Neo Counter 5-27-11

I left My Heart in Marinduque

I have always wanted to write a song about Leaving my heart in Marinduque. This song will be sang to the tune of the famous song in honor of the city by the bay ( I left My Heart in San Francisco). Here's it is: I hope you like it: Note the original lyrics as sang by Frank Sinatra is in the video at bottom of the page.

The loveliness of Fair Oaks
seems somehow sadly gay
The glory that was Boac
is another day!

Ive been terribly alone
and forgotten in Sacramento
I'm going home to my town by the sea.

I left my heart in Marinduque
Near by the beach it beckons me
To be where the Moriones are
Come, visit whereever you are

The morning sun rise by the sea
I don't care!
My love waits at Chateau Du Mer
Near the blue and calmy sea
When I come home to you, Marinduque
Chateau Du Mer will welcome me!

Slide Show of Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center (Beach Wedding)

Beach Wedding Slideshow: David’s trip from Citrus Heights, California, United States to Marinduque, Philippines was created by TripAdvisor. See another Marinduque slideshow. Create your own stunning slideshow with our free photo slideshow maker.

MI, Inc Medical Mission 2011 and Bellarocca R & R Slide Show

Mi, Inc Medical Mission And Bellarocca Resort, 2011 Slideshow: David’s trip from Citrus Heights, California, United States to Marinduque, Philippines was created by TripAdvisor. See another Marinduque slideshow. Create your own stunning slideshow with our free photo slideshow maker.

Slide Show-Family Pictures and Pleasant Memories

Family Pictures And Pleasant Memories Slideshow: David’s trip from Citrus Heights, California, United States to 17 cities Houston, Washington DC, Vancouver, Maui, Sacramento, Manila, Silver Spring, Modesto, Walnut Creek, Makati, Los Gatos, Richmond, Baguio, Placerville, Paradise, Iloilo City and Marinduque was created by TripAdvisor. See another United States slideshow. Create your own stunning free slideshow from your travel photos.

Photos from Good Friday Procession, Boac, Marinduque, 2011

The above are some photos, I took during the Good Friday Procession in Boac this year. The photos were taken from the second floor of the residence of Mrs. Siony Jambalos across the Boac Hotel in downtown Boac. Mrs Siony Jambalos is Macrine's sister-in-law. She is in-charge of the financial activities (reservation and payments, payroll etc..) of the Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center in our absence, that is when we are here in US.

Below is a short video from NPJNP Production about Good Friday Religious Procession this year.

Updates of the Geneology of the Nieva Clan-Macrine's Maternal Side

Dave and Macrine with Olga Nieva Luarca Quiazon. Olga is Macrine's first cousin. The photo was taken during our Medical Mission Orientation in Marinduque.

See the two recent updates at the bottom of this page-An e-mail from Veronica Nieva, granddaughter of Gregorio Nieva, one of the brothers of Juan Nieva, Macrine's grandfather and a photo of me, Macrine and Rene Nieva, another grandson of Juan Nieva in front of the Nieva Street in Makati. This small street is located in the financial district of Makati was named after Gregorio Nieva.

It is summer time and time for family reunions. The Nievas of the World will probably be have a reunion in the Philppines or here in US sometime this year or next year. Hopefully, Macrine and I could attend this time.
Dave and Macrine Katague of Marinduque and Northern California

In 2003, there was a reunion of the Nieva clan in the Philippines organized by Rene Elizalde Nieva, Macrine's first cousin. We were invited but not able to attend. Rene wrote in his invitation that he is in the process of writing a book about the Nieva clan. He said the book will be privately published with limited printing which will include a general history starting on the possible roots of the Nieva family as well as the achievements of various members of the clan and their contribution to the betterment of Marinduque and of the Philippines. As of this writing date, I have not heard on the status of Rene's book.

In his invitation he invited all the direct and indirect descendants of the children and spouses of Calixto Nieva and Epifania Morente. Note that Rene is the great-grandson of Calixto Nieva and Macrine is also the great-granddaughter of Calixto Nieva , thus Rene and Macrine are first cousins.

I just can not believe that my six grand children are now the great-great-great grand children of Calixto Nieva and Epifania Morente.

Calixto and Epifania Morente had six children, four boys and two girls as follows (from oldest to youngest) along with their spouses.

1.Juan Nieva had two wives. The first wife was Isabel Decena. When Isabel died Juan remarried Elvira Sarmiento. Juan Nieva is both Macrine's and Rene's grandfather. He was the first governor of Marinduque and also the grandfather of the outgoing Governor. Rene and Macrine are first cousin of Jose Antonio (Bong) Nieva Carrion, the outgoing Governor of Marinduque.

2.Victoria Nieva married Doroteo Mercader

3.Dionisio Nieva married Salud de la Santa

4.Gregorio Nieva married Maria Arevalo

5.Jose Nieva married Trinidad Carmona

6.Rosita Nieva married Dr Angel Mayuga

Rene's invitation also included the descendants of the brothers of Calixto, namely Pedro and Francisco Nieva. It also included the brothers and sisters of Epifania Morente, which included not just the Morentes but also the Roceses, Abadas, Trinidads and the Kasilags. Incidentally, the Reyeses are second cousins of Macrine and the other Nievas of Marinduque.

This article will concentrate on the descendants of Juan Nieva and his two wives, Isabel Decena from Santa Cruz and Elvira Sarmiento from Buenavista..

Children of Juan Nieva and Isabel Decena ( from Oldest to Youngest)

1.Calixto Nieva married Juanita Jambalos
2.Blanca Nieva- single was killed by the Japanese during World War II
3.Elena Nieva married Bernardo Jambalos, Jr ( brother of Juanita)

Children of Juan Nieva and Elvira Sarmiento(from Oldest to Youngest)

1.Guillermo ( Willie) Nieva married Dr Celina Elizalde
2.Rosario Nieva married Ramon Carrion
3.Ester Nieva married Rafael Seno
4.Monica Nieva married Conrado Luarca
5.Elizabeth Nieva married Romulo Santo Domingo
6.Asuncion Nieva married Dr. Rafael Ocampo
7.Fr Constantino Nieva- single

For the purpose of this article, I will discuss only the descendants of Elena Nieva and Bernardo Jambalos, Jr. They have seven children as follows: ( From Oldest to Youngest)

1.Macrine Nieva Jambalos- married David B Katague from Iloilo ( that's me)
2.Sister Guia Jambalos- Order of the Cenacle-single
3.Bernardo Jambalos III married Loreta Mercader
4.Fe Jambalos married Edgardo Lazarte
5.Edgar Jambalos ( deceased) married Asuncion Pagalunan
6.Jean Jambalos married Mitch Maeda
7.Rosario Jambalos married Michael Levin

Note that Rene Nieva is the oldest son of Guillermo Nieva and Dr. Celina Elizalde. The younger brother of Rene, Yong is my partner in our literary project, I left my Heart in Marinduque ( not San Francisco). http://marinduqueonmymind.blogspot.com

Macrine's telephone buddy and first cousin from Vancouver, BC, Canada Olga Luarca Quiazon is the oldest daughter of Monica and Conrado Luarca

The outgoing governor of Marinduque is the second son of Rosario Nieva and Ramon Carrion

This posting continues with the offspring of Macrine Jambalos and David B. Katague. They have 4 children and six grandchildren as follows:

1.Dodie( Diosdado) Katague married Ruth Carver- They have 3 children, Philip Winchester, Alexandra and Marina Katague
2.Dinah E Katague married David E King- They have 2 children, Ian and Elaine King
3.David E III-single
4.Ditas Macrine Katague married Nick Thompson- They have one child, Carenna Nicole Thompson

Fe Jambalos has two daughters, Lanie and Ella
Jean Jambalos has two daughters, Yuri and Yuka
Rosario has two children, Carlos and Zehara
Asuncion Jambalos has three sons, Edmund, Nonoy and Jhun-Jhun and a daughter, Marilyn
Bernardo Jambalos III has five children and three grandchildren as of this writing date.

Accomplishments of the children of David B and Macrine J. Katague are discussed in detail at
http://theintellectualmigrant.blogspot.com

Some Interesting Vignettes:

The marriage of Calixto and Juanita Jambalos was not approved by their father Don Juan Nieva. Juanita was the daughter of a barrio businessman from Laylay. During those time, if you are from the barrios, you are not welcome or accepted to the social group of the main town of Boac. The Jambalos family although well off were considered TAGABUKID ( from the bonies). Don Juan Nieva wanted his lawyer son to marry Enriqueta Nepomuceno, one of the popular socialites in Boac. When Juanita died, Calixto did not marry again. Soon Calixto also died and every one in town claimed he died with a broken heart. Enriqueta in the meantime was waiting for Calixto. Enriqueta never married and died as a spinster.

Blanca Nieva graduated from Nursing School at Philippine General Hospital and was earning well. When their father died, she helped in sending her half-sister Rosario to College. She supported her sister and spoiled her by dressing her up to maintain her place in the high society of Boac at that time.

Elena, is the third child of Isabel Decena from Santa Cruz. Isabel died giving birth to Elena. Elena was therefore nursed by the sister of Isabel, Regina Decena Reforma. Elena and Policarpio Reforma ( son of Regina) shared the same breast milk of Tia Regina. When Elena was five years old, she and sister Blanca as well as brother Calixto, were brought to Boac where their father Juan Nieva remarried Elvira Sarmiento from Buenavista.

Elena grew up under the care of Lola Victoria ( sister of Juan Nieva). They lived in the old Nieva Building at the foot of the hill leading to Mataas Na Bayan. Elena later went to college at the University of the Philippines and finished her Bachelor Degree in Education.

When Juanita Jambalos-Nieva( wife of Calixto) died during childbirth, Elena and Bernardo Jambalos II ( brother of Juanita) were made in-charged of bringing the corpse from Manila back to Marinduque.
During the trip, people mistook them as husband and wife. Their romance started then and later were married at the Boac Catholic Church.

Today, if I had to guess, there should be more than seven hundred members of the Nieva clan, just based on the six children of Calixto Nieva and Epifania Morente all over the world. If you include the descendants of Pedro and Francisco Nieva, the two brothers of Calixto, it could reached to more than a thousand Nievas all over the universe. If you are a member of this clan, please let me know. Someday, I may be able to trace the Nieva genealogy all the way to Spain, as I did with my mothers name "Balleza", several years ago. My e-mail is in this site and I am also in Face Book.

Addenda dated 5/20/2011:
In front of the Nieva Street in the Makati Financial District with Rene Nieva, Owner of Perceptions, Inc. This street was named in honor of Gregorio Nieva, one of the brothers of Juan Nieva.

There is also a bridge in Gasan Marinduque ( between the Gasan Market and Downtown) named the Nieva Bridge. I believe the bridge was named in honor of Juan Nieva being the first Governor of Marinduque.

Here's another addendum from Veronica (Ronie Nieva) granddaughter of Gregorio Nieva.

Thank you, Ronie for the update. Macrine and I had a grand time during our mini reunion last December at the The Relish Restaurant in Makati. Here's Ronie's e-mail to me:

Dave, I just read your genealogy. To help you complete the story, here is the Gregorio Nieva line (which you may know already). Gregorio and Maria Arevalo had two children Antonio (my father)& Lourdes Mila (who died early). Mila and Arturo Zamora had one son, Amando. Antonio and Teresa Feria had Veronica, Vicenta, Violeta and Juan Antonio. Veronica & Steve Ettinger had Jonathan & Kenneth. Vicenta & Emil Quinto had Edouard & Nicolo; Edouard & Traci Morinaga have Cade. Violeta & Mariano Arroyo had Manuela & Mariano Jr. Juan Antonio and Irene Casus had Paolo, Monique & Franco. That's it for us!

Ronie, do you know that the Nieva Street in Makati was named after your grandfather?.

Gasan-Gasan Festival on Easter Sunday, Marinduque

This is an Easter Sunday Festival held in Gasan town where the only commercial airport in Marinduque is located. The town's lady mayor in 2002 with the help of her advisers conceptualize a new daytime Easter festival for Gasan than can compete with the other towns in terms of attracting visitors during the Holy Week celebration. The Marinduque towns of Mogpog, Boac and Gasan draw the most tourists because of the unique Lenten rituals and practices observed in these three towns.

Gasan prides itself as the cultural nerve-center of Marinduque with good reason. It was in Gasan where the moriones tradition was discovered by local journalists in the 1960s. Prior to this there was no other account of any Philipine festival that is charaterized by the use of masks. Menfolk of the towns of Mogpog (where the tradition originated), Boac and Gasan don wooden masks during the Holy Week with attires similar to those worn by Roman soldiers.

Barangays compete for cash prizes during this event. Below are two videos for your viewing pleasure.


Gasan Gasan Festival, 2008


Gasan Gasan Festival 2011

Moriones Festival 2011 in Marinduque

Macrine and I decided that for our snowbirding year 2011, we will still be in Marinduque even though it is past April 15. I did file for a tax extension, so I have 90 days after April 15 to file both my state and federal taxes in US. Thus, we got a chance to enjoy this year Moriones Festival. We attended almost all the Holy Week activities except for the Battle of the Morions on Holy Thursday afternoon.

There were two Battle of the Morions scheduled. One was held in Boac and the other in Santa Cruz. Both were held on Holy Thursday at 3:00PM. The one in Boac was sponsored by the provincial government headed by Governor Carmencita Reyes.

The one in Santa Cruz was sponsored by Congressman Allan Velasco, Percival Morales, the Mayor of the town and the Club Marinduqueno, headed by the mother of the congressman.

So there is even a political division in this Holy Week presentation. I agree with the Philippine Inquirer comments, that politics should be put aside during the Moriones Festival.

The following are the three videos for your viewing pleasure.
Morionan Promo Trailer in Santa Cruz

Moriones Parade in Boac

Portion of the Morionan Presentation in Boac

The following are some photos that I took during the opening parade in Boac on Holy Monday.

Marinduque: A Big Classroom For Nature Study

Photo of Balanacan Cove from the Palm by the Beach Resort

The following article was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated 5/12/2011 and written by Gerald Gene R. Querubin.

"MARINDUQUE has everything that nature can provide, according to the founder of a seven-year-old volunteer youth organization which is encouraging travelers to make the heart-shaped island part of their summer agenda.

The attributes are many: Mossy forests with endemic butterflies and insects, a majestic peak, waist-deep subterranean river within a cave guarded by pythons and 20-foot drop falls inside the cave.

“The province is a big classroom for environmental science teachers, students and enthusiasts,” says Dr. Carlos Andam, cofounder of Marinduque Youth Volunteers Corps (MYVC).

Travelers can also get acquainted with Mount Malindig, and the Bathala and the San Isidro caves, while diving enthusiasts can get to see the sunken World War II ships at the Balanacan cove.

Youth volunteers

Andam, formerly the vice president for research and extension of Marinduque State College (MSC), and Cyren Rico, a former MSC instructor, founded the MYVC on Jan. 24, 2004. Both used to be members of the University of the Philippines’ Pahinungod, a volunteer arm of the premier state university.

Andam says visitors to Marinduque can learn hands-on about environmental protection from the negative effects of mining that the province had experienced. He was referring to Marcopper Mining Corp., which accidentally spilled mine tailings into the Boac River in the worst environmental disaster that hit the Philippines in 1996.

The spillage flooded the river at the rate of 5-10 cubic meters (one truckload) per second. Total volume of discharge was pegged at 1.5 million to 3 million cu. m.

Green tourism

Aside from conducting coastal cleanups and campaigns promoting environment literacy, the MYVC has been holding computer and reading literacy programs, and value formation seminars.

Its long-term goal is to encourage the youth to make a difference in their communities. It has around 400 members in three school-based chapters: MSC-Boac, MSC-Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Institute.

Francis Magahis, chapter president of MYVC-MSC, says the volunteers are advocating “green tourism,” which also promotes immersion into local culture and lifestyle.

“It is not only about the tourists but also about all-out community participation, use of biodegradable materials, solid waste-compliant local government units, and private and public establishments with trained and environmentally aware personnel,” provincial tourism officer Jerry Jamilla says."