Call it "Ang pagbabalik." Erwin Nicholas Reynante Gacias, aka Barog, is again running for Councilor in the municipality of Irosin, Sorsogon.
Barog Gacias was first elected as councilor of Irosin in 1998. He was reelected in 2001 and was again reelected for his third and last term in 2004. After three years of rest in politics, he is now pitching for a new term in the same elective position.
A sample of ordinances authored by Barog:
An ordinance establishing a scholarship fund for poor but deserving students in Irosin, Sorsogon;
An ordinance requiring prospective brides and grooms to plant at least five trees as requirement for issuance of marriage license;
An ordinance prohibiting the use of insecticides, pesticides, any poisonous or hazardous chemicals, electric current or use of battery-operated instruments as methods of catching fishes along dikes, streams, irrigation canals and ponds;
An ordinance governing the drug test for all elected government officials, employees, and personnel of devolved and national line agencies in the municipality.
Barog is the second child of Ernesto "Erning" Guban Gacias and Magdalena Dilem Reynante. Ernesto "Erning" Guban Gacias is the youngest child of Glicerio Galindes Gacias and Salud Briones Guban. Glicerio Galindes Gacias, now 103 years old, is a child of Pedro Gabiazo Gacias and Rosa Pura Galindes. Pedro Gabiazo Gacias was a child of Nicolas Gacias and Francisca Gabiazo.
Joanne Gacias was originally from San Julian, Irosin, Sorsogon but was separated from her kins when her father Silveriano died on October 10, 1990. After her father’s burial, she and her elder sister Jocelyn were brought to their mother's hometown in Samar. Joanne was just a pre-school child at the time. They never had the chance to visit their relatives in Irosin and lost contact with them since then.
Last Tuesday, March 2, Joanne sent me a message through Facebook. She introduced herself and informed me that she learned about me through this blog. She said she had been looking for ways to re-connect with her relatives in Irosin, Sorsogon but didn’t know how. She tried to reach out to a number of Gaciases through Friendster and Facebook but nobody could offer her information regarding her relatives in Irosin, Sorsogon.
Joanne is a daughter of the late Silveriano Gacias of San Julian, Irosin, Sorsogon. Silveriano was one of the nine children of Paciano Gacias and Luciana Pareño.
I immediately called my brother, Kagawad Barog Gacias, and requested him to look for any of the siblings of the late Silveriano. My brother reached Ernesto “Gabin” Gacias Evasco who informed me about the current whereabouts of the siblings of the late Silveriano. And happily, Gabin informed me that Luciana Pareño Gacias, the wife of the late Paciano, is still very strong and would be looking forward to seeing her granddaughter Joanne again.
I happily relayed the great news to Joanne and gave her the number of Gabin. A few hours later, she was already telling me of a plan to visit Irosin this coming summer.
Ahh, this blog may have been in deep slumber for the past months. But what a great way to herald another awakening!
I have been combing the net for a few years now, searching for Gaciases around the world. I have fortunately been able to establish contacts with at least two Gaciases from Spain, one from Mexico and at least three from the US. I’ve found that there are at least three provinces in the Philippines where families of Gaciases are mostly found: Sorsogon, Cagayan Valley and BatanesIslands. There are some Gaciases in Hawaii and their ancestors are traced to Cagayan, and Batanes Islands, Philippines. The Gaciases in the US are described as of the white race. Obviously, the Gaciases from the Philippines as well as those from Hawaii are of the brown Malay and/or of Spanish mestizo race.
The earliest recorded Gacias in the US was Manel Gacias who was born in 1850 in Bexar, Texas. The earliest recorded Gacias in Puerto Rico was Maria Guzman Gacias, who was born in 1736 in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The earliest recorded Gacias from Mexico was Francisca Martina Gacias, born on February 1, 1778, at San Jose, Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico. Her father was Ricardo Antonio Lauriano but she took after the name of her mother who was Maria Gertrudis Gacias. The earliest recorded Gacias from Spain, on the other hand, was Andreu Gacias who had a daughter named Catherina Gacias, who was in turn christened on February 6, 1566 at Torroella De Montgri, Gerona, Spain.
The earliest recorded Gacias from Cagayan Valley, Philippines was Jacinto Gacias, born in 1847 in Solana, Cagayan, and married to Longina Ubina. He had a daughter named Magdalena Gacias who was born in 1872, also in Solana, Cagayan. The earliest recorded Gacias from Sorsogon, Philippines was Nicolas Gacias who was born in 1824 and died in 1912 in Irosin, Sorsogon.
Herewith are a few Gaciases from the different parts of the globe according to the different sites found in the net:
From Spain:
1. Catherina Gacias, who was christened on February 6, 1566 at Torroella De Montgri, Gerona, Spain. Her father was Andreu Gacias and her mother was Catherina.
2. Jauma Gacias, married to Catharina Bosch on October 3, 1622 at San Vicente, Besalu, Gerona, Spain.
3. Maria Gacias, married to Pallari Ferrer on June 8, 1749 at San Pedro, Vilopriu, Gerona, Spain.
4. Joseph Gacias, married to Theresa Viladorona on June 5, 1785 at San Martin, Dosquers, Gerona, Spain. He had a daughter named Anna Maria Paula Gacias, born on September 19, 1792 at San Martin, Dosquers, Gerona, Spain and died on September 20, 1792. Joseph’s father was Pere Gacias.
5. Gertrudis Ygnacia Catharina Gacias, who was christened on June 5, 1785 at San Martin, Dosquers, Gerona, Spain. Her father was Anton Gacias and her mother was Maria Plaja.
From the United States:
Manel Gacias, born in 1850, of white race, from District 22, Bexar, Texas
Juan Gacias, born in 1852, a laborer, of white race from ConejosValley, Conejos, Colorado.
Doloris Gacias, born in 1853, of white race, from District 22, Bexar, Texas
Matias Gacias, born in 1874, of white race, from District 22, Bexar, Texas
From Puerto Rico:
Maria Guzman Gacias, born in 1736 in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Her mother was Maria Garcias and her father was Tomas Guzman. It was a curious thing that she did not follow the name of her father but took after her mother’s name which, also curiously, was Garcias and not Gacias.
From Mexico:
Francisca Martina Gacias, born on February 1, 1778, at San Jose, Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico. Her father was Ricardo Antonio Lauriano and her mother was Maria Gertrudis Gacias.
From Hawaii:
Juan Gacias, born on June 15, 1885 and died in April 1971 in the Philippines.
From Cagayan, Philippines:
Jacinto Gacias, born in 1847 in Solana, Cagayan, married to Longina Ubina, had a daughter named Magdalena Gacias who was born in 1872, also in Solana, Cagayan.
Jacinto Gacias, born in 1852 in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
Juan Gacias, born in 1852 in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
Rosa Gacias, born in 1852 in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
Rosa Gacias, born in 1862 in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
Antonia Gacias, born in 1878 in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
Gregoria Gacias, born in 1897 in Solana, Cagayan, married to Alfonso Baquiran in 1918 in Solana, Cagayan and had a daughter named Anastacia Gacias Baquiran who was born on December 25, 1916 in Solana, Cagayan and died on March 9, 1996.
From Sorsogon, Philippines:
Benito Gallardo Gacias, Sr., was born on January 12, 1911 and died on January 16, 2001. He was married to Leonida Encila Lavares. His father was Felipe Polo Gacias and his mother was Agapita Gallardo. Benito’s name is the only Gacias from Sorsogon, Philippines registered in the official records of the Church of the Latter Day Saints in the Philippines. The Church of the Latter Day Saints, located along Temple Drive in Quezon City, purportedly keeps the most complete genealogical records in the Philippines. Benito, incidentally was personally known to me as he would regularly visit my Lolo when Benito was still alive. I fondly remember him for the seaweeds he would normally bring as a “pasalubong.” He was a boxer during his prime and he was fondly called “Strong” because of it. He is survived by his eleven children.
Ignatius Pierre II (aka, Jojo) with wife Laarni Don-Paje, son Josua Pierre and daughter Phoebe
Ma. Altea Victoria (aka, Ning) with husband Joaquim (aka, Jack) Clemena
Patrick Pierre II with wife Vivian Dalisay-Paje and son John Patrick
Teresa Pamela (aka, Pam) with husband Arthur (aka, Art) Angeles and sons Marc Arthur (aka, Macmac) and Timothy Paul (aka, Tim)
Agnes Portia (aka, Porsche) with husband Rizaldy (aka, Saldie) Evangelista and daughter Ezra Therese
Paulo Noel with wife Roma (aka, Rome) Chichioco-Paje and son Shadrack Paul
Philip and Norieghay (aka, Norie) Patricio-Paje
Jojo and his family live in San Pablo City. Ning and husband Jack are in Legaspi City. Patrick's and Pam's families are in Sorsogon City. Porsche and her family are in Drogheda, Louth, Ireland. Paul and his family are in Quezon City and Philip and his wife Norie are in Sorsogon City.
Mama Tita Leander-Gacias, married to Papa Pierre Paje, is the seventh child of Sabiniano Galindes-Gacias and Margarita Leander. Sabiniano Galindes-Gacias was the eldest child of Pedro Gabiazo-Gacias and Rosa Pura-Galindes. Pedro Gabiazo-Gacias was the child of Nicolas Gacias and Francisca Gabiazo.
The children of Papa Pierre and Mama Tita (from eldest to youngest): Ignatius Pierre Paje II (aka, Jojo); Ma. Altea Victoria (aka, Ning); Patrick Pierre III (aka, Patrick); Teresa Pamela (aka, Pam); Agnes Portia (aka, Porsche); Paulo Noel (aka, Paulo); and Philip.
Eden (aka, Denden) Gacias-Baliatan was wedded to Adrian Sernadilla of Laoac, Pangasinan last June 8 at the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Irosin, Sorsogon.
Denden is a geologist from the University of the Philippines and is currently connected with Energy Development Corporation of the Lopez Group of Companies. She is the youngest child of Engr. Calixto Baliatan and Aurora Guban-Gacias.
Aurora Guban-Gacias is the third child of Glicerio Galindes-Gacias and Salud Guban. Glicerio Galindes-Gacias, now 102 years old, is the fifth child of Pedro Gabiazo-Gacias and Rosa Pura-Galindes. Pedro Gabiazo-Gacias was the eldest son of Nicolas Gacias and Francisca Gabiazo.
Congratulations to the newly-weds. May our tribe increase!
1. Rolando (aka, Rollie), with wife Miriam Reyes-Gacias, and sons Aaron, Philip and Michael Angelo (aka, Mikey)
2. Maria Yolanda (aka, Joji), with husband Eduardo (aka Ed) Judit, and children Edik, Never Bjorn (aka, Nev) , Ansen Thomas Cesar (aka, Ansen) and Najie Therese 3. Margarita Nenita (aka, Nanette), with husband Vincent (aka, Bing) Tarroja and sons Marvin Arnold and Bryan Jason 4. Maria Teresita Socorro (aka, Matess), with son Terry and daughter Katrina Kaye 5. Alberto Philip (aka, Abet) with wife Lilibeth Mendoza-Gacias and children Jacqueline (aka, Jackie) and Christian Albert (aka, Ogie) 6. Angelie (aka, Angie), with husband Zacarias (aka, Carrie) Canon, III and children Carly Anne (aka, Pinky), Jamie Claren and Clark Raymund 7. Oscar Roberto (aka, Bobet), with wife Rowena (aka, Emy) Polon-Gacias and children Oscar Martin, Kevin Jay, Carlo, Xyra Alexis and Guian Paulo 8. Edgardo (aka, Eddieboy) 9. Grace (aka, Jinggay), with husband Frank Sabater and children Lauren and Jeffrey 10. Veronica (aka, Venique) 11. Raymundo (aka, Raymund, Monto) 12. Michael John (aka, Jigger) with wife Cheeney
