...traise my Roots.

I had exchanged e-mails with my Tata Pepe Vergara (http://www.lolopepe.smugmug.com/) for the last two days. He had been in Australia for a very long time, and going over their website, http://www.vergara.net (or http://home.iprimus.com.au/rustica/index-v.htm) carefully gives the accounts of his long, tedious, back breaking and mentally exhausting quest for establishing his lineage. While he successfully created the long lists of his own, it comes to a point that many persons he identified in his work, form part of the very tangled web of relationships and affiliations formed in years, even centuries ago. The man unselfishly put all information he collected, heard and researched from the very old registry books available from the munisipyos, kombentos, and even during “lamayans” (wakes). He took the challenge of going from one place to another, sniffing every information, leads and directions he may take. Whether valid or not, weight anything or void, he still took every bits of information given. In all of those days of searching, he took the cudgels voluntarily, spending his own resources, even endangering his dear life and limbs, but with lots of courage and hope. His only consolation was to meet, talk and get even the smallest information. Meeting, talking and seeing long lost “namesakes” rejuvenates his tired and exhausted body. Especially, meeting the “oldest patriarchs or matriarchs” of the clan in areas he intentionally visits.

Results of his quest tucked on his belt can be found at the following websites,: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/1821/coronel/coronel.htm, http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/1821/mag-isa/index3.htm

Working on ones’ own genealogy is a very tedious, nerve wracking, exhausting and many times, disappointing. But the eagerness, courage and hope shown by my Tata Pepe is exemplary, convincing and unique. His works does not end in this generation but will continue for as long as relationships are being made, new “kamag-anaks” were being found, new “namesakes” were being met, new “Tata Pepes” were born, so forth and so on.

I must be thankful for knowing and being related to a Tata Pepe..now I can

….traise my Roots.