Varela Family of Negros

The Varela family is a prominent clan from Negros, Southern Philippines. Members of the family have been involved in Politics, Art, Business and most notably with the Catholic church.

History

The family patriarch, Gregorio Varela immigrated to Bago City Negros Occidental during the later part of the 19th century, where he married Josefa Araneta, an aunt of revolutionary General Juan Araneta, who was to play a pivotal role in the establishment of the Republic of Negros. In fact Gregorio was one of the eight founding fathers of Bago City, being one of those who petitioned the Spanish government in turning Bago into a pueblo.

Gregorio’s youngest daughter , Dolores Araneta Varela would eventually marry Agaton Ramos, they had a son Don Mariano Ramos who became the first Presidente Municipal of Bacolod ( the equivalent of today’s Mayor) , his mansion the Mariano Ramos Ancestral House is now a bacolod landmark. Another of Gregorio’s grandchildren Vicente Varela would play a major role in another visayan city, this time Cebu, he would serve as a judge in this city through most of his life.

The most noted accomplishment of the Varela Family is their involvement in religion, Judge Vicente Varela, had four children who entered religious service, one son Mariano became a Priest, two daughter became nuns and another son Jesus as befits his name would become a Bishop, first as Auxiliary Bishop of Zamboanga then becoming part of history as the first Bishop of the (then diocese) now present day Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ozamis, he ended his tenure in Sorsogon where he now serves as Bishop Emeritus. A cousin Michaela would also become a nun, and her nephew Richard of the next generation would follow in the family legacy and become a Priest.

The Varela Family like the Signore families of Italy, were not only involved in religion and politics but also art, one noted member; Eduardo Sicangco Y Varela is currently a well known Broadway and Hollywood set designer, his sister Cecille Sicangco-Ibarolla is a Senior Dancer for Ballet Philippines.

Varela Family Members in Politics

Gregorio Varela- co-founder Bago City

Vicente Varela- Judge, Cebu City

Mariano Varela Ramos- First Presidente Municipal, Bacolod city

Jose Varela- 1984-1986 Assemblyman,(now defunct) district of negros occidental

Eduardo Varela-Former Mayor, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental

Varela Family Members in religion

Jesus Y Varela- 1967-1971- Auxiliary Bishop, Zamboanga, 1968-1972- Member, CBCP Administrative Council,1971-1981- Diocesan Bishop, Ozamis,1972,Vice President, UNDA Philippines, President, Philippine Federation of Catholic Broadcasters1974- President, UNDA Philippines,1980-2003- Bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon1982-present Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, Member, CBCP Permanent Council

Mariano Varela- Jesuit Priest

Richard Varela- Current Parish Priest of Don Bosco Makati, former President of the Philippine Educational Publishing Association

Michaela Varela- Nun, former Directress La Concolacion College-Caloocan

Varela Family Members in Art

Eduardo Sicangco Y Varela- Broadway and Hollywood Set designer

Cecille Sicangco Ibarolla- Dancer, Ballet Philippines

Other Notable Relatives

General Juan Araneta- revolutionary, (son of Romualdo Araneta, cousin of Josefa Araneta who married family patriarch Gregorio Varela)

Rafael M. Salas-United Nations Under-Secretary General, (son of Ernesto Araneta Salas who is the grandson of Romualdo Araneta a cousin of Josefa Araneta )

Rolando Ramos Dizon-Chairman, Commission on Higher Education, Cabinet Secretary, La Salle Catholic brother,( son of Hermelinda Varela Ramos, daughter of Dolores Araneta Varela )

ources

*cite book | author=Alfredo Saulo.| title=Jorge vargas Autobiography chapter=IV Bago: Bithplace of the Negros Republic| publisher=University of the Philippine Press. |year=1991

External links

*http://thearanetaclan.blogspot.com/2006/06/familia-araneta.html

*http://www.cbcponline.org/bishops/bishops/varela.html

*http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=24829

*http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2589296/

*http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=43275

*http://www.bagocity.gov.ph/history.htm

*http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/dsbenedicto-negoc/index.php?cat1=2&PHPSESSID=46ae8467e8c42f5a46ea9bbb4ea39b56