Ricardo Embrado

Don Ricardo Gerardo Del Rosario Embrado y Alcover de Garchitorena also known as Tan Ardong, short for Capitan Ardong was born at the present town of Quiagan (particularly in Antipolo now the town of Asipulo) in Montañosa now the province of Ifugao on 03 April 1861 to Romano Silvano Embrado y Cajes, the Lieutenant of the Comandancia in Nueva Vizcaya for Quiangan and to Placida Agatha Del Rosario Alcover y de Garchitorena, a music teacher from the well-known Alcover clan of Latid, Carcar, Cebu and of Mantalungon, Barili, Cebú and from the well-known Garchitorena clan of Camarines Sur and from the notable Zapanta clan of Aroroy, Masbate. His Ifugao birthname was Hulibaw because it was a celebration when he was born at the house of his mother's first cousin Apo Pullupul, the chieftain eventually the cabecilla of Kiangan.

He was an Ifugao because of his maternal grandmother Clara Alcover y Zapanta, a Spanish teacher from the Pullupul and Pawid clans. His maternal great grandparents from old Quiangan of the present Ifugao province were Apo Pagadut Pullupul who chose the surname Alcover during the Claveria Decree in Carcar, Cebu and Apo Baya Pawid whose heirs eventually chose the Zapanta surname back in old Aroroy, Masbate. These Pullupul and Pawid heirs reached the lowlands and the islands because of the Dominican priests of Nueva Vizcaya.

In 1868, his family moved to Cebú City from Quiangan where he was educated eventually by the Augustinian priests at Colegio Seminario de San Carlos in Cebu in 1877 under the care of the Lazarist fathers where he took Bachelor of Arts and in Intramuros at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in 1881 where he advanced more himself as an escritor and calligrapher. His writings in 1880s and 1890s are still kept by his great great great grandsons . These can be seen only in the Fiel Facebook group.

In 1881, he went back to Quiangan where he, an educated young man, helped their chieftain Apo Pullupul in government negotiations and other trading purposes. This was the time as well when an influx of young Ifugaos went to lowlands, in Manila and in Cebu for studies, trade and other ecclesiastical works.He left his post as cabeza de comercio in Quiangan in 1883 when he was called to serve Cebu City as maestro principal for young men.

His paternal grandfather was Don Pablo Antonio Embrado y Fiel, the 1821 – 1822 Gobernadorcillo of Carcar and the 1823 jefe de paz of Barili and Carcar in Cebu. His maternal grandfather Don Vicente Garchitorena y Basa, a business magnate was from Navarre, Spain and one of the four Garchitorena forefathers in Camarines Sur. His maternal grandmother Clara del Rosario Alcover y Zapanta, a resident cantora of Parroquia de Santa Ana of Barili from Tubod, Barili, Cebu.

In his teen years at Carcar, Cebú, at their ancestral Latid, Carcar, he and his neighbor Pilar Fortich y Gonzales became teen sweethearts that eventually gave them Basilisa, their only child. Tan Ardong and Pilar’s relationship did not last because Pilar went to Spain and he went to Colegio Seminario de San Carlos to study.

On 19 June 1888 at Parroquia de Santa Catalina de Alejandría in Carcar, he married Dolores Consuelo Alesόn y Raz de Rangcajo also known as Loleng the bestfriend of Pilar. Loleng was born in Lapoc, Alburquerque, Bohol. She was the daughter of the Carcar born Don Juan Evangelista Alesόn y Campugan, a lawyer and the Custom Chief of Cebú City and of Doña Ynocenta Vicenta Raz y Cielo, a sangley businesswoman of breads and noodles from the Cielo Clan of Batanes Islands. Loleng’s parents owned the first noodle restaurant chain from Argao, Barili, Carcar, Sibonga to San Fernando. The maiden name Raz was also known as Rangcajo in Parian, Cebú. The maiden name was also spelled as Ras that was originally from Oas, Albay, The Philippines. Their home back in old Alburquerque was in Sitio Sambog (now Abucay Norte and Abucay Sur of Sikatuna, Bohol) where the first Ifugao community lived. Within his marriage to Loleng, his wife finally found out that he and Loleng's cousin and godsister Ajeja Aranas y Bulac had a son named Lorenzo Laureano Aranas. In Alburquerque, Loleng eventually knew Aleja was pregnant of her second child to Ardong. Ardong and Aleja's second child was named Placida Agatha after his mother. This was the start of the painful year of the Embrado - Aleson household.

On 14 July 1888, he was appointed by Governor-General Valeriano Weyler as the Gobernadorcillo of Alburquerque, Bohol, Loleng’s birthplace. His political term only lasted for almost three months because he fought for equality of burial of the yndios and insulares in Alburquerque which Padre Pablo Navarro, the parish priest of Parroquia de Santa Monica de Alburquerque strongly opposed. Finally, on 23 November 1888, the verdict came out about his final removal in office as the Gobernadorcillo of Alburquerque. He was eventually exiled together with his family to Islas de Marianas for two years from 01 December 1888 to 12 December 1890. In Alburquerque, he was politically succeeded by Don Gabriel Bitoy y Aleson also known as Tan Gabring, the first cousin of Loleng. He and his family returned to the Philippines from exile on 01 January 1891 and lived at Nagpartian in Ilocos, the birthplace of the Briones ancestors of Loleng where he served as Custom Chief and Teniente del Barrio until 01 January 1892. The Aleson surname of Carcar, Cebu was orginally Briones by ancestry.

On 07 January 1892, upon reaching Cebu City, he received a letter from Intramuros that he was appointed by Governor - General Eulogio Despujol as the Gobernadorcillo of Barili in Cebu. He resided at Casa Pañares as the Gobernadorcillo of Barili and took his white horse every time he came back home to his family’s residence in Latid in Carcar.

He was the Gobernadorcillo of Barili until 07 March 1892 before going back to Manila to study Law as what his Garchitorena cousins encouraged him to take at University of Sto. Tomas. While as the Gobernadorcillo of Barili, he stood equality of rights between yndios and mestizos in Barili. He opposed the racism of peninsulares and insulares against the sangleys and yndios of Barili.

In 1898, his American colleague Thomas Gowan asked his advice about establishing an American printing press and English newspaper in the Philippines. Thomas Gowan read the feasibility study of Tan Ardong about the benefits of an American printing press and English newspaper in the Philippines. Thomas Gowan approved the feasibility study of Tan Ardong and eventually founded The Manila Times on 11 October 1898 at Intramuros, Manila. Tan Ardong worked as the proof reader of the articles for The Manila Times from 1898 until 1907 before working for Assemblyman Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina.

Because of his skills in English communication, he was requested by Governor – General Adna Chafee to be the main diplomatic companion of the visit of Superintendent General of Public Instruction Fred Washington Atkinson in Cebu from 20 to 30 November 1901. In Cebu, the first stop was at Osmeña’s Mansion in Cebu City from 20 to 22 November 1901 and second stop 23 – 25 November 1901 at Mercado’s Mansion in Carcar. He brought Mr. Atkinson and fellow Thomasites to Barili in Cebu from 26 – 30 November 1901 to inspect the educational system of the municipality of Barili before heading down to Sayaw in Barili for education inspection in Dumaguete in Negros.

In 1903, one of his dangerous tasks to do was in Barrio Can-ogong (now Clarin, Bohol). He was there to pacify the land feud between the Lofranco clan of Inabanga and the Vaño Clan of Tubigon. He was sent there by Solicitor - General Gregorio Araneta. Because of Tan Ardong's brilliance in diplomacy, the people of Barrio Can-ogong were spared from death. The Lofranco and Vaño clan agreed mutually over land dispute of family members.

In the summer of 1918, Tan Ardong, a godbrother and a Cajes cousin to Ciriaco Lumen, was one of those workers of the Philippines Senate who scrutinized personally for the establishment of the town out from Barrio Can-ogong that eventually became the town of Clarin in 1919. He was one of those workers of the Philippines Senate who recommended to Senate President Manuel Luis Quezon to recommend Clarin as the new town of Bohol to Governor - General Francis Burton Harrison. After the creation and foundation of the town of Clarin in 1919, he was assigned there as the visiting Corporal until May 1919.

During the Taft Commission, he worked as the secretary of Victorino Mapa, the Associate Justice of the Philippines. He was the editor and proofreader of legal documents in English of Justice Mapa. He served as the secretary of Secretary of Justice Mapa from 01 November 1913 to 17 January 1917 when the latter was the Secretary of Finance and Justice.

During the outbreak of the Philippine - American War, he was sent by The Manila Times to personally document the war. He wrote the news fairly. Though there were Americans who mandated him to give favor to the Americans, he stood firm to his principle as a media practitioner free from bribery.

When William Howard Taft became the Governor - General of the Philippines, Tan Ardong's honesty in media caught the attention of the anti-racist Governor - General Taft. Because of his skills in writing and teaching and because of his Ifugao ancestry, in 1903 together with the Thomasites, he was sent by Governor - General Taft to Mt. Province to help convince the natives to learn and to study the English language. He was assigned by the same Governor - General Taft to act as the writer-in-charge for Camp John Hay in Baguio from 28 October 1903 to 10 December 1903.

On 10 January 1907, he became the Presidente Municipal of Barili in Cebú until 31 January 1907. He started to establish the better trading businesses of Negros and Barili and nationwide advertising of Barili rice cakes. These Barili rice cakes were introduced, produced and sold in Luzon in various American schools and government offices. Mr. Fred Washington Atkinson provided the vocational materials to Tan Ardong in Barili where Barili Vocational School started to work on 15 January 1907 at the farm house of his godbrother Don Ysabelo Alcordo y Sagolili and of Doña Hilaria Barcenilla – Alcordo y Alvarado at Santa Ana, Barili, Cebu.

Tan Ardong, as the founder of Barili Vocational School, he provided technical skills in driving, welding and car mechanics to men in Barili and also to men from nearby municipalities of Cebu and Negros. This school was completely burned by the men of Don Florencio Noel of Carcar on 26 February 1908 as revenge to the Alcordos of Barili who managed Barili Vocational School. The Alcordos of Barili condemned the conspiracy of Don Florencio Noel to the Velosos of Cebu City. The conspiracy was revealed by the Velosos of Cebu City to the Alcordos of Barili that Don Florencio Noel wanted the American welding materials to be shipped directly to Carcar port and not to be delivered in Barili because he would like to establish Carcar Vocational School.

On 02 February 1907, the brilliant Tan Ardong went back to Manila and left The Manila Times on 06 February 1907. On 07 February 1907, he started to work as the writer and editor of the speeches of Assemblyman and Majority Floor Leader Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina of the Nacionalista Party. Manuel and Tan Ardong bécame bestfriends at University of Sto. Tomas when the former was still a Law student and the latter was looking for a lawyer to defend his co-teacher in Tayabas from the anger of the residents against the Americans.

In 1908, he was appointed by Governor – General James Francis Smith as the interim District Supervisor of the Bureau of Education for Barili, Carcar and Sibonga in Cebu from 01 July 1908 to 30 November 1908 until Carcar-born Vicente Abellana was installed as the District Supervisor of Barili, Carcar and Sibonga.

From 01 January 1909 to 30 May 1909, he was appointed by Governor – General James Francis Smith as the interim District Supervisor of the Bureau of Education for Quiangan, his birthplace and for Nueva Viscaya schools in Northern Luzon.

After his post in the Bureau of Education, in June 1909, he was called by his bestfriend Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina to be back in the Assembly as their speeches editor and proofreader. He went back to the Assembly and travelled with the Assemblymen from across the country and to USA for enhancing the political and educational system in the Philippines.

When Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina became the Senate President in 1916, he recommended Tan Ardong as the editor and proof reader of all public speeches of his fellow Senators including himself. This was unanimously approved by the senators. Tan Ardong should replace Senate Secretary Felipe A. Buencamino Jr. as the Senate Secretary. Because of Tan Ardong's big tasks in writing, editing and proof reading of the public speeches of all the senators during the Fourth Legislature, he suggested to Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina to give the Senate Secretary position to Francisco Maria Guerrero who eventually became the Senate Secretary. His brilliant contributions in English writing and in editing and proof reading of public speeches of the Philippine senators encouraged more Filipinos to study and to learn the English language. The Spanish-speaking Philippine senators, Assemblymen and Municipal Presidents down to the tenientes del barrio were also motivated by him to study more and to learn more the English language.

One of his big achievements as writer, editor and proofreader of the Philippine Senate was promoting Mt. Province as a place of peaceful, educated and English-speaking natives. He made efforts to lowland people to respect and to like the cultures and traditions of the peoples in the Cordilleras. One of his protégés was Rafael Bulayungan, his second cousin and godbrother and the first Assemblyman from Ifugao. Tan Ardong encouraged more men in Ifugao to study and have seat in the Assembly representing Mt. Province. Even after he was lost in 1920, through his brother Gregorio Vicente Del Rosario Embrado y Alcover de Garchitorena who married Nicolasa Sotto y Pawid, an Ifugao from Tinok, he continued financing the education of Assemblyman Rafael Bulayungan and Luis Pawid Sr., his third cousin from the Pawid clan of Tinok and the first Civilian Governor of Ifugao who both became great political leaders of the Cordilleras.

Because of Tan Ardong’s wisdom, he became the political advisers of Philippine senators Filemon Sotto, Jose Altavas, Joaquin Luna, Celestino Rodriguez and Jose A. Clarin. As a tenor himself, he suggested to Senator Joaquin Luna to establish a Conservatory School for Filipinos. Eventually, Senator Joaquin Luna sponsored a bill of Conservatory School in the University of the Philippines.

While in the Assembly, he also became one of the part time English instructors of Philippine Normal School in Manila from September 1909 to May 1910. He was so loved by his students because of his wit and patience in teaching.

It was in Manila at the house of his compadre Sen. Joaquin Luna, 30 November 1920, where he was last seen by his son Julian and by his family. From then on and to date, he was missing and no whereabouts of him. The news from Manila came out that he was lost because he knew about the case of Sen. Joaquin Luna. He was put in a safe place as said in another news. The other news was he was with his new family in the USA with a new identity. According to her daughter Criselda (biologically born, 08 February 1896, Carcar, Cebu – 30 June 1999, Kidapawan, North Cotabato) back in 1990s, it was very difficult to lose a father. She did not narrate further because it was so excruciating to remember.

He and Loleng had seven children namely 1. Pedro Alison who married Maria Avila. They became the ancestors of the Alison clan of Ubay in Bohol. 2. Demetrio who left home and no trace of his family. He went back to Quiangan. To date, no information of him. 3. Beatriz who died in her teens 4. Faustino, the former teacher and principal of Barili Elementary School in 1910 to 1915 and the former principal of Barili Elementary School in 1917 and in 1922 to 1925 and one of the pioneer teachers of the town of San Antonio de Padua School of Sikatuna in Bohol from 1917 to 1922. He married Catalina Davis and Gloria dela Vega. He also taught at the Catholic school in Quiangan. 5. Julian who married Bacelia Anoba y Ybañez 6. Criselda who married first Fernando Vilo. She eventually married Demetrio Sauza y Mendoza from The Royal and Noble House of FitzGerald of Ireland. Finally, she married Ignacio Gregorio. Because of the great influences of the American women and female Thomasites, she was the brainchild of St. Michael Academy of Clarin, Bohol and became its first school benefactor. She donated huge amount of money from her relief businesses to help the sons and daughters of fisherfolks in Clarin to go to school. Eventually, she worked philantropically with her childhood bestfriend Leonila Dimataga - Garcia, the wife of Bohol Governor Carlos P. Garcia and with Fr. John Simon, SVD for this first Catholic school in Clarin. She also financed the establishment and other academic needs of St. Joseph School in Quiangan. 7. Pastor who died a bachelor. 8. His daughter Basilisa by Pilar Fortich y Gonzales married Genaro Ozamis. Basilisa and Genaro's son José became one of the Philippine senators and martyrs during the Commonwealth of the Philippines. 9. His daughter Maria Rosita De Vera y Embrado by the teacher Maria Consorcia De Vera y Malicdem of Aguilar, Pangasinan had illicit relationship to one of his Pullupul cousins in Quiangan. Maria Rosita and this Pullupul man had a son named Macario or Medardo who married a Mandaya - Mansaka of Davao Oriental. To date, no info of any of them.

Many of his articles and the write ups of his father Don Pablo Antonio Embrado y Fiel, the 1823 jepe de paz of Barili and of Carcar were also burned together with the important documents of Barili when the municipal hall of Barili was brought into ashes. His other pieces of Literatures and family memorabilia were also burned when their Alcover ancestral house was one of the houses near Carcar Rotunda that was burned by the Japanese in 1944. Most of his descendants are lawyers, accountants, public servants, musicians, religious, doctors, health care workers, businesspersons, journalists and sports enthusiasts.

(Philippines Senate Archives and Museum's Files, GSIS Bldg., Pasay City, The Philippines)

References

• Oaminal, Clarence Paul. "Don Ricardo Embrado, The Cebuano Senate Writer And Chief Executive Of Towns." The Freeman, 17 Nov 2017. http://bit.ly/2BjjSsK. 13 Dec 2017.