filipino vicente ... zapanta hagonoy, bulacan philippines spanish matilde rojo de sevilla 1738-1820 madrid, spain (Niece of archbishop, acting general governor of Manila, philippines 1714-179-)
The named Zapanta is of Spanish origin as most Filipino families bear the Spanish appelliation. Such as Filipino family during the 18th century resided in the town of Hagonoy, Bulacan but ramifications of the Zapanta Clan are well known in Panay, particularly in Antique. It is the purpose of this account to trace the family tree that borne fruit to many notable personages both in the government and in the professional field. This historical records is also intended to preserve the traditional Filipino trait of family kinship whereby one delineate with facility to diverge the relationship hitherto unknown and submerged in the limbo of ignorance mainly due to lack of adequate data collected through factual and diligent research.
The story begins in Hagonoy, Bulacan in the early of 18th century where a boy named Vicente Zapanta was born to a poor Filipino family. As he grew into a young man, he went to Manila to look for a job and he was employed as a houseboy of Archbishop Manuel Antonio Rojo, who later became the Acting Spanish Governor General of the Philippines at the time of the British occupation in Manila. Archbishop Rojo had a beautiful niece names Matilde Rojo who lived with him in the palace. When Admiral Draper of the British Navy occupied Manila, the Spanish Force was forced to retreat and evacuate the city. For the safety of his niece, the Archbishop entrusted Matelde under the care of Vicente who agreed to evacuate the girl to Hagonoy. One dark night the slipped over the walls of Intramuros, took a small banca (boat) and proceeded to the Pasig River, then out to the sea.
As they reached the bay, the British saw them and fired upon, fortunately they were not hit. They went back to the Pasig River and paddled hurriedly up to Santa Mesa and sought shelter in the house of Vicente's cousin. Here, Matelde changed to native clothes as a mean of disguise. Then, they took a horse and they proceeded to Hagonoy passing through British sentry's disguise as Filipino civilians. Near dawn they reached Hagonoy while the people are still asleep and the only greetings then were those of dogs barking at the strangers. Their place of refuge was not too safe because Sepoy patrols of the British kept going through the barrio looking for Spanish and Filipino soldiers. Thus, they transferred to a safer place in the middle of the fishpond and stayed in the fishpond caretaker's hut. Vicente took cared of Matilde and provided food and protection the best he could.
A changed came over them when they were together and alone in the hut. Vicente feel in love with Matilde, which the girl reciprocated without hesitation. Their love grew, bloomed, and bore fruit. When the emergency was over and the Spanish sovereignty was restored, they went back again to Intramuros, to the place of Archbishop Rojo. Time passed and Matilde became full with child. When her Uncle knew of this, he sought, meaning he hid the disgrace to the family. So, during her pregnancy, she was confined in the Carmelite Convent. Vicente was sent home to Hagonoy where he married a Filipina. In the convent, Matilde delivered a healthy boy. She made a special request to have the boy baptized as MARIANO VICENTE ZAPANTA, so that her son could identify and locate his father. She made this request to the Mother Superior.
A few years later, Archbishop Rojo was replaced as governor. He returned to Spain bringing with him his niece Matilde who left her son behind. In Spain, Matilde married the Duke of Seville, of her children by the Duke, one was a son named Jose Rojo de Sevilla who later was sent to the Philippines and appointed as Provincial Governor of Antique. His trip to the Philippines and his assignment in Antique was motivated by his mother's request that he must look for his half brother MARIANO VICENTE ZAPANTA.
****Interviewed, Research and Written by ANDRES VILLAFLOR GUMBOC***
MARIANO VICENTE rOJO ZAPANTA 1765-1851
Matilde Rojo, the niece of the Archbishop was confined in the Carmelite Convent of Manila, where she delivered a healthy baby boy. The boy was baptized MARIANO VICENTE ZAPANTA. After the birth of her child, she returnd to Spain leaving her son in the convent under the care of the Mother Superior. It was her special request with the Mother Superior that when her son grows up she wants him to be a priest so that he could help christianized the Filipinos. In this love for the Filipinos and the Philippines would have more valuable offering in the service of God that would not be lost for generations to come. Mariano grew up and was taught the rudiment of elementary education in the University of Santo Tomas where he garnered high scholastic ratings. He became a priest in the year 1790.
As a priest, he was assigned in Iloilo City in the year 1791. Then he moved to Capiz and later to Kalibo, Aklan. It was said that among his descendants in that place of assignments were families like the Montillas, the Albas, the Hontiveros and the Reyeses.
In his later years of priesthood, the Bishop of Jaro transferred him to the town of Pandan, Antique. In this locality, he worked with enticing effort for the development of the town ~ Pandan. As the town progresses, there was built a municipal building, a schoolhouse and roads which connected with the neighboring towns.
Settlers from other places also helped in the development of Pandan. Notable among them were the Candaris of Tibawan, Iloilo; the Dionela's of Dumangas; the Dujali from Tagalog region and many others. Construction materials were utilized from limestone blocks from coral reefs and high-grade lumber was obtained from forest nearby. Through the effort of Father Zapanta, the town church convent and cemetery was built.
During this time, the town of Pandan was developing, there was an Ati community established in the mountain of Pino-poan, Patria, barrio northeast of the town. Ati Chief Bulolacao went to the town and contacted Father Zapanta to offer the services of his tribe in the construction projects and the offer was gladly accepted. Thus, the Atis of Chief Bulolacao helped in some projects, which activity was further enhanced by the hospitality of the people, thereby infusing trust and confidence among the Atis. It was marvelous that the Atis were efficient in construction work and they knew the ways of civilized life. The Ati women knew how to weave their own clothing and could cook delicious food. It was also a wonder that they were well versed in Spanish way of life and the most intriguing to the town folks was the fact that Chief Bulolacao's children were white skinned, curly hair, strikingly beautiful and could speak a few Spanish words.
Father Zapanta requested Chief Bulolacao to have his children come to the convent, so that, he could teach them the Catholic faith. Bulolacao's daughters were young girls blooming into womanhood. Aside from TINAWAGAN (Isabel), there was INYAWAN (Juana) and CAWAYAN (Maria). The three went to town to be tutored by Father Zapanta. Dona Maria, their mother had given them the strict instructions not to reveal any of their family secrets, particularty their mother who had never seen a white man again.
Dona Maria died in the mountain a few years later and was buried according to the Ati traditional rites. Her three daughters resided in the town under the care of Father Zapanta. The rest of the Ati descendants of Tumaca are as far as Semarara Island and other other parts of Antique, mingling with the natives of the places.
After the death of Dona Maria, Bulolacao moved westward. History records the imprint of the Tumaca dynasty in such places as TINAWAGAN, INYAWAN and CAWAYAN which bore the telltale marks of his life and that of his descendants. Tinawagan in now barrio Patria; Cawayan is now barrio Paz of the Municipality of Libertad; and Inyawan is now the Municipality of Libertad, the place where General Leandro Fullon landed during the revolution.
Great names in the history of Antique are replaced with achievements of the TUMACA-ZAPANTA lineage.
****Interviewed, Research and Written by ANDRES VILLAFLOR GUMBOC***
hI! my name is toni J. gumboc
- I am the great x5 granddaughter of Teodora (Sardanas) and Antonia (Villaflor)Tumaca Zapanta;
- I am the great x4 graddaughter of Blas Zapanta Sardanas; Juan Zapanta Villaflor
- I am the great x3 granddaughter of Macario Ricote Sardanas; Esteban Untaran Villaflor
- I am the great x2 granddaughter of Maria (Jontilano); Gorgonia (Villaflor)
- I am the granddaughter of Hilario (Jontilano), Catalina (Gumboc) & Elena (Gelito);
- I am the daughter of Ricardo & Irma (Jontilano) Gumboc
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