Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT
My name is Ramon Jose Moreno, Jr. I am Spanish and reside in the Philippines. I am searching for my family and writing a book about the 'Moreno' family. My great-grandfather, ‘Don Francisco Moreno y Sanchez’ and my great-grandmother, ‘Dona Rosario Sebastia Y Guanzot’ were residents of ‘Barcelona’ and ‘Alcala de Guadaira, Sevilla’. My great-grandfather also had relatives in ‘Santander’. They came to the ‘Philippines’ in the late 1800's to early 1900’s to engage in the flourishing ‘sugar trade’ in the southern island of ‘Negros’ in the ‘Visayas’ region of the ‘Philippines’.
My great-grandfather worked in a sugar mill which was called ‘Central Azzucarera de la Carlota’ in ‘Bais, Negros Oriental’.
Apart from being involved in the sugar industry my great-grandfather was also engaged in the manufacture of horse-drawn carriages and coaches in the ‘Quiapo’ district of the city of Manila. He had a partner in the business whose surname is ‘Paderes’. Their shop was located near the present presidential palace, ‘Malacanang’ which in those days was the residence of the Spanish governor general. The carriages and coaches are now part of the collection of the ‘national museum’ in Manila My great-grandfather had two sons ‘Juan Jose’ (my grandfather) and his brother Luis who also came to the Philippines. My grandfather was an artist and jeweler by profession but he followed his father's footsteps and was also engaged in the sugar trade. Together with an American named ‘Eksline’ they managed the operations of the ‘Central Azucarera de Manapla’in Negros Occidental. The sugar mill and plantations were owned by a Spanish family surnamed ‘Ossorio’. They later moved to ‘San Jose, Mindoro’ where my grandfather also ran a sugar mill owned by the ‘Yangco’ family and by the ‘Lobregat’ family. His brother Luis worked for the famous British Trading firm of 'Macondray' as the product manager of the 'flour and feeds division'. He was also a popular soccer player in his time and twice represented the Philippines in the Olympics one of which was in Shanghai, China in the early 1900’s. They had a sister ‘Rosario’ whom they left behind in Spain. Unfortunately, we don’t know much about her except that she was seperated from the family during the civil war in Spain. My grandfather married my grandmother, ‘Manuela Busto y Manzorro’(or Manzanno) on the 19th of December 1918 at the ‘Parish of Ermita’, which is just outside the walled city of ‘Intramuros’ in Manila. She is from ‘Chiclana dela Frontera’, Cadiz in Andalucia, Spain.
My grandmother’s parents were ‘Don Nicolas Busto y Ramos’ and ‘Dona Francisca Manzorro(or Manzanno) y Torres’. She is ‘Catalan’, and has a brother whose name we don’t know. All they remember is that he was a soldier who had a photograph wearing his uniform with a hat that looked like a ‘Moroccan Fez’. A few years later my grandparents returned to Spain to settle down permanently. They then had five sons, ‘Juanito’, ‘Francisco’, ‘Ramon’ (my father),’Alfonso’ and Luis. They had a baby sister but she died shortly after birth. They lived in ‘Calle Morillo de los Rios # 5’, ‘Alcala de Guadaira’, ‘Sevilla’, in ‘Andalucia’. Unfortunately in 1936 the civil war broke out in Spain. My father remembers the bombing of homes in their town and the killings everywhere. Since my grandmother was Catalan the family in great fear for their lives were forced to flee Spain as refugees and that is how they ended up living permanently in the Philippines. They never saw Spain and their families, relatives and friends again.
Sad as the circumstances were they tried hard to endure the bitter sufferings of starting a new life after they lost nearly everything that they possessed. The arrival of the Japanese during the second world war (WWII) was a second blow to the family for they lost everything dear to them including vital documents, photographs of their loved ones and the only remaining remembrances from Spain that they were able to bring to the Philippines.
As the years went on my grandfather worked in a ‘Swiss’ jewelry store, ‘La Estrella del Norte’ in fashionable ‘Escolta’. This was the central business district of Manila in those days. Later on he became the partner of the famous Spanish jeweler ‘Rafael Rebullida’. It is here that my father began his apprenticeship as a jeweler. Following in the footsteps of his father who was very known and respected in the profession.
During the years that passed my grandparents refused to let the children and grandchildren speak in Spanish. They refused to talk about Spain or their families. My grandparents were so frightened from their experience of the civil war that they were afraid that the Philippine immigration department might discover their Spanish identities and deport their entire family back to Spain.
I have been doing my research for the past three years now. Since the archives system in the Philippines is quite backward, obtaining information is very difficult. I am doing this quest so that my children and the other children in our families may know their roots and be proud of their ‘Hispanic heritage’. I am also doing this to honor ‘Spain’ my mother country, which my grandparents so loved. They suffered the pain of never being able to go home to where their family and roots are from. This broke my grandmother’s heart. My grandparents died never seeing their homeland even for just one last time. I am also doing this so that our family may be reunited with our relatives in Spain and wherever else they may be today. For my love of country and family.
Thank You, Ramon Jose Moreno
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Re: Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT
I just happened onto to this website and read your notes. Interestingly, my grandfather was Julio Busto from Spain. He came to the Philippines by way of HongKong, living with his aunt & uncle. He married my grandmother, Aurora Zaragoza and had 5 children. Aurora is one of 10 children. I believe one of them was connected to Rebullida's. I was born in Manila and stayed until finishing high school. I'm now retired and living in Seattle, WA. If we have any connection at all, I'd like to stay in touch. I have some ancestry information - perhaps we could share ?
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Re: Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT
My mother is Elizabeth Yangco. She is the daughter of Luis R. Yangco, Jr. and Florencia F. Yangco. She was raised in the sugar central in Victorias. I believe her father ran the milling operations. His sister Maria Paz Yangco was married to Luis Ossorio. They had 5 children who eventually moved to the US and lived in Greenwich CT. I, too, am trying to research the family history on my mother's side of the family because I have reason to believe she was adopted. I have heard she is the half-sister of Ardis Ankerson (Brenda Marshall-former wife of William Holden). None of the Ossorios will speak about it. Yet it is accepted in many circles. Is there anyone who grew up or knew people in the sugar industry in Victorias that might shed some light on who this mysterious Ankerson person is? I think the Ossorio family might be able to tell you something about your family, Ramon Jose. I think the Coscolluelas were a major sugar family in the Philippines. Good luck with your research.
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Re: Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT
I was very interested in reading this thread. I just began to start looking into a family "mystery". My great-great-grandfather was Don Juan Carballo y Blanco who owned a sugar plantation on Negros Occidental. He was murdered in 1899 by a band of men and his head was found suspended from a bridge in Silay. The inscription written on the outside of the sack in which his head was hung read (according to a Philippine Supreme Court record in 1902): Juan Carballo, hombre pernicioso a la revolucion. E. P. D. (Juan Carballo, a bad man for the revolution. R. I. P.). What is interesting about this is that my grandfather claimed that Don Juan was in fact secretly supporting the Filippino Independence movement and was betrayed (by a Jesuit priest) to the authorities. I'm not sure I fully believe in the innocence of my ancestor, but the fact that the charges against the man accused of leading the group were dropped by the court does make me a bit suspicious (even though the court in 1902, the Philippines were under US jurisdiction whereas in 1899, the Spanish were still in control (although would lose it that year)). Don Juan's son, Caesar Carballo, has a very interesting history as well, but I add his name here simply for a genelogical reference.
To be honest, I don't even know where to start to unravel this mystery. If anyone has any thoughts, I would appreciate them!
Thanks!
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Re: Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT
Replying to my own post - Even though the Treaty of Paris was not signed until 1899, the US essentially had wrested control of the Philippines from Spain in 1898. Hmm...
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Re: Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT - CARBALLO FAMILY TREE - PHILIPPINES
Well, here are a few "thoughts" which you recquested back in Feb 24 my Mama's (now deceased) birthday, NO LESS!!! Now how providential is that?
Anyway, I first got interested in researching the CARBALLO family lineage back in 1992 when my husband,R ichard spoke with a fellow mortgage broker located ib Miami who had the same last name as moi. This Miami-based Carballo evidently had done quite a bit of background snooping. and came up w/ a LOT of great info. SOOOOO, I immediately called my Papa (Ross Carballo, Sr.)in the RP at that time and asked for his input. It was right around this time that I also met a RUBEN CARBALLO who worked as a manager for a Filipino pastry shop franchise called RED RIBBON in Torrance, CA (now closed). Are you still w/ me?
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Re: Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT - CARBALLO FAMILY TREE - PHILIPPINES
OOOOOps! Hit the wrong key----yeah, it's still me. To continue---this RUBEN CARBALLO's father is a DR. CHOLO CARBALLO from Negros. Had made numerous attempts to get in touch w/ the good doctor because he actually went to Spain and stayed 2 yrs doing research on the Carballos. Hope this is enough to whet your appetite for now - in the mean time, I'd better take care of poor Richard who's been so good and patient with his wife's consuming interest with her kin. Please let me hear from you ASAP---my e-mail: MSather480@aol.com Best regards
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Re: Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT
I am also trying to research my family background. My Great Grand Father is Angel Moreno and my grand father is Isidoro Moreno and my father is Juanito Moreno. We are from Commilas, Carvantes, Ilocos Sur, Phillipines.
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Re: Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT - CARBALLO FAMILY TREE - PHILIPPINES
Malu, Hello, this is Ruben. I think I met you before at Red Ribbon in Torrance. I am just making sure you still remember me. I live in Orlando now and Life has just been great!
Take care!
Ruben
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Re: Surname SEBASTIA / GUANZOT - Carballo Tree - Philippines
Hi! We share the same great-great-grandfather. I descended from one of his other other sons, Herman, who went to the Philippines from Spain after his father's death. I'm wondering if you descended from Ceasar Carballo? In the family tree I have, I think he's called Pitao. You can see it here: http://www.urcite.com/cgi-bin/fdataPlease email me for a password. According to family lore, Juan Carballo's head was found in Talisay, not Silay. However, if you recount from PSC records, then I will have to correct family lore. :) Did you know that our ancestor is mentioned in a college book? I think it was Philippine History II. But I'll get back to you on that as my uncle Franklin Carballo has one. I'll email you the relevant paragraphs when I get my hands on it.
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