The golden year celebration of the Hijos de Davao was beautiful, elegant, well attended and fun. There was a particular enchanting glimmer to the ballroom filled with smiling faces on that evening. It was a joyous event after all, and for a small social club that turned into an organization caring for its homeland reaching half a century old, there is a reason to celebrate.
 |
| Boy & Bebet Nograles |
 |
| Dennis & Cherilyn Uy |
 |
| Mathijs & Amylou Aarts |
 |
| Margie Moran Floirendo |
 |
| Miguel & Tisha Dominguez |
 |
| Rodney & Rochelle de Rosario |
Through the years, the Davao family has grown bigger. A seed planted in the middle of the 20th century sprouted into a sapling in 1964. The young and few branches were the descendants of the original settlers who formed a club called Hijos de Davao to gather yearly and honor San Pedro, Davao’s patron saint. It took root and the gathering became a tradition….and tradition gave birth to public awareness turning the club into a socio-economic organization.
 |
| Cong. Rodolfo Albano & Cong. Milen Albano |
 |
| Siblings Jericho & Karlo Nograles |
 |
Bianca Dizon, Mervin Loseo & Rosanna Dizon
|
 |
Inday del Rosario
|
 |
Bobby Castillo
|
 |
Sonia with son, Abu, Gempesaw
|
 |
Naty Fortich
|
 |
Butchoy & Caroline Taojo
|
 |
The Angalas, Jayjay, Ada & Eulo.
|
 |
Charo Moran & Betbet Pichon
|
 |
Raffy & Annie Garcia
|
 |
Jennifer Floirendo
|
 |
Toby & Michelle Ang
|
 |
Enzo Rabat, Veronica Rabat & Louie Lim
|
 |
Marila Revilla, Pat Montemayor & Patrice Tan
|
 |
| Jay & Leah Imperial |
 |
| Jocson & Marizon Liu |
 |
| Angel & Cara delos Santos |
 |
| Edgar & Eetang Ang |
 |
| Tom & Kay Gempesaw |
 |
| Joel & Tanya Tan |
 |
Iñigo Taojo & Vivian Galang
|
Fifty years later, the Hijos de Davao family tree has grown bigger and sprouted hundreds of branches. The sowers and the fruits of the tree they nurtured gathered once more to celebrate a significant event.
 |
| Hijos de Davao current president, Jackie Dizon |
Four of the founding officers, Patria Garcia-Montemayor, Atty. Perla Palma Gil, Honesto Cabarroguis and Dr. Julian Rodriguez, were present to witness a milestone. When asked what their most memorable moments were since the club’s conception, the common reply was “every year is always a happy moment.”
Founding officers of Hijos de Davao:
 |
| Pat Montemayor |
 |
| Honesto Cabarroguis |
 |
| Julian Rodriguez |
 |
| Perla Palma Gil |
Perhaps this year’s ball was happier with the huge turnout of several generations in one place. The party linked the old and the new, a bridge that lets tradition pass to its next caretaker.
The highlights of the event were the launching of the coffee table book entitled “Witnessing Growth,” a compilation of Davao’s key people who were influential in the growth of the city, with Senators Mar Roxas and Teofisto Guingona III as special guests; the presentation and crowning of the muse, Arianna del Rosario, who was extra radiant and beautiful that night; and the Rigodon de Honor participated by the founding officers and the former muses of Hijos.
 |
| Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario & Sen. Mar Roxas |
 |
| The 2014 muse, Arianna del Rosario |
 |
| Founding past officers with former muses of Hijos de Davao: Jose Velez, Jean Codiñera, Luis Gahol, Perla Palma Gil, Rodney del Rosario, Jackie Dizon, Pat Monetmayor & Honesto Cabarroguis |
 |
| Benjie Panganiban, Samantha Angala, Abu Gempesaw, Marga Nograles, Patricia Roque, Mara Pineda, Francisco Palma Gil & Leo Magno |
 |
| Tonette Tionko, Karlo Nograles, Amy Diano, Tomas Tionko, Jr., Naty Fortich, Anthony del Rosario, Chichi Martinez, Amelia Vega, Francisco Leonor, Armella Aquino & Francisco Palma Gil |
 |
| Tisha Dominguez, Albert Garcia, Margarita Nograles, Benjie Garcia, Ricky Pineda, Cheska Garcia, Cathy Gempesaw & Gerardo Maniquis |
 |
| Vicente Tionko, Bebot Estanislao, Baby Montemayor, Benjie Lizada, Julie Rodriguez, Angelina Reyes, Robert Soriano & Milen Aquino. |
On stage as guest performer was 70s band that started the Manila Sound phenomenon, the Hotdogs, whose memorable tunes like “Bonga Ka Day” and “Annie Batungbakal” got everyone on the dance floor and dancing ‘til past midnight.
 |
| Guest performer of the night, the Hotdog band |
Congratulations to all the officers of Hijos de Davao for mounting a very successful gala! May this be the precursor to more successful gatherings in the coming years of this civic organization.
*****
For more lifestyle and travel stories, visit http://apples-and-lemons.blogspot.com/ and http://jeepneyjinggoy.blogspot.com/.
Published in SunStar Davao newspaper on July 7, 2014. Seen at the party:
 |
| Bong & Amelia Vega |
 |
| Joey & Yvonne Soriano |
 |
| Winchester & Mabel Lemen |
 |
| Vince & Tricie Arcenas |
 |
| Miko & Mylene Aquino |
 |
| Nando Daluz & Jean Corndiñera |
 |
| WIth the SunStar Davao newspaper team: Imee Garcia & Stella Estremera |
 |
| Josie Tionko |
 |
| Kara & Jingo Francisco |
 |
| The Gempesaws: Carissa, Lito & Maite |
 |
| Robertino del Rosario, Enrique Romero Salas & Luisito Rabat |
 |
| Joel Rodriguez |
 |
| The Dianos: Angela, Jun & Amy |
 |
| Dina Tionko-Dalumpines |
 |
| Lynne Sotto, Lena Benedicto, Bebot Estanislao, Janet Latayan & Maritel Celi |
 |
| Jay & Chuchay Sison |
 |
| Carmina del Rosario & Len Cabili |
 |
| Richard & Mm Lo |
 |
| The Pinedas: George, Pinky, Jessica & Patrick |
 |
| Alpi & Carine Bacani with Karen Alabado |
 |
| Marissa Salonga-Tionko |
 |
| Dikdik Rodriguez |
 |
| Cris & Karla Peralta |
 |
| The Jaldons: Baby, Mitzi & Cherry. |
