The Borromeo Family Website

Welcome and Thank You for visiting!

Welcome to the Internet website of the extended Borromeo Family of Cebu City, the Philippines. I, Marc Evan Borromeo Nonnenkamp (age 46) am the author of this website, and my nephew, Matthew “Matt” Borromeo Atega Tan (age 25), is the administrator. I’ve been a professional tax accountant and manager for 15 years (after having spent 7 years in commercial banking), and my nephew Matt is an information technology professional and web page designer since graduating from college in 2005.

Wilkommen und vielen Dank für Ihren Besuch!

Ich begrüße hiermit herzlichst meine deutschsprachigen Besucher aus aller Welt. Diese Webseite habe ich für die Familie meiner Mutter geschrieben, d.h. die Familie Borromeo aus der Stadt Cebu in den Philippinen. Ich heiße Marc Evan (Borromeo) Nonnenkamp, und bin 46 Jahre alt. Ich bin in Amerika geboren und aufgewachsen, und wohne nun im US-Bundesstaat Neumexiko. Beruflich bin ich Steuerberater für Erdöl, Erdgas und Kohlen-Produktionssteuern. Mein Vater ist in Wilhelmshaven geboren, und in Bremen groß geworden. Er ist 1953 nach Kanada, und dann im Jahre 1956 nach Amerika ausgewandert. Beruflich war er Bankier, und jetzt sind meine Eltern im Ruhestand. Zwischen 1924 bis 1936 diente mein Großvater väterlicherseits, Wilhelm Johannes Nonnenkamp (1903-1972), bei der deutschen Marine, und zwar auf dem “Panzerschiff Deutschland.” Mein Urgroßvater Heinrich Nonnenkamp (1866-1936) arbeitete bei der deutschen Reichsbahn, und mein Ururgroßvater Wilhelm Nonnenkamp (1842-1933) diente als Musiker beim großherzogtümlichen Oldenburgischen Heer. Ich habe Artikel über die Geschichte der deutschen sowie der österreichischen Marine, die Geschichte der Gruppe Volkswagen, sowie über Sammlerautos hier geschrieben. Sie können auch über die Geschichte der Philippinen, sowie über die Geschichte der Familie Borromeo in den Philippinen und Italien lesen. Mein Großvater mütterlicherseits war einer der berühmtesten Richter der Philippinen - Richter Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880-1923). Seine Geschichte folgt ebenfalls.

Our World Wide Web Statistics (as of January 5, 2009): MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008 and Happy New Year 2009!

We established this website more than 2 years ago in August 2006, and have received 8,8 million visits from 92 countries and territories on all 6 permanently inhabited continents since then.  We have sixteen (16) articles with 1,329 pages - which include an extensive 567-page photo gallery, now divided into five (5) sub-categories complete with “thumbnails” for easier, quicker viewing.  All of our illustrations have descriptive captions.

Mein Neffe Matthew Borromeo Atega Tan (1983 geboren) und ich haben diese Webseite im August 2006 gegründet. Inzwischen haben wir 8,8 Millionen Besucher aus 92 Ländern auf 6 Kontinenten bekommen (davon mehr als 1,6 Millionen deutschsprachige Besucher).  In unserer Photogallerie haben wir nun 567 Bilder.  Vielen Dank für Ihren Besuch!

The Grand Family Reunion and some of our Individual Visitors

The first Grand Reunion of the extended Reynes de Borromeo Family of Cebu City, the Philippines is now complete.  There was a May 24, 2008 public dedication ceremony to unveil the new monument to Judge Andrés Borromeo (1880-1923), the “Fighting Judge” of Surigao and Agusan.  More than 50 invited guests were in attendance, in addition to the public.  On the evening of May 24 there was a gathering at the home of Maxcy and Marivic Borromeo in Banilad, and on May 25 the same group of people reunited at the Borromeo Beach House in Talisay.  More than 120 family members were present at  each function.  Please feel free to contact us on our “contact” page.  Many relatives have written in with additions and/or corrections to their own branch of the family and non-family visitors have written us with nice things to say as well.  I reply to all contacts.

The May 2008 Grand Reunion is being paid for by the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. (”BBEI). At this time, the management of the company has decided that this particular 2008 reunion will only be for the descendants of José Maria Borromeo y Galan (1847-1930) and Margarita Sy Reynes de Borromeo (1853-1931). In future family reunions, this may be expanded to include a broader spectrum of the family.  I apologize for any confusion.  A second reunion is tentatively planned for 2011.

My Seventh Degree Cousins (estimated 8,888 family members worldwide)

We have heard from many people, including from Rommel Borromeo Cristobal in Luzon, who may be related to Borromeo family in Cavite, where Carlos “Capitan Aro” Borromeo (born 1720) settled in 1740. Some of his descendants migrated to Iloilo on Panay, and then to Bacolod on Negros in the generation thereafter.

My Fifth Degree Cousins (estimated 2,222 family members worldwide)

We also heard from Christie Borromeo in Negros, who may be descended from the line of Carlos Borromeo III (born 1770), who settled in Bacolod in 1790.

My Fourth Degree Cousins (estimated 1,111 family members worldwide)

Yet another visitor is Vincent Taylor Borromeo of the “Thin Borromeo” Line of Cebu - our common ancestor is Carlos Borromeo IV (born in 1795), who is my Great-great-great Grandfather. Vincent and I are cousins of the 4th degree. Other members of the “Thin Borromeo” line who wrote in with appreciated corrections for their branch of our family or comments include Gary Taylor Borromeo, Rovina Veloso Borromeo, Carlota Roxas Borromeo, Ramon Borromeo y Nicolas of Manila and Lewis & Lucy Trosdal of Georgia.

My Third Degree Cousins (”mga tambok” Borromeo Line)

We have also heard from my 3rd degree cousins Norma Abad Borromeo from California, José Ozaraga Borromeo, Ramon Borromeo Amparo from Northern Ireland, Dr. Napoleon “Nap” Morre Ranario from New Jersey, Emilio Jurado Borromeo III, Pilar Borromeo-Garmsen, Rosie Borromeo-Rieth and Tomas Clemente Barredo Borromeo, as well as their nephew Tom Borromeo Berenguer, son of my 3rd cousin Gabriela “Bingo” Borromeo Berenguer. Another 3rd cousin of mine who has written in with additions to our site is Martonette Quijano Borromeo from Texas, whose parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in June 2008 - Congratulations!  We have also heard from members of the Morre family in both California and New Jersey. Our common ancestors are Señor Don Maximo Borromeo y Feliz (1820-1892) and Señora Doña Hermenegilda Galan de Borromeo (”Nanay Binda,” after whom my mother was named), who are our Great-great Grandparents.

My Second Degree Cousins (heirs of José Maria Borromeo y Galan)

Second cousins of mine who have written to us include Exequiel “Jake” Mediola Borromeo, Christina “Ina” Borromeo Gaston, Gerardo “Dito” Vasquez Borromeo, Marissa Borromeo Diego, Deborah “Debbie” Suchman Zeolla, John Harriett Suchman (my godfather and the father of Debbie), Eterio “Terry” Teves Herrera, Evangeline “Eve” Herrera Borromeo and our nephew Stephen Borromeo Herrera Cañares. Our common ancestors are our Great-Grandparents Señor Don José Maria Borromeo y Galan (1847-1930) and Señora Doña Margarita Sy Reynes de Borromeo, affectionately known as “Tatay Pepe” and “Nanay Titay.”

My First Degree Cousins (heirs of Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes)

We have heard from my first cousins and their children including the families Evelyn Gonzaga Borromeo-Cruz (widow of my late cousin Edmond Paterno Morrow Borromeo), Joseph Ken Querouz Delano (son of my cousin Marylynn “Mars” Borromeo Querouz), Achilles “Ike” Borromeo Querouz (all of his 3 children), Andrés “Andy” Filomeno Borromeo Querouz (he and 3 of his 4 children), Anunciacion “Anon” Borromeo Atega, Socorro “Baging” Borromeo Atega (Matt’s mother), Christine Atega Tan Ugang (Matt’s sister) and Vicente “Loloi” Borromeo Atega. Our common ancestor is of course Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880-1923).

The Reynes Family

We have heard from my aunts Cora Quisumbing-King and Vising Quisumbing (who are sisters) and from Niki Labajos Reynes, who is the daughter of my third cousin Ricard Cortes Reynes and his wife Fineza Labajos Reynes.  The Reynes family is related to the Borromeo family - the mother of my late maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880-1923) was my great-grandmother Margarita Sy Reynes de Borromeo (1853-1931).

The Rallos Family

We have also heard from some members of the extended Rallos family, which is the family of my maternal grandmother Anunciacion Rallos de Borromeo (1885-1938).  These include the families of my mother’s second degree cousins Dr. Jesus “Tuting” Rallos Camara (San José, California), Benjamin “Ben” Rallos Camara (San José, California), Belen Camara Brown (Chicago, Illinois), Carmen Camara Verduzco (México City, México) and Milagros Villamor Young (Pearl City, Hawaii).  We have also heard from Jun Velez, a great-great-great grandson of Florentino Rallos, who was the Mayor of Cebu City from 1899 until 1908.

Unique Contributions (from Argentina, Spain and Italy)

One young man named Sebastian Borromeo wrote from Argentina to let us know that there are Borromeos there as well! It makes good sense, because many Italian immigrants settled in Argentina (in fact, Italians are the largest ethnic group in that country, making up 50% of the population). One visitor from Spain interested in Philippine history (Mr. Alfonso Velázquez) kindly sent us more information on my late maternal grandfather, Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes, which has been added to our site. We recently posted yet another page to the site (under “contributions”), which is a Roman Catholic prayer book written by my maternal grandmother, Anunciacion “Anon” Bonjoc Rallos de Borromeo (1885-1938), and published in the Cebuano language in 1923. My aunt, Carolina Mendiola Borromeo, was kind enough to translate the Cebuano prayer book and the Spanish article on Judge Andrés Borromeo into English for us.

We have also heard from Osvaldo Vitaliani, (born in the city of Bozen, which is the capital of the German-speaking South Tyrol region of Northern Italy) a professional chef now living and working in Bucharest, Romania.  The Vitaliani family are actually the origin of the Borromeo family of Milan, Italy - a genealogical link which goes back to the 15th century.  The family tree of the Vitaliani goes back to A.D. 66.  The Borromeo family of Italy became “separate” from the Vitaliani family when they adopted this new surname in 1416.  We thank him for the additions to our genealogical history.

A Brief Summary of our Articles

1.) The origin of the surname “Borromeo” (originally from Milan in Northern Italy) and the history of the Philippines within the history of the world. The Borromeo family of Italy can trace its ancestral line back to the year 303, when a martyr of the early Christan Church was killed (Saint Justina of the Vitaliani family, which is the origin of the Borromeo family of Milan).  The Borromeo family of Milan, Italy “branched off” from the Vitaliani family of Padua, Italy in 1416.  The Vitaliani family has a genealogy which reaches back to A.D. 66, and this can go back as far as 292 B.C., when their forefathers lived in the town of Nocera, a suburb 8 miles from Pompei (under the surname of “Vitellius.”)

2.) The history of the Borromeo family within the Philippines since Carlos “Capitan Aro” Borromeo settled there in 1740. Our ancestors first settled in Cavite on Luzon, and eventually spread out to Iloilo on Panay, to Bacolod on Negros and finally to Cebu City. This section contains the genealogy and history of all Philippine Borromeo family members including my second, third and fourth degree cousins. See the section on Judge Andrés Borromeo to read about my first degree cousins.

3.) The history of my late maternal grandfather, Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880-1923), who was one of the most famous and illustrious provincial judges in the history of the Philippines - he won a landmark Supreme Court case defending the very concept of the independence of the Judicial Branch of Government. This section also contains the genealogy and history of his descendants, being the group of my first degree cousins.  The end of the article features the Rallos family tree and history, with 5 generations and 213 family members listed thus far.

4.) The Family Tree of the Borromeo Family of Cebu City, the Philippines going back to 1720.  11 generations and 898 family members listed thus far, preceded by 24 generations of the Vitaliani-Borromeo family of Padua and Milan, Italy - for a grand total of 35 generations from 1084 to the present.

5.) The history of the Borromeo Business Group of the Philippines, incorporated from the Estate of my great-grandparents José Maria Borromeo y Galan (1847-1930) and Margarita Sy Reynes de Borromeo (1853-1931). The history goes back to 1740, when Carlos “Capitan Aro” Borromeo arrived in the Philippines and continues to this day. Business activities of other relatives in the extended family are discussed as well. Note: the “official” Internet website of the Borromeo Group of Companies may be accessed at www.borromeo.ph/

6.) My own story, which includes my first hand experience of the Terror Attack on New York City on September 11, 2001. I was actually born in New York City in 1962 (in Elmhurst in Queens) but did not grow up there. I returned to New York City in 2000 and worked for American Express Tax & Business Services until 2002.

7.) The history of the Navy of the Greater German Nation, in which my paternal grandfather Wilhelm Johannes Nonnenkamp served aboard such famous ships as the Battleship “Braunschweig,” the Sailing Ship “Bremen” and the Pocket Battleship “Deutschland.” His first cousin (a man with the same first and last names) served in the Navy as well, also aboard the “Deutschland.” My distant cousin Gerd Nonnenkamp served aboard the Destroyer “Hamburg” in the 1960s and 1970s. Germany’s history and her role in the world are also discussed, along with the background of the German side of my own family. You will also see a number of unique German Navy illustrations on our photo page.

8.) The history of Volkswagen, my favorite automotive brand. My family has owned Volkswagen cars since 1961, Mercedes-Benz since 1972 and Chrysler since 2004. Other brands in our past include Opel, Chevrolet, Ford, Maxwell, Pierce-Arrow and Hudson going back to 1906. Not to be forgotten are our own Borromeo “Tartanilla” horse-drawn carriages going back to 1879. Opel is a German subsidiary of GM. Maxwell & Hudson are dormant brands owned by Chrysler (Hudson once having been part of AMC). Pierce-Arrow is a wonderful luxury brand once owned by Studebaker (which, believe it or not, still makes the New Avanti AVX Coupé and Convertible on a very limited scale in Cancun, Mexico). Studebaker also makes a large new SUV (actually called an “XUV” for “Extreme Utility Vehicle”) and the SVO (”Special Vehicle Operations”) Lister Roadster.

9.) Information on the collection of diecast miniature cars, one of my own hobbies. Brands mentioned (the most common in my own collection) include “Matchbox-Dinky,” “Corgi,” “Minichamps,” “Wiking,” “Schuco-Schabak-Gama,” “Brekina,” “Welly,” “Ixo,” “Vitesse,” “Rio,” “Solido,” “Igra,” “Ertl,” “New Ray,” “Jouef,” “Franklin Mint,” “Tonka-Polistil,” “Budgie,” “BUB,” “Cursor” and “Tomica.” A section on old TV shows follows the part on collectibles.

10.)  An article on the Nonnenkamp family tree and genealogical history, with 16 generations and 500 family members listed (”Stammbaum der Familie Nonnenkamp” in German).  Also includes a section on the biblical genealogy of modern mankind, which immediately follows the initial section on the Nonnenkamp family tree (77 generations from Adam of Genesis to Jesus Christ, covering about 4,000 years B.C.).

Recipes contributed to the Family Reunion Cookbook

My second cousins Susanna “Susie” Borromeo Milne and her sister Christina “Ina” Borromeo Gaston are collecting recipes from family members and compiling them into a new book which will be shared with family members (along with a photo album of past and present family members) after the grand reunion in Cebu City. Below are two recipes contributed by my mother Hermenegilda “Gilda” Amor Victoria Borromeo Nonnenkamp:

Apple Cake

Peel three large apples, then cut them into small chunks. Pour two cups of sugar over the apple chunks, then let them stand. Now pour two cups of flour into a bowl. Add one teaspoon of cinnamon and one teaspoon of baking soda into the bowl as well. Then add the previously cut apples into the growing mixture in your bowl. Now add the following ingredients into your bowl: two unbeaten eggs, two teaspoons of vanilla, 3/4 cup of vegetable oil, one-half cup of nuts and finally one-half cup of raisins. Mix all of the ingredients in your bowl and then place into a container such as a glass pyrex to bake for 45 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in your oven.

Chicken with Cream of Mushroom

Use eight various pieces of fried chicken, with the skin removed if you so desire. Slice a large onion into many thin pieces, then chop it up into even smaller pieces and place both the chicken and the onion aside for the moment. Pour one can of “cream of mushroom” soup, plus a little corn starch and one cup of milk into a bowl to mix these ingredients. Then set aside one to two teaspoons of basil flakes, soy sauce and a bottle of white wine.

Directions: Saute the chopped onion with two to three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Now add the chicken pieces and allow them to cook with the chopped onion and olive oil for a few minutes. Take the bowl with the mix (from above) and make sure it is mixed until it is smooth - then add it to your cooking chicken, allowing it to cook for a few more minutes. Now sprinkle the two teaspoons of basil flakes and some soy sauce to the cooking chicken and allow it to simmer until it becomes tender. Add a touch of white wine, mix and serve.