|
In the local and provincial politics of Antique, the Mosquera are inexorably linked by family ties and
fate to their Manzanilla, Salvani and Cadiao relatives. Together, the extended family has been
involved for over a century now in public service. Good or bad, politics has also been responsible for the rise and
fall of the family fortunes through the years. But politics, like the priesthood, is a calling, and not a trade nor
an industry.
The Manzanilla-Salvani-Mosquera-Cadiao have produced a number of political leaders that dominated the towns of Patnoñgon and Culasi for most of the 20th century, and contributed political
leaders on the provincial level as well. Among the more notable members of the clan are:
- Ramon Manzanilla, gobernadorcillo of Patnoñgon
in 1887.
- Enrique Salvani, mayor of Patnoñgon in 1898,
and then
governor of Antique from 1922-1931.
- Josue Cadiao y Lacson, governor of Antique from 1955-1963. Also
served as Commissioner of the Civil Service Commission, and a
Commissioner of the Philippine Sugar Commission.
- Lolita Javier y Solis de Cadiao, vice-governor of Antique, wife of Josue
Cadiao y Lacson.
- Flaviano Mosquera y Cadiao, mayor of Culasi from 1967-1980, and
provincial board member, 1992-1998.
- Linda Cadiao y Javier de Palacios, mayor of Culasi from 1998-2001;
daughter of Josue Cadiao y Lacson.
- Rhodora Cadiao y Javier, current vice-governor of Antique, on her
second term of office beginning 2007; former provincial board member,
daughter of Josue Cadiao y Lacson.
- Ediviano Mosquera y Lomugdang, current vice-mayor of Culasi, on his
second term of office beginning 2007; previously town councilor, son
of Flaviano Mosquera y Cadiao.
NOTE: This list by no means is definitive, as members of the clan have intermarried into other prominent
Antiqueño families that have their own bailiwicks in other towns, as well as with other families that have, in previous times,
also been politically significant in Patnoñgon and Culasi.
An example would be the Lomugdang, who were active in Culasi in the early 20th century as town mayors and councilors,
and the Javier, a widespread clan that has its roots also in Culasi.
According to oral history, the family is also related to the politico and hacendero Yulo and
Araneta families of Negros Occidental. How is this? The answer: through Pablo Sitchon.
Pablo is the brother of Maria Sitchon, who married Don Ramon Manzanilla. Pablo married Lutgarda Palacio
y Araneta. One of their offspring, Natividad, married Marciano Araneta y Yulo. The union of Natividad P. Sitchon
and Marciano Y. Araneta produced nine children. A daughter, Cecilia, married the former Speaker of the House Jose
Yulo. And one of Marciano and Natividad's sons was the legendary business magnate and industrialist J. Amado
Araneta of Araneta Center fame.
|
|
| As ringbearer at an aunt's wedding party in Polo Club (VP Fernando Lopez y Hofileña in foreground). |
Sources: History of Panay by Regalado and Franco; Binirayan 2000 Antique, Philippines
Souvenir Program; Cornejo's Pre-War Encyclopedic Directory of the Philippines; Clash of Spirits by
Aguilar; Tadhana by Marcos.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
A Brief Backgrounder on the Manzanilla
The Manzanilla family in Antique traces its origins from Gualberto Manzanilla, a Spaniard. It is however
only by the third generation, with Ramon Manzanilla, that the family comes into its own in provincial politics.
Ramon Manzanilla married Maria Sitchon, a wealthy Filipina-Chinese mestiza from Molo, Iloilo. Their children
are as follows:
(1) Juancho m. Graciana dela Cruz, a Filipina
(2) Bernarda m. Rafael Salvani, a Filipino-Spanish mestizo
(3) Ramona m. Jose Lopez, a Spaniard
(4) Fernanda m. Silvestre dela Cruz, a Filipino
(5) Ramon m. Rosela Alvanez, a Filipina
(6) Teopista m. Enrique Salvani, a Filipino-Spanish mestizo
(7) Vicente m. Rosalea Alvanez, a Filipina
Ramon Manzanilla had a brother, Mariano, who is said to have left Panay and went to Daraga, Albay to establish his family
there.
|
|
|
Memories and Stories
In 1971, my father travelled on business and leisure with the former Philippine Finance Secretary Don Aurelio Montinola
y Benedicto to Japan, the United States, Switzerland, Greece, Italy, and, of course, Spain. While in New York and
in Madrid (where he stayed for three months), he made the acquaintance of some fellows who were also surnamed Mosquera
who initially thought he was a Colombian. They were highly curious and pleasantly surprised to discover that he was
a Mosquera who came all the way from the Philippines -- and that he could speak both English and Spanish!
|
|
| Juan Mosquera y Cadiao (R) with Aurelio Montinola y Benedicto along Hurtado de Mendoza. |
Additional Notes
An aunt of mine, Edith L. Mosquera, used to say that if our family had a song, it would be Dandansoy, the traditional
Ilonggo ditty. Apparently, a relative of ours, Fortunata Magsipoc, composed the song. "Dandansoy" came
from the phrase "ang daan ñga dalan guin usoy," which translates to "the old road was traced."
|
|
|
|
|
