We all grow up with the weight of history on us.  Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies.  ~Shirley Abbott

Pandan, Antique, Philippines 5712

     Welcome to my family tree project.  The ancestors and descendants originate from Pandan, Antique, Philippines.  Intermarriage is within the barrios, towns and islands of the Philippines.  They may be cousins or related to any of their distant relatives.

     My name is Toni J. Gumboc: born in Pandan, Antique and grew up in British Columbia, Canada.  A mother of two children and a grandmother of one.  I enjoy the genealogy project, travelling, photography and networking at Facebook.  Immigrated to Canada with the family of eight whose parents looked for a greener pasture of our future.

     This project started in 1960's by my Uncle Andres and the book was borrowed and passed around by other families.  I became interested in the project at the time of my Balikbayan 1982 and diligently copied the book for myself, not knowing I would continue this project.  There are 8 generations from the oldest and 5 generations from the youngest child.  Names were mentioned from the 1800's to the current dates.  With the Internet, I am able to connect with other families who are interested with their genealogy.  For family updates, please email: pandantree@hotmail.com or upload the form.  Thank You. This is the website for the descendants of:                 

Daughters:
Cawayan (Maria) 1780 ~ 1811
Inyawan (Juana) 1785 ~ 1821
 Tinawagan (Isabel) 1787 ~ 1834

Some of us Filipino have descended from Ati.  It is a fact supported by historians who never any derogatory motive in stating the truth that Filipino families were known to have Ati strains in their genetic make-up.  Of course, the Ati were the first Filipino often described as dark skinned, kinky hair, nomadic pygmy hunters.  We know so well how in the 13^th century Panay Island was purchased by Datu Puti from the Ati for the price of one gold saduk (scoop) and a long necklace.  With this purchase, the Ati relinquished the lowlands to the Malay settlers and moved up to live in the mountains of Panay.

The named Zapanta is of Spanish origin as most Filipino families bear the Spanish appellation.  Such as Filipino family during the 18^th century resided in the town of Hagonoy, Bulacan but ramifications of the Zapanta Clan are well known in Panay, particularly in Antique.  It is the purpose of this account to trace the family tree that borne fruit to many notable personages both in the government and in the professional field.  This historical records is also intended to preserve the traditional Filipino trait of family kinship whereby one delineate with facility to diverge the relationship hitherto unknown and submerged in the limbo of ignorance mainly due to lack of adequate data collected through factual and diligent research.

     Matelde Rojo, the niece of the Archbishop Rojo was confined in the Carmelite Convent of Manila, where she delivered a healthy baby boy.  The boy was baptized Mariano Vicente Zapanta.  After the birth of her child, she returned to Spain leaving her son in the convent under the care of the Mother Superior.  It was her special request with the Mother Superior that when her son grows up she want him to be a priest so that he could help Christianized the Filipinos.  In this love for the Filipinos and the Philippines would have more valuable offering in the service of God that would not be lost for generations to come.  Mariano grew up and was taught the rudiment of elementary education in the University of Santo Tomas where he garnered high scholastic ratings.  He became a priest in the year 1790.

Under the leadership of Father Zapanta; the development of the town, Pandan was completed in the year 1795.  The church and the convent were built in the center of the town plaza.  The municipal and the school building were constructed south of the plaza.  Then all prominent persons of the town build their home around the plaza.  Straight road connected the convent to the shore in order for the approaching Spanish ship to readily identify the town by having an unobstructed view of the convent from the sea.

Interviewed, Researched and Written by: Mr Andres Villaflor Gumboc

 Gumboc

Villaflor: Tomasa & Francisco

Riomalos

Jontilano

Pandantree Family Tree Project ©2000-2011 Surrey, BC, Canada

We cannot destroy kindred:  our chains stretch a little sometimes, but they never break.  ~Marquise de Sévigné