I could trace my family's roots from the Colina clan of Mandaue City, Cebu and the Ybiernases of Pardo, Cebu City. Here I am ready to recall a brief life of my mother, Asuncion Colina, her parents, and siblings, alongside memories of Artemio Ybiernas Sr. and his ancestors, including my great-grandfather. This story reflects just a brief view of parents' background until their union in 1962. Here I go:
My Maternal Roots: The Colina Family of Cebu
My mother, Asuncion (photo on the left), is the daughter of Joaquina Clarus Colina, affectionately called Lola Aqui, who was originally from Talamban, Cebu City. Her husband, Domingo Colina, hailed from Subangdaku, Mandaue City. Domingo passed away earlier than Joaquina, who herself died in June 1986, shortly after I graduated from high school. Mama had several siblings: Rose (who passed away many years ago from breast cancer in Manila), Erlinda (her younger sister), Demetrio (the eldest), Nilo, Eduardo, and Nestor.
Before marrying my father, she lived with her aunt Anacleta (Lola Cleta, who also passed away in the U.S.) and her uncle Anastacio Colina (also long deceased) in Mabolo, Cebu City.
My Father's Lineage: The Ybiernas of Pardo
On the other hand, my father, Artemio Reponte Ybiernas Sr., was the son of Rosa Reponte Ybiernas and Ireneo Ybiernas, both of whom were from Inayawan, Pardo, Cebu City, and are now deceased. Pardo is located roughly 15 kilometers from Mabolo.
The patriarch of the Ybiernas clan in Cebu can be traced back to my great-grandfather, Rufino Ybiernas, fondly called “Tatay Pinoy.” I remember my father mentioning that name. According to family stories, he originally came from Guimaras Island or possibly Iloilo City. However, we never learned who his relatives were from that part of the Philippines.
Still, our ancestral relatives used to tell us that they were often visited by people bearing the Ybiernas surname from Iloilo and Panay Island, who introduced themselves as relatives.
Mama, whom family and friends fondly called Asion, was working at the time at Sen Hiap Heng, a popular Chinese-owned department store during her time in the downtown Cebu City.
Tags
autobiography
CHAPTER 3: THE BEGINNINGS(PART3)
my parental roots
the man called me
the story of my life