of Libon, Albay, Philippines

Maria Cecilia Calleja Maronilla, the daughter of Mariano Sasis Maronilla and Rafaela Calleja was born on February 1, 1900 in Libon, Albay. At 18, she joined the Daughters of Charity and was the first nun who enrolled at the Conservatory of Music in U.P. under Prof. Dr. Antonio Molina. On February 1932, she rendered her senior recital.

Sor Cecilia was assigned head of the Department of Music at Sta. Isabel College, Intramuros, Manila and then Sta. Isabel, Naga City. Hailing from one of the prominent families of the region, she financed the construction of the Music Building of Sta. Isabel, Naga City. She was a full-time department head and professor of Music where she graduated many students in piano.

Sor Cecilia died at the age of 91 on November 1991 at the Daughters of Charity Provincial House in Parañaque City.

Resource: The official website of Libon, Albay.

of Libon, Albay, Philippines

Renato “Remy” Mijes Velasco was born on March 25, 1925 to Juan Maronilla Velasco and Dionisia Mijes. Influenced by his musical aunt, Josefina Maronilla Velasco-Isaac, he learned to play the guitar and accordion and was also a good singer. He was a member of the Velasco Daring Masters that performed not only in Libon but also in nearby towns and even in far provinces like Masbate and Samar. During the Japanese and American regimes, he entertained people crowds at P50 per song. In 1950, their orchestra was disbanded upon the decision of his uncle, Vicente “Pa Titing” Velasco.

Remy took as his wife, Celina Sara Vasquez, an educator. His musical heritage continues through his grandchildren, Marvin and Juano.

Resource: The official website of Libon, Albay.

of Libon, Albay, Philippines

Jose Isaac (1911 - 1984) a native of Bato, Camarines Sur, married Josefina Maronilla Velasco (1909 - 1989, the daughter of Vicente Velasco and Bridiga Maronilla of Libon, Albay. This musical union bore two sons, Antonio and Manuel.

Lolo Jose was an expert clarinet- and violin- player while Lola Pin was a versatile pianist. They taught the children of Libon to play banduria, ukelele, guita, piano. They organized various recitals, choirs, rondallas and other musical groups. Lolo Jose, a prominent member of the Mirabueno band, composed “Santiago de Libon”, his opus, which is played during the town fiests and Holy Week celebrations today.

The artistic pursuits of this well-loved courple enriched the lives of many generations through the gift of music.

Resource: The official website of Libon, Albay.

Etymology

Pronounced [san-di-ye’-go], the family was named after Saint James — most likely, Saint James the Greater (not St. James the Evangelist), who brought Christianity to Spain and is the nation’s patron saint.

The spelling variations of this surname include Santiago, de Santiago, Santyago, de Santyago, Sandiego, San Jaime, Yago, Yagüe, Yague, Yagües, Yagues, Yáguez, among others.

This name was first found in Galicia, an important Christian kingdom of medieval Spain.

Background

The San Diego’s ancestral home is Obando, Bulacan, Philippines; where the earliest known patriarch, Roque de San Diego was born in the late 17oo’s.

Family Tree

Generation-Name-Dates
1 de San Diego, Roque (approx 1770 - unknown)
.. +Bernardo, Ana
.. 2 de San Diego, Antonio Bernardo (approx 1790 - unknown)
….. +Candelaria, Dorothea de la Concepcion
….. 3 de San Diego, Roman Candelaria
…….. +de Roxas, Placida
…….. 4 San Diego, Rafael Roxas
……….. +Avendaño Juana de la Cruz
……….. 5 San Diego, Alejandra Avendaño
……….. 5 San Diego, Carolina Avendaño
……….. 5 San Diego, Gregorio Avendaño
……….. 5 San Diego, Mariano Avendaño (unknown - 1897)
……………+Yap, Maria Florido (1857 - 1947)
…………… 6 Sandiego, Antonio Yap (1881 - 1957)
…………….. +Alcoseba, Concepcion Barcenilla (1884 - 1972)
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Mercedes Alcoseba (1908 - 1995)
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Pilar Alcoseba
………………. +Lopez, Paulino Hermosisima
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Mariano Alcoseba (1912 - 1993)
………………. +Noel, Vicenta Cuico
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Soledad Alcoseba (1915 - 1996)
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Vicenta Alcoseba (1917 - 1990)
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Rafael Alcoseba (1919 - 2001)
………………. +Mancao, Luz Panuncialman
…………… 6 Sandiego, Lucio Yap
…………….. +Chiong, Dulcesima Corro
…………… 6 Sandiego, Narciso Yap (1884 - unknown)
…………….. +Ybañez, Urbana Alivio
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Narciso Jr Ybañez
………………. +Monares, Leticia Arellano
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Editha Ybañez
………………. +Fermin, Fernando
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Oscar Ybañez
………………. +Ruiz, Judith
…………….. 7 Sandiego, George Ybañez
………………. +Monares, Tita Arellano
…………… 6 Sandiego, Pedro Yap (1892 - 1970)
…………….. +Ybañez, Juliana Novio (1898 - 1976)
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Socorro Ybañez
………………. +Maravilla, Romeo Barrios
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Celestino Ybañez
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Teresita Ybañez
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Florentina Ybañez
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Dolores Ybañez
………………. +Argawanon, Antonio Condor
…………… 6 Sandiego, Marcial Yap (1894 - unknown)
…………….. +Carampanata, Maria (1894 - unknown)
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Leo Carampanata
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Lily Carampanata
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Espring Carampanata
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Eusebio Carampanata
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Diza Carampanata
…………….. 7 Sandiego, Rudy Carampanata
…………… 6 Sandiego, Esperanza Yap (1898 - unknown)
……….. 5 San Diego, Maximo Avendaño
……….. 5 San Diego, Mena Avendaño (1870 - unknown)
…….. 4 San Diego, Gregoria Roxas (1837 - unknown)
…….. 4 San Diego, Teodoro Roxas (1839 - unknown)
……….. +Alverto, Dominga Cecuba
……….. +Calayag, Candida Lopez (1844 - 1900)
……….. 5 San Diego, Benito Calayag (1870 - 1944)
………….. +De Leon, Sinforosa (1880 - 1941)
………….. 6 San Diego, Cecilio De Leon (1901 - unknown)
…………….. +Templado, Maria
…………….. +Cordero, Socorro
………….. 6 San Diego, Eliodora De Leon (1907 - unknown)
…………….. +De la Cruz, Miguel
………….. 6 San Diego, Nicanor De Leon (1908 - 1992)
…………….. +Porcincula, Eugenia De Leon (1910 - 1962)
…………….. +Voltz, Catalina (1915 - 1994)
………….. 6 San Diego, Macaria De Leon (1915 - 1985)
…………….. +San Gabriel, Jovito (1913 - 1978)
………….. 6 San Diego, Brigida De Leon
…………….. +Forbes, Vicente
………….. 6 San Diego, Modesta De Leon (1922 - unknown)
…………….. +David, Jose
………….. 6 San Diego, Concordia De Leon (1924 - 2005)
……….. 5 San Diego, Fortunato Calayag
…………. +Santiago, Andrea de los Santos
……….. 5 San Diego, Santiago Calayag (1870 - unknown)
……….. 5 San Diego, Valentin Calayag
…………. +Cuerpo, Leoncia Domingo
.. +Candelaria, Andrea [2nd partner of de San Diego, Roque]
.. 2 de San Diego, Francisco Candelaria
….. +Josefa, Francisca

Resources

- Complete San Diego Family Tree - Email me

Notes

1. Defining the link between the Sandiego’s of Cebu and the San Diego’s of Obando was made possible by the efforts of Valentin Mancao Sandiego and Peary Aleonar Jr reaching out to the creator of this site. Thanks, Val and Vip!

2. Another batch of warm thanks to Peary Aleonar Jr (again) who is responsible for providing considerable genealogical data on the Sandiego’s of Cebu.