By Telly G. Ocampo
Yang, Kayang, Fred, Cecilia: all enlivening what is truly Dauisanon
I went to the wake of Cecilia Araneta-Burns who is the sister of Gloria Leodivica Araneta and my bff Ardy Ines Araneta Batoy.
I met Cecilia at the then St. Joseph College in Tagbilaran City run by the Holy Spirit Sisters. She was in third year high school and I was in my 2nd year. I can remember some of her classmates: Barbara Gonzaga- Ong, Socorro Pernia-Pizarras, Gloria Relampagos- Marapao, Elizabeth Rara, Rafaelita Jimenez and Evelyn Cabrera.
Just 44 days before Cecilia’s demise, their brother, Teofredo “Fred” Araneta (the iconic media personality), suddenly passed away. A day before Fred died, he and his sisters Ardy and Gloria, had their meeting at bff Ardy’s residence, to plan on how to bring Cecila to Cebu for a second opinion about her sudden illness. A day after the meeting, Fred died – the very day that his sister was brought to Cebu.
Gloria and my bff Ardy are the remaining siblings of the Ines-Araneta family. The eldest among the 5 siblings was the late Raul Araneta – a very popular radio man in Cebu City.
During the wake at the Araneta-Burns residence, I met for the first time Cecilia’s husband, their Nong Victor “Vic” Burns. Cecilia and Vic have an only child, Virginia, who is residing and working as a nurse in the States now.
It is in our attendance in wakes that we meet relatives and friends whom we have not met for ages. While there at the Araneta-Burns residence for Cecilia’s wake, I and my companion Jo Caballo joined in the table of my bff with her relatives. I met bff’s first cousins: the sister tandem of Gudelia Araneta-Fullido and Wilfreda Araneta-Bolotaulo. The latter’s son was also there.
I thought before that Cecilia was a nurse in the U.S. I found out that she was an ACTIVITY DIRECTOR in one medical facility there – a job fit for a teacher. Cecilia, was an expert in this job as she was Master Teacher in the Philippines before she went to the U.S.
Picking up from that cue, our topic shifted to the public schools we went to and the teachers who are indelibly imprinted in our memory. The Dauis group mentioned the name of the late Ms. Obdulia Neri. When they mentioned the name of Leny Cericos, it was only then that I was able to connect Mrs. Neri to my mind. Leny was the niece of Mrs. Obdulia Cericos-Neri. Kinasukian sa among tindahan sa Baclayon Trading si Mrs Neri. We called her Yang and no other. Her forte was designing and sewing wedding gowns. She even made the wedding gown of my bff Ardy. Yang’s husband was a relative of Señora Epay, the mother of Maning Pelaez, a former vice president of our republic. For those who know the man, he was a target of an assassination attempt during the martial law years as he was exposing the alleged coconut monopoly and levy in Congress. It was his practice to be on the wheels home after dropping off his driver in the latter’s home. One time, he was a little tipsy; so he decided not to drive and was seated at the back. It was the driver who was hit and died, while the Senator, Maning Pelaez, lived to tell the story.
Kayang is another Dauisanon. Bata pa ko, nakaila na ko ni Kayang. She was a good cook and she used to cook for us every December 8 during our town fiesta in Baclayon. Ug karon pa ni, ang tawag niya is chef. But during our time, we called her kusinera. She was not just a kusinera; she was a baker, too. Tortang pinatubo ug pan de Dauis were her specialty.
When I had my store here after my University of the Philippines stint in Tacloban, nagkita pud mi ni Kayang. Kini tungod kay niadtong panahona, ang parkingan sa mga sakyanan padung sa sa Dauis, didto man duol sa Shoppers’ mart. Unya, kanunayng mulabay si Kayang sa among tindahan ug pirme pud ko makakaon sa iyang pan nga niluto. Lami man gyud ang pan sa Dauis lakip na ang ensaymada. Indeed, the memories of youth enliven the spirit.
Back to Glo and bff Ardy. I know you are the ones left in the Ines-Araneta family. But you are a strong duo. You can move mountains, they say! You are a perfect combination. You will continue to make waves in your industry. Let us just remember one of the lines from Kahlel Gibran: Life and death are one. How can we ever experience death if we have not experienced life? Cheers to Life!
