustain the needs of his family. However, he needed to retire early
because of asthma. All the seven children went to Makati Elementary School, the
oldest and premier public school in Makati. When they reached high school, most
of them went to Pio del Pilar High School like Juliana the persevering,
Carmelita, the mathematician, and Lourdes, the feisty and then went to college later.
Both Delfin and Jose were
employed at the Manila Golf and Country Club as well and later married Consuelo
and Teresita respectively. Delfin and Conchita have three children, Eliza works
at barangay Poblacion, Gerry (+) and Edgar (+) while Jose and Teresita have two
daughters, Cecilia is in Cavite and Solita is in America.
Meanwhile, Juliana married
Antonio Mendoza Jr. and nurtured six children namely Priscilla, senior high
school teacher in the Division of Makati, Arnold, employee of the Makati City
Hall, Antonio III, sheriff of the Supreme Court, Angelita, businesswoman based
in Cavite, Aleli, private employee and Angelo, police lieutenant in Makati.
In addition, the fourth child,
Carmelita, married Victoriano Gutierrez, and they reared three children namely
Victoria, a teacher at Colegio de Sta. Rosa, Analiza is in America and Reynante, an engineer. Corazon, the fifth child, married Rodolfo Abilar and raised two
children namely Ronaldo and Miriam, a hardworking mother. Meanwhile, the second
to the youngest, Lourdes, a public-school teacher at Guadalupe Viejo, married Ernesto
Senesan and they have three children namely, Ria, a nurse in the UK, Ernesto Jr, a
private employee, and Eric. Lastly, Feliciano, the youngest in a brood of
seven, a hardworking tricycle driver who unselfishly served his town folks, married
Cora, and raised two boys, Bongbong and DJ.
Perfecto or ‘Lolo Tuho’ as he
is fondly called by old and young people alike was a strict father and grandfather.
His 6:00 o’clock rule that everyone must be home at sunset represents the
completion of a day’s work because according to him, it’s an opportunity to rest.
“Looban”, a unique place, where mostly each family was related either by consanguinity or affinity. was a peaceful place. Old folks had a garden growing ‘saluyot’, ‘malunggay’, eggplant, ‘alugbati’, tomatoes, and
a lot of greens in their backyard. The family feasted on their produce to supplement
their nutritional needs while the Pasig River in the 50s and 60s was a rich
source of fish like ‘biya’, ‘tilapia’ to feed a happy family.
Clemencia or “Lola Mensya”, as
she is fondly called by her grandchildren, is the sweetest lola one could ever
have. Her support, dedication and unconditional love to her husband, children
and grandchildren is incomparable and worth emulating. She lived up to her name
which means a mild, gentle, and soft-hearted woman.
Moreover, my grandparents were
also very active in preserving the MAKATI SPORTING (CLUB) ASSOCIATION established
to promote sports among young men on Mabini and Bonifacio streets. The Makati
Sporting (Club) Association is one of the oldest clubs or ‘samahan’ in Poblacion
wherein the youth continue the legacy of the people behind the organization’s
goals and objectives. In fact, the younger brother of Lolo Tuho became one of
the elected officers of the Makati Sporting Association in the early 1960s. Delfin,
who took an active role in the community, was elected auditor and sergeant at arms
of the association. Indeed, community involvement had been participated as well
by the granddaughters, Angelita and Marivic, who unselfishly did an active role
to help the organization. One of the herculean events that Sporting Association
would prepare is the “Semana Santa” where people look forward to every summer. The
populace would gather to do the interrupted chanting of the ‘Pabasa ng Pasyon’ at
the Sporting Chapel known as ‘kalbaryo’. The culture of ‘Bayanihan” was alive among
the townsfolk preparing sumptuous food that is why children also looked forward
to ‘participate in this unique observation of the Lenten season.
Another local festivity that
my grandparents would be excited about is the town fiesta on the 30th
of June. This local festivity is part of Poblacion’s culture and a celebration
of the patron saints, San Pedro at San Pablo. My grandparents would prepare sumptuous
meals and dessert to guests and relatives from nearby Mandaluyong Rizal, where my lola’s
sister, ‘Tayang’ lived. The creative act of kindness of Lola Mensya in maintaining
and preparing her favorite local recipes: ‘pesang dalag’, ‘nilagang bibe’
called “barako”, her native ‘tinola’ chicken were a feast to behold. Aunt
Lourdes’ desserts, ‘halaya’ and ‘macapuno’, were smoothly and decadently prepared
to satisfy the sweet tooth of everyone. Certainly, my lola was a zealous and
diligent wife and mother. She farmed a waddling of ducks (barako), and a flock
of chickens in the vicinity of her big backyard. Nobody gets hungry when she’s
around.
Still nestled in the beautiful
and chronicled Bonifacio and Mabini Población, Juliana and Corazon, the only
living children of Perfecto and Clemencia as of this writing, enjoy a wealth of
life experiences. My mother, Juliana, is the epitome of strength and sacrifice having
been awarded as one of the MOST OUTSTANDING MOTHERS in Población. She served
the local government of Makati for 30 years. At present she is one of the ‘Lupon
Tagapamayapa’ in our barangay Poblacion. Likewise, my aunt, Corazon at 74, who has
an infectious grin, is still a very doting granny to her grandkids.
