Tanonganon crew slightly dwindles

I caught a cold yesterday during Kai’s birthday day (happy 5th birthday Kai!), so my packing plans were slightly delayed. But on another sad note, Papa Clo and Mama Nelly will not be joining us in the return home. Papa Clo has endured a lifetime of Multiple Sclerosis and some recent flare ups has him deciding to stay behind. My mom said when he was born he was very weak and near death, but my grandmother rallied local healers to sacrifice some chickens and do a ritual so that he would live….and he has lived a long happy life with his condition. He was the first of the family to find success as an attorney and they had a big party for him when he got his law degree. I remember his hobby of keeping loads of fighting cocks at his house. He used to take me to the fights and gave me my very own prized fighter….till one day the letters failed to mention my champ. Fond memories of the training boxing gloves tied to its ankles, the shaving off of the crown and waddles with a razor blade (so they don’t get pecked and pulled at during a fight). Well, although Papa Clo and Mama Nelly aren’t coming on this trip, they plan to return around Christmas time. Maybe i’ll come back too!

Close to take Off….5 more days!

5 years ago today I went into labor with Kai. I brought him to the Philippines when he was 1 month old. We went to Mindanao to bring back the dead body of my Auntie Sionne for her children to see her buried. What a month. This time we head back to the Philippines to my mother’s hometown of Santander, Cebu. This Tanonganon Reunion has been in the works since 2004. At the time, I thought they were crazy for scheduling it so far off in the future of 2007, but the time has finally come and I even quit being a full-time employee to join in this trip! For some of us, it’s been 10 years or longer since we’ve been in Santander together.

Through the stories of our eldest living Hollywood auntie, Nang Terry, before our town was called Santander, a Spanish galleon landed carrying a ‘Captain Tanyong.’ He liked the place and settled there. The inhabitants referred to themselves as ‘Tanonganons’ (pronounced ta-no-nga-nons…does that help?) But he named the town Santander after the fishing town in Northern Spain….because its likeness to the fishing lifestyle from his homeland. But from what I can tell, they must have really liked this Captain to still carry on his name and refer to themselves as Tanonganons…it’s kinda like “hey, we’re old school” before Santander…..

So the Tanonganon elders have planned this reunion in their home town. Most of these elders are our parents, immigrated from Santander to the US in the 70s. Us 1st generationers have enjoyed the benefits of these yearly reunions, they give us the chance to grow closer to each other and our parents. Our parents are really the movers behind the reunions, us youngins tag along and are impressed by their motivation to keep it alive. They have even bequeathed us with officer titles to give us some responsibility ensuring we carry this on. And funny, as I just realized…my officer title is “Public Relations Officer” and here I am writing this blog. (I thought I had been failing in my duties).

Our parents have decided the theme is ‘Hawaiian’ and us youngsters scratch our heads a little… I guess part of being American is to bring the Hawaiian theme to the Philippines? But as I ponder more, loads of Filipinos live in Hawaii, and from watching satellite TV, the growing surf culture in Philippines is very heavily steeped in Hawaiian mannerisms. What will I wear to the Hawaiian themed party? Maybe I will dress up as a Spam Musubi? mmmmmm

We’ve always come home to Santander, but never as a big group. There are approximately 30 or so Tanonganons coming on this trip. Top it off with the town fiesta and loads of family and visitors from other islands and this could get ‘grabe’ in the population explosion sense.

We’re having a little party for Kai’s Birthday and Bunyag. I am bringing a Pinata.. hoping to find SpongeBob or Thomas….or Maybe we should make a George Bush Pinata?

Stay tuned for photos on my flickr site

Lynn out for now…