The Trek to Apalit, Pampanga
Juanita Vergara, Miss Pampanga 1937
Having found out what my business was (not of financial nature), Monico enthusiastically introduced me to the relations that have gradually emerged from their houses to find out what the commotion I was causing, was all about. Having offered me some drink which I politely refused, he led me inside a big compound with many houses belonging to Vergaras and made me known to his sister, Rosenda. She and her husband, Ignacio Torres had been back from Canada after a lengthy stay with their daughter and her family. Monico recalled a story told by his grandfather, Felicio (who turned out to be Simplicio), to Monico's father, Elias, about Simplicio's great, great (great?), grandfather's 10 children who had spread throughout the whole Philippines. Another fantastic story! Was he one of the 24 México brothers Macario II of Sitio Sto. Niño, Sán Juán, Apalit had pointed out? or one of the seven original Chinese brothers Mel Waje had told me about? The plot thickens!
Rosenda and Monico gave me information on their roots. I inquired about a certain Juanita Vergara whom I had heard was so beautiful that she was courted by important people, including a priest! Sadly I was told she had been dead for some time. They disclosed that I should go to Pulóng Vergara, a village located in the boundaries of Pulilan, Baliuag and Apalit. I forgot to say that more of the conversation was in Capampangan dialect rather than in Tagalog. I was wondering how I had managed to get as much information as I wanted.
Pulóng Vergara, Calantipe, Apalit, Pampanga
Early in the morning of the following day, I persuaded my oldest daughter, Ma. Carmela Vergara-Rigby, to join me in the adventure. We got on a tricycle bound for Pulóng Vergara in Calantipe, Apalit, Pampanga. The road from Pulilan to Balucuc was a well traversed one as there was no road between Apalit town proper and Balucuc. This road was also used by the dissidents after some encounter with the military or operation in connection with terminating the existence of some abusive elements of society as anyone familiar with the struggle between the government and anti-government elements could testify. But I did not feel any fear. From Balucuc proper, we travelled on a dirt road which serves also as a wall of the irrigation canal. After a couple of kilometers we reached our destination. Guess who the first person we met. Of course a Vergara, Nolasco, with a son named in honour of the great basketball player, Jordan.
Nolasco led me to the compound of his aunt, Conchita, married to Teodoro Reyes, a retired postmaster of Malolos. Amazingly, I remembered meeting them many years ago in Malolos in a financial transaction to convert my countless, pre-devalued Australian dollars to the local currency. And she turned out to be the sister of the beautiful Juanita Vergara who had reigned as Miss Pampanga in 1937. Of course the resemblance was there after so many years. Conchita's father, was Mariano, born about 1890, and a brother to Simplicio, Monico's grandfather in Apalit town proper, remember? Conchita related that her grandfather, Rosalio, born about 1840, had started it all, including Pulóng Vergara. Rosalio had come to Calantipe (or Balucuc), served as Cabeza de baranggáy, and was responsible for digging up the irrigation canal mentioned somewhere above. It was in fact for a long time known as 'Sapang Lasyo (or Salio?)' and stretched from Baliuag town proper to Apalit. Ma. Carmela regretted not bringing a video cam to record the occasion of meeting her kin. We bade them farewell, got into a tricycle, travelled on the road built on the wall of Sapang Lasyo and made our way to the town of Baliuag. What a relief to leave the (former?) 'Nice People Around' country although it would have been nice to meet some.
Journey to Balagtás (Bigaá), Bulacán
In Baliuag, we got on a Baliuag Transit bus, got off at Tabáng, Guiguinto, had delicious 'mami' at a roadside café. Ma. Carmela, who had gone to Australia at the age of four has always been fond of every Philippine delicacy, or for that matter, any delicacy. We continued our journey on the ubiquitous jeepney. A bridge being built in Guiguinto town proper caused us to be diverted to Bulacán, Bulacán. After an hour of listening to the driver's baring his soul to the passengers on what this traffic jam was doing to the future of his family (or was it to that of his offsprings from extramarital adventure?), and enjoying with fellow Filipinos the dirt, smog, pollution and every privilege of travelling in a public transport, we arrived at Balagtás and got off at the town proper. After a couple of inquiries and a kilometer hike, Carmela and I made it to Buról 1st and found the place of Dr. Pacifico Vergara, the retired optometrist father of the priest, Fr. Ady, in Crúz na Daán. He was away but his daughter bearing the beautiful Latinized name of Redempta and working with Lufthansa Airlines was very helpful. After giving us her Vergara relation details, Redempta Gatchalián Vergara suggested that we go to the Vergara Trading's place which turned out to be a big compound with hectic business activity. Mrs. Rosila Vergara Gonzales supplied us with important details about the great family she was married into. It was unfortunate that her husband, Nonilo Vergara, had failed to win the vice-mayor's office in the recent election.
Making our way back to Pulilan, I was persuaded to reveal my business by the chatty driver who disclosed of another Vergara in Pulilan - to be exact, the address was Don Inggo, Cutcút, Pulilan. Ma. Carmela and I went to see the guy, only to find out that his big compound was patrolled by big, canine guards. After our several attempts of calling human attention while wisely remaining outside the compound, the lady of the house came out. Having found out what it was all about, she dutifully went back to consult her husband if an audience could be granted us. We were not greatly disappointed when the honour was refused us. It did not matter, however, for they turned out to be relations of the Vergaras of Tramo, Loñgos, Pulilan. The lady was delighted to see that her family details were already in my list.