Benedicto Dimaculangan Tuazon

Benedicto Dimaculangan Tuazon (born 11 July 1773 Lubao, Pampanga / died 16 July 1883 Bacolor, Pampanga) also known as Apung Bito,one of the early illustrados or in Spanish it means for "erudite," "learned," or "enlightened ones" , who also constituted the Filipino educated class during the Spanish colonial period in 19th century. He was the illegitimate son of Don Antonio Tuason, the Grand Patriarch of the Tuason Family of the Philippines and of Doña Dolores Bondoc Dimaculangan y Pineda y Guiang y Galang also known as Apung Loleng, a poor Campampangan Chinese mestiza laundry girl from Binondo, Manila.

He was the Grand Patriarch of the Tuazon clan of Bamban and Paniqui (Tarlac), Angeles, San Fernando, Bacolor, Lubao and Mabalacat (Pampanga), Marikina and Pasig (Rizal), Tondo, Binondo (Manila), Malabon, Gapan (Nueva Ecija), Cavinti and Sta. Cruz (Laguna), Agoncillo and San Juan (Batangas), and Imus and Ternate (Cavite).

His father Don Antonio Tuason was one of the Chinese immigrants from Fukien,China. Don Antonio Tuason's Chinese name Son Tua. Circa 18th century, Don Antonio Tuason settled in Binondo, Manila. To engage in the galleon trade was his main reason why he came to Manila. Because of his hard works in his businesses, he became the richest Chinese man in the Philippines during the later years of the 18th century.The Tuason Family

Early Life

When Benedicto was a young boy, he already showed interests in literature, music, politics and religion. His granduncle Simon taught him farming and music while his grandaunt Agripina taught him literature such as folklore and Capampangan stories. He was educated by the Augustinians at an early age about reading, arithmetic and religion. His mother Loleng never planted revenge in the heart of Benedicto instead she taught him about forgiveness and love of neighbor and love for the poor. His grandmother Perpetua taught him cooking. Benedicto grew up as a good man. He already knew about his father when he was 8 or 9 when he asked Loleng about his real father. Dolores always told him about the goodness of his father. In 1785, when he was 12, Dolores married the loving and kind Don Juan Dayrit, a relative of Don Fabian Dayrit, the gobernadorcillo of Lubao, Pampanga in 1821.[1] [2]

His Dayrit Siblings

Don Juan Dayrit and Doña Dolores Bondoc Dimaculangan Dayrit's children were

• Don Florentino Dimaculangan Dayrit whose grandson was also named Don Florentino Dayrit.
  • • Don Florentino Dayrit married Doña Antonina Pamintuan. Their daughter was
      • Doña Nicolasa Dayrit was a Philippine non-combatant in the Philippine-American War. Her actions not only included helping to minister the sick and wounded Philippine combatants, but also played a major role in appeasing General Antonio Luna during his confrontation with General Tomas Mascardo. This contributed to the collapse of the Bagbag - Quingua - Sta. Maria defense line based on the Pampanga River, which was held against the American forces.
• Don Joaquin Dimaculangan Dayrit
• Don Fernando Dimaculangan Dayrit
• Don Vicente Dimaculangan Dayrit
• Don Celestino Dimaculangan Dayrit
• Don Ramiro Dumaculangan Dayrit
• Doña Josefa Dimaculangan Dayrit
• Doña Luisa Dimaculangan Dayrit
• Don Amado Dimaculangan Dayrit

Education

Don Juan Dayrit loved Benedicto as his eldest son. He sent Benedicto to Spain for quality education including college at University of Alcala of Alcala de Henares, where Don Juan's good Spanish friends studied and lived. Benedicto was there as a scholar by the good Spanish friends of Don Juan Dayrit. From childhood, Benedicto had no interest at all to receive sustenance from his biological father and had no interest as well from the wealth of the Tuasons in Marikina.[3]

To have extra allowance for his studies and daily expenses, he worked as shoemaker and as a cook in Alcala and Madrid, Spain. During vacation from school, he also worked as a researcher for public lawyer's office in Madrid and as a medical doctor's errand as well in Madrid until he finished Bachelor of Arts in the university. He came back to the Philippines after 5 years of work in Spain, France and Portugal as researcher, writer and teacher.

Upon returning home, it was said that Benedicto settled in Binondo, Manila and had a rest house and farm in Lubao and Bacolor, Pampanga. He also brought a land in Marikina in early 1880s. Within the first decade of 1880's, Don Antonio Tuason's children and their respective families knew about his residence in Marikina, they were shocked about who Benedicto was and his remarkable achievements. They were informed by their relatives that Benedicto was the eldest son of Loleng. All they knew he was already dead. They were more surprised when Benedicto invited and welcomed them in his home in Marikina and, after long years, when they met again Loleng as Doña Dolores Dimaculangan Dayrit with husband Don Juan Dayrit. Gone were the days when Loleng looked like a poor laundry girl from Binondo. She looked sophisticated. She could speak, read and understand well Spanish, English, Latin, Fokien and Capampangan aside from Tagalog. She was every inch a lady of high society the way she thought, spoke and moved. They were in awe about Loleng's remarkable transformation. They felt sorry for themselves. Loleng told them candidly that she did not want to called as much as possible Doña Dolores or Doña Loleng. For her Dolores or Loleng would do. They told Benedicto the death of their father Don Antonio Tuason. According to Don Antonio Tuason's children, Perpetua (Loleng's mother), almost two years after she got Loleng from them, told them that Loleng gave a still birth to a baby boy and Loleng got married to a farmer who accepted her situation.

During the talk with the Tuasons, Loleng, in her good heart, said that before her mother Perpetua died, Perpetua revealed to her that she (Perpetua) went to Marikina and talked with Don Antonio. She told him that his child was a boy, but was delivered dead and Loleng married years after the death of their son. According to Perpetua, she did this for Don Antonio and his children would not look anymore of Loleng and Benedicto. She asked forgiveness from Loleng. Loleng was shocked regarding what her mother did yet she gave her forgiveness. Eventually, Perpetua died when Benedicto was a college student in Madrid.

According from the Tuasons, when Don Antonio knew that his first born child to Loleng was a boy, he was happy, but became sad of his son's death. For the Chinese, the first born son was considered to bring pride and honor to the family. Moreover, they could not humiliate Loleng anymore because of her son and her present status in life as one of the elites of the society. Don Juan and Doña Dolores and their children welcomed the Tuasons in their homes in Binondo (Manila), Bacolor and San Fernando, Pampanga. Dolores never gave revenge to the Tuasons who once treated her bad.

The Tuasons offered a part of their wealth to Benedicto and his family, but the kind gentleman did not accept the offer. For him, he and his family were grateful of the kind gesture of the Tuasons, but he suggested that it would be better to donate the wealthy to the poor, the orphans and the abandoned because these one really needed help unlike him and his family who could afford the things they needed and wanted. The Tuasons realized the goodness of Benedicto and they followed what he suggested.

Eventually, the Tuasons and the family of Benedicto build a good relationship among their family members. They invited each other for family gatherings and recreations. Loleng even supported the daughters of Don Antonio Tuason who entered the religious life. She even frequented their convents for charity donations and prayers.

Married Life

In 1810, Don Benedicto Dimaculangan Tuazon married Doña Esperanza Maroca dela Peña at San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. They had the following children: Agustin, Guillermo, Isidro, Juan, Salud, Salvador, Pedro, Francisco, Demetrio, Agapito, Carmen, Maria, Urbana, Simplicia, Matilde and Antonio.[4] [5]

Doña Esperanza dela Peña was a scion of the first two Chinese mestizo families who settled in the poblacion or central Marikina, the dela Peñas and the delos Santoses.

Doña Esperanza Maroca dela Peña was from Marikina. She was the daughter of Don Lucas Delos Santos Dela Peña, son of Doña Dominga Delos Santos and of Don Rafael Dela Peña, the son of Don Tomas Dela Peña, the 13th gobernadorcillo of Marikina. The mother of Doña Esperanza Maroca Dela Peña was Doña Flordeliza Maroca, who was prominently known in Marikina and Manila because of her enchanting beauty, whose parents were Don Manuel Maroca, the 2nd gobernadorcillo of Marikina and Doña Esmeralda De Roxas, the niece of Don Jose de Roxas, the 9th gobernadorcillo of Marikina. During these times, it was a notable custom of the Hispanic Philippines that intermarriage should be according to social status of each party. It was precisely rare for a poor man or slave man to marry a rich lady or a poor damsel or slave woman to marry a gentleman. But, in our ancestry, there were couples who pursued their love against the will of their parents or family in spite of the ill words or curses they received from them.

Later Life

In 1854, he joined the Brotherhood of Holy Christ of Longos (Hermandad / Fraternidad de Sto. Cristo de Longos) where he served as its leader from 1858, 1865 and 1897 before retiring in Bacolor, Pampanga, Philippines.

On 16 July 1883 during the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, in his home in Bacolor, Benedicto died while sleeping. He was 104 years old. Before he left this world, he was seen working on his farm, planting flowers in his garden and reading books. His mind was clear. He was burried at Bacolor, Pampanga beside the grave of his beloved wife Esperanza, loving mother Dolores and supportive father Juan Dayrit. Benedicto and wife Esperanza, mother Loleng and father Juan Dayrit retired in Bacolor where they were active in San Guillermo Parish. The people of Bacolor loved them so much because of their goodness to them and also to Capampangan culture. Esperanza died due to difficulty in breathing or presently, asthma when she was turning 70. Loleng died due to old age at the age of 101 years old. Her mind was also clear. Juan Dayrit died due to tuberculosis.[6] [7]

Descendants

Doña Matilde, one his daughters, also known as Tidang married Don Miguel Berenguer di Marquina Sauza also known as Igi, the seventh son of Don Santiago Sauza and Doña Ysabel Sumulong Berenguer di Marquina, the daughter of Don Felix Berenguer de Marquina and of Doña Demetria Lindo Sumulong. [8] Igi and Tidang met at Intramuros where Doña Resituta Sauza also known as Tutay, Don Miquel's elder sister was a student of Colegio de Sta. Rosa. Matilde had an elder sister named Simplicia in the same school where Tutay studied. Tidang was 8 years younger that Miguel or Igi. They were married around 1850 at Intramuros, Manila. [9]

Doña Matilde, a rich Chinese mestiza of Binondo, Manila and a haciendera or one of the heiresses of the rich Tuazon also spelled as Tuason clan of old Marikina. Doña Matilde's affluent yet humble family also owned the vast land of old Marikina, old Bacolor and Lubao, Pampnga.

The grandchildren of Don Benedicto Dimaculangan Tuazon and of Doña Esperanza Maroca dela Peña through their daughter Doña Matilde and son-in-law Don Miguel Sauza were

• Don Rodolfo Tuazon Sauza also known as Dolfo who married Perfecta Magtibay also known as Piring of San Juan, Batangas. He was the first son of Don Igi who visited Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico when Don Santiago Sauza revisited his birthplace. They were blessed with the following children.
  • Don Cenobio Magtibay Sauza.
  • Don Fernando Magtibay Sauza.
  • Don Marcos Magtibay Sauza.
  • Don Mamerto Magtibay Sauza.
  • Don Teodoro Magtibay Sauza.
  • Don Demetrio Magtibay Sauza.
  • Don Delfin Magtibay Sauza.
  • Don Numeriano Magtibay Sauza.
  • Doña Encarnacion Magtibay Sauza.
• Doña Blesilda Tuazon Sauza also known as Blising.
• Don Prudencio Tuazon Sauza also known as Dencio.
• Don Maximo Tuazon Sauza also known as Simo.
• Doña Teofila Tuazon Sauza also known as Pilang.
• Don Juan Tuazon Sauza also known as Buen or Annggoy because when he was born, his grandparents won over a case on land dispute in Antipolo. He was married to Doña Natividad Sumulong of Antipolo, Rizal Province.Doña Natividad Sumulong was the brother of Don Policarpio Sumulong, the former mayor of Antipolo and the husband of Doña Arcadia Marquez. Don Policarpio Sumulong and Doña Arcadia were the parents of Senator Juan Marquez Sumulong whose wife was Doña Ma. Salome Sumulong. Senator Juan Sumulong and Doña Ma. Salome Sumulong were the parents of Doña Demetria Sumulong Sumulong, the wife Don Jose Chichioco Cojuangco. Doña Demetria Sumulong Sumulong and Don Jose Chichioco Cojuangco were the parents of Ma. Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino also known as President Corazon C. Aquino, the wife of Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., the late father of President Benigno Aquino III. Moreover, Don Juan Tuazon Sauza and Doña Natividad Sumulong were blessed with the following children.
  • Don Pedro Sumulong Sauza who married Doña Maria Bautista of Libacao, Aklan. His second wife was Doña Dionisia Antazo of Binangonan, Rizal. Their descendants are now at Kalibo, Makato and Batan, Aklan, Philippines and at Binangonan, Rizal.
  • Doña Sofronia Sumulong Sauza who died a spinster. She was similar to a tomboy in this present time. She loved to ride horses, to climb trees and coconut trees, to dress herself like a man and to fight with any man who would take advantage of her. She died around 115 years old due to old age in Bacolor, Pampanga. She left in early 1930s and never came back. She stayed with the Baluyot clan and her Tuazon relatives in Bacolor. As the story went on, she was there to follow her love who known only as Bebang.
  • Doña Caridad Sumulong Sauza, Doña Caridad Sumulong Sauza and Descendants.</ref> who married her 1st cousin Don Delfin Magtibay Sauza, the son of Don Rodolfo Tuazon Sauza. Their descendants are now at San Joaquin and Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines, at Kabankalan, La Carlota, Talisay, Negros Occidental, at Tubigon, Bohol and at Santo Tomas, Davao Del Norte, Philippines.
  • Doña Martha Sumulong Sauza, Doña Martha Sumulong Sauza and Descendants.</ref> who died at 104 years old in 1960s and who married Don Sotero Cruz of Malabon, Rizal. Their descendants are now Marikina City, Philippines.
  • Don Quintin Sumulong Sauza, Don Quintin Sumulong Sauza and Descendants.</ref> who married Doña Feliza Mendoza of Marikina, Rizal.She was the descendant of Don Benito Mendoza, the 1st gobernadorcillo of Marikina. Their descendants are now at Quezon City, Kidapawan City, Davao City, Manila City, Lipa City, Navotas City, Parañaque City, Butuan City and Antipolo City, Philippines.
  • Don Francisco Sumulong Sauza, Don Francisco Sumulong Sauza and Descendants.</ref> who married Doña Honorata Laurel Catapang of Nasugbu, Batangas. Their descendants are now at Libacao, Numancia and Balete, Aklan, Philippines.
  • Don Domingo Sumulong Sauza, Don Domingo Sumulong Sauza and Descendants.</ref> who married Doña Filomena Santos of Marikina, Rizal. Their descendants are now at Marikina City, Philippines.
  • Don Juanito Sumulong Sauza, Don Juanito Sumulong Sauza and Descendants.</ref> who married Doña Ma. Gracia Baluyot of Bacolor, Pampanga. Their descendants are now at Quezon City, San Pablo City, Davao City and Manila City Philippines.
• Don Calixto Tuazon Sauza also known as Sitong. As described by his Aunt Refulio Sauza he was a tall, handsome and svelte straight acting bachelor who had a long time Spanish mestizo boyfriend or "muy bonito" named Juan Miguel dela Merced from Colegio de San Juan de Letran. They both left the Philippines for Madrid, Spain before the turn of the second decade of the 20th century.
• Doña Felicidad Tuazon Sauza also known as Idang.
• Doña Maria Tuazon Sauza.
• Doña Rosalia Tuazon Sauza also known as Sali.

Moreover, Don Santiago Sauza was the Grand Patriarch of the Sauza Clan in the Philippines. The Sauza Clan in the Republic of the Philippines originally came from Marikina City, Republic of the Philippines He was born in Santiago de Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico around 1770s. He was the 22nd gobernadorcillo (1809) and the 8th alkalde or capitan (1828) of Marikina, Philippines. He was sent by King Joseph I, the King of Spain (8 June 1808 – 11 December 1813 from the House of Bonaparte) to the Philippines in 1808 to lead the pueblo of Mariquina, Philippines. He was blood related to the Sauza Family, the makers of the world famous Sauza Tequila of the Sauza Tequila Import Company, an award-winning producer of tequila located in Tequila, a municipality of the state of Jalisco, Mexico. It was founded in 1873 when his nephew Don Cenobio Sauza started La Perseverancia distillery. Don Cenobio Sauza's father Don Hilario Sauza was the hermano or brother of Don Santiago Sauza. Don Hilario Sauza was the father of Don Cenobio Sauza.

External links

• Bahay Tsinoy Museum of the Chinese in Philippine Life
• Kaisa Heritage Center
• Filipino community
• Article on Kaisa experience in the Philippines
• Kaisa Para Kaunlaran Inc.
• Tulay Fortnightly, Chinese-Filipino Digest
• Chinese Commercial News
• World News (Chinese newspaper)
• Chinese Mestizo surnames
• Tsinoy.com (Filipino Chinese website)
• The Sauza Clan in the Republic of the Philippines

Bibliography

• Escalante, Rene R. (2007), The Bearer of Pax Americana: The Philippine Career of William H. Taft, 1900-1903, Quezon City, Philippines: New Day Publishers, http://books.google.com/books?id=obZwAAAAMAAJ  ISBN 9711011662, ISBN 9789711011666.
• Forbes, William Cameron (1945), The Philippine Islands, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, http://books.google.com/books?id=HBpbAAAAIAAJ .
• Guerrero, León María (1987), The First Filipino, a Biography of José Rizal, National Heroes Commission, http://books.google.com/books?id=EPw1AAAAIAAJ .
• The SAUZA CLAN in the Republic of the Philippines