Tubag sa mga tigmo

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1. banig (bukharon sa gabii aron katulgan, irolyo inig mata aron hiposon) 2. itlog (dili na gyud ni mauli kung mabuak na) 3. posporo (ang mga bilog sa posporo gipareho ingon og mga patay nga gisulod sa usa ka dako nga lungon) 4. lamok (ang tingog kung maglupad-lupad paduol mura og motor, kung makapaak ingon og ineksyon sa doktor) 5. puso sa saging (mangahulog na man lang gud ang panit sa puso sa saging) 6. pinya (ang pungpong sa tangkay ibabaw sa bunga sa pinya maoy korona, unya daghan pud og mata and bunga) 7. bayabas (aw, kasabot ka na ani nganong batoon ang sulod) 8. lansang (mogimaw gyud ang ulo ani) 9. lapa-lapa sa tiil (himatikdi kuno ni kung motindog o mohigda ka) 10. anino (aw, dili gyud mo magbulag hangtod sa hangtod) 11. ballpen (ang takob maoy kalo, and sulat ani maoy agi) 12. relo/orasan (may nawong pero dili pareho sa ato, unya moingon man ta nga midagan na ang oras) 13. kagoran (kasabot kana kung ngano nga dili modagan bisan sigehan og hungit sa kagdunon) 14 sip-on (niadtong bata ka pa, di ba singhot ka lang ug singhot sa nag-ung-ong mong sip-on) 15 pakwan (puwede pud ang kalabasa, and bunga maoy anak unya ang ganas o punoan maoy nanay) 16 tawo (obviously from Greek mythology where the half-lion and half-man Sphinx sat outside of Thebes and asked this riddle of all travelers who passed by: "What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?"); 17 batikulon sa manok (mao man ni ang gigikanan sa mahimong iti sa ginhawaan sa manok, unya kung imong ihawon ang manok, ang batikulon pikason gyud unya hiwaon aron panitan sa kubalon ani nga putos sa ilawom); 18 dila (sukad sa sukad di ba sige ka lang og um-um sa imong dila pero di gyud nimo puwede tunlon, di ba?); 19 butong (gisusama sa dakong itlog ang hitsura aning bunga, tam-is ug lamian gyud kaayo ang unod ug sabaw niani. Segurado mabusog ka sa usa lang ka butong); 20 nilun-ag nga bugas (til-ogan man gyud nimo una ang bugas, unya ilabog ang sabaw nga gigamit sa paghugas sa bugas aron puwede na nga lutoon ang bugas para mahimo nga kan-on); 21 kalendaryo (naa lagi ni mga buwan (months) ug mga adlaw (days) pero wala gyuy langit; 22 sementeryo (di na man seguro kinahanglan pa nga i-explain nganong mingaw man ning lugara bisan og naa daghang tawo nga gipanglubong)

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2010 CANDIDATES IN INOPACAN

MAIN PAGE: INOPACAN, LEYTE and the Inopacnons

I sourced the following list of local candidates in Inopacan for this coming May 10, 2010 election, so the Inopacnons around the world will know who are running to vie for local political position in our hometown. (Thanks, Dovie)

The candidates under the ticket of incumbent administration are:

Janice A.Lloren - Mayor
Ben Lloren - Vice Mayor
Dominador Megias - Sangguniang Bayan (SB)
Atty.Hugo Kudera - (SB)
Atty. Epitacio "Pepe" Lloren - (SB)
Efren Sumabong - (SB)
Aida Balabat - (SB)
Casiana "Asing" Omapas - (SB)
Edito Navales Jr. - (SB)
Bobong Dolayba.- (SB)

The opposition line up has the following candidates:

Silvestre "Loloy" Lumarda - Mayor (incumbent vice mayor)
Jojo Pua - Vice Mayor
Lourdes Villas - (SB)
Andres Evangelista - (SB)
Diosdado Siao - (SB)
Romeo Buhi - (SB)
Ariel Chiong- (SB)
Ernesto "Tagoloy" Joseph - (SB)
Eufronio Manapsal - (SB)

The political arena looks like a fight between the Lloren clan and the incumbent vice mayor.

TELL SOMETHING ABOUT ANY OF THESE BARANGAYS

MAIN PAGE: INOPACAN, LEYTE and the Inopacnons

INOPACAN, LEYTE

Inopacan is composed of 20 barangays. Each of them has its own story to tell. If you know something on how they got their names,share it to us. You may also tell us something about their history, their people (who's who), mythologies, practices, fiestas, foods, and even personal experiences and memories, humor (or jokes), and whatever that interest you.


The following are the 20 barangays of my hometown, Inopacan:

* Apid (island)
* Cabulisan
* Caminto
* Can-angay
* Caulisihan
* Conalum
* De los Santos (Mahilum)
* Esperanza
* Guadalupe (Binitinan)
* Guinsanga-an
* Hinabay
* Jubasan
* Linao
* Macagoco
* Maljo
* Marao
* Poblacion
* Tahud
* Taotaon
* Tinago

BRGY. TAO-TAON

The name Tao-Taon is from the word "tao" or "tawo" meaning the people, and the word "taon" or "tawon" meaning to evacuate to a higher ground. 

The early settlers on this place were always bothered by the overflowing Inopacan River that forced them to move to nearby higher grounds. Thus, "Tao-taon" would mean people would take refuge to a higher ground to stay away from an overflowing river. The old river bed that traversed across barrio Tao-taon now dried up and cultivated to become an open field farm. A creek still exist of erstwhile portion of the river bed that approaches to the sea, where nipa palms and mangrove trees now abound. The river changed its course to its present channel and is being prevented by concrete dikes and ripraps from returning to its old route .

BRGYS. CABULISAN and CAMINTO

MAIN PAGE: INOPACAN, LEYTE and the Inopacnons

(Click the image to view actual size and find the location of Cabulisan and Caminto)

Brgy Cabulisan is used to be called as the "Little Baguio in Leyte" because its comparatively cold like the mountains of Baguio City in Benguet (Central Luzon). It sits on the ridge of highly elevated Mt. Sacrepante right on the foot of the mountain wall where what looks like a big ball of rock is embedded. The place is overlooking the Camotes sea in the western part and the belfry of Inopacan Parish church can also be seen from the bordering hills, and one can have a distant view of the mountains in Mindanao across the southern horizon. While on the eastern side is the magnificent mountain ranges of Brgy. Caminto, a quiet and similarly cool place.

Long long time ago, there was a couple who first settled in the area. The wife's name is "Bulisang"and her husband was "Mintong." Eventually, the couple got separated due to petty quarrel. Bulisan stayed in their hut while Mintong went down to the lower ground of the valley and built another hut for him to stay. Thus, the nearby villagers called the two places as "Ka Bulisang" (Bulisang's place) and "Ka Mintong" (Mintong's place). As time passed by, the name stuck and became Cabulisan and Caminto.

Naming a place in this manner is common in olden times, such as the Kabinak (from "Ka Binak," meaning Binak's place) a hill situated along the border of Brgy Tinago and the fishpond of Lloren's.

Edgie Polistico

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BRGY. TINAGO

MAIN PAGE: INOPACAN, LEYTE and the Inopacnons

Shown in the picture is the Brgy. Tinago Fish Port and the legendary Baysahas, viewed from the backyard port of Tudio's residence.

During the Spanish time, even before then,the sea in this place is strategically good for hiding boats and galleons from the wrath of habagat (south or southwest monsoon winds).

The cape along Baysahas, where the first fish port is constructed is the all-time port for hiding and anchorage of big fishing boats called sinsuros and occasionally by some passenger ships from Hilongos and Bato.

So called Tinago because this is the place where the ships and fishing boats would take refuge during bad weather even to these days. The people called this place Tinago from the word tago meaning “hidden.” Thus, tinago means “the hidden one.”

- edgie polistico

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INOPACAN PARISH CHURCH

Inopacan Parish Church (San Isidro Labrador Parish Church) – [San Roque Street, Poblacion, Inopacan, Leyte ] - Before the establishment of the municipality of Inopa can on December 06, 1892, a Catholic church was already built in this place but no priest was assigned to stay here. Later on, after founding the township of Inopacan, a Cura Párroco was assigned and the church was further developed.
But the church and its convent was destroyed by the invading Japanese forces in World War II (1945). The church was rebuilt after the war. Until now, its second bell tower remained unfinished as manifested by the steel bars that are still protruding upward. The finished tower on the other side of the church has a bell that produces a dull clang due to the big crack on its lip.

The patron saint of Inopacan is San Isidro Labrador (St. Isidore the Laborer, a.k.a St. Isidore the Farmer) because the source of living in this town is largely from farming. A feast is celebrated every May 15 in honor to this Patron Saint. A legend was told by the Spanish missionaries that in Madrid, Spain there was a man named Isidro who was a tenant to Señor Vargas, a rich landlord in Madrid. Every m orning, instead of going directly to his farm like what the other tenants were doing, Isidro would hear mass first and offer his morning prayers to the Lord. In the afternoon, he would go home before six o’clock so that he could pray the Angelus together with his family. The neighbors began calling Isidro as lazy. They told the landlord that Isidro always came late to the field and that only a small portion of his farm had been cultivated. Angered, Señor Vargas confronted the saintly farmer one day and shouted “Isidro, you are lazy, deceitful man! You have never rendered a day’s work in the farm! You go there when the sun is already up and you go home when the sun is still up!” Isidro remained silent, not even a word of excuse or defense. Then, he bowed meekly his head and promised that he would plow the field and finish it in time for planting. Señor Vargas did not take Isidro’s promise seriously. One day, Señor Vargas went to Isidro’s farm to see if the farmer indeed kept his promise. To his great astonishment, Señor Vargas saw the field almost finished! He was filled with an immeasurable amazement upon seeing the four angels plowing the field! Then on another occasion, the master saw angels plowing along on both sides of Isidro that made Isidro’s work to equal that of three of his fellow laborers. Awed and humbled, Señor Vargas knelt before the saint and begged for forgiveness.

Historians wrote that Isidro was born some time in 1070 near Madrid. He got married to Maria Torribia (who also became a canonized saint, and was venerated in Spain as Maria dela Cabeza, from the fact that her cabeza (head) is often carried in procession in time of drought). Is was told that their son fell into a deep well and at prayers of Isidro and of his wife Maria, the water in the well miraculously rose up to the ground’s surface level that brought the boy up alive and was easily taken out. Afterwards, Isidro and his wife made a bow of continence and obliged themselves to live in separate houses. Their son however died in his youth. Isidro died on May 15, 1130 in his place of birth. Forty years after his death, Isidro’s remains was transferred from cemetery to the church of Saint Andrew. It was told that his apparition was seen by Alfonso of Castile (Spain) wherein the saint showed the hidden path that surprised the Moors. Because of Isidore’s guidance, Alfonso won the war of Las Nevas de Tolosa in 1212. It was King Philip III of Spain who replaced the old reliquary (the case containing the relics) with one that is made of precious silver. It was the king’s way of showing his gratitude that after he touched the relics, he was cured from a dreadful disease. Isidro’s sainthood was canonized by Gregory XV on March 12, 1622 along with other saints: Ignacious, Francis Xavier, Teresa, and Philip Neri. The cities of Madrid, Leon, Zaragoza and Seville, all in Spain, honor San Isidro (Saint Isidore) as their patron saint.

MAIN PAGE: INOPACAN, LEYTE and the Inopacnons

- edgie polistico -

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CUATRO ISLAS

Cuatro Islas – [Hindang and Inopacan, Leyte ] The group of four islets off the western coast of Leyte province. One of the four islands is named Himokilan Island, under the municipal territory of Hindang.

A view of Cuatro Islas from the shore of Villa Editha at the boundary of Brgy. Esperanza and Brgy. Conalum.

(Click here to view a much larger photo) photo by Edgie Polistico 2010

Cuatro Islas is a promising place for tourism to boom in this part of the region. But let’s not just focus our interest on the sea level. We also have to look up high in the mountains where you can find the Little Baguio of Brgy. Cabulisan and Caminto. By putting up tourism in the sea and in the mountains, everything in between these two points will totally enjoy the benefits of tourism. We will soon be progressing our local transportation industry to and from these two points. Food and accommodations will spread out in the areas where tourists would be plying around. Of course, other progress will come along, such as the development of commercial centers, parks, facilities, etc.. Tourism will surely put a new pin in the map to mark where in the globe Inopacan is.



 WHERE TO FIND THE CUATRO ISLAS - The map of Cuatro Islas
(click the map to enlarge)

A view of Cuatro Islas from a hill in Brgy. Guadalupe (formerly known as Binitinan)

(Click here to view a much larger photo)
photo by Edgie Polistico 2010


The Himokilan Island of Cuatro Islas

(Photo by Edgie Polistico 2010)

The other three, Mahaba, Apid, and Digyo islands belong to the municipality of Inopacan. The sea between the four islands and the mainland had long been the refuge to some ships and sinsuros (fishing vessels) that sought to hide from the wrath of monsoon wind and typhoons.

The Mahaba Island of Cuatro Islas. (photo credit to Jes Surabia Polistico)

The powdery white sands of Digyo Island.
On the horizon are the Mahaba and Himokilan islands
(photo credit to Jes Surabia Polistico)

Apid (left) and Digyo islands

(Photo by Edgie Polistico 2010)

A view from a hill in Brgy. Guadalupe (formerly Binitinan), overlooking the Cuatro Islas of Inopacan.

But let’s not forget also the relics of time. We need a place to store the old things in town for the next generations to behold and be informed of stories and things of the past. We need to have our own museum or sort of like this.

As I’ve said in one of my previous blogs, I suggest the installation of a municipal museum and public library where all the literary works, relics, and memorabilia of olden times and history about Inopacan and about us Inopacnons would be stored and preserved for perpetuity.

Or else, rust, termites, and loss of memory and references will vanish these treasures to oblivion.

He who does not look back will never reach where he longs to go.

Related posts  

• Cuatro Islas - the Boracay of Leyte (as reported by GMA Saksi news report) 
• Hinup-akan could be the true origin of Inopacan 
• The Legend of Inopacan (in my years of research) 
• Inong Pak-an Festival (2009) - Youtube video
• Digyo island
• Apid island
• Himokilan island
• Mahaba island

 

 

 

DIGYO ISLAND

Digyo island
Photo credit to Carlito Bismark

Digyo Island – [Inopacan, Leyte] The smallest among the four islands of Cuatro Islas. Too small that one could circumnavigate or walk completely around the islet in less than half an hour. Its small size is the obvious reason why the island is called Digyo, from the old Cebuano word digyot, meaning “very little.” 

The islet used to be uninhabited by humans until the tourism industry made the island among the popular tourist spots of Leyte. It has no village settler and is a protected sanctuary of diverse marine lives thriving in coral reefs. It has been told that the whole islet is a private property of a well-known family in Inopacan.

It remains undeveloped with a few dispersed coconut trees growing around. A huge mass of white sand was illegally hauled off in 1980s by the quarrying business of an alleged contractor who delivered sacks of white sand to a prestigious hotel in Cebu City for landscaping. Despite the considerable loss of white sands, the islet still has a magnificent view, a crystal clear pristine seawater, and a long white sandbar that glares on sunny days. 

Occasionally, a handful of Inopacnon picnickers and visiting outsiders would come by motorboat to spend a day (or even stay overnight) to enjoy the delight of nature’s beauty.  What is now partly missing is what used to be a much longer and wider beachfront on one edge of the island because of quarrying. 

If you look closely, you will notice that the water remains pristine-clear despite the ten of us wading through around. The sands are pure coral fragments that do not muddle the water.

The island is quite small but there's more room to explore around. The beachfront is wide and the bathing area extends wide into the sea to wade through. Here, you can go snorkeling, scuba diving and watch those colorful tropical fishes and fauna, picnic, camping with a bonfire, or simply have an overnight stay under the stars and bare moonlight.

So clear,  the water never really turns turbid. So clear you could have mistaken the water is not very deep several meters away from the shore because you can still see the rocks, seaweeds, and fish under the water.

HOW TO GET TO DIGYO ISLAND

Going to Digyo Island means you have to know first how to go to Inopacan

INOPACAN-DIGYO TRIP: When you are in Inopacan, take a "pot-pot" (foot-powered pedicab) ride to the Reclamation Area (formerly called Pasil). At the Reclamation Area scout for any available motorized banca (pump boat), you need to bargain the rental price (for a small group less than 10 pax is most likely P1,500 and above, for more than 10 pax, P2,500 and above). You may also have to pay the gas for the boat. The boat ride to Digyo Island is about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

For those who are planning for a balikan (same-day round trip to Apid and back to mainland Inopacan), please take note of the following:

• A trip to and back from Digyo Island is very tiring. It would take you almost half day to reach the island if you came from a distant place in Leyte, particularly those who came from Tacloban, Ormoc, or Maasin (much more if you came from outside Leyte).

 

• You will not enjoy the island if you just go there just kiss the sand then hurriedly go back to mainland. It is recommended to take your time in Digyo island to fully savor the beauty of nature.

 

• Monsoon wind causes the sea to be very rough late in the afternoon. If you hired a small-sized boat, better stay in the island until the next morning for your safety. We don't want to see and feel sorry for you if you insist to leave the island when the sea is getting wild. Stay and watch the beautiful sunset with a toast, build a bonfire to warm the night, put up a tent and imitate the cast of that famous TV series "The Survivor." Spend the night bonding together with your gang or someone special.

 

• Chances are if you go back to Tacloban, Ormoc or Maasin past 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon, there will be no more public transport to catch on the road if you need to commute on your way back to your place. There are some small resorts in the mainland Inopacan for an overnight stay.

Click here to see some places where you could possibly stay in Inopacan

Beachcombers on the white sandbar of Digyo island
Photo credit to Carlito Bismark

Reminders:

• Bring a first aid kit and other survival kit as there is no hospital in town and on the island. The health center in town is usually open only during office hours.

• Bring also outdoor tent as there is no cottage on the island. There is no village (or community of islanders) in there. The lone nipa hut on the island is not for an overnight stay, especially for a group of more than ten.

• Bring enough batteries or recharge your battery pack (and bring spare batteries) as there is no power supply on the island. Bringing a solar power charger is a big help. Cellular phone (mobile phone) signal sometimes reached the island.

• Help care for the natural beauty of Digyo Island. Bring garbage back with you as you leave the island and dispose it of properly on the mainland or at home.

• goog_2000185627Observe some restrictions on the island, such as not disturbing the portion of the island designated as a sanctuary for fish, turtles, and other marine life. As much as possible, do not collect shells, corals, plants, etc. that naturally belong to the island.

Take nothing but pictures
Leave nothing but footprints
Kill nothing but time

Learn something from someone who has been there:

• Click these links to check them out: http://thadhinunangan.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-ticket-to-paradise-please.html

• The Emancipation of Thadie: One Ticket to Paradise, Please by thadhinunangan.blogspot.com

• Check also Mimi's blog: The Splendid Beauty of Inopacan-Leyte's Cuatro Islas 

Related posts:

• The Legend of Inopacan (In my years of research)
• Hinup-akan is the origin of Inopacan
• Inong Pak-an Festival (2009) - Youtube video
• Cuatro Islas
• Apid island
• Himokilan island
• Mahaba island

APID ISLAND

Apid Island – [Inopacan, Leyte ] The farthest and the biggest among the four islands of Cuatro Islas. The island looks flat. It is circular in shape if viewed from above. Because of its considerable size of people living in the island, Apid had long been considered a barangay in the municipality of Inopacan.

This island village has an elementary school and barangay clinic on the island. Islanders are mainly fishermen and pandan palm growers. The fishermen would either dry their catch under the sun and brought them to the Inopacan mainland to sell or barter for their other basic needs. They would also sell fresh catch to earn money.

The palm growers would harvest leaves of romblon (pandan palm) and process them into strips called lilas, which is the raw material for weaving banig (sleeping mats). 

Along the shore are romblon palms, mangroves are growing along the shore, white sandy beaches, limestone cliffs, and pristine sea water.

Towering coconut trees and some trees abound in the island. 

The villagers built concrete cistern near their houses to catch and store rainwater as their source of freshwater. Though they would often have to go the mainland of Inopacan or Hindang towns to fetch their daily supply of potable water.

That islet appearing in the horizon (close to the boatman's hat) is the island of Brgy. Apid,  A fading big island behind Apid is part of the Camotes Group of Islands of Cebu. An Apidnon boatman and his daughter are transporting bundles of lilas (romblon palm strips) to mainland Inopacan for trading.

Sunday is the market day in Inopacan. Islanders from Cuatro Islas would come to the Taboan (trading area) at the Reclamation Area (formerly known as Pasil) to sell their fresh catch, dried fish, seaweeds, and other marine products. Shown in the picture (above) are bundles of lilas (romblon palm strips) from Apid island transported to the shore of mainland Inopacan for sale or barter with for their needed basic commodities. The Apidnons (an islander from Apid) would go back home to their island after trading their goods. Lilas is the main material used in weaving banig, a native woven sleeping palm mat.

- edgie polistico -

Related posts:

• The Legend of Inopacan (in my years of research)
• Inong Pak-an Festival vide0 (2009)
• Hinup-akan is the origin of Inopacan
• Inong Pak-an Festival (2009) - Youtube video
• Cuatro Islas
• Digyo island
• Himokilan island
• Mahaba island

HIMOKILAN ISLAND

Himokilan island's point of view from Brgy Guadalupe (Binitinan).

Himokilan Island – [Hindang, Leyte] One of the islands of Cuatro Islas off the western coast of Leyte. This island looks like a giant shoe floating in the sea. It is the only island in Cuatro Islas that belongs to the municipal territory of Hindang.

The shoreline around the island has patches of pristine white sandy beach and limestone cliffs. It is inhabited by families of several fishermen who would trade their catch in the mainland and to island's guests. 

Due to the scarcity of supply of freshwater, the islanders built a big concrete cistern near their village to catch and store rainwater though they would have to fetch their potable water from the mainland of Hindang or Inopacan.

A view of Baysahas and Himokilan island from the Reclamation Area (Pasil)

Himokilan island is quite near to the mainland, in fact is the nearest island among the four islands of Cuatro Islas. One could cross the sea to reach the island by simply paddling a sakayan (fishing canoe) on a calm sea.

A 2018 community map of Himokilan island. (Photo credit to Anabel Mabale)

Related posts:

• Hinup-akan is the true origin of Inopacan
• The Legend of Inopacan (in my years of research)
• Inong Pak-an Festival (2009) - Youtube video
• Apid island

• Digyo island
• Mahaba island
• Cuatro Islas

MAHABA ISLAND

The Mahaba Island of Cuatro Islas

(photo credit to Zen'YeCin 'Eun)

Mahaba Island – [Inopacan, Leyte] One of the four islands in the Cuatro Islas. So called because of its elongated shape. Mahaba is from the Tagalog word haba, meaning “long.” Of course, we cannot argue why visitors in the place would describe the island as the longest among the four.

Along the shore of the island are growing mangroves, white sandy beaches, limestone cliffs, and crystal clear pristine sea water. Towering coconut trees and some trees also abound on the island.

Fishermen built their houses in the island.  They settled along with their families. A concrete cistern is built near their houses to catch and store rainwater as their source of freshwater though they would also go to mainland to fetch potable water.

Mahaba is a favorite stop over when touring to Digyo island. Here, locals would offer some seafoods and local delicacies to savor with.  

The island is also the home of a rare species or small red shrimps that later on became a favorite attraction as the shrimps would nibble your dead skin like giving you a foot spa.

Related posts

• First Trip to Apid and Mahaba, Home of the Mysterious Red Shrimp.
• Start of Summer at Mahaba Island.
• Hinup-akan is the true origin of Inopacan
• The Legend of Inopacan (in my years of research)
• Inong Pak-an Festival (2009) - Youtube video
• Cuatro Islas
• Digyo island
• Apid island
• Himokilan island

The Untold Childhood Story of Manny Pacquiao's mother and why Manny's grandparents ran away to Mindanao

by Edgie Polistico

This could be the only post where you can read the life story (semi-biography) of Dionisia Mejia Dipidran-Pacquiao. I wonder why until now Wikipedia and Wiki-Filipinas have no entry about her. I have hinted the story in this blog will help answer that question.

Photo credit to: www.zimbio.com

DIONISIA DECLARO DAPIDRAN (or DAPIGRAN) IS INOPACNON BUT HAS FORGOTTEN HER ROOTS. I first learned that Dionisia Dapidran-Pacquiao is from Inopacan when I met my cousin who happened to be in our hometown last year to attend the town fiesta. Yes, I’m talking about Mommy Diony, the mother of multi-titlist boxing champion - Manny Pacquiao (a.k.a. Pacman). The topic of Dionisia as an Inopacnon was brought up while we were having an account over the story on how the old folks in our clan used to own the entire vast land of what is now the town proper of Inopacan. Well, it was a sad story talking about the misfortune of our old folks and of a prodigal son. The land that was once owned by a Polistico family was disposed of to finance the costly penchant of a sabongero.

I verified with our relatives in town the information about Dionisia Dapidran and confirmed from a reliable source that Mommy Dionisia indeed came from Inopacan. Yes, she is an Inopacnon! She and her parents used to reside in Brgy. Esperanza, a barrio along the northern coast of Inopacan. She was born on May 13, 1949. But she declared in her application for late registration of her birth that she was born on May 15 which coincides with the Inopacan Town Fiesta.

Photo credit to: www.zimbio.com

She then threw a remarkable big party in General Santos City and dressed like a debutante on her 60th birthday - with full media coverage.

Dionisia D. Paquiao's Live Birth Certificate

The record was checked and found her Certificate of Live Birth under Registry No. 2008-205 of the Civil Registrar's Office in Inopacan, Leyte. The registry document bears her name and signature as the Informant to this record.

Dionisia's father was Florencio Declaro Dapidran (alias Glo), a farmer from Baybay, Leyte, the town on the northern coastline next to Inopacan. Her mother, Cristina Ocba Mejia, is a plain housewife who is closely related to our clan. Dionisia's parents got married in Inopacan on May 8, 1943. They are Filipinos and belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Dionisia is the 3rd child of Cristina and Florencio who was 28 and 32 years old then, respectively. Cristina, now very old and wearing all-white hair, is living in Gen. Santos City with Dionisia.

The record of Dionisia D. Paquiao from the Office of the Civil Registrar.

There is an issue with the real family name of Dionisia's father on whether it is DAPIDRAN or DAPIGRAN. But data found in the computer system of the Municipal Civil Registrar's office in Inopacan shows that what is recorded in the registry is Dapidran, not Dapigran. Dionisia also used Dapidran as her family name when she accomplished the application for the Late Registration of her Certificate of Live Birth that was received by the Municipal Civil Registrar on April 23, 2008.

It was recalled that Dionisia and her parents disappeared one day in Bo. Esperanza when she was a 9-year-old girl. It was told that they disappeared after her father allegedly stabbed to death Jose Polistico, the younger brother of Kulo Polistico. Afraid of Kulo's reprisal, who was then known as the tough guy in their village, the Dapidran’s escaped hurriedly to Dadiangas (now Gen. Santos City) and hid there over those long years to avoid the rage of Kulo and to evade arrest from the authorities. It was told that the motive for killing Jose Polistico was due to a loss of temper over an old grudge and for harboring ill feelings against their relatives in the village who downgraded them being that they were very poor. Florencio, according to some, was actually a meek person who eventually ran out of patience over unfavorable treatment and insults that he and his family had from the people around them. Thus, it was the last straw when Florencio and Jose Polistico engage in a heated argument. Florencio drew a knife and stabbed Jose to death. People in Inopacan are now wondering if Dionisia is also harboring the same feelings or guilt to the point of forgetting her roots in Inopacan.

After many years of hiding in Mindanao, Florencio, who was already old and sickly, went back to Baybay, Leyte,  and lived there shortly with his relatives. Eventually, he died in Baybay due to sickness.

I tried tracing the court records of the alleged murder case involving Dionisia’s father against a member of our clan. However, no such record was found. It was gathered later in our verification that the case was not actually brought to court because the suspect remained at large. It was necessary to bring the person of the suspect to court for the case of murder to prosper. But since Dionisia's father went into hiding, evaded arrest, and was not found, no criminal case had ever reached the court against him. No court case means no court record. Meanwhile, the police record is no longer in the municipal archive. It was thought that the records were destroyed presumably by the floods that deluged the Poblacion (town proper) many years ago. However, someone tipped off the information that Atty Hugo Kudera, a practicing lawyer in town, is the one who handled the case of murder against Florencio D. Dapidran.

Some said that when Dionisia’s father got old, he went back to Leyte and had an amicable settlement with the aggrieved family. Everything went into order and the case of murder was set aside and eventually forgotten.

I was also told that when Dionisia wanted to go to the US to attend the fight of her son, Manny Pacquiao, she obliged herself to go to the Civil Registrar's office in Inopacan to get her birth certificate. She did not stay long in the vicinity of the Municipal Hall and was not seen by many. She remained in the service car till they left the town probably to avoid being identified and being mobbed by her supposed fans and kibitzers. Anyway, she was not in town to reintroduce herself as Inopacnon. She was in Inopacan merely to get her birth certificate which was required in processing her passport and visa.

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However, an informant from the Inopacan municipal office disclosed that Dionisia's application for late registration of her birth was done inter-office between the Civil Registrar's office in Gen. Santos City and the Civil Registrar's office in Inopacan, Leyte. Whatever and where ever she was when the paper was processed, what is certainly clear is that Dionisia was born in Inopacan, Leyte. She indeed is an Inopacnon.

In 2008, when we saw her on TV that she finally was in Nevada (with a media frenzy featuring her arrival in Las Vegas for the Pacquiao-Dela Hoya fight), it was then the first time that she traveled to the US using her birth papers that were processed and issued in Inopacan.

Some said that Manny Pacquiao inherited from his grandfather the trait of being a fearless fighter who may have the tendency to kill an opponent - the killer instinct, though. At least for Manny, the trait was not taken literally as he had shown in his famed fights in the ring in 2008. We saw him extending his hands to help his opponent, the fallen and blooded David Diaz. Manny pulled the right arm of Diaz to help him rise from the canvass after knocking him out. He is a professional and kind fighter for me after all.

Some said that Dionisia has already renounced impliedly her being Inopacnon. I was told that: 

“Wa na nâ moila og Inopacan. Wa na gani na sija mokuan sa ijang mga paryente dinhi moila. Taga-Esperansa man na sija. Mejia man ang inahan ana. Naa man nang igsoon (sa nanay) sa Esparanza.”(She does not recognize Inopacan anymore. She even forgot that she has relatives in Esperanza. She is from Esperanza. Her mother was of Mejia (clan) whose siblings are in Esperanza.) 

Some people noted that Dionisia even introduced herself as coming from Tacloban City or from Baybay, Leyte instead of Inopacan. However, we could not fully substantiate this information by now, until we reviewed the video clips or voice clips of the interview. If this is true, we cannot blame her for not recognizing Inopacan as her place of origin for she spent most of her life away from Inopacan, unless she was really that ashamed or felt it too bad to admit that she is from Inopacan. Hence, we challenge Dionisia Paquiao and our clan members in Esperanza to comment on this. Of course, we need to hear the other side of the story. Write your comments and opinion, below.

Dionisia D. Paquiao's Voter Certification from the COMELEC

It is interesting to know that when she registered herself at the COMELEC office in Gen. Santos City on Dec. 13, 2000, she declared that her birthplace is Inopacan, Leyte as shown by the COMELEC's VRR No. 530305002397 under Precinct No 0243-B of Purok Acharon, Brgy. Labangal, Gen. Santos City. She also used the name Dionisia Dapidran (not Dapigran) Paquiao.

When Dionisia said that when her son Manny got rich and famous many claimed to be their relatives, do not include us for sure. There is no need to claim it when the fact is that she is one of us. It could be she who simply forgot her roots, probably due to a traumatic reason or ill feelings in the past. This is written with no malice and hurt feelings over the loss of our clan member. This may conflict with my personal admiration to Manny Pacquiao. But for sure, I would still and continue to recognize him as one of us, in blood and as a son of an Inopacnon. I don't shy telling around that I’m very proud of him being one of the best in the world. I will also keep on telling that he is the son of an Inopacnon, even if his mother has already forgotten their roots, however true is that.

(Those who know better than my informants and me about the Pacquiao family as Inopacnon, come forward and share your story. You can use the comment section, below. You can also send me a message at edgiepolistico@yahoo.com)

Congressman Manny Pacquiao's calling card.