THE BRIEF HISTORY

1. THE BRIEF HISTORY • Camiguin Island was named “Cagayan de Misamis” during the Spanish era way back early 16th to 19th centuries ago. It was during the American occupation which started in early 20th century after cession of the Archipelago in the Treaty of Paris of 1898 that it was renamed “ Camiguin”. Our forebear witnessed two(2) volcanic eruptions during the mid 19th and 20th century which also prompted some clan members to migrate to nearby Northern Mindanao provinces and cities.

2. THE BRIEF HISTORY • Since then, more than a decade has passed already there’s still a lot of work to be done. Even with the new technology we could not advanced our goal without total cooperation among clan members. Tales of disparage, deception and repudiation hinder the effort to let out the truth of our existence.

3. THE BRIEF HISTORY • The present generation must know our origin whatever it maybe, no matter what, no one came out of this world pure and clean. We have inherited original sin from Adam and Eve down to our very ancestors. Without acceptance of truth we cannot reconcile past with the present . Burden will be passed to the next generation. • We need each other whether you’re rich or poor. We won’t pass this way again, hence truth needs to be unravel to set us free and save souls.

4. THE BRIEF HISTORY Historical evidence and facts have proven that long before Spanish dominion of the Archipelago they so named The (Las Islas Filiipinas) Philippine Islands. Malays, Indian and the Chinese have already populated the Islands and have assimilated with the aborigines or natives. The mixture of their races produced the dominant people of the island. The influx of newcomers from mainland China established their trade and commerce in the islands. Arabs even then came before Spaniards that Manila became a Muslim town ruled by a Rajah, so with island of Cebu. When Magellan came he realized Cebu could’nt be conquered by force he then befriended King Humabon. Yet he fell victim of that friendship as history revealed that he was killed by Lapulapu in Mactan. Several expeditions were sent but the first groups were a failure. It took more than or almost half a century before they have partially colonized the islands, excluding the southern part of Mindanao.

5. THE BRIEF HISTORY • The Spanish colonization was three centuries of corruption and maltreatment of the Filipinos by the Spaniards. Christianization produced assimilation of culture enhanced by intermarriages, birth of the new race that we are now. • Perhaps we bear the family name Abuzo, the offspring of that mixed race, the Chinese semblance , the Castellan domineering stature and overbearing quality of the breed bespoke our ancestral traits. Family name has its place of origin and history. The Fabe’s of Pangasinan has signature semblance so strong ever prominent to whoever bear the name , while the Abuzo’s don’t hold much because of continuous mixed ancestry.

6. THE BRIEF HISTORY • In the year 1855 Mambajao, Cagayan de Misamis was established with nine(9) barangays, headed by Cabezas. There were few inhabitants hence everybody knew everyone. In the year 1860 when Father Domingo de los Dolores, became parish priest of Mambajao the name Pablo Palarca surfaced in Mambajao history.

7. THE BRIEF HISTORY • For the benefit of the new generation and knowledge to those who don’t know, the Pope of Rome was the supreme king maker of Europe, as mandated by the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy. The Spanish governance in the Philippines was controlled by the Spanish friars, the bishops in particular. Rivalry and corruption abounded in the hierarchy, that led to frequent uprising and rebellion against Spanish rule . It was possible that Pablo Palarca being appointed as gobernadorcillo of Mambajao in the year 1860 to 1861 enjoyed prominence and influence of the town which allowed Maximina Fabe Abuzo his wife access to acquire lands from the Cabeza, especially lands under their dominion and jurisdiction.

8. THE BRIEF HISTORY • Maximina and Pablo might have settled in Tupsan in the later years, acquiring the fertile land. When Laurente sons arrived the couple allocated part of the uncultivated parcels of land in Tupsan, previously ravaged by flashflood in the late 18th century. Perhaps the place Benhaan took its name or Cotcot as well. Oral history revealed that the Laurente sons transformed the land into rice paddies , conveying water from Wango Spring to the rice lands. Part time fishermen and sailors they eventually took wife from the local women within, in the nearby towns from mainland of Mindanao, and the migrants from Bohol settling in Camiguin Island. It was perhaps in the 1870s or thereabout the Laurente sons arrived and settled in Tupsan.

9. THE BRIEF HISTORY • Lorenzo’s two(2) sons Marcelo and Silverio arrived and joined their siblings together with their skipper the famous and infamous Kapitan Peru and also settled in Tupsan. Later on they spent the exploits of the seas in settling themselves in the island. This period in Philippine history pirates abounded marauding the islands and seas. The hero and villain married to the pirate captive ( Pintal ) lass, of Spanish descendant. The Lorenzo sons married and settled the same in Tupsan. • The wife of Lorenzo unrecorded and Laurente’s known only as Rosa seem mysterious when written history already existed at that time. Was there a deliberate concealment of facts? Oral narrative very well existed yet none was clear . Things related were more confusing thus projecting none existence. Were there grim things concealed or were our ancestors renegades or villain from somewhere? Whatever they were we’ve got to know the truth of their survival in this not too friendly world.

10. THE BRIEF HISTORY • Recent and factual encounter of people in all the Islands of the Philippines show that the Abuzo family name originated somewhere in Central Luzon especially Pangasinan. Really strange, to ponder how far apart we are, in Mindanao from them. Written records of Census won’t lie of their very existence. • Our only window of hope is Maximina Fabe Abuzo and Pablo Pallarca. Perhaps Father Domingo Gomez de los Dolores may hold another key. We already have discovered in our initial investigation the “Heirloom” relic. The couple brought this with them in Camiguin, said to be from Spain holding another mystery. It was told, the place of their departure was Camiling Tarlac. This relic was brought to attention to a group of Abuzo by a certain Julian Abuzo an anthropologist of University of the Philippines who has visited Camiguin, lodging at CSAT, Mambajao, during the Lanzones Festival 2005.

11. THE BRIEF HISTORY • Would it be perhaps that Laurente sons avoiding recruitment to Guardia Civil or the Katipuneros drove them to follow Maximina in Camiguin? Who could be the wife of Laurente ? Perhaps a daughter of a Chinese merchant , having Chinese connection, trading merchandise from Hongkong or Macau that plies through Pangasinan via Palawan, Panay Negros to Northern Mindanao eventually Camiguin Island. It’s the only possible way the Laurente sons traveled to be hidden from the Spaniards. Perhaps the Abuzo brothers were also local sailors aiding Chinese Traders in inter-island routes. Those are questions that need to be answered and clarified in tracing family genealogy.

12. Events and changes that affect and Influence the whole country and people In the late 19th century of the Philippines in totality • 1800. The rise in number of Filipino Middle Class in education to higher studies here and abroad. The widening gap between European Spaniards and Asian born with Spanish blood and the increasing number of mestizos. • 1869. The opening of Suez Canal shortened traveling time to Spain and all Europe: Wealthy middle class Spanish Pilipino had access to study in Europe the ambitious goal of the populace, headed by Spanish mestizos led the founding of Katipunan Movement in the later years by Bonifacio especially in 1892. • 1872. Uprising that led to the execution of Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, the three (3) Pilipino priest who worked for reforms within the Catholic Church or colonial church. • 1896. The Execution of Jose Rizal in Luneta . strengthened the will of the Filipino to destroy Spanish Rule or dominion and Aguinaldo’s rose to prominent leadership.

13. Events and changes that affect and Influence the whole country and people In the late 19th century of the Philippines in totality • 1898. Aguinaldo’s Philippine Republic on June 12 was short lived by the coming of the U.S.A into the scene, helping other rebel groups . May 01 , the Infamous Defeat of Spanish Armada in Manila Bay, August 13th. Philippines was finally ceded to U.S.A by Spain and the signing of Treaty of Paris in December 10. • 1901. July 4th Civil Government under USA was finally established, after several resistance of other rebel factions. USA set up and improved education system of the populace, Filipinos began to speak the English Language.

14. BRIEF HISTORY • It was the above events of the late 19th century that caused our grandparents the 1st generation of Abuzo, Fabe, Palarca in Camiguin, who came out of Central Luzon not to involve themselves in the boiling fight between the ruling Spaniards and the locals, having affinity and blood line from both sides. • Compelling gathered evidences link our clan to the existing Abuzos from that place and the relic that Maximina and Pablo brought with them strengthened the issue of the exact origin of our would be beginning.

15. BRIEF HISTORY • Our mixed Chinese forebears were the first to assimilate and associate with the Spanish in the Philippines in doing trade and commerce in the country. Since they can communicate both in Spanish and the native languages they became middlemen between the natives and the Spanish friars. They established good relationship with the Spaniards, and they were able to rent farm lands from them, and cultivated the land. Thru the cooperation of the natives, the mixed Chinese natives thru their association with Spaniards, they became the first victim of abusive conquestadores and friars. • Eventually, the Chinese Mestizos, towards the end of the Spanish era became prominent, and when the Spanish dominion ended, they were able to acquire vast farm lands or haciendas.

16. THE BRIEF HISTORY WAS Written by: • ARCADO C. ABUZO, JR. Contributed by: • ANTONIO C. ABUZO • LAURO C. ABUZO • Edited by: • NOEMA ABUZO-LOQUIAS • FABIANA “JEAN” AUSTRIA-ABUZO