The Borromeo Family Website

Borromeo: Part of the Fabric of the Philippines

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Before World War 2, my maternal grandfather’s (Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes’) first cousin Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero had completed a very thorough genealogy of the Philippine Borromeo family. During the war, this (along with so much else) was lost.  Today, Glenn Anthony Borromeo of Negros Oriental is helping re-establish the direct link between the Borromeo clans of Cebu and Negros.

Note: the history of my immediate family branch (that of my first cousins the Borromeo family of Southern California, of the Querouz family and the Atega family) and the “Rallos” family tree may both be found at the end of the article on my illustrious maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880-1923).

Hier kann man über die Geschichte der Familie Borromeo in den Philippinen lesen. Die Familie Borromeo ist in den Philippinen seit dem Jahre 1744, als sich Karl Kapitän Aro (”Carlos Capitan Aro”) Borromeo in Cavite auf Luzon ansiedelte.  In den folgenden Generationen, ist die Familie von Cavite auf Luzon nach Iloilo auf Panay, dann nach Bacolod auf Negros, und hat sich danach in der Stadt Cebu, auf der Insel Cebu nieder gelassen. Cavite, Iloilo, Bacolod und Cebu sind alle Städte. Luzon, Panay, Negros und auch Cebu sind alle Inseln. Es gibt mehr als 7,000 philippinische Inseln mit oft verschiedenen Dialekten.  Die englische Sprache und auch die spanische Sprache sind weit verbreitet.

A Genealogy researched before World War Two – but Lost

The memory of Lolo Marcial’s work was passed onto me by two of his children (2nd cousins of my mother Hermenegilda Amor Victoria Borromeo Nonnenkamp). These were my uncle Tito Tomas Luis Cabrera Borromeo (born in 1910) and his younger sister my aunt Tita Day Angelita Cabrera Borromeo (born in 1911, and the eldest living member of the extended Cebuano Borromeo family in 2009).

Vor dem zweiten Weltkrieg, hat Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero (der Vetter meines Großvaters) die Ahnenforschung der Familie Borromeo in den Philippinen geschrieben.  Bedauerlicherweise hat dieses ausführliche Werk den Zweiten Weltkrieg nicht überstanden.  Ein Grund weil ich in die 1980er Jahren anfing einen neuen Familienstammbaum und die Ahnenforschung neu aufzubauen.

These elders told me that we Borromeos of Cebu Province (and Island) are related to other Borromeos in the Philippines going back even further in time. The father of Carlos Borromeo IV y Felis (born 1795) was Carlos Borromeo III (born 1770). We believe that Carlos Borromeo IV y Felis was born in Bacolod, Negros in 1795 and that he settled in Cebu. Negros and Cebu are neighboring islands in the Visayas region of the Philippine archipelago. The father of Carlos Borromeo III was Carlos Borromeo II (born circa 1745). Carlos Borromeo III is believed to have been born in Iloilo, Panay (yet another island within the Visayas region) in 1770 and to have settled in Bacolod, Negros. His father Carlos Borromeo II was born in Cavite on Luzon (not part of the Visayas) in 1745 and is believed to have settled in Iloilo, Panay. We believe that the father of Carlos Borromeo II was Carlos Capitan Aro Borromeo I who was born in 1720 and eventually settled his family in Cavite on the island of Luzon.  Among the Borromeo family of Negros Oriental, there is a legend that their Borromeo ancestors migrated from Northern Italy to Spain, and then to the Philippines.  My own Tito Tomas Cabrera Borromeo (my mother’s second degree cousin) once told me that his father (Lolo Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero) believed that our ancestor Carlos “Capitan Aro” Borromeo came from Canton (China) to Cavite (on the island of Luzon in the Philippines).  Based upon what we know today, it is possible that members of the Borromeo family migrated from Northern Italy to Spain, the New World (Mexico, Argentina and Chile), to China (Canton) and finally to the Philippines.

The Philippines were part of the vast global Spanish Empire from 1521 until 1898.  The Portuguese-born explorer Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines (initially named the “Islands of Lazarus”) for Spain in 1521.  He and his remaining 3 sailing ships (out of an original 5 which had departed from Spain) landed in what is today Cebu City.  At the time, Cebu was comprised of a mere 300 or so bamboo huts built upon stilts.  Magellan and his 3 remaining wooden sailing vessels were manned by about 150 Europeans (Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians, Greeks and Germans) and one Malay slave who acted as their interpreter.  Each ship ranged in size from a mere 75 to 125 tons total displacement – good for their time, but tiny by today’s standards.  Magellan had left Seville, Spain with 270 men aboard 5 sailing ships.  2 ships were lost around Cape Horn (at the Southern tip of South America, which is the most dangerous sea passage on earth due to its rough waters and extreme weather).  One ship was scuttled damaged in the Philippines, while another (the “Trinidad”) was left in the Moluccas, Indonesia as no longer seaworthy.  Merely one ship (the “Vittoria”) and 18 Europeans made it back to Seville alive 3 years after their original departure from Spain.

Carlos Borromeo I’s eventual title of Capitan was due to being a Gobernadorcillo, or Departmental Administrator of Cavite on Luzon. His salary in the 1740s was 30 Pesos per year, a large sum of money in those days.  The Gobernadorcillos were chosen by an elite corps of so-called “Principalia,” also known by the titles of either “Alcalde Mayor” or “Gobernador.”  This higher official was like a combined Provincial Governor and State Supreme Court Justice, who was in turn appointed by the Spanish Governor-General of the Philippine Islands.

The Gobernadorcillos in turn appointed “Cabezas,” (or Filipino Chiefs) who served as Parish (town) Justices.  The Gobernadorcillo enforced the law, judged petty disputes and generally ran the community in which he lived.

The first Chinese settled in the Philippines in 1401, when their Emperor made an attempt to colonize the islands.  The first Spaniards came in 1521.  The first Italian not under the Spanish flag came to the Philippines in the 17th century; his name was Gemelli Careri.  The first American who settled in the Philippines was actually one John Stuart Kerr, who settled in Manila between 1786 and 1796. 

Manila had a population of 45,000 souls in 1680, 90,000 by 1780, 150,000 by 1860 and 270,000 by 1880.  In 1780, 4,000 of Manila’s inhabitants were white Spaniards and another 15,000 were Chinese.  In the old days, metropolitan Manila consisted of the walled city, and of Binondo.  Most of the people lived in Binondo (140,000 out of 150,000 in 1860).

What follows is a newspaper article written upon the death of my maternal great-grandfather José Maria Borromeo y Galan in 1930 (translated into English by my aunt Maria Benita Borromeo Atega):

The Venerable and Respected “Pepe” Borromeo has died

Last Sunday at 7:00 AM (March 16, 1930) Mr. José Maria Borromeo y Galan of Cebu City died. He had been afflicted by a severe and sudden illness, which claimed the life of this highly respected and well-known patriarch of the city of Cebu. Mr. José Maria Borromeo y Galan was known to his friends and family by the name of “Señor Iyo Pepe.”

The news of his death immediately spread throughout the entire city last Sunday. Within a few hours of his passing, countless friends and relatives converged upon the Borromeo home on North America Street. The burial took place on Monday. A Mass was offered with the body of the deceased lying in state at the Cebu Cathedral that morning. Many people attended the final rites at the Cebu Cathedral, after which they joined the funeral procession and the rites at the Roman Catholic Cemetery. We can say that the funeral service was an expression of sympathy by the Cebuano people for the entire Borromeo family.

Iyo Pepe Borromeo was the father of the late Judge Andrés Borromeo, Captain José Ubaldo Borromeo (former Head of the Detectives of Manila Customs Bureau), Dr. Maximo Borromeo, Pharmacist Exequiel Borromeo and Engineer Canuto Octavio Borromeo.

He was an exemplary man because he sacrificed much so that his children would achieve the professions which now are know their own. He was also respected and loved as an exemplary public citizen and as a wonderful individual due to his cordial personality, helpfulness and golden character.

May he rest in peace, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family from the entire staff and readership of the “New Strength” newspaper.

The nine children of my great-grandparents were my maternal grandfather (the eldest of the nine siblings) and my great aunts and uncles:

1. Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880-1923)
2. Captain José Ubaldo Borromeo y Reynes (1881-1949)
3. Matilde Borromeo y Reynes (1883-1946)
4. Dr. Maximo Borromeo y Reynes (1887-1948)
5. Pharmacist Exequiel Borromeo y Reynes (1889-1949)
6. Engineer Canuto Octavio Borromeo y Reynes (1891-1959)
7. Venustiano Borromeo y Reynes (1891-1891)
8. Patrocinio Reynes Borromeo de Uy Herrera (1892-1984)
9. Salud Borromeo y Reynes (1898-1969)

The grandchildren of my maternal grandfather’s siblings are thus my second degree cousins.

Second Cousins

It was from the estate of my maternal great-grandparents (Don José Maria Borromeo y Galan and Doña Margarita Sy Reynes de Borromeo) that the modern Borromeo Business Group was formed. The group was incorporated on February 8, 1933 but was already well-known as a manufacturer of “Tartanilla” horse-drawn carts since 1879.  Here is a nice Cebu-based website page on the history of the “Tartanilla” (from Cebu and the Visayas region) and the “Calesa” horse-drawn cart (from Manila and the Luzon region): http://cebuwebsite.tripod.com/tartanillas.html

Origin of the Name “Tartanilla”

“Tartanilla” is Spanish for the Italian “Tartanella.”  The latter word is derived from the Italian word “Tartana,” which refers to a type of small sailing vessel used for fishing in the Adriatic Sea.  They use both sails and oars for propulsion, and can range from 10 to 100 tons full load.  A “Tartanella” is merely a smaller “Tartana,” whereas a “Tartanone” is the larger version.

The family branches of the younger siblings of my maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (November 10, 1880 – January 3, 1923) are as follows:

2. Captain José Ubaldo Borromeo y Reynes (1881-1949)

Captain José Ubaldo Borromeo y Reynes (October 21, 1881 – May 8, 1949) was married to Remedios Rodriga de Borromeo (December 27, 1891 – September 25, 1935). Lolo José served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. from its inception in 1933 until his death in 1949. They had one child, who was my “Tita Pepa” Josefa Borromeo Capistrano (born in 1911). She was married to my “Tito Nick” Nicolas Castañeda Capistrano.

Tita Pepa was a personal friend of US General Douglas MacArthur, and in fact started & lead the Womens’ Auxiliary Corps (WACS) of the Philippines in World War Two. Tita Pepa also served as honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. from 1949 until her death in 2004. Before he retired, Tito Nick was a successful logging company owner in Northern Mindanao.

My Tita Pepa and Tito Nick had two children, my second cousins Remedios Capistrano Dovas and Mario Borromeo Capistrano. Remedios (my cousin “Didi”) resides in Chicago, Illinois and Mario lives in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao in the Philippines. Didi is married to Christos Dovas and they have three children named Lara, Tom and Peter. Mario is married to Elsie Musni Capistrano and they have 8 children named Joseph Nicholas, Mario Jr., Marielle Cecille, Maria Theresa, Martin José, Maria Christina Victoria, Marcus Antonio Maria and Marinella Isabelle. My second cousin Mario was a Director of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. from the death of Tita Pepa in 2004 until he voluntarily passed the position onto his eldest daughter Marielle, who lives and works in Manila as an interior decorator.

3. Matilde Borromeo y Reynes (1883-1946)

Matilde Borromeo y Reynes (March 14, 1883 – August 4, 1946) never married and thus remained a spinster until she died.

4. Dr. Maximo Borromeo y Reynes (1887-1948)

Dr. Maximo Borromeo y Reynes (my “Lolo Max” who lived from August 27, 1887 until July 31, 1948) was one of the most prominent Cebu City medical doctors of his time. He had three children, being my aunt Carolina Mercado Borromeo Ocampo, my aunt Sophie Gossinitser Borromeo and my uncle John “Johnny” Cairo Borromeo. Sophie Gossinitser Borromeo is believed to be in Austria today, while the descendants of Johnny Cairo Borromeo are in the Philippines.

Lolo Max was a Director of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. from its inception in 1933 until his death in 1948. Tita Carol was married to my “Tito Ledo” Leandro Ocampo, who was a very successful engineer. His company (Alltech Contractors) once employed up to 3,400 employees engaged in power plant construction throughout the Philippines and the Middle East.  Alltech was part of an alliance with the Mitsubishi Group of Japan, and was sold by its owners in 2004.  It had been in independent existence since 1939.

Tito Ledo and Tita Carol Ocampo had three children, being my second cousins Ramon Borromeo Ocampo, Andrés “Andy” Leandro Borromeo Ocampo and Judith “Judy” Borromeo Ocampo Soriano. Ramon’s wife is Angeles Agrujo Ocampo, and they have four children named Pauline, Maria Isabel (”Maribel”), Anne and Reynaldo (”Ray”). Pauline is married to Doctor John Wong, and they have 3 children.  Maribel is married to Roly Paterno and they have two children named Beatriz and Geo.

Andrés is married to Carmen Polive Ocampo and they have three children named Michael, Gualberto and Virgil.

Judy is married to Alberto M. “Bobby” Soriano and they have four children named Joey, Maria Isabel, Maria Christina and Robert.

Bobby Soriano is very successful in the world of business, with large (20,000 acres in size) agribusiness subsidiaries in Southern Mindanao. These include Crown Fruit (the largest pineapple grower in the Philippines after Dole of the USA), AMS Farming Corporation, AMJR Holdings, Soriano Fruits Corporation and Cabadbaran Fruits Corporation (global leaders in the output of both bananas and papayas). Wholly-owned companies providing sales and transportation support include JOS Trading Corporation, Redwood Logistics Corporation and DTI Overland Transport Corporation. Yet another company (AMSIA Management) owns numerous retail Shell gasoline stations in Northern California. The companies lead by Bobby employ yet another 3,000 employees in the Philippines and in the USA.  Bobby has since turned over the day-to-day leadership of his companies to his eldest son Joey Ocampo Soriano.

A different branch of the Soriano family is of course famous for their ownership of San Miguel Corporation, one of the largest corporations in the Philippines. San Miguel today is a vast food conglomerate very well known for “San Miguel” beer.

5. Pharmacist Exequiel Borromeo y Reynes (1889-1949)

Pharmacist Exequiel Borromeo y Reynes (April 10, 1889 – December 29, 1949, known as my “Lolo Euqin”) was married to Josefa Neri de Borromeo (March 11, 1892 – September 10, 1974). They had seven children including Dr. Venustiano Heraclio José Neri Borromeo Sr., Flora Neri Borromeo Roa, Dr. José Cecilio Neri Borromeo, Mario Odon “Lilly” Neri Borromeo (died as an infant), Mario Francisco Neri Borromeo, Sr., Deutelino Neri Borromeo and finally Carmen Borromeo Mercado. Lolo Equin was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. from its inception in 1933 until his death in 1949.

Dr. Venustiano Heraclio José Neri Borromeo, Sr. was married twice. His first wife Ester Valencia Borromeo (February 14, 1920 – June 23, 1953) died young due to cancer. They had three children, being my second cousins Victor Valencia Borromeo, Bimbo Neri Borromeo and Anna Marie Neri Borromeo. Bimbo is married to Mally Barrica Borromeo, and they have three children being Chantal Barrica Borromeo, Christine Barrica Borromeo and Charity Barrica Borromeo.

The second wife of Dr. Venustiano Heraclio José Neri Borromeo was Leonarda Estelle Samsel Borromeo. They had four children, being my second cousins Alexander Joseph Samsel Borromeo (born in 1958 and now living in Louisville, Kentucky), Venustiano Heraclio (”Vence”) Samsel Borromeo, Jr. (born in 1959), Paul Vincent Samsel Borromeo (born in 1963), and Karah Nicole Samsel Borromeo.

My aunt Tita Flora Borromeo Roa was married to Pio Roa, and they had no children. Both of them have since passed away.

Dr. José Cecilio (known as “Doc Joe” to his cousins & friends) Neri Borromeo (1923-1998) was married to Emilia (my “Tita Melit”) Artadi La’O Borromeo. They had six children, being my second cousins Maximo (”Maxcy”) Francisco José La’O Borromeo, Marissa Borromeo Diego, Dr. Julian La’O Borromeo, Dr. Maria Carmen (”Maricar”) Josefa Borromeo Antigua, Francisco La’O Borromeo and Dr. Rogelio (”Rogie”) La’O Borromeo. My Tito “Doc Joe” was President and CEO of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. from the death of Lolo Equin in 1949 until his death in 1998.

Maxcy is married to Maria Victoria (”Marivic”) Rodriguez Borromeo from the island of Negros, which is next to Cebu. Since 1987, he has been the group head and General Manager of the Borromeo Business Group of the Philippines (he has been a Director of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. since 1985). He owns additional interests in Caltex (ChevonTexaco retail gasoline under Astron-Gestus, Inc. and Cebu Maxi Management Corporation) and a Sumitomo-Sime Darby tire warehouse. He and Marivic have five sons, being José Daniel (”Jonel”) Rodriguez Borromeo, Maximo (”Chippy”) Rodriguez Borromeo, Paolo Martin Gerardo Rodriguez Borromeo, André Rafael Rodriguez Borromeo and Marco Gabriel Borromeo. Jonel is married to Olive Beltran Borromeo and they have one daughter named Sophia Danielle Borromeo. His younger brother Chippy is married to Priscilla Gochuico Borromeo and they have one son named Gustavo Maximo Borromeo. Chippy manages the large Honda Motorworld franchise, which sells motorcycles, motor-scooters and power equipment throughout the Philippines. André manages the Caltex Service Stations (two of them), parking garage and Sumitomo-Sime Darby / Yokohama tire warehouse on Gorordo Avenue in Cebu City. Jonel, Paolo and Marco have all emigrated to metropolitan Sydney, Australia with their families. Maxcy and Marivic now divide their time between Cebu City, the Philippines and Wollongong, metro Sydney, New South Wales (Australia).

Marissa Borromeo is married to Felipe Diego and they have five children being José Borromeo Diego, Emilia Borromeo Diego, Julian Felipe Borromeo Diego, Miguel Borromeo Diego and Margarita Borromeo Diego. Dr. Julian Mark Simon La’O Borromeo was a medical doctor by profession who was born on October 7, 1953 and who passed away on April 11, 1998. He emigrated to the United States and settled in the state of Texas, where his widow and surviving family reside today. He was married to Rosario (”Charito”) Santa Cruz Borromeo (1953), and they have five children named Luis Exequiel “Lui” Santa Cruz Borromeo (1977), Emily Claire Santa Cruz Borromeo Medina (born 1978 and now married to Carlos Medina), Mark Dominic Santa Cruz Borromeo (1981), Robert Joseph “B.J.” Santa Cruz Borromeo (1986) and Elissa Marie “Lissa” Santa Cruz Borromeo (1992). Dr. Maria Carmen (”Maricar”) Josefa Borromeo Antigua is also a medical doctor who lives and works in Boca Raton, Florida. She is married to Teodoro Antigua and they have three children named Monica “Nikki” Borromeo Antigua, Adrian Borromeo Antigua and Angela Borromeo Antigua. Francisco (”Frankie”) La’O Borromeo is married to Emiliana Fernan Borromeo and they have two children named Marcelo José “Mio” Fernan Borromeo and Melissa Fernan Borromeo. Dr. Rogelio (”Rogie”) La’O Borromeo is a dentist who emigrated to the United States and settled in Texas like his late brother Julian. He is married to Edith Enad Borromeo and they have three children named Racquel “Raqui” Enad Borromeo, Tiffany “Tini” Enad Borromeo and Gabrielle “Gail” Enad Borromeo.

Mario Odon (”Lily”) Neri Borromeo died as an infant.

Mario Francisco Neri Borromeo (April 19, 1922 – August 7, 2002) was my “Tito Mar.” He was married to Carolina Mendiola Borromeo in 1944. They emigrated to the United States and settled in San Francisco, California where they purchased a home on 48^th Avenue and Tito Mar worked for United Airlines until he retired. They had twelve children, being my second cousins Exequiel José Antonio (”Jake”) Mediola Borromeo, Margarita Lourdes (”Mardi”) Borromeo Drew, Mario (”Mardo”) Borromeo, Jr. (born in 1950 and died in 1994), Concepcion (”Connie”) Borromeo Showalter, Pedro (”Peter”) Mediola Borromeo, Teodoro (”Ted”) Mediola Borromeo, Carlos (”Charles”) Mendiola Borromeo, Gerardo (”Jerry”) Mendiola Borromeo, Glenn Mendiola Borromeo, Mary Mendiola Borromeo, Thomas (”Tom”) Mendiola Borromeo and finally John Mendiola Borromeo. They all reside in the San Francisco Bay Area unless noted otherwise below.

Jake has two children, being Jennifer Borromeo and Jason Borromeo. Mardi is married to Richard Drew. They reside in Alamo, California and have no children. Connie is married to Dennis Showalter and has two children, being Sara Borromeo Showalter and Daniel Borromeo Showalter. Peter is married and works as a Baptist Minister; he and wife Linda have no children. Ted is also married; he and wife Angie have two children named Emily Borromeo and Brian Borromeo. Charles is married and he and his wife Bong have two sons named Paul Borromeo and Martin Borromeo. Jerry is married to Cheri and they have no children. Glenn is married to Lisa and they have three children named Joseph Borromeo, Marti Borromeo and Evan Borromeo. Mary is married to Dean and they have two daughters named Malia and Jenna. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tom is married to Minette and works as a cartoonist; they have no children. John is married and lives in Portland, Oregon.

My uncle Deutelino Neri Borromeo (born in 1929 and died on November 9, 1993) had no children. My aunt “Tita” Carmen Borromeo Mercado is married to Gregorio Mercado and they have four children being my second cousins Jocelyn Borromeo Mercado, Dr. Antonio Borromeo Mercado, Benedict Borromeo Mercado and Irene Borromeo Mercado. Jocelyn is married and has two children. Antonio is also married and has three children. Benedict is married to a registered nurse and they have one child. Tita Carmen is both a Director and the Treasurer & CFO of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. Her son / my second cousin Benedict was elected to fill the Director’s seat vacated upon the death of my Tita Maria (”Biyay”) Benita Rallos Borromeo Atega.

6. Engineer Canuto Octavio Borromeo y Reynes (1891-1959)

Engineer Canuto Octavio Borromeo y Reynes (my “Lolo Canuto”) co-founded Rockgas Inter-Island Gas Service with my uncle Andrés Rallos Borromeo, Jr. (my “Tito Diding”). He was born on January 19, 1891 and died on December 31, 1959. He was married to Pilar Noel de Borromeo (May 19, 1897 – June 12, 1977). Lolo Canuto was both a Director and the General Manager of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. from its inception in 1933 until his death in 1959. Lolo Canuto and his wife had five children, being my aunt Maria Soledad (”Tita Marisol”) Borromeo Putong, my uncle Federico (”Tito Nene”) Noel Borromeo, my uncle José (”Tito Joseling”) Noel Borromeo, my aunt Consuelo (”Tita Connie”) Borromeo Morales and finally my uncle Canuto (”Tito Gigi”) Noel Borromeo.

Tita Marisol was married to Cecilio Putong. They had one daughter, being my second cousin Maria Cecilia Putong Hermann. She is married to Richard Hermann and they have one son named José Miguel Putong Hermann.

Tito Nene is married to Josefina Vasquez Borromeo (my “Tita Nena”) and they have two children, being my second cousins Gerardo A. (”Dito”) Borromeo and Ana Maria Vasquez Borromeo. Dito is married to Ines Prieto Borromeo. They have four children, being Sophia Prieto Borromeo, Andrés Prieto Borromeo, Carlos Prieto Borromeo and Ines Prieto Borromeo. Tito Nene lead Rockgas Inter-Island Gas Service from the death of Lolo Canuto in 1959 until the company was sold to the Philippine government in 1980. My cousin Dito was a Director of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. from 1987 until 1995. Since then, he has lead a firm named “Borromeo Technology Holdings, Inc.” and its subsidiary “Smartpark.” They are based in Manila and are active in computer software applications used in commercial office buildings. More recently, he was named Vice Chairman, and finally President and Chief Operating Officer of Philippine Transcarriers, Inc., a placement firm for senior shipping personnel.  His company places more than 12,000 marine industry professionals worldwide every year.  One-quarter of all ship-based marine industry professionals worldwide now come from the Philippines.  Total global employment for onboard shipping personnel exceeds one million persons.

My uncle José Noel Borromeo is single.

Consuelo Noel Borromeo (my “Tita Connie”) was married to Ernesto Morales. They had five children, being my second cousins Alfonso Borromeo Morales, Maria Lourdes Borromeo Morales, Maria Asuncion Morales Cajulis, José Maria Borromeo Morales and Luis Maria Ernesto Borromeo Morales. Maria Asuncion Morales is married to Ding Cajulis, and they have two children named Isabel Morales Cajulis and Cristina Morales Cajulis. Tita Connie was a Professor of the Spanish Language at the University of the Philippines until her retirement. She resides in Ayala Alabang, located outside of Manila.

Canuto Noel Borromeo, Jr. (my “Tito Gigi”) was born on February 14, 1935 and died on March 20, 1977. He was married to Barbara Anne Scher Harvey Borromeo. They had six children, being my second cousins Bernadette Marie Borromeo Gallego, Marie Pilar Borromeo Miranda, Angela Maria Borromeo Almario, Susana Marie Borromeo Milne, Christina Marie Borromeo Gaston and Canuto Benjamin Borromeo (known as “Benji”).

Bernadette (”Dette”) Marie Harvey Borromeo is married to Eduardo (”Ed”) Borromeo Gallego, who is her (and my) fourth degree cousin from the “thin Borromeo” branch of the Cebuano Borromeo family. She has been a Director of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. since 1995 and Ed works as an architect. They have two children, being Mirella Isabel Borromeo Gallego and Eduardo Martin Borromeo Gallego. Ed and Dette also own coffee shops in Cebu under the name “La Marea.” Their daughter Mirella is now in Sydney, Australia studying architecture.

Marie Pilar Harvey Borromeo is married to Eduardo Martinez Miranda. Their four children include Cecilia Angela Borromeo Miranda, Sebastian Borromeo Miranda, Ainara Borromeo Miranda and finally Paloma Borromeo Miranda. Marie Pilar is a partner in a company called “Elements” which deals with high end upholstery in Manila. The company sells quality European and American textiles. Eduardo heads the investing arm of Macquarie Bank, an Australian firm, in Manila.

Angela “Angie” Maria Harvey Borromeo is married to Hector Almario. Their two children include Angela Pilar Borromeo Almario and Lorenzo Javier Borromeo Almario. Hector and Angie own gasoline stations in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao (the latter two cities are on the island of Mindanao). They also market Liquified Petroleum Gas as an alternative fuel for automobiles and are thus in partnership with Petronas, a Malaysian firm.

Susanna Marie Harvey Borromeo is married to Timothy Milne, and they have one daughter named Margarita Pilar Borromeo Milne.  Timothy Milne is a British-born engineer in the sugar business in Cebu City.  He owns a company called “Sugar Technology International” (www.groupsti.com) which specializes in design technology for the global sugar industry.  The local Philippine business entity is known as “Sugar Technology International Philippines, Inc.”  STI is based in the United States.

Christina Marie (”Ina”) Harvey Borromeo is married to José Maria D. Gaston, who owns a sugar plantation on Negros. They reside in the city of Bacolod on the island of Negros (which neighbors the island of Cebu) and they have four children named Marianna Ines Borromeo Gaston, José Maria Canuto Borromeo Gaston, Enrique Miguel Borromeo Gaston and Sabina Teresa Borromeo Gaston. Ina has a firm called “Hacienda Crafts” which makes home accessories for export.  José Maria is a direct descendant of Yves Leopold Germain Gaston, a Frenchman who settled in Negros in 1840.  He left his native Normandy for the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, which used to belong to France before Britain annexed it during the Napoleonic Wars.  It was in Mauritius that Yves Leopold learned the rudiments of the then-young sugar industry.  He left for the Philippines at the age of 30, initially working as a foreman on a Spanish-owned sugar estate in Batangas on Luzon.  He then moved on to Negros and established his own sugar plantation, where he married a local Spanish woman.

Canuto Benjamin (”Benji”) Harvey Borromeo is married to Maria Tomei and lives in New York. They have one daughter named Thalia. Benji runs the IT department for a law firm that he has worked for since he graduated from American University. His wife Maria is Italian and works in the fashion industry.

7. Venustiano Borromeo y Reynes (1891-1891)

Venustiano Borromeo Borromeo y Reynes was born and died as an infant in 1891.

8. Patrocinio Reynes Borromeo de Uy Herrera (1892-1984)

Patrocinio Reynes Borromeo de Uy Herrera was born on November 13, 1892 and died on August 5, 1984. She was married to José Uy Herrera, who was the son of the Chinese Consul in Cebu City. He was born with the Chinese surname Uy but eventually took the new Hispanic surname of Herrera. They had seven children, being my aunts and uncles (first cousins of my mother). These include Helene Borromeo Herrera, Milagros Borromeo Herrera (my “Tita Milagring”), Jesus Borromeo Herrera, Eterio Borromeo Herrera, Lisinio Borromeo Herrera (my “Tito Nene”), Dr. Rodolfo Borromeo Herrera (my “Tito Rudy” and the President & CEO of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc.) and Caridad Borromeo Herrera (my “Tita Caring”).

Helene Borromeo Herrera (my “Tita Nena” who died on March 17, 2007) was married to Constantino C. Navarro, Sr. (my “Tito Oging” who died on May 11, 1998). Tito Oging was a Congressman in the lower house of the Philippine national legislature, representing his home district of Surigao in Northeastern Mindanao (the same region where my maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo was a Judge of the Court of First Instance). They had five children, being my second cousins Constantino (”Baby”) Herrera Navarro, Marlene Herrera Navarro, Conshele Herrera Navarro, Rora Herrera Navarro and Antonio Herrera Navarro.

Constantino (”Baby”) Herrera Navarro was once the Mayor of Surigao City. He is married and has four children. Marlene Herrera Navarro is married to Gil Garcia Moreno, and they have three children named Maria Margarita Gillene Navarro Moreno, Maria Rosario Helena Navarro Moreno and Gil Maria Gerardo Navarro Moreno. Conshele Herrera Navarro (born in 1945 and died in 2005) was married to Dr. Antonio Garcia and they had two children. Rora Herrera Navarro is married to Abelardo Tolentino. She works for the Philippine State Department and has served as the Philippine Ambassador to both Thailand and France. They have three children named Kara Alexandra Navarro Tolentino, Farah Karmela Navarro Tolentino and Abelardo Constantino Navarro Tolentino.  Kara Alexandra has one son with her first husband Louie Talan named Joaquin Luis Tolentino Talan.  Kara Alexandra is now married to Virgil Prieto, and they have two daughters named Rocio Ines Tolentino Prieto and Paloma Lucia Tolentino Prieto.  Farah Karmela is married to Eric Ylagan, and they have two children named Mia Lara Celino Tolentino Ylagan and Cristiana Emmanuelle Tolentino Ylagan.  Abelardo Constantino Navarro Tolentino is single.  Their uncle Antonio Herrera Navarro is also single.

Milagros Borromeo Herrera (my “Tita Milagring”) was married to Alfredo B. Cañares, and they had one son named Eduardo (my second cousin “Ed”) Herrera Cañares, married to Henedina Lopez Cui Cañares. Tita Milagring is a Director of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. Before Ed died in 2002, he was the Manager of Margarita Agro-Industrial Corporation (MAIC), the agribusiness subsidiary of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. MAIC consists of agricultural properties on Cebu, Leyte and Mindanao. Ed and his late wife Henedina had 4 sons, 3 of whom are now married and with children of their own. Their first son Jonathan Cui Cañares is married to Zeny Billiones Gabunada Cañares, and they have one daughter named Sheila Mae Gabunada Cañares. Their second son Stephen Cui Cañares is married to Janine Batobalonos Cañoneo Cañares, and they in turn have two children named Jannie Thea Cañoneo Cañares and Steven Marc Cañoneo Cañares. Their third son Emmanuel Cui Cañares is not married, while their fourth son Donald Cui Cañares is married to Chandel Isidro Ramos Cañares. Donald and Chandel have one son named Don Lorenz Ramos Cañares.

Jesus Borromeo Herrera was single.

Eterio Borromeo Herrera (deceased young in a plane crash) was married to the late Marina Teves, thereafter remarried as Marina Teves Herrera McCarthy in Australia. They had five children, being my second cousins May Teves Herrera, Evangeline Teves Herrera, Menelio Teves Herrera, Laurente Teves Herrera and Eterio (”Terry”) Teves Herrera. May Teves Herrera is married to Adam Brand, and they reside in New South Wales, Australia. Evangeline (”Eve”) Teves Herrera is married to her (and my) fourth cousin Horacio Palou Borromeo, Jr. and they have one son named Michael Brian Herrera Borromeo, who is currently studying architecture at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. Their family also resides in New South Wales, Australia.  The same holds true for the family of Terry Teves Herrera, who reside in metropolitan Sydney, Australia.  Menelio Teves Herrera is married to Milagros Sendo, and they have three children named Marlon Sendo Herrera, Mark Sendo Herrera and Melissa Sendo Herrera. Laurente Teves Herrera is married to Evangeline Lucino, and they have four children named Osline Lucino Herrera, Josephine Lucino Herrera, James John Lucino Herrera and Andrew Lucino Herrera.

Eterio “Terry” Teves Herrera, Jr. is married to Myrthel Brandes, and they have three children named Jerrold Brandes Herrera, James Allen Brandes Herrera and Nicholus “Nikki” Brandes Herrera.  They reside in metro Sydney, Australia since 1987.  Jerrold is a computer science graduate from Maquarie University in Sydney, and now works as a Sales Manager for Shiriro Australia.  James Allen works for Datacom, which is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (of Seattle, Washington, USA).  Nikki is still in college at Hornsby Tafe.

My uncle Lisinio (”Tito Nene”) Borromeo Herrera is married to Tetang del Rio. They have eight children, being my second cousins Ernesto Borromeo Herrera, Marie Angeline Borromeo Herrera, Marie Susan Borromeo Herrera, Maria Asuncion Borromeo Herrera, Anthony Borromeo Herrera, Catherine Borromeo Herrera, Rosemarie Borromeo Herrera and Gerardo Ronnie Borromeo Herrera. Marie Angeline Borromeo is married and has one child.

My uncle Dr. Rodolfo (”Tito Rudy”) Borromeo Herrera is married to my “Tita” Monina Garcia Herbosa, who is a direct descendant of the very famous José Rizal. Tito Rudy is one of the most prominent medical doctors in the Philippines, and he has served as both a Director and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. since 1998. He is also a Director of Makati Finance Corporation, which is partially owned by the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. He practices medicine at the Makati Medical Center outside of Manila, and they reside in Ayala Alabang. Tita Monina is the owner of Global Cruises, Inc. (a cruise ship travel agency) based in Bronxville, New York (USA). Tito Rudy and Tita Monina have three children, being my second cousins Ana Marie Herbosa Herrera, Robertino (”Robby”) Herbosa Herrera and Margarita Herbosa Herrera. Ana Marie Herbosa Herrera is married to Anton Huang, heir to the large “Rustan’s” retail chain in the Philippines.  Robbie owns and operates a restaurant in Boracay (a famous beach resort in the Philippines) and a bar in Makati, Metro Manila.  Margarita is married to Michael Brady and she works for the financial firm of Jardine in Hong Kong.

My aunt Caridad (”Tita Caring”) Borromeo Herrera was married to my godfather John Harriett Suchman. She worked as a certified public accountant in New York City prior to her retirement. Uncle John graduated from Columbia University (Tita Caring’s alma mater as well) with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.). They have two daughters, being my second cousins Rachel Herrera Suchman and Deborah (”Debbie”) Herrera Suchman. Rachel was married to Ernest (”Ernie”) Czak, who works as a Trader on the floor of the famous New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall Street in downtown Manhattan. They have three children, being Veronica Marie Suchman Csak, Natalie Rose Suchman Csak and Gregory Suchman Csak. Rachel resides in upstate New York, not far from the West Point Military Academy. Debbie is married to George Zeolla. They reside in Manhattan and have two sons, named Paolo Alessandro Suchman Zeolla and Luca Pietro Suchman Zeolla. George works as a fundraiser for a major private university in Manhattan and Debbie was a professional photographer before she became a full time mother.

9. Salud Borromeo y Reynes (1898-1969)

The estate of Salud Borromeo y Reynes (the youngest sibling of my maternal grandfather known as my “Lola Saling”) is today the Salud Borromeo Memorial Charity Clinic and Foundation, one of the largest charitable organizations on the island of Leyte. It is located in the city of San Isidro, the headquarters of our agribusiness subsidiary. This company is known as “Margarita Agro-Industrial Corporation,” being named after my great-grandmother Margarita Sy Reynes de Borromeo (my “Nanay Titay”). She purchased this large tract of land in the 1880s with profits from her husband’s horse-carriage (”Tartanilla”) manufacturing business and from her own business of trading in salt at the Cebu City wharf. Salud Borromeo y Reynes was born on September 7, 1898 and died on November 30, 1969 with no legal will.

This completes all of the Borromean lines of my second cousins.

Third Cousins

My great-grandfather José Maria Borromeo y Galan (my “Tatay Pepe” who lived from 1847-1930) was the second of 11 children of my great-great grandparents Maximo Borromeo y Feliz (1820-1892) and Hermenegilda Galan de Borromeo (1825-1894). My mother was named after Maximo’s wife, who was known as “Nanay Binda.”

In an urban population that numbered 10,078 in 1834 (when Tatay Maximo Borromeo y Feliz was just 14 years old), the Parian-Lutaos parish incorporated slightly more than two-thirds (67%) of the inhabitants of Cebu. For these “Ciudadnons” (city dwellers) the Parian was the central focus of their religious and social life. A group of approximately 30 wealthy “Mestizo” families appears to have monopolized the elite of Parian and its parish. These families represented a close-knit, socially inter-related group that tended to confine its marriages if not strictly within the principal families, then almost always within the larger mestizo community. The records of the Philippine National Archives show 28 families that composed Parian’s elite in the early 19^th century: Alo, Borromeo, de Castro, Climaco, Cuico (Cuyco), Espina, Gandiongco, Gantuangco, Garces, Janson, Limcaco, del Mar, Narvios, Noel, Osmeña, Regis, Reynes, Rodis, Rubi, Sanson (Samson), Singson, Sison, Solon, Suico, Valle, Velez, Veloso and Villa.

The elder sister of my great-grandfather José Maria Borromeo y Galan never married and had no offspring. The 11 children of Tatay Maximo and Nanay Binda were:

1. Leoncia Borromeo y Galan (no issue)
2. José Maria Borromeo y Galan
3. Julian Borromeo y Galan (no issue)
4. Florentina Borromeo y Galan (no issue)
5. Aniceta Galan Borromeo de Ocampo
6. Pantaleon Borromeo y Galan
7. Cosme Borromeo y Galan
8. Vito Borromeo y Galan
9. Quirino Borromeo y Galan (no issue)
10. Trinidad Borromeo y Galan (no issue)
11. Paolo Borromeo y Galan

Their great-grand children are thus my third degree cousins. The estate (home) of Maximo Borromeo y Feliz and Hermenegilda Galan de Borromeo was located in Banawa, Cebu, was purchased in 1844 and was only sold in 1990 (146 years later). Vito Borromeo y Galan’s estate still exists today as a corporate entity, and it in turn has a seat upon the Board of Directors of the Salud Borromeo Foundation.

As can be seen in the list above, Julian Borromeo y Galan was single and had no issue (offspring). Florentina Borromeo y Galan was in the same situation, with no issue. Aniceta Borromeo y Galan married Francisco Ocampo, and they had one daughter named Aurora Borromeo y Ocampo. Aurora was single and had no issue, so this line of the family died out as well.

Pantaleon Borromeo y Galan married Remigia Pulaire de Borromeo (this was the first of his two wives), and they had three children named Ismaela Borromeo y Pulaire, Crispin Borromeo y Pulaire and Teofilo Borromeo y Pulaire.

Ismaela Borromeo y Pulaire married Escolastico Morre. They had seven children, named Lilia Borromeo Morre, Patricia Borromeo Morre, Aurora Borromeo Morre, Rosario Borromeo Morre, Isagani Borromeo Morre, Lamberto Borromeo Morre and Floro Borromeo Morre.

Lilia Borromeo Morre married Teopisto Tabotabo, and they had five children, being my third degree cousins Dr. Armando Morre Tabotabo, Merardo Morre Tabotabo, Cesar Morre Tabotabo, Lorena Morre Tabotabo and Evelyn Morre Tabotabo.

Patricia Borromeo Morre married a man with the surname of Ranario (I do not know his first or given / Christian names) and moved to Stockton, California. They had five children (at least one of whom lives in New Jersey), being my third cousins Napoleon Morre Ranario, Alexander Morre Ranario, Maria Ofelia Morre Ranario, Chester Morre Ranario and Marian Morre Ranario.

Aurora Borromeo Morre married her cousin Manuel Infante Borromeo. They had two children, being my third cousins Norma Morre Borromeo and Josephine Morre Borromeo.  Norma passed away on January 9, 2008.  She was married to Dionisio Guevarra Venzon, Jr. from Batangas, and they have three children named Jennifer Borromeo Venzon, Dionisio Borromeo Venzon III and Mary Ann Borromeo Venzon.  Jennifer is married to Elmer Enerio Aque from Aloran in Misamis Occidental, and they have two children named Edman Josh Venzon Aque and Beatriz Faith Venzon Aque.  Dionisio Borromeo Venzon III (who kindly shared this information with our site) is married to Princess Abrigo Austria from Indang (Cavite on Luzon), and they have three children named Harold Efrain Austria Venzon, Thomas Harvey Austria Venzon and Norman Hill Austria Venzon.  Mary Ann Borromeo Venzon is married to Vergel Elacion Misola from Santa Cruz (Zambales), and they have one daughter named Jazmine Aubrey Venzon Misola.  My late third degree cousin Josephine Morre Borromeo was married to Attorney Leonardo Palicte III, and they have three children named Leo Jamal Borromeo Palicte, Joshua Borromeo Palicte and Jessamine Faith Borromeo Palicte.

Rosario Borromeo Morre married Alfredo Gatchalian, Sr. They had two children, being my third cousins Rodolfo Morre Gatchalian and Alfredo Morre Gatchalian, Jr.

Isagani Borromeo Morre did not marry and had no issue (offspring). Lamberto Borromeo Morre was in the same situation, with no marriage and no issue. Ditto with Floro Borromeo Morre, so these three lines will eventually or have already died out.

Crispin Borromeo y Pulaire (who became a municipal judge in Cebu) married Petra Ozaraga. They have one son named José Ozaraga Borromeo who married Sela Quijano; both of them moved to Houston, Texas where they worked and eventually retired from ChevronTexaco. José and Sela have three children named Joesel Quijano Borromeo, Martonette Quijano Borromeo and Marjoe Quijano Borromeo. Joesel is married to Cyd Therese Acosta, and they have two children named JoThecha Acosta Borromeo and SelsyMae Acosta Borromeo. Martonette is single. Marjoe is married to Maria Stella Tonggao Borromeo and they have two children named Steony Tonggao Borromeo and Anthony Tonggao Borromeo.

Teofilo Borromeo y Pulaire married Remedios Cuenco de Borromeo, and they had one son named José Cuenco Borromeo. José Cuenco Borromeo married Filomena Rusiana, and they had five children. These are my third cousins named Rosario Rusiana Borromeo, Emmanuel Rusiana Borromeo, Fatima Rusiana Borromeo, Gracita Rusiana Borromeo and Angelica Rusiana Borromeo.

The second wife of Pantaleon Borromeo y Galan (Pantaleon was of course a younger brother of my great-grandfather José Maria Borromeo y Galan) was named Francisca Good de Borromeo. They had two sons, named Francisco Borromeo y Good and Patricio Borromeo y Good. Francisco Borromeo y Good married, but I do not know the name of his wife. They had one son named Teobaldo Borromeo who did not marry and had no issue (offspring). Patricio Borromeo y Good also married, but I do not know the name of his wife either. Patricio and his wife had two children, named Ananias Borromeo and Basilia Borromeo.

Ananias Borromeo married Eleuteria Mendoza, and they have ten children (my third degree cousins) named Antonio Mendoza Borromeo, Wilfredo Mendoza Borromeo, Jennifer Mendoza Borromeo, Rory Yul Mendoza Borromeo, Joni Mendoza Borromeo, Judith Mendoza Borromeo, Jacqueline Mendoza Borromeo, Joan Mendoza Borromeo, Jocelyn Mendoza Borromeo and Victor Mendoza Borromeo.  Antonio is married to Raquel, and they have two children named Tonyquiel Borromeo and Antonet Borromeo.  Wilfredo is married to Marisa, and they have eight children named Wilnor Borromeo-Giles (in Houston, Texas), Wilma Borromeo, Fredymar Borromeo, Maricris Borromeo, Wilfredo Borromeo Jr., Warly Borromeo, Jovie Borromeo and Lanie Borromeo.  Jennifer is married to Ismael Cano, and they have three children named Marian Celeste Borromeo Cano, Marie Stella Borromeo Cano and Melvin Borromeo Cano.  Marian Celeste has four children named Chelsea Ann Shanice Cano-Ticsay, Christien Kyle Cano-Ticsay, Chadrick Rawnsley Cano-Ticsay and Najla Kirsten Cano-Ticsay.  Melvin is married to Ruth Malabanan, and they have one son named Dustyn Kurt Malabanan Cano.  Rory Yul Mendoza Borromeo (who kindly provided the genealogical information for his branch of the family) is married to Grace Garcia, and they have two children named Diorelle Concepcion Garcia Borromeo and Ryal Grae Garcia Borromeo.  Diorelle is married to Faustino Salvan.  Joni Mendoza Borromeo is married and has one daughter named Kirsten May Borromeo Menosa.  Judith Mendoza Borromeo is married to Pedro Calabocal, Sr., and they have three children named Pedro Borromeo Calabocal, Jr., Patricia Nichole Borromeo Calabocal and Patrick Borromeo Calabocal.  Jacqueline Mendoza Borromeo has two children named Rachel Borromeo and Ralph Borromeo.  Rachel is married to Rocky Villanueva, and they have one daughter named Grace Borromeo Villanueva.  Joan Mendoza Borromeo is married to Cliff Grant, and they live in California with their three children named Brandon Borromeo Grant, Tyler Borromeo Grant and Lailanie Borromeo Grant.  Jocelyn Mendoza Borromeo has three children named Jerel Borromeo, Jekrey Borromeo and Mia Borromeo.  Victor Mendoza Borromeo is married to Joan and they have five children named Nina Gavrieljh Borromeo, Vien Carlo Borromeo, Tyron Troy Borromeo, Wyeth Ken Borromeo and John Victor Borromeo.

Avanias’ sister Basilia is single and has no issue.

Cosme Borromeo y Galan was the next youngest sibling of Pantaleon Borromeo y Galan. Cosme Borromeo y Galan married Petronila Guerrero de Borromeo. They had seven children, being Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero, José Borromeo y Guerrero, Carlos Borromeo y Guerrero, Carmen Borromeo y Guerrero, Asuncion Borromeo y Guerrero, Florentina Borromeo y Guerrero and Emilio Borromeo y Guerrero. These children were thus first cousins to my maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes. Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero also happened to be my grandfather’s best friend – the two men especially enjoyed horseback riding with one another. My grandfather’s last horse was a beautiful white stallion named “Quaranto” – after one of his successful court cases. In fact, “Quaranto” survived his famous master to provide companionship and transportation (pulling a Borromeo “Tartanilla” horse-drawn cart) to my grandmother and her surviving six children.

Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero married Rosario Cabrera de Borromeo, and they had seven children named Cosme Cabrera Borromeo, Tomas Luis Cabrera Borromeo, Angelita Cabrera Borromeo, Josefina Borromeo Neri, Maria Borromeo Reunilla, Prescillano Cabrera Borromeo and Domingo Cabrera Borromeo. These children are of course second degree cousins to my mother, Hermenegilda Amor Victoria Borromeo Nonnenkamp.

Cosme (my “Tito Cosme”) Cabrera Borromeo married Corazon de Jesus Borromeo, and they had two children. These are my third cousins Celeste (”Gemma”) Borromeo Olavides and Reneirio (”Rene”) de Jesus Borromeo. My Tito Cosme worked for San Miguel Corporation (the famous beer brewer owned by the Soriano family) prior to his retirement, which is one of the Philippines’ oldest and largest corporations. After their divorce, my Tita Corazon moved to the United States and married William (”Bill”) Pasley. They had one son named William (”Bill”) de Jesus Pasley, Jr. He resides in rural Northern California and is divorced from his German-born wife Sonja. They have a son and a daughter who reside with their father Bill Jr.

Gemma is married to Eliseo (”Lee”) Olavides, Sr. and they have three children. These are my third cousins once removed (i.e., one generation removed from my third cousins) Lee Martin Borromeo Olavides, Michael Celestine Borromeo Olavides and Kara (”Kay”) Angela Borromeo Olavides. When I was a child growing up in Northern California, these three children were among my playmates. Lee Martin Borromeo Olavides is married to Michele Kint Olavides and they have three sons named Nicholas Andrew Kint Olavides, Alexander Lee Kint Olavides and Christian Michael Kint Olavides. Lee Martin and his family reside in suburban Los Angeles, California.

Michael Celestine Borromeo Olavides is married to Sarah Jane Vanderslice Olavides, and they have three daughters.  Michael works as an Occupational Therapist.

Kara (”Kay”) Angela Borromeo Olavides was married and is now divorced from Mark Gustetich. They have one daughter named Kiana Angela Olavides Gustetich. Kara works as a registered nurse with John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek, California. Gemma and Lee reside in Northern California as well.

The younger brother of Celeste (”Gemma”) Borromeo Olavides is Reneirio (”Rene”) de Jesus Borromeo. He is now divorced from his ex-wife Norma Abad Borromeo, and resides in Arizona. René and Norma have two children, including son Lance Garrett Borromeo. Lance resides in Pittsburg, California and is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and served as an IT and Webmaster in a US Naval Construction Battalion in combat operations on Basilan Island (the Philippines) in 2002 and in the liberation of Iraq in 2003. He is currently studying to become an automobile mechanic, lives with his girlfriend (a nurse), her two children and their new baby boy Dante Henry Borromeo (born in December 2008).

The next sibling of Cosme Cabrera Borromeo was Tomas Luis Cabrera Borromeo. My “Tito Tomas” was a lawyer by trade and was also the best friend of his second cousin and my uncle “Tito Diding” (Andrés Rallos Borromeo). Many who knew them said they looked very similar as well. Tito Tomas was married to one of the wealthiest women in the Philippines named Carmen Fargas Barredo Borromeo. My “Tita Carmen” came from an old Spanish colonial family in the Philippines. I had the privilege of seeing her shortly before she passed away at their home in Mandaluyong (part of metropolitan Manila). Tita Carmen’s parents had three children. When her father Fausto Barredo passed away in 1937, the same year she married my Tito Tomas, the Barredo estate was valued at 400 million Pesos ($200 million at the exchange rate of the time). This was one of the largest fortunes in the entire Philippines, and the holdings of the family included much of the real estate in old Manila. This was granted to them by the Spanish Crown (the Philippines were a Spanish Crown Colony from 1521 until 1898), just as modern Makati was granted to the Zobel de Ayala family (an old Basque Spanish family in the Philippines who now own the oldest incorporated and largest business group in the country). In the case of Tita Carmen’s family, both the Fargas family (her mother’s family) and the Barredo family (her father’s family) were wealthy old Spanish families in the Philippines. They formed a company named “Fabar” (a combination of the name of “Fausto Barredo,” who was the patriarch of the Barredo family FABAR fortune), which became the first company to assemble (not manufacture) motor vehicles in the Philippines after World War Two. They began with the Austin franchise in 1945.  Fausto Barredo had something very much in common with my own great-grandfather José Maria Borromeo y Galan (1847-1930).  Both men made their fortunes by manufacturing horse-drawn carriages.  In the case of my great-grandfather, it was the Cebuano “Tartanilla.”  In the case of Fausto Barredo, it was the famous “Karatela” of Luzon.  In both cases, they were instrumental in starting the Philippine vehicle industry.  My great-grandfather’s company built and sold the “Tartanilla” from 1879 until 1933.  In the case of Fausto Barredo, I believe his company built and marketed the “Karatela” from about 1890 until 1945.

Austin was an English brand of motor vehicle that eventually became part of the B.M.C. or “British Motor Corporation” in 1952. This huge conglomerate included most remaining British motor vehicle marques that were not part of either General Motors (Vauxhall and Bedford), Ford or the Rootes Group. After the Second World War, the British vehicle makers had the largest market share worldwide after the Americans, and the British were number one in parts of Asia (the Philippines included), Australia, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East.

By 1953, Fabar had exchanged the old Austin franchise for the Philippine Studebaker franchise. Studebaker was based in the old Catholic city of South Bend, Indiana. It was the largest vehicle maker in the world from 1861 until 1908, when it was surpassed by the Ford Motor Company. Studebaker was founded by German immigrants to the USA from Solingen in the Catholic Rhineland region. Their original name of “Stutenbecker” was changed to Studebaker when they settled in the Pennsylvania Dutch (German) country in the 18^th century. They eventually migrated to Ohio and finally to Indiana. Studebaker became very large due to contracts to manufacture and sell horse-drawn wagons to the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861 to 1865). In 1954, Studebaker merged with Packard of Michigan to form the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. They continued to manufacture passenger cars until 1966, when the old South Bend factory was sold to Chrysler. Production of the high performance Avanti Coupé continues to this very day, albeit at a very low volume from a plant located outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Fabar thus owned the Philippine Austin franchise from 1945 to 1953 and the Philippine Studebaker franchise from 1953 to 1966. They then exchanged Studebaker for Toyota of Japan, a franchise which the maintained until 1984.

My Tito Tomas Luis Cabrera Borromeo and my Tita Carmen Barredo Borromeo had ten children, being my third cousins Maria Pilar (”Piluchi”) Barredo Borromeo, Gabriela (”Bingo”) Maria Cristina Barredo Borromeo Berenguer, Maria Juliana (”Julie”) Irene Barredo Borromeo, Maria Rosa (”Rosie”) Redenta Barredo Borromeo Rieth, José Vito (”Pocholo”) Miguel Francisco Barredo Borromeo, Marcial Alfonso (”Lito”) Barredo Borromeo, Maria Cecilia (”Cibbie”) Barredo Borromeo, Tomas (”Tom-Tom”) Clemente Barredo Borromeo, Miguelangelo (”Mike”) Valentino Barredo Borromeo and Maria Victoria Paz (”Toy-Toy”) Barredo Borromeo. My mother lived with this warm and wonderful family in Mandaluyong for two years from 1955 to 1957.

Maria Pilar Barredo Borromeo was married to the late Carl Garmsen. Carl was born in Mindanao, but his father emigrated to the Philippines from Germany. Pilar and Carl have two children named Patricia Borromeo Garmsen and Carl (”Cali”) Borromeo Garmsen. Patricia is married and has two children. She and her family reside near Manila in the Philippines.  Cali is single and works for Siemens in Germany.

Gabriela (”Bingo”) Maria Cristina Barredo Borromeo is married to Silverio Berenguer and has three children named Tomas “Tom” Borromeo Berenguer, Ramon Borromeo Berenguer and Maria Elena Borromeo Berenguer. Tom is married to Bernice Gamboa of the Gamboa family from Negros Occidental. Tom and Bernice have a baby girl named Isabella Marie Gamboa Berenguer. They also reside near Manila, where Tom is a practicing lawyer and owns a firm that does outplacing consultancy for American companies.  Maria Elena and her husband now reside in Toronto, Canada.

Maria Juliana (”Julie”) Irene Barredo Borromeo is one of the most famous professional dancers in the Philippines, complete with her own school for dance, a studio and her own television program.  Thousands of successful graduates have been trained by her school.  Today, Julie also owns a small beachfront resort in Batangas on Luzon.  Julie Borromeo’s first husband was Marcos Aragon, Sr. He and Julie have five children named Maria Del Carmen (”Maricar”) Borromeo Aragon, Ana Maria Milagros (”Anamarie”) Borromeo Aragon, Maria Delos Angeles (”Gigi”) Borromeo Aragon, Marcos (”Kits”) Borromeo Aragon, Jr. and Francisco (”Cocoy”) Borromeo Aragon. Maricar is married to Jaime Andrada, and they have no children. Anamarie is married to Poncy Quirino, and they have two sons named Justin Aragon Quirino and Miguel Aragon Quirino. Gigi is married to “Peanuts” Agcaoili and they have two daughters named Nicole Aragon Agcaoili and Francine Aragon Agcaoili. Marcos’ wife is named Joanne and they have two sons and two daughters. Francisco is married and has one daughter. Julie Barredo Borromeo’s second husband was David Roche, who was from England. They have one daughter named Valerie Borromeo Roche, who is married to Guillano Ungaro.  Valerie and her husband now reside in Hong Kong, where he works as a an assistant food and beverage manager for a large hotel.

Maria Rosa (”Rosie”) Redenta Barredo Borromeo is also a professional dancer just like her elder sister Julie. Rosie lives and works in both Mandaluyong (Manila) and in Singapore. Her ex-husband Hans Peter Rieth is from Switzerland. Their only son Julius Anthony Khalil (”Jaky”) lives and works in Manila, after having spent 7 years in Geneva, Switzerland. He is not married.

José Vito (”Pocholo”) Miguel Francisco Barredo Borromeo and his wife Mary Anne Luis Borromeo have three sons and one daughter. They reside on the Borromeo Compound in Mandaluyong along with his elder sisters Pilar Barredo Borromeo Garmsen and Rosie Barredo Borromeo Reith. Pocholo and Mary Anne own and operate a GNC (”General Nutrition Center”) franchise with 41 stores throughout the Philippines.  They are also the Philippine franchisee for OSIM, a retailer for luxury massage chairs (OSIM International is based in Singapore).  Before they owned this franchise, my third cousin Pocholo was a Vice President with the Bank of America in Makati. Their eldest son José Vito Nicholas (”JV”) Borromeo, Jr. is married to Maria Victoria (”Marivic”) Ortigas, they have three children named Arianna Ortigas Borromeo, Francisco Ortigas Borromeo and Anna Mireya (”Amber”) Ortigas Borromeo.  My nephew JV owns a clothing and beach-wear store called “Stoked,” which is located in a number of high-end shopping malls in Metro Manila.  The younger children of my cousin Pocholo and his wife Mary Anne, including sons Ricardo (”Ricky”) Borromeo, Alexander (”Aly”) Borromeo and daughter Ana Marie Borromeo are all single.

Marcial Alfonso (”Lito”) Barredo Borromeo is single and without children.  Lito and his younger brother Tom-Tom Borromeo own a theater lighting business, and both of them reside in Mandaluyong.

Maria Cecilia (”Cibbie”) Barredo Borromeo is married to Servais Lutz and has one daughter and three sons named Marie Madelen (”Iyay”) Borromeo Lutz, Paul-Alexandre (”Pauli”) Borromeo Lutz, Charles André (”Cacoy”) Borromeo Lutz and Jean Philippe (”Pipoy”) Borromeo Lutz. Marie Madelen’s husband is named Tomas and they have two sons.  Pauli and his wife Sabrine Vicente (Swiss of Portuguese descent) reside in Hong Kong where he works for Pitcet & Compagnie – a large private bank with more than US $365 Billion in total assests.  Cibbie and her family reside in metro Manila.

Tomas Clemente (”Tom-Tom”) Barredo Borromeo is married to Gina Berkenkotter and operates a theater lighting business in Mandaluyong. They have one son named Joseph Berkenkotter Borromeo.

Miguel Angelo (”Mike”) Valentino Barredo Borromeo (born on February 14, 1954 and died of cancer on June 24, 2004) was married to Maria Corazon (”Cora”) Manal Borromeo (born on August 25, 1951 and died on September 28, 2009 of breast cancer) and has one daughter named Karen Kate Manal Borromeo.  My cousin Mike also lived in Mandaluyong.

Maria Victoria Paz (”Toy-Toy”) Barredo Borromeo is the tenth and youngest child of my Tito Tomas and Tita Carmen. She is married to José (”Joey”) Sanchez, Jr. and they have two children named Rafael (”Archie”) Borromeo Sanchez and Maria Cristina Borromeo Sanchez. They also reside near Manila, and are in the process of migrating to New Zealand.

My “Tita Day” Angelita Cabrera Borromeo (born on August 24, 1911) is the eldest living member of the Borromeo family at age 96 in 2007.  She has remained single her entire life, and used to reside in an old home on Sikatuna Street in Cebu City, from where she operated a successful catering business. She now lives in Wireless, on the outskirts of Cebu City. She was the person who actually raised my third cousins Celeste (”Gemma”) Borromeo Olavides and her younger brother Reneirio (”René”) de Jesus Borromeo after their mother emigrated to the United States. Tita Day knows the most about the genealogy and history of the Borromeo family, something she of course learned from her father Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero. He was the one who completed an extensive genealogy of the Borromeo family, which was unfortunately destroyed during World War Two.

Josefina Cabrera Borromeo was married to Graciano Neri, Sr.. Their four children are my third cousins Victoria Borromeo Neri, Graciano Borromeo Neri, Jr., Ramon Borromeo Neri and Maria Teresa Borromeo Neri.

Maria Cabrera Borromeo was married to José Reunilla, Jr. Their five children are my third cousins Jorge Borromeo Reunilla, José Borromeo Reunilla, Luis Borromeo Reunilla, Antonio Marie Borromeo Reunilla and Miguel Borromeo Reunilla. Jorge Borromeo Reunilla is divorced from his wife Nina Lorenzo Borromeo, and they have one child. Luis Borromeo Reunilla is married and has one child.

Prescillano (my late “Tito To”) Cabrera Borromeo was married to Lourdes (my “Tita Lourding”) Fargas Borromeo (born on September 1, 1915 and died on August 29, 2004). Tito To was a professional architect, and designed the home in Wireless (on the outskirts of Cebu City) where his elder sister my Tita Day (Angelita Cabrera Borromeo) now resides. The Fargas family of my late Tita Lourding is of course the Fargas portion of the former “Fabar” company. Tito To and Tita Lourding had four children, who are my third cousins Maria Rosario (”Marose”) Fargas Borromeo, Maria Isabel (”Mabel”) Fargas Borromeo, Camilo (”Milo”) Fargas Borromeo and Maria Lourdes (”Malou”) Fargas Borromeo. Marose has one daughter, and now lives near Manila. Mabel is married to a Filipino named Ruben Sternberg, who works as a pilot for Philippine Airlines. Mabel and Ruben have two daughters, named Rachel Borromeo Sternberg and Ruthie Borromeo Sternberg. The entire family lives and works near Hobart, Tasmania (Australia). Camilo Fargas Borromeo is married and has four children. He and his family reside near Manila. Malou is married to a Swede named Steffan Landberg, and they have one daughter named Nicole Borromeo Landberg. They all reside near Hobart, Tasmania (Australia), just like the family of Malou’s elder sister Mabel Borromeo Sternberg.

The youngest child of Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero was Domingo Cabrera Borromeo (born in 1919), who died as a young man just before the start of World War II in December 1941. He was aboard the passenger vessel “S/S Corregidor” which struck a mine and sunk. Domingo had been studying in Manila, and was encouraged to leave the Philippine capital due to rumors of the coming war with Japan. Tragically, this last ship out from Manila to Cebu struck an American mine and sunk with a great loss of life.

The next sibling of Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero was José Borromeo y Guerrero, who remained single and had no offspring. José Borromeo y Guerrero was followed by Carlos Borromeo y Guerrero, who married Mivela Talam de Borromeo. Carlos and Mivela had one daughter named Amelinda Talam Borromeo, who remained single and had no offspring. Carlos Borromeo y Guerrero was followed by his sister Carmen Borromeo y Guerrero. Carmen had one daughter out of wedlock who was named Amelia Guerrero Borromeo. Amelia remained single and had no offspring. Carmen Borromeo y Guerrero was followed by her sister Asuncion Borromeo y Guerrero, who also remained single and had no offspring. Asuncion Borromeo y Guerrero was followed by her younger sister Florentina Borromeo y Guerrero, who remained single and had no offspring either.

The youngest sibling of Marcial Borromeo y Guerrero was Emilio Borromeo y Guerrero, who married Rosario Alvarez de Borromeo. Emilio and Rosaro had four children, who are my mother’s second cousins Amelia Alvarez Borromeo, Emilio Alvarez Borromeo, Jr., Eduardo Alvarez Borromeo and Corazon Alvarez Borromeo. Amelia remained single and had no children.

Emilio Jr. is married to Ligaya Jurado, and has four children (including Emilio Enrique “Jun” Jurado Borromeo III, Cynthia Rosa Jurado Borromeo Salvador, Patricia Aurea Jurado Borromeo Matreo and Maria Theresa Jurado Borromeo Murriel), who are thus my third cousins.  Jun is married to Maria Corazon Nocum de Borromeo, and they reside near Orlando, Florida along with their five children: Elaine Nocum Borromeo, Marie Emmelyn Nocum Borromeo, Edmon Darwin Nocum Borromeo, Evangeline Nocum Borromeo and Marie Eileen Nocum Borromeo.  All of Jun’s sisters and their families live in California.  Cynthia has two sons named Ramonito Luis “Boojie” Borromeo Salvador (who is deceased) and Ramonito Luis “Lloyd” Borromeo Salvador.  Patricia is married to Rolly Matreo, and they have two sons named Patrick Borromeo Matreo and Lyle Borromeo Matreo.  Maria Theresa is married to Nicanor Murriel, and they have three children named Ryan Calvin Borromeo Murriel, Nikki Borromeo Murriel and Maricar Monique Borromeo Murriel.

Eduardo remained single and had no offspring. Corazon married and had one child, who is thus my third cousin.

Going back to past generations, Vito Borromeo y Galan was a younger brother of my great-grandfather José Maria Borromeo y Galan (1847 to 1930). Vito married Juliana Evangelista de Borromeo, and they had one son named Manuel José Borromeo y Evangelista, who was thus a first cousin to my maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880 to 1923). Manuel José remained single and had no children. This line thus died out, but as Vito Borromeo y Galan had an estate valued at 16 Million Pesos upon his death, he named his surviving nephews and neices and their descendants his lawful heirs. The estate exists as a legal entity to this very day, and its representatives are also on the Board of Directors of the Salud Borromeo Memorial Charity Clinic (Salud Borromeo y Reynes was the youngest sibling of my maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes).

The next sibling of Vito Borromeo y Galan was Quirino Borromeo y Galan, who remained single and had no children. Next in line was Trinidad Borromeo y Galan, who also remained single and had no offspring. The youngest sibling of my great-grandfather José Maria Borromeo y Galan (1847-1930) was Paulo Borromeo y Galan, who married Anaclita Luminario de Borromeo. Paulo and Anaclita had one son named Pedro Borromeo y Luminario, who was thus a first cousin of my late maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880-1923). Pedro remained single and had no children.

This completes all of the Borromean lines of my third cousins.

Fourth Cousins

My great-great grandfather Maximo Borromeo y Feliz (1820-1892) fathered the so-called “fat” line of Cebuano Borromeos. In the Cebuano language, they are known as the “mga tambok” Borromeos. Tatay Maximo was the eldest of two sons of my great-great-great grandparents Carlos Borromeo IV y Felis (born 1795) and Maria Tupas de Borromeo. Maximo’s younger brother Florentino Borromeo y Feliz fathered the so-called “thin” line of Cebuano Borromeos. In the Cebuano language, they are known as the “mga daut” or the “mga niwang” Borromeos. The great-great grandchildren of Florentino Borromeo are thus my fourth degree cousins. I do not know the name of Florentino’s wife, although her surname was “Rosa.”

Florentino Borromeo y Feliz and his wife had two sons and one daughter, named Juan Borromeo y Rosa, Florentino Borromeo y Rosa and Baldomera Borromeo y Rosa.

Juan Borromeo y Rosa was married to Paulina Veloso de Borromeo, and they had sixteen (16) children. This is the largest family I know of on any side of my family. These sixteen children were thus second cousins of my maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880-1923). They were named Dr. Angleo Borromeo y Veloso (an attending physician upon my grandfather’s deathbed in January 1923), Father Rodolfo Pedro Casto Borromeo y Veloso (a Roman Catholic Priest), Luis Borromeo y Veloso (both a merchant and a Vaudeville Pianist), Juan Borromeo y Veloso, Jr., Catalino Borromeo y Veloso (a Roman Catholic Subdeacon), Dr. José Maria Borromeo y Veloso, Judge Fortunato Borromeo y Veloso, Ramon Borromeo y Veloso (a civil engineer), Antonio Borromeo y Veloso, Guadaloupe Borromeo y Veloso, Rosario Borromeo y Veloso, Dr. Juan Luis Borromeo y Veloso, Carmen Borromeo y Veloso, Vicente Borromeo y Veloso and two final siblings who died in infancy.

Dr. Angelo Borromeo y Veloso was born in 1880, did not marry and had no offspring. As I said, he was one of the attending physicians upon my grandfather’s deathbed in the Manila General Hospitial in January 1923. He and my grandfather were both born in 1880 and were second cousins.  Angelo completed his medical studies in Madrid, Spain.

Rodolfo Pedro Casto Borromeo y Veloso was born in 1882 and became a Roman Catholic Priest.

Luis Borromeo y Veloso was born in 1884. He was both a merchant and a Vaudeville Pianist. He married and had two children, one of whom was a daughter named Geraldina Borromeo. Neither of his children married or had offspring of their own. Luis died of tuberculosis and in poverty.

Juan Borromeo y Veloso, Jr. was born in 1886 and died at the age of 16 in 1902. He had no offspring.

Catalino Borromeo y Veloso was born in 1887 and died at the age of 20 in 1907. He was a Roman Catholic Subdeacon who aspired but never lived to attain the Priesthood.

Dr. José Maria Borromeo y Veloso was a physician who was born on March 3, 1888. He married a Noel and had seven children. These are my mother’s third cousins named Nenita Noel Borromeo, Dr. Ramon Noel Borromeo, Lolita Noel Borromeo, Milagros Noel Borromeo, Manuel Noel Borromeo, José Maria Noel Borromeo, Jr. and Luis Noel Borromeo.  Dr. Ramon Noel Borromeo was a physician just like his father Dr. José Maria Borromeo y Veloso, and both father and son died of pancreatitis.

Justice Fortunato Borromeo y Veloso (”Papa Atong”) was born in 1890. He was a lawyer by profession who was named to be a Judge of the Court of First Intance, just like my maternal grandfather Judge Andrés Borromeo y Reynes (1880-1923), who was his second cousin. He married a Neri and had ten children named Imelda Neri Borromeo (one of the first architects in the Philippines), Jesus Neri Borromeo, Benjamin Neri Borromeo, Mercedes Neri Borromeo, Angelita Neri Borromeo, Father Rafael Neri Borromeo (a Jesuit priest in the Roman Catholic Church), Zelia Neri Borromeo, Francisco Neri Borromeo (a past manager of both Banco Filipino and of the famous Montebello Borromeo Hotel in Cebu), Francisco Neri Borromeo and Amparo Neri Borromeo. These ten children are third cousins of my mother Hermengilda Amor Victoria Borromeo Nonnenkamp.

Imelda Borromeo Cancio is married and has eight children, who are thus my fourth cousins. Jesus Neri Borromeo is married and has two children, who are also my fourth cousins. Benjamin (my “Tito Ben”) Neri Borromeo is married and has two children named Dindo Borromeo and Camille Borromeo. He owns the Cebu Grand Hotel on Escario Street, and was the General Manager of the Borromeo Bros. Estate, Inc. from 1959 (upon the death of my grandfather’s brother Canuto Octavio Borromeo y Reynes) until 1987 (when he was succeeded by my second cousin Maximo La’O Borromeo). Tito Ben still sits on the Board of Directors of the Salud Borromeo Memorial Charity Foundation.

His younger sister Mercedes Borromeo Alvarez is married and has six children, who are of course my fourth cousins. Her husband is the General Manager of the Cebu Mactan Costabella Hotel.

Angelita Neri Borromeo is married to Celso Gallego. They have five children who are my fourth cousins, including Ed Borromeo Gallego (married to his and my second cousin Bernadette Harvey Borromeo Gallego). Celso Gallego and his family own a large seven luxury highrise condominium complex known as Cebu Citylights Gardens.

Rafael Neri Borromeo is a Roman Catholic Priest, who was one of the Priests and Bishops who celebrated Mass at the funeral of my late aunt Tita Maria Benita (”Biyay”) Borromeo Atega in February 2006.

Zelia Neri Borromeo remained unmarried and had no offspring.

Francisco Neri Borromeo married and has one child who is thus my fourth cousin. Francisco is the manager of the Cebu Montebello Hotel, which is owned by his branch of the Borromeo family.

Corazon Neri Borromeo married Ramon Escario, and they have five children who are my fourth cousins Reneirio Borromeo Escario (a journalist), Edward Borromeo Escario (who owns a motorbike rental business), Esther Borromeo Escario (who is a realtor), Patricia Borromeo Escario (who is a fashion model) and Federico Borromeo Escario.

Amparo Neri Borromeo is married to Amando Guilatco, and they have nine children who are my fourth cousins (José, Amando Jr., Gemma, Rafael, Beatriz, Gerardo, Ramon, Maria Regina and Cristina).

Going back a generation in this same line of the family, Ramon Borromeo y Veloso was born in 1892. He married Rosario “Nena” Gomez of Pagsanjan, Laguna Province, and was a civil engineer by profession.  They had two children, one being Fé Gomez Borromeo (who died in childhood) and Casto Gomez Borromeo.  Casto married Ameila Nicolas y Gallardo, and they had 4 children, who are my fourth degree cousins.  These are Lourdes Borromeo y Nicolas, Gabriel Antonio Borromeo y Nicolas (now deceased), Juan Casto Borromeo y Nicolas and Ramon Borromeo y Nicolas.  Lourdes is married to Raoul Pestana, and they have 3 children named Kathleen John Pestana, Kristofer Pilar Pestana and Francis Orestas Pestana.  Juan Casto is married to Ludivina de Guzman, and they in turn have 3 children named Jon de Guzman Borromeo, Gerard de Guzman Borromeo and Julia de Guzman Borromeo.  Ramon is married to Maria Lourdes D. Viñas, and they have one son named Franco Enrique Viñas Borromeo.

Dr. Antonio Borromeo y Veloso followed his brother Ramon in 1894. He married Consuelo Roxas, and they had three children named Miguelito Roxas Borromeo, Rosario Roxas Borromeo and Carlos Roxas Borromeo.  Dr. Antonio Borromeo y Veloso was both a physician and a pianist.  Miguelito Roxas Borromeo emigrated to Australia – I believe he could be the very first member of the extended Cebu Borromeo family to have done so. Rosario Roxas Borromeo (now deceased) married and became Rosario Roxas Borromeo Pulido. Carlos Roxas Borromeo (also deceased) married and had six children, who are thus my fourth degree cousins. These are Corazon Borromeo Castillo (she is married and has two children), Cecilia Borromeo, Carmelita Borromeo Tan (she is also married and has two children), Carlota Roxas Borromeo (also married and with two children), Carlos Roxas Borromeo, Jr. and Cynthia Therese Borromeo. Carlota resides in Nevada, while her siblings are in Metro Manila. Her son is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, while her daughter attends college in Texas. Carlota’s two children spent their early childhood in Boracay, and received their primary and secondary education in Cebu City.

Guadalupe Borromeo y Veloso (born in 1896) married an American of Norwegian ancestry, who emigrated to the Philippines from Savannah, Georgia. His surname was Trosdal, and they had two daughters named Mimi Borromeo Trosdal (a classical singer) and Carmela Borromeo Trosdal (lived from 1921 to 1996). Both daughters remained single and had no offspring. Mimi is retired from the University of San Carlos Borromeo in Cebu City.  Guadalupe Borromeo y Veloso made religious vestments for Roman Catholic priests.

The next sibling in this line after Guadalupe was Rosario Borromeo y Veloso, (born in 1898) who also remained single and without any offspring.

Rosario was followed by her brother Dr. Juan Luis Borromeo y Vesoso, who was born on August 25, 1900.

After Rosario came her sister Carmen Borromeo y Veloso, who married a man with the surname of Davis. They had no children.

The fourteenth child in this line of the family was Dr. Vicente Borromeo y Veloso, who married Lillian Taylor Borromeo (born in 1905 and died shortly before her 100^th birthday in early 2005). Lola Lillian’s father was an American soldier who served in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War (1898-1901), and who settled in the country after his military service was over. They had six children, who are thus third cousins of my mother. They are John Taylor Borromeo (a lawyer), Dr. Eduardo Taylor Borromeo, Teresa Taylor Borromeo, Socorro (”Coring”) Taylor Borromeo, Joaquin (”Jack”) Taylor Borromeo and Isidro Taylor Borromeo.  Vicente Borromeo y Veloso was a dentist who completed his studies in Pennsylvania in the United States.

John Taylor Borromeo is married and has three children, who are thus my fourth cousins. Eduardo Taylor Borromeo is also married and has five children, including Gary. Gary is married and has a son residing in Arizona. Edward is a dentist by profession (now retired) and resides on the Borromeo Compound owned by his extended family in Mabolo in Cebu City. Teresa Taylor Borromeo is a Roman Catholic Nun who has taken the religious name of “Sister Vincent” and who works among the poorest of the poor. Socorro Taylor Borromeo (my “Tita Coring”) is married to my “Tito Nandi” Thakuria, an Assamese Indian who worked as a professional engineer prior to his retirement. They reside in Pottstown, Pennsylvania and had six children, one of whom has passed away. These children are of course my fourth cousins. Joaquin (”Jack”) Taylor Borromeo is an architect by profession, and has remained single without children. His youngest brother Isidro Taylor Borromeo has also remained single and without any offspring.

Going back a generation, the fifteenth child of Juan Borromeo y Rosa and his wife Paulina Veloso de Borromeo died in infancy.  Their sixteenth and youngest child was Dr. Juan Veloso Borromeo, born in 1909.  He grew up to be both a dentist and an optometrist, and married Rosula Poliquit.  Their six children are Paulina Borromeo Villamor (now deceased), Teresita Borromeo Canete, Virginia Borromeo Parama, Dr. Lourdes Borromeo Cui (now deceased), Catalina Poliquit Borromeo Dumayas and Dr. Rodolfo “Rudy” Poliquit Borromeo, who resides in Canada. 

The late Dr. Paulina Poliquit Borromeo was an optometrist, and she was married to Manuel Villamor, Sr. - a retired Assistant Engineer in Cebu City.  Their two sons are my fourth degree cousins José Mari Borromeo Villamor (married to Merle Najaro) and Dr. Manuel Borromeo Villamor, Jr., who works as a surgeon in Cebu City.

My mother’s third degree cousin Teresita Poliquit Borromeo was married to Ernesto Canete, who is now deceased.  Their children are my fourth degree cousins Marilou Borromeo Canete (a married nurse who now lives in Austria), Consuelo Borromeo Canete (who died in her 20s), Marissa Borromeo Canete (another married nurse who also resides in Austria), Laura Borromeo Canete (married and also living in Austria), Emmanuel Borromeo Canete (in Cebu City), Benito “Benny” Borromeo Canete (who lives in Talisay, Cebu Province), Titit Borromeo Canete, Jojo Borromeo Canete and Twinkie Borromeo Canete (the last three all in Cebu City). 

The children of Virginia Poliquit Borromeo and her late husband Julian Parama (of Camotes Island) are my fourth degree cousins Ramon Borromeo Parama (who today works as a Senior Civil Engineer in Saudi Arabia), Corazon Borromeo Parama and Arthur Borromeo Parama.  Ramon is married to Maria Julita Galano Polangcus, and their three children include Mark Polangcus Parama, Kathryn Polangcus Parama and Kyle Polangcus Parama.  My fourth degree cousin Corazon Borromeo Parama is married to General Julius F. Yarcia (retired), and their daughter is named Mary Jacqueline Rose Socorro Parama Yarcia.

My mother’s late third degree cousin Dr. Lourdes Poliquit Borromeo was married to Dr. Victor Cui, who is now a retired Dean of the Cebu Doctor’s College of Dentistry.  Their nine children are my fourth degree cousins 1) Raymond Borromeo Cui (married to Nannette Taneo and residing in Victoria, Canada), 2) Maria Rosario Borromeo Cui (a nurse assistant), 3) Maria Victoria “Marivic” Borromeo Cui (a physician practicing dermatology married to Donato San Juan and with three children Tiffany Beatrice, Joshua Victor and Maxine Beatrice), 4) Dr. Susanna Borromeo Cui (married to Jose Roberto Alejandro and residing in Manila, 5) Dr. Eloise Borromeo Cui (a dentist married to Gaston Batiller with three children Gregorio Antonio, Gabrelle Beatrice and Gillian Beatriz residing in Cebu City), 6) Dr. Jocelyn Borromeo Cui (a dentist married to Neil Kee with two children Marco and Lino residing in Victoria, Canada), 7) Dr. Anne Marie Borromeo Cui (a dentist married to Galen Salvador with one son Isaac Antonio residing in Cebu City), 8) Maria Lourdes Borromeo Cui (an accountant married to Chris Lima residing in Ontario, Canada) and 9) Rossa Ethel Marie Borromeo Cui (a computer graphics technician residing in Toronto, Canada).

My mother’s third degree cousin Catalina Poliquit Borromeo is married to Dr. Francisco Majarucon Dumayas from Dumangas (in Iloilo on Panay).  Their three children (my fourth degree cousins) are Constantine Edward Borromeo Dumayas, Maria Florence Dumayas Santos and Benedicta Florida Dumayas Sanchez.  Constantine Edward Borromeo Dumayas is married to Ellen Wong Yap (from Iloilo), and they now reside in Johnstown, Pennsylvania with their two sons Ethan Ross Yap Dumayas and Evan Cole Yap Dumayas.  Constantine Edward and his wife are both physicians by profession, and now work as acute care physical therapists in the United States.

My fourth degree cousin Maria Florence Borromeo Dumayas is married to Allan Anthony Santos (of Manila, but with family roots in Quezon Province), and their three children are Erika Mariel Dumayas Santos, Arthur John Dumayas Santos and Camille Gabrielle Dumayas Santos.  All of them now reside in Gilbert, Arizona – a Southern suburb of metropolitan Phoenix.

My fourth degree cousin Benedicta Florida “Ida” Borromeo Dumayas is married to Philip Roderick “Dax” Sanchez of Manila (with family roots in Agusan del Norte Province in Northern Mindanao), and their two children are Anna Sophia Dumayas Sanchez and Joaquin Dumayas Sanchez.  Ida works for Chevron Oil Company, and all of them now reside in San Ramon, California – where Chevron has many employees.  San Ramon is just South of Danville and Blackhawk, California where I lived from 1974 until 1987.

My mother’s third degree cousin Dr. Rodolfo “Rudy” Poliquit Borromeo is an anesthesiologist married to Myrna Ilagan of Taal (Batangas, Philippines), and they reside in Canada along with their only son Eric Borromeo, who is my fourth degree cousin.  Eric is an accountant, and is married to Jane Shaw from Taiwan (the Republic of China).  Eric and Jane have one child named Justin Shaw Borromeo.

The younger brother of Juan Borromeo y Rosa was Florentino Borromeo y Rosa. He was married, and had one son who was also named Florentino Borromeo. This younger Florentino was married to Enriquieta Espina de Borromeo, and they had four children who are thus third cousins of my mother. They are Purificacion Espina Borromeo, José Espina Borromeo, Guadalupe Espina Borromeo and Vicente Espina Borromeo. Purificacion Espina Borromeo is married to Peregrino Paulino, and they have two children who are my fourth cousins Milagros Borromeo Paulino and Marlene Borromeo Paulino. José Espina Borromeo is married to Elvira Bautista Borromeo, and they have five children who are also my fourth cousins. These are Christie Bautista Borromeo, Asuncion Bautista Borromeo, Concepcion Bautista Borromeo, José Emanuel Bautista Borromeo and Edmund Bautista Borromeo.

Christie Bautista Borromeo is married to Donald Kawal, and their two children are named Reena Borromeo Kawal and Tony Borromeo Kawal, both of whom reside in the United States.

Asuncion Bautista Borromeo is a Roman Catholic Nun.

Concepcion Bautista Borromeo is married to Roberto Ramos (the brother of Remedios Ramos mentioned below), and their three children are named Maria Caritas Borromeo Ramos, Richard Leo Borromeo Ramos and Maria Carmina Borromeo Ramos.  Maria Caritas Borromeo Ramos is married to Montri Santos.

José Emanuel Bautista Borromeo has four children named Jake Borromeo, Nicole Borromeo, Andrea Borromeo and James Borromeo.  Jake resides in the United States.

Edmund Bautista Borromeo is married to Remedios Ramos (the sister of Roberto Ramos mentioned above).  Their two children are named Manuel Ramos Borromeo and Michelle Ramos Borromeo, who live in the United States.  Edmund has an elder son named Charles Ponce Borromeo, who is his son with his first wife, the late Joy Ponce.

Both José Emanuel Bautista Borromeo and Edmund Bautista Borromeo have remained single and without any offspring. Gaudalupe Espina Borromeo is married to Bibiano Ouano, and they have three children who are my fourth cousins. They have all emigrated to the United States, and their names are Florentin Borromeo Ouano, Bibiano Borromeo Ouano, Jr. and Victoriano Borromeo Ouano. Vicente Espina Borromeo is married to Anita Fernandez Borromeo, and they have one son named Victor Fernandez Borromeo who is my fourth cousin. Victor is married to Luz Lapida Borromeo, and they have three children named Margaret Ann Lapida Borromeo, Vincent Jonathan Lapida Borromeo and Vincent Gino Lapida Borromeo.

The youngest sibling of Juan Borromeo y Rosa and Florentino Borromeo y Rosa was a girl named Baldomera Borromeo y Rosa. She remained single and without any offspring.

This completes all of the lines of my Borromean fourth-degree cousins.

Fifth Cousins

My great-great-great grandfather Carlos Felis Borromeo IV (born in 1795) migrated from Bacolod on Negros to Cebu City in 1819, where my great-great grandfather Maximo Borromeo y Feliz was born in 1820.  Don Maximo was a first degree cousin to Carlos Borromeo the 3rd, who spent his entire life on his native island of Negros.  The fathers of Don Maximo Borromeo y Feliz and of Carlos Borromeo the 3rd were thus brothers.

Carlos Borromeo the 3rd was the father of Rufino Borromeo.  Rufino Borromeo was the father of German Borromeo.  German Borromeo was the father of Godofredo Borromeo, who is in turn the father of my fifth degree cousin Glenn Anthony Borromeo – now residing in Tanjay City in the Province of Negros Oriental (Eastern Negros Island, directly across the channel from Cebu Island Province).  Glenn has two children named Maria Borromeo and Robert Charles Louis Delvin Borromeo (age 10).