Etymology

Pronounced [mag’-no], the family name is derived from the Latin adjective magnus, meaning “great”. It could also mean “large” or “important.”

The spelling variations for this surname include Magnani, Magni, Magnaguti, Magnanini, Magnano, Magni, Magnini, among others. This family name and its derivatives are widely used in Spanish-, French- and Italian-speaking nations. 

The name was first found in Bologna, Italy — specifically, the province’s capital, Emilia.

Background

The origins of our line can be traced to Iloilo City, Philippines.

Family Tree

Generation-Name-Dates
1 Magno, Ricardo
.. +Sobrepeña, Teodora
.. 2 Magno, Julio Sobrepeña
….. +Novierez, Armida
.. 2 Magno, Segundino Sobrepeña (1913-1992)
….. +Hernandez, Fredesvinda Francisco (1912-1989)
.. 2 Magno, Cecilia Sobrepeña
….. +Tapiculin, Francisco
.. 2 Magno, Ignacia Sobrepeña
….. +Sepe, Emilio
.. 2 Magno, Adelina Sobrepeña
….. +Lizada, Antonio
….. +Cezar, Rutillo Francisco

Resources

- Complete Magno Family Tree - Email me

Of Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines

Segundino Sobrepeña Magno (1913 - 1992) was the son of Ricardo Magno and Teodora Sobrepeña.

He was a master carpenter and painter by profession. He belonged to the Philippine Independent Church. He married Fredesvinda Francisco Hernandez. The young couple made 104 C.R. Fuentes Street, Iloilo City their first home, where their two eldest children were born. They migrated from Iloilo City right before World War II broke at the advise of Fredesvinda’s father who, being affiliated with the government, knew that Manila would be the only open city where supplies and rations would be most accessible.

After the fall of Bataan, Fredesvinda’s father was captured by the Japanese and made superintendent of the Philippine Constabulary Academy (the precursor of the present-day Philippine Military Academy). Segundino then worked in the Academy as the chief cook. In his efforts to help the Filipino guerillas, he would keep the armory unlocked for the rebels to loot overnight.

Segundino and Fredesvinda made Mandaluyong City their home. This city was where they raised their family. Fredesvinda was a homemaker and worked as a skilled dressmaker. Despite their humble lifestyle, they raised a closely-knit family and were important influences in the lives of their grandchildren.

A smoker since his teens, he died of complications from lung disease.

Of Tondo, Manila City, Philippines

Felicisima Porcincula San Diego (1935 - 1993) was the eldest daughter of Nicanor De Leon San Diego and Eugenia De Leon Porcincula.

Blessed with a fiery and passionate disposition, Fely was kicked out of St. Theresa’s College High School in Manila for throwing a table bell at a faculty member (It is interesting to note that all of her three daughters attended the very school from which she was expelled). She finished her secondary education from Sta. Catalina College in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

She met her future husband at the De Ocampo School of Nursing; but finished her education at the St. Anthony’s School of Midwifery. In 1959, at the age of 24, Fely married Carlo Ricardo Hernandez Magno, with whom she had four children.

Fely was a devoted homemaker and mother. She was a stay-at-home mom until her youngest turned 7, after which she actively engaged in business ventures. She was the main concessionaire for the Philippine Women’s University Fast Food Center and she also owned the CEMB Bookstore near Taft Avenue.

In 1986, a mass was discovered behind her optic nerves, necessitating brain surgery (the procedure also accidentally extinguished her sense of smell). Recovery from this procedure required her to take massive dosages of steroids to regenerate brain cells. But the medication resulted in serious calcium depletion which wreaked havoc on her skeletal system. In 1989, Fely endured hip replacement surgery.

Being the good patient that she was, Fely elected to have gall stone surgery in 1993 after experiencing mild stomach pains. A month after a botched procedure under the knife of Dr. Jose P. Caedo, Fely died from cardio-pulmonary arrest during corrective surgery at the Makati Medical Center.

Her inimitable singularity — her unconditional love for her family, her sense of humor, her legendary generosity, her volatile temper, her attention to details, her devotion to her faith, her scrumptuous cooking, her loyalty to Nora Aunor and Ferdinand Marcos — continue to stand in the memories of those whose lives she has profoundly touched.

Resources
- Civil Birth Record of Felicisima Porcincula San Diego, dated 22 August 1935.
- Civil Death Record of Felicisima San Diego Magno, dated 07 September 1993.