Digos, Davao

While in Manila I was able to take a side trip to Davao. My Uncle and Auntie celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. I’ve always heard of Digos, Davao and knew that my Aunt lived there – but was often curious why, since my Aunt (like my mother) is Ilocano (from Northern Luzon) and Davao is Visayan territory (southern most region of the Philippines). While in Digos I was able to do a little research as to why my Ilocano Aunt was in Visayan Territory (Mindanao). To explain a little further…it’s like someone who grew up in the south then ended up in the Northwestern region of the states – except much more complicated since the two regions (Ilocos/Visayas) speak a completely different dialect. Anyways – it turns out – my grandmother’s brother (my Aunt’s Uncle) – who is a “Loyola” – was appointed by Marcos himself to “govern” the area of Digos, Davao called “Loyola Village” (where my Aunt and cousins live today). My Uncle – I suspect, and since he was an Engineer – was helping my Grandfather/brother (something like that) Loyola develop the sugarcane industry (that Marcos is notoriously known for incorporating/monopolizing) in Davao. A pretty interesting bit’o history on the Oribello side of the family. Here are myriads of images of my cousins, neices, nephews, Digos and the celebrations – OH YEAH – forgot to mention that it was a double celebration, my Aunt and Uncle’s 50th and my cousin Erik’s wedding