PART TWO: Genealogy: The Neri Family of Mindanao

UPDATE: From Rogelio Roa Neri re Neri-Estavas line:

From Rogelio Roa Neri re Estavas-Neri Line

Regarding attached FB Post,Subj:NERI GENEALOGY,I have additional details to its paragraph 4 as regards the Neri-Estavas Clan.
Yes,my brother Ramon Roa Neri III and I belong to the Neri-Estavas Clan of Ozamiz City and Oroquieta City,Misamis Occidental. We have another brother,Renato Roa Neri. Our father,Agustin Estavas Neri,married to Adela Daaca Roa of Cagayan de Oro,has two brothers,namely:

1.Narciso Sr-married to Socorro Centino
Sons:a.Narciso,Jr
b.Fortunato II
2.Nemesio Sr-married to Herminigilda Acot
Sons:a.Fortunato III
b.Joseph
c.Antonio
d.Nemesio,Jr
e.Mario
f.Benjamin

Narciso Sr,Agustin,and Nemesio Sr are all sons of Fortunato Sarigumba Neri who was married to Praxedes Lumacang Estavas. Thus,the Neri-Estavas Clan.

To go further,my grandfather's father was Lucas Dumanjug Neri of Ozamiz City who was married to Pastora Sarigumba. My great grandfather had five other sons aside from my grandfather,Fortunato,namely:

1.Hospicio
2.Eleuterio
3.Susano
4.Pantaleon
5.Francisco

I think accounts on my lineage will not be complete if I do not mention as well who my great grandfather Lucas' siblings are and their father's(my great great grandfather)name too. Well,my great grandfather has three other brothers,namely:

1.Tomas
2.Eusebio
3.Sixto

In our clan,considered as our patriarch or progenitor was Juan Neri,father of my great grandfather Lucas,who in turn as discussed earlier was the father of my grandfather,Fortunato. He was said to be from Cagayan de Oro.
As chronicled,Juan lived for some time in Lanao having married the daughter of a royalty and bore her three sons named Datu Samporna,Datu Buaya,and Datu Barandaya. Not long after his wife died,he went to Ozamiz to help the inhabitants there fight marauding pirates from the deep South. It was there that he met a lady(her name skips my mind) surnamed Dumanjug. They soon got married and thereafter Lucas and his three brothers were born.
Our grandfather Fortunato used to regale his older grandchildren with stories about the intrepidity of our great great grandfather Juan as a warrior that saw action in the Lanao Provinces. Well,this is a subject of another story.

Postscript: The details herein are culled from the personal files of our older cousin,late Daylinda Centino Neri-Saren. It appeared that she religiously chronicled all the stories told to us by our grandfather Fortunato during his leisure time then. I hope my other cousins can share their own stories of our genealogy too.

Latest update in August 15, 2018, originally posted on Facebook:

NERI GENEALOGY

After having posted the initial blog entry so many years ago, followed by several related entries, it is time to take a review of what has transpired and what unfinished business needs to be attended to
Serendipitously got the free time, so I went through not only all the entries made, but importantly reviewed all the comments entered, which in toto numbered over 400.

So as informal review these are the points I came up which in my personal belief were not only highlights but issues that could assist the completion of the overall genealogy charting and tracing.

1. This first point is more of a spotlight on the following Neri descendants who because of the blogs were able to find resolution and maybe closure to the issues of their parentage, or maybe simply for allowing them a medium to express their sentiments:
Maria Angelica Neri – daughter of Ramon M. Neri
Maria Christina Neri – daughter of Ramon M. Neri
Denver Estopil Neri – son of Luis Neri
Michele Andrea Neri – daughter of Felino M. Neri, Jr.

2. This came from Teddy Delfin. Esperanza Nery y Neri who descended from Mariano and Ambrosia Fortich Neri, was the mother of former Camiguin Gov. Joselito “Joseling” Neri. Esperanza had a brother named Eustaquio, while Joseling had a sister named Ying Neri y Navarro. It looks like these data will have to be matched and verified with what we already had written and established.

3. Ande Nagac gave us the name of Casiano Neri, who is related to the Neri-San Jose. He had a brother named Crisanto Neri. What we can establish is that Casiano Neri is listed as one of the heroes of the Battle of Cagayan.

4. Luke Neri introduced us to the Estabas Neri line.
His grandfather was Narciso Estabas Neri, whose son was Eros Narciso Neri. Narciso’s siblings were: Agustin Neri, whose sons were Ramon Roa Neri and Rogelio Roa Neri; Loloy Estabas Neri; and Genoveva Neri Pambuena (Iligan).

5. A descendant gave us the name of Isaac Neri Chaves, Sr. who was born June 3, 1905, and he came from Camiguin and Cagayan de Oro.

6. Beltran Neri gave us the name of his father which was Angel Neri and his grandfather, Marcelino Neri

7. Lastly, Mary of Australia who is writing her own version of her genealogy gave us the following:

 Her grandfather was born in 1877, and his wife was Desideria Balboa Neri. We are in the dark as to whether it was the grandfather or the grandmother who was a Neri.
Those reading through and finding names familiar may leave comments, whether for clarification, correction, or whatever. Any input will be appreciated.

                                                            **********************





Just realized that adding more comments to the original blog entry has become problematic, so decided to introduce a new blog entry with the same title for purposes of future updates and for new comments.

Those visiting this original blog entry please add your comments here please.

Let’s keep them coming.

Second Peep: Old Town Look Meets Urbanization

Another short walking trip, and a few more discoveries, this time against the fading light of late afternoon.



Another important political personage used to live in this fenced-off property. The late Vicente de Lara, who used to be both governor and congressman of the province, and his family called this place home, situated at the corner of Del Mar and Carmen streets.


Then a few houses away on the opposite side of Carmen Street is this Spanish-inspired two-storey edifice, with the very distinctive front veranda. Or didn’t we call this by its Spanish name, azotea? Living here was the late Tio Loloy Velez, city councilor, medical doctor, and renowned local historian. It has been preserved quite well, down to the unpainted concrete façade. The good doctor being also our family doctor, we used to visit his office on the ground floor of this building. All of us five brothers I believe went through him for our painful rite of passage to adulthood, circumcision.

Finally, next to the Velez residence was that of the Fernandez family, home to a couple of good-looking young ladies as I recall. They were also related to us somewhat, having roots to the Neri clan. But the passage of time has not been kind and unsparing to this once-impressive timber structure, with the blocks of translucent glass studded on the front façade still visible. This allowed outside light to permeate inside, though preventing onlookers from intruding into its privacy.

Another view of the de la Camara house.

Old Town Look Meets Urbanization

A little tale on the physical metamorphosis of an old town inexorably pushed into congested urbanization. A form of uglified gentrification or maybe urban blight, one might confusedly muse.

Circling around the narrow streets of the old hometown neighborhood where we spent our childhood, these telltale pictures clearly reveal clear insights of the effects, mostly deleterious. Granted in a third-world country setting where necessary financial resources are scarce resulting in haphazard development, or make-do measures to generate some revenue for the real estate owners.

This first one sits in the corner of Victoria and Pabayo Sts. Original owners were the Valdeo family, though the lot next to it westward used to be the one-storey residence of the Vuelvans.

One can readily tell that the exterior of the upper floor has been essentially untouched, still revealing the old original design, characterized by a multi-layered roofing, and painted-over traces of window panes studded with capiz shells. The ground floor of course has been extended street-ward, to the legal limits (or maybe even beyond), to accommodate an air-conditioned business establishment. It looks like a beauty salon, and a number are located in this area.

Next house sits at the opposite corner, virtually untouched and unchanged in usage. Owned by the family of the once university dentist of Xavier University, Dr. Ricardo Borja Sr. XU is located on the next block going east. One of the children who is also a dentist hangs his shingles where his father’s used to be. Except that on the ground floor we see traces of an eating place offering barbecue and other foodstuff. Remarkably, even the paint color is how I remember it as a kid, though maybe now a little lighter or faded. Notice how the old tree has been incorporated in the eaves.

At the third corner is the then huge and imposing timber building of the Rodriguezes, now recognizable only by its upper floor with the uniquely styled roofing system. The entire building now punctured with air-conditioning holes and all windows shuttered. During our childhood windows were opened during the daytime and air-conditioning was almost non-existent. One of the current congressmen of the city is a member of the family who owns this and spent part of his youth domiciled in this building.

Further down Victoria St., a few houses away are the unmistakable outer walls of what used to be the residence and office of now Mindanao Senator, Nene Pimentel. The dark walls are the results of years of exposure on surfaces not painted. But the ground floor looks okay, with a lone almost dead palm tree standing sentinel on one side of the gate. A bleak sign of the times?



The next two pictures are those of the old residence of then Gov. A. Dadole, which lot sits at the corner of Victoria and Corrales Avenue. It fronts the 9-ha campus of Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan). Again the upper floor is virtually untouched exteriorly, down to the signature paint job giving a faux brick-wall look.

In a catty-corner direction from the Dadole residence is what remains of the residence and clinic of the Montenegro family. This time plastered with several big signs as to be unrecognizable.




But understandably even in this little cozy neighborhood, some houseowners have resisted the onslaught and continue to maintain the old hometown look in their houses. . The first three are of the old dela Camara house and lot, which lot nestles snugly and roundedly at the corner of Del Mar and Carmen Streets. The old house located away a little in the back continues to be shrouded in privacy by the old trees and brushes around the entire property. Bamboo slats fence the entire frontage of the lot. The fourth one, situated next to it, is that of the Pet Hong family, old copra traders of the city, and built sometime in the early 50’s. Nothing much has changed of the original structure, and the children continue the business of copra trading and selling motor and lube oils.

CORRECTION:
The house above mentioned as that owned by the Pimentels is or was actually owned by the Buals. Recently, the dela Camara house went through a thorough exterior renovation and because of its unique design, it now looks like what one could find in a foreign country.

COWD: Water, Its Only Service

I am not sure if the local water district is still a fully governmental entity, though it used to be part of a public national monopoly providing the necessary resource to all water-dependent city residents.

That is not my consuming interest this early back to living in the old hometown. Though I have read projected moves to cooperativize the entire system. Which easily tells one that trouble is abrewing some place in the organization.

The main interest at this time is the basic services that it is tasked to render to its multitudes of clients in a city that has expanded exponentially over a short period.

Oh, water does come out of the faucets, most hours of the day, even 24/7. Though pressure may be low during certain hours of the day.

So what essentially is the problem?

Notice the following pictures hurriedly and surreptiously taken during one regular visit – to pay our monthly bills for two locations.



From the outside, the offices look like any other. But once inside, one is rudely accosted with the enormity of the gathered crowd just anxiously sitting around waiting for their numbers to be called out. For each round, numbers go up to 1,000. Then back to 1, for how many times daily I can only surmise.

To do what? Mostly to pay their monthly bills. I am told this undesirable scene is a daily occurrence.

The interior pictures are hazy because I had no intention to be noticed snapping pictures by a growingly irritated mass of sweaty people.

Imagine if you will an entire city of maybe close to a million residents translating to at least a hundred thousand connected households, having to grudgingly trek to this one office on a regular monthly basis. Factor in the countless man-hours and allied costs like transportation and one can easily imagine the staggering losses involved – in the all too simple task of paying for one’s water consumption, which carries a minimum charge of 300+ pesos for a residential household and/or commercial establishment.

Is this punishment inflicted on the residents justified?

I am told further that the district used to have a system in place whereby clients could go to listed banks to pay their bills. Which is what other companies with a big and diverse clientele have been doing for ages.

But a pending case of corruption against the district has now made it mandatory, (or is it the only legal way?) to make payments at its offices.

At the surface, this clearly is grossly wrong and unjustified.

Please remember that for public utilities, customer service is paramount.

Or so we thought.

No Sticker No Entry

When I first arrived back in the old hometown, our private subdivision undertook some sprucing up, a bit of image building to some service areas which had gone to pasture in quiet disrepair. Like the guardhouses and the gates for entry and egress. Some minor construction work and a liberal use of paint and the overall result was one of considerable pride knowing that the subdivision looks presentably decent, at least looking from the gates and entrances. But more importantly, implemented were stricter compliance of certain basic subdivision rules historically known more for their being overlooked or flouted by both residents and visitors.

(The association should however do something about that Agoho Drive access road. Be reminded that since the start of the subdivision way back in the 70’s, only half of the road has been concreted. To this day, while the concreted portion continues to slide to non-maintenance hell, the other half has been quietly claimed by weeds, and close to the highway, by garbage throwers.)

One such basic rule was the need for all vehicles of residents to carry the subdivision’s sticker on the front windshield of four-wheeled vehicles and in convenient places for two-wheeled vehicles. Obviously, for easy and quick identification at the guardhouse, all in the name of basic security. During these times, one cannot afford to overlook such elemental security measures. That’s one of the primary reason guards are hired.

Thus, standing as quiet and mindful sentinel at the entrances is this strictly business painted sign;

No sticker, no entry.

Such easy simplicity, one would think.

But, no. As I pass through the gates I continue to see vehicles without the required sticker. When asked, guards can only squirm and declare that indeed a good number of residents are adamant and hard put to follow such an easy requirement.

It does involve some cost, but very nominal at best. 150 pesos for one sticker and I believe a little lower for your other vehicles.

This afternoon, a quick drive through some subdivision streets revealed a good number of vehicles sans stickers outside some residences. Of course, a number of them could have been those of visitors. Was tempted to take pictures, but held back for very obvious reasons.

Hoping this little heads-up makes non-compliers realize that some residents are watchful.