FRAGMENTS OF HISTORY

The Dipolog Cross. Who cares about the old landmark at the coastal end of Rizal Avenue (main road) of Dipolog City? The cross faces the Dipolog Cathedral at one side, and the sea at the opposite side. Old folks believed that the cross shielded the early Dipolog settlers from periodic Moro attacks through miraculous apparition of a shining protector with stretched arms right at the cross; this drove the Moros away. According to Tatay Esteban Zamoras (Silverio→ Venancio→ Buenaventura→ Esteban) the cross was erected by our great grand fathers at that spot to guide other migrating relatives from Bohol, to indicate where Dipolog was. Sailing from Bohol to Dipolog had to be serious decision; imagine crossing about 150 km with just oars (bugsay) and sails (layag). Although a westward sea current helped them reached Dipolog, it would still take them days of sailing in the open sea. To verify that indeed they came to the right coast, our great grand parents like Venancio carved their names on the cross. Finding the names of the Zamoras pioneers marked at the cross, the succeeding relatives from Bohol would confirm that they came to the right destination. Jorge (Roman→ Pedro→ Jorge) & wife Mentay who came to Dipolog around 1935(?) were among Zamoras kins to gather in Dipolog that gradually increased in number. They worked as peddling merchants, farmers and carpenters in Dipolog. Accordingly, the Zamoras settlers used to own almost half of the downtown Dipolog but eventually sold the lands part by part. The main base of the Zamoras, Lubing Ogis (or now, Galas) remains the solid ground of the Zamoras Clan. (The sad fact is that the original cross was already replaced by a new one, about 10 years ago.)

THE ZAMORAS-ALMIROL CLAN REUNION

The Zamoras-Almirol Clan Reunion began in 1928, pioneered by Venancio Zamoras and Bernabella Almirol. This began a “tabo” where relatives meet during funeral of loved ones to contribute for funeral expenses. Several years after, Venancio and Bernabella’s sons and daughters already had their own families, so they transformed this gathering into a clan reunion but retained the “tabo” practice. They established the reunion time to fall on every Easter Sunday to celebrate as well the most important feast of the Christian faith. The benefits of this “tabo” practice, seen in decades, encouraged the Zamoras relatives to take part of this gathering. As both Zamoras and Almirol relatives joined, the size of clan reunion quickly expanded. With the Lord’s constant grace on the Clan that set their reunion on his greatest festivity, the reunion survive through times even during the world war. The members of this clan is said to be the largest in Dipolog with estimated 500 families. This year’s annual reunion is the 81st reunion held on April 12, 2009 at the Covered Court, Galas Elementary School, Dipolog City. The Zamoras-Almirol Clan is headed by Board Member Edionar Zamoras as Clan President and Governor Rolando Yebes as Clan Vice President; Marilou Zamoras as Treasurer, Rebecca Makintura as Secretary, Engr Absalon Zamoras as Auditor, and Atty Rafael Cabanlit as Senior Adviser. The clan of both Zamoras and Almirol bloodlines are grouped by regions for better coordination. During each reunion, members are given the option whether to contribute to the “tabo” fund; only bereaved families that contribute can avail of the “tabo” fund.

Hon. Edionar Zamoras, [From Silverio > Venancio > Baldomiro > Cristito > Edionar], Zamboanga del Norte Board Member; Clan president for more than 25 years, indispensable leader, no substitute for his bottomless humor.

PHOTOS DURING THE 81st ANNUAL ZAMORAS-ALMIROL REUNION (April 12, 2009)

The 81^st reunion held on April 12, 2009 at the Covered Court, Galas Elementary School, Dipolog City. Upper left photo: Engr. Rustica Zamoras, DepEd Regional Director Dr Walter Albos, Engr. Francisco Martinez (Tiu Paquito), Dr. Lawrence Zamoras, Board Member Edionar Zamoras and Military officer Paul Almirol. Upper right photo: the spread of the Zamoras-Almirol Family Tree as authored by Tiu Paquito. Lower photo: giving recognition of the clan members above 80 years old.

PHOTOS DURING THE 80TH ANNUAL ZAMORAS-ALMIROL REUNION (March 23, 2008)

At the Zamboanga del Norte Convention Center on March 23, 2008



Photo above: Engr. Mario Zamoras, Eng'r. Absalon Zamoras, Engr. Rustica Acedilla-Zamoras, Atty. Rafael Cabanlit and businessman Estanislao Zamoras

Above: the Zamoras-Almirol Clan members inside the ZDN Convention Center




Left photo, standing: Lolito Z. & wife Jennelyn, Rowena & husband Marlon Z., Lawrence Z., Sharon Zamoras-Galay & husband Victor, Sevieh Zamoras-Hamoy, Roderick Z., Odette Z, Fr Dico Zamoras, Mrs Melrose Zamoras, Sarah June Z.; seated Maria Z., Carlito Z., Nicarito Z., and Agapito Z.);

Right photo : The Zamoras from Alicia, seated: Carlito Z., Maria Bation-Zamoras, Gov. Rolando Yebes [From Silverio > Simona > Librado Y > Rolando], Roselyn Zamoras-Dagayloan & husband Bernardo Dagayloan; standing: Crisostomo Z., Marlon Z., Lawrence Z., Lolito Z., Jr. & wife Jennelyn Gonzales-Zamoras, Rowena Ronamo-Zamoras and Sharon Z.

OTHER CLAN EVENTS

Upper left photo: Ozamis Wedding (May 10, 2008) of Sharon Zamoras & Victor Galay(from Jimenez). Some visitors in the photo are Lawrence Zamoras, Edgar Zamoras, Carlito Zamoras, Jess Zamoras, Levi Zamoras, Cecilia Zamoras-Colegado & Dr. Colegado. The ceremony was held at the Ozamis Cathedral. Upper right photo: Aurora Wedding (April 28, 2009) of Flor Zamoras-Tinguha (daughter of Crisanta Zamoras) and Ed Delosa. The Delosas and Tinguhas were awed at the huge attendance by the solid and ever-proud Zamoras Clan (Jorge-Mentay Group).

At the funeral of Lydia (wife of Paquito Martinez) on Oct 19, 2008 in Pagadian. From left: Engr Rosario Zamoras-Abadiez, Engr Rustica Acedillo-Zamoras, Leonora Zamoras-Regurosa, (?)Elsa Zamoras-Villegas, Jake Zamoras, Alice Zamoras-Kumon, Minda Zamoras-Tamse, Paquito with daughter & sons Antonia Martinez-Maglayo, Paul Martinez (from New Jersey), and John Martinez.

THE ZAMORAS FAMILY TREE

Like collecting withered leaves from the ground and putting them back to the tree’s branches, Eng’r Francisco “Paquito” Martinez, Jr [from Roman → Rufina → Francisco, Sr→ Paquito] painstakingly constructed the genealogy of the Zamoras Clan. He eagerly interviewed old folks from Dipolog and Maribojoc (Bohol) about grandparents, great grandparents, etc through casual talks. For a huge number of Zamoras descendants, organizing their lineages could be very challenging esp if their linkages were way, way back in time, with no more survivors. Luckily he found some of the key answers: the brothers Silverio Zamoras and Roman Zamoras (from Maribohoc, Bohol) are our deep roots. Some uncertain links however still remain to be verified and resolved. His work dares to link the Zamoras Clan roots with other big clans of the Bordios, the Ordinarias, the Regencias and the Recentes. More time and efforts will be needed for this task, and answers might just be waiting to be uncovered in Bohol. See Paquito’s Family Tree below. Left photo: Eng’r. Paquito Martinez (author-researcher of the Zamoras Clan Family Tree) posed with Lawrence (Blog Author - a wishful follower of his task!) after their lunch time discussion on the Family Tree at the Springland Resort in Pagadian, Zamboang del Sur.

FIRST GENERATION: Silverio & Roman

This updated root (oldest recorded generation) of the Zamoras Family Tree includes Briguido as another brother (younger) of Silverio and Roman from Bohol who were probably born before 1850s. These brothers represent the first generation; their father is probably a Zamora.

[Click the Family Tree for clearer view.]