Poblacion’s Perfect Gentle Souls

 

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 30^th 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.

 Perfecto and Clemencia are ideal memory makers. A lovely couple who always reminds us to remember where we came from, and that life is too short. The life lessons from them helped shaped us into the person we are today and in the future. Their legacy lives on the moment they set their foot in Poblacion, Macati Rizal; their voice still reverberates in the confines of our homes and in the back of our minds. Truly, Perfecto and Clemencia are a blessing in the life of each person they have touched at 44 A. Bonifacio Street, Poblacion.