The Philippines' Only Piper

Roy Espiritu lives in Manila, but descends from the Macgregors of Scotland. He spent £400 for a set of bagpipes six years ago, then discovered that none of his 87 million fellow Filipinos knew how to play. Fortunately, he was able to find a tutor online.

Roy, who has never been to Scotland, is so proud of his Highland roots that his son six year- old Cholo is already practising on the chanter.

He added: "To be honest, he doesn't really like my playing much. And my wife Cheryl - well let's just say she tolerates my playing." [Link]

The Three Rs

Here's an example from the Philippines of why, when transcribing official documents, a genealogist should leave even obvious errors uncorrected.

I had a friend whose birth was recorded in a faulty typewriter of a provincial municipality. The typewriter would produce three letters instead of one, such as in his case three Rs instead of one. He was called Rex but the typewriter showed RRRex. Since that was how his birth certificate showed it, he went through life with that spelling because that was what was demanded by every government office he passed. All mindlessly insisted that he spell his name with three Rs. So, he did to save himself grief. It was irrational and ridiculous and he went to his grave with the three Rs. [Link]

Making the World Safe for Onomatology

World War II had a lasting impact on the Philippines—or at least on Filipino names and nicknames.

After World War II, the American presence was well-established in Philippine names. In the late ’40s-’50s, there was a boom in Mary Lous (though it still stood for Maria Lourdes or Maria Luisa), Mary Anns, Mary Janes, Mary Roses, Mary Joans, Mary Beths.

Other stateside names that crept in were Elizabeth, Juliet, Nancy, Sheila, Emilie, Judy, Jeannie, Doris, Betty, Betsy, Katy, Leilani. A few Shirleys appear in every other generation. The same old ’50s male names persisted such as Lorenzo, Joaquin, Cesar, Emmanuel, Jaime, Felipe, Daniel. Popular nicknames were Louie, Mike, Andy, Tony, Benny, Steve, Teddy, Jimmy, Jess (ho-hum). [Link]

[tagged: genealogy, family tree, ancestry]

Man Shows Niece All the Gruesome Sights

From Sun.Star Zamboanga (Philippines) of Oct. 15, 2005:

German lady finds long lost uncle

SHE finally found her long lost uncle in the Philippines, and of all places, it is here in Zamboanga City.

Gudrum Albrecht, 47, arrived in the city last October 3 on invitation of her uncle, Robert Albrecht Jr., and will spend her 13-day stay here, the period allowed her by the government.

[snip]

Gudrum, who hails from Stuttgart, Germany, said she discovered Roy (Robert's nickname) address through the Internet only this year -- although Roy posted it in the web-site in 2001, according to her.

[snip]

"She is a brave girl. She is not afraid to visit the place of the Abu Sayyaf," Roy said. Basilan is known worldwide as the birthplace of the radical extremist group linked to the al-Qaeda terror network.

"I brought her to Bulingan (barangay) where she loves the beautiful waterfalls Lo-ok and Balobo (in Lamitan), the place where the beheading by the Abu Sayyaf of innocent civilians took place," Roy said. He said his niece enjoyed going to market in Kaumpournah, Isabella City, "just to buy coffee," Roy related.

[snip]

[Read the whole story]

Make Room for Daddy's Surname

From Sun.Star Pampanga (Philippines) of Sept. 22, 2005:

Illegitimate kids can now use dad's surname

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Illegitimate children may now use the surnames of their fathers.

This is provided for under Republic Act (RA) No. 9255 amending Article 176 of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines.

However, the same law states that a father has to acknowledge the child who wishes to use his parent's name.

[snip]

[Read the whole story]

In related news, thousands of U.S. servicemen formerly stationed in the Philippines have suddenly stopped answering their telephones.

Vanity, Thy Name is Major General Ralph Flores

From Balita Organization ("All the News of the Philippines") of July 1, 2005:

Charges against official forging birth records

Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo ordered on Friday the filing of a falsification case before the Sandiganbayan against Maj. Gen. Ralph Flores for supposedly submitting forged documents to the Commission on Appointments.

In a statement, the Ombudsman said Flores violated Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code when he made it appear in his personal and family background information sheet, among other documents, that he was born on March 30, 1949, to qualify for promotion from brigadier general to a major general.

The Ombudsman said Flores could not have been born in 1949 because the military officer has a younger brother, Victor Perfecto, who was born on April 19, 1949.

"Also, the cadet information sheet that Flores filled up in his own handwriting at the Philippine Military Academy wrote March 30, 1946, as his birth date," the Ombudsman said.

"Flores deliberately altered his date of birth to extend his stay in government service. As a result, he stayed three more years longer than what is mandated by law," Marcelo added.

[snip]

[Read the whole story]