The Aguilars: Tracing family roots

Because of fervent hopes, expectations and strong belief that their own hometown, the town of Barili, will be one of this country's major tourist destinations, prime movers - Barili town mayor Hon. Jose Antonio Aguilar Nemenio, his brother Rev. Fr. Nilo Aguilar Nemenio, direct kins, Lino Jose T. Aguilar, the Lopez siblings, Jose Alcoseba Barba, Luis Alcoseba Barba, Ana A. Barba Juan, Engr. Joselito Ruiz Espinosa, Jude Ruiz Espinosa, Jay Aguilar Ruiz, Hermes Aguilar, Dr. Teresito Marinas, Fr. Francisco S. V. Campos, Allan del Socorro, Mrs. Remedios Ibona, among many others - gathered the rest of the members of the clan in a grand reunion and tour. This took place last January 7 & 8 in Barili.

But although the main purpose was to familiarize the younger generations about Barili and what Barili can offer to tourists, there were also hopes, high hopes as a matter of fact, that members of the clan will meet and get to know each other better, so that they can help one another in the very near future, especially in the financial and legal aspects. It is a known fact to any member of the clan that there are relatives who clash, and the poor ones suffer because they don't have the money to bring their grievances to court.

The first activity was, of course, the registration after checking in at Shamrock Hotel for most of the more privileged members, while others settled in with very close kins. Then the familiarization and introduction of members among younger siblings. "Chika-chika" followed after lunch, then the opening remarks by town Mayor Jose Antonio Aguilar Nemenio. Lino Jose T. Aguilar gave the rationale, followed by a narration of genealogies by the immediate kins of the late Don Jose Aguilar. Mrs. Teresita Galvez Buenavista traced their roots, to the son of Don Jose named Cirilo. For Raymundo, Hermes R. Aguilar; the roots of Lino are carried by Mr. Jose Alcoseba Barba and Kriss Espinosa Relatado (for Joselito Ruiz Espinosa); for Gerardo, Mr. Lino Jose T. Aguilar and Fred Aguilar. There was none of Maximo. It was Lino Jose T. Aguilar who traced the roots.

Then, the story of the late Don Jose Aguilar was told by Rev. Fr. Nilo Aguilar Nemenio. History says that three Aguilar brothers, originally from Pampanga, were forced to flee to the Visayan islands for the safety of their lives sometime in the mid-eighteenth century. They avoided the Spaniards who suspected them of being insurrectos.

While the other two drifted to the island of Negros, Jose Aguilar landed in Sugbu and hid in Barili, along the seashore of Kanghakbas, now known as the Sayaw Beach. Because of his bravery, Jose was known then as the savior of maidens who were the targets of Muslim kidnappers. Jose witnessed some of these happenings while bathing in the waters of Kanghakbas. Barili then was the sub-capital of Cebu.

Years later, Jose, already popularly known as Tan Usep, became the very first gobernadorcillo del pueblo de Barili. He was Barili's most celebrated headman and hero who, in the middle of the 19th century, singlehandedly fought against Muslim marauders from Mindanao led by Sultan Kudarat. His memory is remembered and sung to this day. His children were Cirilo, Raymundo, Lino, Gerardo and Maximo.

Two of Lino's grandchildren, Maria and Petra, got married to migrating traders. Maria was married to Sabas Protacio Espinosa, while Petra got married to a wealthy trader named Ireneo Barba. The latter settled in Patupat, a barangay of Barili, with another sister Luisa (who never got married and died of cancer at the age of 80 years old).

The grandchildren of Maria were many, from Salud Espinosa Relatado, namely: Guillermo, Monserat, Pedro, Francisca, Melanio, Camila, Daniel, Lucrecio, Jesus, Arturo and Nilo. From Ermito were Arturo, Francisco, Fernando, Jorge. From Jose were Martha, Sonny, Bartolome, Democrito and Valentino. Mariano had Cesar, Beatrice, Napoleon, Estrella, Venus, Ulysses, Galileo, Percival and Alexander. Vicente (married to Perlas awardee Rufina Ruiz) had Joselito, Antonio, Gemma, Manuel, Jude, Remedios and Dr. Cora. Perlas Awardee Jacoba Espinosa vda. de Villaflor did not have any child.

From Petra, the children were Capt. Cipriano Barba who had children, Nestor Barba (who died in a plane crash), Manuel, Jose, Luis, Lito, Ana and Irenio.

The others were, Alejandro, Marcelo and Felix.

The day after, the Aguilars laid a wreath at the marker of the late Don Jose or Kapitan "Tan Usep" along Don Jose Aguilar street. Then, a tour to the original place where Don Jose settled. There is still the original post of the original abode made of tugas, and the original century-old atabay (well). Then, the parade passed through known landmarks like the old Sta. Ana church, the famous plaza, and the old houses of famous prominent families like the Delgado family, the Peñalosas, the Lozadas, among many. Then a tour to Bolocboloc and Mantayupan Falls, which are now subject to development, making Barili one of the major tourist spots.