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 [cal-ye’-ha], the family name is derived from a Spanish noun “calleja”, meaning alley or narrow street.

Background

Siblings Andres and Salome are the earliest known members of the Calleja clan. Salome Calleja had children with a Monsignor Bishop of the Franciscan order, Gonzalez Dietz, which explains a consistent family trait in the earlier generations, the Castillan nose.

The ancestral home of the known Calleja line is situated in a compound bounded by San Pedro and San Miguel Streets in Poblacion, Libon, Albay.

Family Tree

Generation-Name-Dates
1 Calleja, Andres
.. +Urbina, Ramona
….. 2 Calleja, Antonia Urbina (1873 - unknown)
….. +Aguilar, Agustin Hernandez (1863 - unknown)
…….. 3 Aguilar, Antonia Calleja
……….. 4 Aguilar, Francisco Calleja (1908 - unknown)
……….. 4 Aguilar, Jose Serrano
……….. 4 Aguilar, Maria Teresa
……….. 4 Aguilar, Marietta
……….. 4 Aguilar, Agnella
……….. 4 Aguilar, Maria Joan
……….. 4 Aguilar, Erlinda Serrano
……….. 4 Aguilar, Lourdes Serrano
……….. 4 Aguilar, Miriam Serrano
…….. 3 Aguilar, Irene Calleja
…….. 3 Aguilar, Romana Calleja
….. 2 Calleja, Severo Urbina (1875 - unknown)
…….. +Sevilla, Felisa Severa (1877 - unknown)
1 Calleja, Salome (1840 - unknown)
.. +Gonzales Dietz [1st Partner of Calleja, Salome]
.. 2 Calleja, Ignacio (1862 - 1930)
….. +Maronilla, Aquilina (unknown - 1916)[1st Partner of Calleja, Ignacio]
….. 3 Calleja, Manuel, Maronilla (1891 - 1981)
…….. +Aspillera, Paz Grivialde (1895 - 1959) [1st Partner of Calleja, Manuel M.]
…….. 4 Calleja, Luis Cezar Aspillera (1916 - 1942)
…….. 4 Calleja, Rizalina Aspillera (1918 - 1918)
…….. 4 Calleja, Alicia Aspillera (1920 - )
……….. +Castro, Jose Cruz (1915 - 1992)
…….. 4 Calleja, Rizalina Aspillera (1922 - 1983)
……….. +Baltazar, Antonio (1921 - 1990)
…….. 4 Calleja, Aquilina Aspillera (1925 - )
……….. +Chua, Jose Tan (1923 - 2000)
…….. 4 Calleja, Jose Aspillera (1927 - )
……….. +Caro, Norms
…….. 4 Calleja, Ignacio Aspillera (1928 - 1959)
……….. +Flor, Doris
…….. +Villanueva, Apolonia Calleja (1896 - 1983) [2nd Partner of Calleja, Manuel M.]
…….. 4 Calleja, Pascual Villanueva (1918 - 2005)
….. 3 Calleja, Pilar Maronilla (1892 - 1946)
…….. +Fernandez, Bartolome Seda (1892 - 1981)
…….. 4 Fernandez, Ramon Calleja (1916 - 1997)
……….. + Seva, Lydia Aguilar (1920 - ) [1st Partner of Fernandez, Ramon Calleja]
……….. +Tuazon, Iluminada [2nd Partner of Fernandez, Ramon Calleja]
…….. 4 Fernandez, Manuel Calleja (1916 - 2000)
……….. +Ocampo, Rosita
…….. 4 Fernandez, Bartolome Calleja
……….. +Vibal, Teresita
…….. 4 Fernandez, Felix Ernesto Calleja (1921 - unknown)
…….. 4 Fernandez, Herminia Calleja
….. 3 Calleja, Mariano Maronilla (1900 - 1944)
…….. +Satuito, Petra [1st Partner of Calleja, Mariano Maronilla]
…….. 4 Calleja, Ester Satuito (1922 -)
……….. +Verces, Roy
…….. +Segarra, Trinidad (1911 - 1979) [2nd Partner of Calleja, Mariano Maronilla]
…….. 4 Calleja, Editha Segarra (1933 - )
………. +Peñas, Cesar Serrano (1934 - )
…….. +Ramos, Teodora [3rd Partner of Calleja, Mariano Maronilla]
…….. 4 Calleja, Renato Ramos (1931 - )
……….. +Deniega, Norma Ayo (1937 - )
….. +Serrano, Ruperta [2nd Partner of Calleja, Ignacio]
….. 3 Serrano, Eliseo Calleja (1907 - 1987)
…….. + Zafra, Aquilina Ranera (1913 - 2007)
…….. 4 Serrano, Arturo Zafra (1931 - unknown)
……….. +Rañola, Violeta Alondra (1932 - )
…….. 4 Serrano, Eliseo Zafra (1932 - 2007)
…….. 4 Serrano, Andres Zafra (1934 - )
……….. +Ramos, Flora (1933 - )
……….. +Gratil, Emenita (1936 - 2000)
…….. 4 Serrano, Estella Zafra (1937 - 2005)
……….. +Carpo, Jose
…….. 4 Serrano, Albaro Zafra (1940 - 1940)
…….. 4 Serrano, Josefina Zafra (1943 - )
…….. 4 Serrano, Simplico-Biso Zafra (1946 - 2003)
…….. 4 Serrano, Irene Zafra (1949 - )
……….. +Taduran, Generoso (1948 - )
…….. 4 Serrano, Consuelo Zafra (1950 - )
……….. +Lojuco, Amando (1950 - )
….. + Serrano, Rufina Sasuca (1892 - 1966) [3rd Partner of Calleja, Ignacio]
….. 3 Calleja, Ignacio Francisco Serrano (1920 - 1986)
…….. + Obed, Felina Los Baños (1919 - 2003)
….. 3 Calleja, Sofia Serrano (1922 - 1922)
….. 3 Calleja, Amelita Serrano (1924 - 1940)
….. 3 Calleja, Antonio Serrano (1926 - 1995)
….. + Serrano, Felisa Sasuca (1889 - 1969) [4th Partner of Calleja, Ignacio]
….. 3 Serrano, Leonardo Calleja (1920 - 1993)
…….. + Garcia, Amelia Mañago (1928 - )
….. 3 Serrano, Angelina Calleja (1924 - )
…….. + Veluz, Gregorio Balid (1918 - 1986)
….. 3 Serrano, Felipe Calleja (1927 - 2003)
…….. + Meribeles, Natividad Villadelgado (1927 - )
.. + Serrano, Doroteo (1852 - 1903) [2nd Partner of Calleja, Salome]
.. 2 Serrano Juan Calleja (1882 - unknown)
….. + Moni, Pelagia Revantes (1885 - unknown)
….. 3 Serrano, Felina Moni (1912 - unknown)
….. 3 Serrano, Caridad Moni
….. 3 Serrano, Antonio Moni (1916 - unknown)
….. 3 Serrano, Concepcion Moni
…….. +Ceguerra, Bernardo
….. 3 Serrano, Victoria Moni
….. 3 Serrano, Juanito Moni
.. 2 Serrano,Mariano Calleja (1885 - 1954)
….. +Micol, Elena (1888 - 1912)
….. 3 Serrano, Doroteo Micol (1908 - 1992)
…….. +Sevilla, Concordia Sayson (1913 - 1992)
…….. 4 Serrano, Salome Sevilla (1935 - )
………. +Bitong, Ernesto
…….. 4 Serrano, Avelina Sevilla (1938 - )
……….. +Celis, Romeo B
…….. 4 Serrano, Francisco Sevilla (1939 - )
……….. +Reyes, Corazon Zapanta (1939 - )
…….. 4 Serrano, Dolores Sevilla (1942 - )
……….. +Valenciano, Julito
…….. 4 Serrano, Daniel Sevilla (1944 - 2003)
……….. +Tomarong, Bella
…….. 4 Serrano, Maria Paz Sevilla (1946 - )
……….. +Bufete, Tarcisio
…….. 4 Serrano, Eduardo Sevilla (1948 - )
……….. +Sayson, Nida (1954 - )
…….. 4 Serrano, Rosalia Sevilla (1950 - )
……….. +Ortega, Jacobo S (1949 - 2007)
…….. 4 Serrano, Margarita Sevilla (1952 - )
……….. +Guico, Orpiano (1952 - )
…….. 4 Serrano, Genaro Sevilla (1957 - )
……….. +Segubiense, Ceres (1977 - )
….. 3 Serrano, Elena Micol (1912 - )
…….. +Seva, Eugenio
…….. 4 Seva, Jose Serrano
…….. 4 Seva, Erlinda Serrano
…….. 4 Seva, Avelina Serrano
…….. 4 Loro, Virginia Serrano
.. 2 Calleja, Bonifacia
….. +Aguilar, Pablo
….. 3 Aguilar, Angela Calleja (1883 - 1967)
…….. +Seva, Benito Cerdon (1876 - 1952)
…….. 4 Seva, Diego Aguilar
…….. 4 Seva, Rosita Aguilar (1918 - 2006)
……….. +Regaya, Cerilo Jagurin (1910 - 1985)
…….. 4 Seva, Anacleto Aguilar (1919 - )
……….. +Cerdeña, Petra (1933 - )
…….. 4 Seva, Rosario Aguilar (1920 - 2003)
…….. 4 Seva, Pablito Aguilar
.. 2 Calleja, Lorenzo
….. +Malonda, Lucinda
….. 3 Calleja, Amando Malonda (1893 - 1949)
…….. +Casten, Soledad
…….. 4 Calleja, Norma Casten (1924 - )
……….. +Mondoñedo, Augusto (1919 - 1993)
…….. 4 Calleja, Teresita Casten (1928 - )
…….. 4 Calleja, Aida Casten (1930 - )
…….. 4 Calleja, Amando Casten (1932 - )
…….. 4 Calleja, Jesus Casten (1935 - )
….. 3 Calleja, Felisa Malonda
…….. +Abella, Domingo Calleja (unknown - 1976)
…….. 4 Abella, Rene Calleja
…….. 4 Abella, Domingo Calleja
….. 3 Calleja, Juanito Malonda
…….. 4 Calleja, May
….. 3 Calleja, Mariano Malonda
…….. 4 Calleja, Mariano
….. 3 Calleja, Salome Malonda
…….. +Abella, Domingo C (unknown - 1976)
….. 3 Calleja, Dolores Malonda
…….. +Reyes, Marcial Rabago
…….. 4 Reyes, Virginia Calleja
……….. +Avisado, Amando
…….. 4 Reyes, Jose Calleja
……….. +Guidote, Elvira
…….. 4 Reyes, Teresita Calleja
……….. + Valdez, Eduardo
…….. 4 Reyes, Marcial Calleja
……….. + Villarama, Rita
…….. 4 Reyes, Felisa Calleja
……….. + Arboleda, Albino
…….. 4 Reyes, Maria Dolores Calleja
……….. + Nosce, Nestor
…….. 4 Reyes, Carmen Calleja
……….. + Trinidad, Jose
.. 2 Calleja, Amando
.. 2 Calleja, Rafaela (1873 - 1905)
….. +Maronilla, Mariano Sasis (1840 - 1908)
……. 3 Maronilla, Teresa Calleja (1898 - 1983)
……… +Samson, Silvino Rabuy (1888 - 1995)
……….. 4 Samson, Consuelito Maronilla (1927 - )
…………. +Ayo, Salvador Rivera (1922 - 1955)
……. 3 Maronilla, Maria Cecilia Calleja (1900 - 1991)
……. 3 Maronilla, Maria Magdalena Calleja (1902 - 1919)
……. 3 Maronilla, Maria Beatriz Calleja (1903 - 1904)
……. 3 Maronilla, Maria Rafaela Calleja (1905 - )

Resources

- Complete Calleja Family Tree - Email me
- Church Baptism Record of Elena Micol Serrano, dated 17 June 1912.
- Church Baptism Record of Felina Moni Serrano, dated 08 June 1912.
- Church Baptism Record of Antonio Moni Serrano, dated 15 June 1916.
- Church Baptism Record of Felix Ernesto Calleja Fernandez, dated 10 April 1921.
- Church Baptism Record of Ignacio Francisco Serrano Calleja, dated 25 April 1920.
- Church Marriage Record of Juan Calleja Serrano and Pelagia Revantes Moni, dated 08 June 1904.
- Church Marriage Record of Rafaela Calleja and Mariano Maronilla, dated 15 January 1896.

Notes

1. The practice of the Catholic Church of Libon to maintain a separate record for “Bautismos Illegitimos” or baptisms of illegitimate children proved to be a hurdle in our research. The records of the many illegitimate children in our family only included the mother’s information and excluded the father’s altogether.

2. Major additions on the Calleja descendant tree were made through the tireless efforts of Eleno Meribeles Serrano. In a trip to Libon, Albay, he interviewed relatives and visited cemeteries, which helped fill many data gaps. Thank you, Kuya Leno!