Varela Family of Negros
Encyclopedia
The Varela family is a clan from Negros
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...

, southern Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

, the family has produced several notable figures in religion politics and education.

History

The family patriarch, Gregorio Varela immigrated to Bago City
Bago City
Bago City is a second class city in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 159,933 people. The city is located 21 kilometers south of the provincial capital, Bacolod City....

 Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...

 during the later part of the 19th century, where he married Josefa Araneta, a member of the prominent Araneta family
Araneta family
The Aranetas are influential Filipino family that originated from Gipuzkoa, the Basque region of northern Spain. The name is derived from the Basque word "aran" meaning valley, with the suffix "eta" denoting a "place of" .-Origins:...

. Gregorio was one of the eight founding fathers of Bago City
Bago City
Bago City is a second class city in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 159,933 people. The city is located 21 kilometers south of the provincial capital, Bacolod City....

, being one of those who petitioned the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 government in turning Bago
Bago City
Bago City is a second class city in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 159,933 people. The city is located 21 kilometers south of the provincial capital, Bacolod City....

 into a pueblo.

Gregorio’s youngest daughter , Dolores Araneta Varela eventually married Agaton Ramos. They had a son Don Mariano Ramos, who became the first Presidente Municipal of Bacolod
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...

 ( the equivalent of today’s Mayor) , his mansion the Mariano Ramos Ancestral House
Mariano Ramos Ancestral House
The Mariano Ramos Ancestral House is the home of the late Don Mariano Ramos, first appointed Presidente Municipal of Bacolod City, Philippines...

 is now a bacolod
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...

 landmark. Another of Gregorio’s grandchildren Vicente Varela played a major role in another visayan city, this time Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...

, he served as a judge in this city through most of his life.

The most noted accomplishment of the Varela Family is their involvement in religion, Judge Vicente Varela, had four children, who entered religious service, his son Mariano became a Priest, while his two daughter became nuns and another son Jesus as befits his name became a Bishop, first as Auxiliary Bishop of Zamboanga, then becoming part of local history as the first Bishop of the (then diocese) now present day Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ozamis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ozamis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ozámiz is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. Ozamiz is the Archdiocese in the Province of Misamis Occidental, on the island of Mindanao.-History:...

, he ended his tenure in Sorsogon
Sorsogon
Sorsogon is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region; it is the southernmost province in Luzon and is subdivided into fourteen municipalities and one city. Its capital is Sorsogon City and borders the province of Albay to the north...

 where he now serves as Bishop Emeritus.

A cousin of his, Michaela also became a nun, and her nephew Richard of the next generation followed through the family legacy and became a Priest.

Another noted religious figure in the family is Rolando Ramos-Dizon, a grandson of Dolores Varela-Ramos, a La Salle brother who was appointed to a cabinet position as Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education by former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo. Which cements the family's involvement in both politics and religion, One member, Jose Varela has served as an Assemblyman( a congressman at large) of Negros Occidental.

As of late, a nephew of Bishop Varela; Francis has been appointed as Under-secretary of the Department of Education by current Philippine President Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....


Holy Week Tradition

Members of the Varela family who still remain in their ancestral hometown of Bago City
Bago City
Bago City is a second class city in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 159,933 people. The city is located 21 kilometers south of the provincial capital, Bacolod City....

 are known in this town for having maintained a century-old holy week tradition, which reflects the familys' strong ties to the catholic church.

During Easter, as in any old filipino town,morning is marked with joyous celebration, the first being the dawn ceremony called the Salubong (Filipino: "meeting"). Images of the Resurrected Christ and the Virgin Mary, are brought in procession together to meet at a designated area called a "Galilea", usually located at the plaza fronting the church. It plays out the imagined reunion of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...

 and his mother Mary after the Resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...

.

The Varela family owns the century old image of the Resurrected Christ, which is used in the procession, and they are in charge of decorating and maintaining the paso for the image. During ordinary days, the family keeps the image in the house where there ancestral home used to stand.

Members involved in Politics and Religion

  • Gregorio Varela- co-founder Bago City
    Bago City
    Bago City is a second class city in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 159,933 people. The city is located 21 kilometers south of the provincial capital, Bacolod City....


  • Vicente Varela- Judge, Cebu City
    Cebu City
    The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...


  • Mariano Varela Ramos
    Mariano Ramos Ancestral House
    The Mariano Ramos Ancestral House is the home of the late Don Mariano Ramos, first appointed Presidente Municipal of Bacolod City, Philippines...

    - First Presidente Municipal (Mayor), Bacolod City
    Bacolod City
    The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...


  • Jose Varela- 1984-1986 Assemblyman,(now defunct) district of negros occidental

  • Eduardo Varela-Former Mayor, Cadiz City
    Cadiz City
    Cadiz City is a 2nd class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 141,954 people in 26,998 households. The city is 65 kilometers north of Bacolod City....

    , Negros Occidental
    Negros Occidental
    Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...


  • Jesus Y Varela
    Jesus Y Varela
    The Most Reverend Jesus Y. Varela is a Filipino prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been the Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon, since his retirement on April 16, 2003. He was appointed bishop of Sorsogon on November 27, 1980 Prior to that he served as the first...

    - 1967-1971- Auxiliary Bishop, Zamboanga, 1968-1972- Member, CBCP Administrative Council,1971-1981- Diocesan Bishop, Ozamis,1972,Vice President, UNDA Philippines, President, Philippine Federation of Catholic Broadcasters,1974- President, UNDA Philippines,1980-2003- Bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon
    Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon
    The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. The diocese was established in 1951 by the Archdiocese of Caceres, and in 1968, the diocese was subdivided after the Diocese of Masbate separated. The diocese is a suffragan of...

    1982-present Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, Member, CBCP
    Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines
    The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines is the official organization of the Catholic episcopacy in the Philippines. Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu is the current president while Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan is the current Vice President. The CBCP has 99 active...

     Permanent Council,

  • Mariano Varela- Jesuit Priest,Former Executive Vice President Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan , Archdiocesan Charismatic Renewal Head for the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, Retreat Minister Sacred Heart Novitiate

  • Conseulo Varela- Immaculate Heart of Mary (Immaculati Cordis Mariae or ICM) Nun, Directress, St. Theresa's College, Cebu City
    St. Theresa's College, Cebu City
    St. Theresa's College, Cebu City, Philippines, is a Catholic institution of learning founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on June 1, 1933 upon the invitation of Monsignor Gabriel Reyes, then Archbishop of Cebu....


  • Richard Varela- Salesian Priest.Current Rector and Administrator of St. John Bosco Parish Makati, former First Vice President of the Philippine Educational Publishing Association, CEO Don Bosco Educational Association of the Philippines (DBEAP)

  • Michaela (Natividad) Varela-Augustinian Nun, former Directress La Concolacion College-Caloocan

  • Teresita Sison Gensoli- Catholic layperson, former President of the Philippine Catholic Women's League
    Catholic Women's League
    The Catholic Women's League is a Roman Catholic lay organisation aimed at women in England and Wales. Through emigration in the past, the CWL may be found in some Commonwealth countries. It is especially flourishing in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. -References:* Olivier Rota,...

     (daughter of Paz Varela-Sison)

  • Rolando Ramos Dizon
    Rolando Ramos Dizon
    Brother Rolando Ramos Dizon FSC PhD is a Filipino De La Salle Brother who was the President of De La Salle University-Manila and the De La Salle University System from 1998–2003, Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education from March 2003 to September 2004, Director-at-Large of the Catholic...

    -Chairman, Commission on Higher Education (Philippines)
    Commission on Higher Education (Philippines)
    The Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines, , abbreviated as CHED. The CHED is attached to the Office of the President for administrative purposes...

    , Cabinet Secretary, La Salle Catholic brother,(son of Hermelinda Varela Ramos, daughter of Dolores Araneta Varela).

  • Raymundo Ramos Dizon Jr.- Former Mayor of Bacolod City
    Bacolod City
    The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...

    ,(son of Hermelinda Varela Ramos, daughter of Dolores Araneta Varela)

  • Francis Varela- Current Undersecretary for Finance and Administration, Department of Education (Philippines)
    Department of Education (Philippines)
    The Department of Education , is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the management and governing of the Philippine system of basic education. It is the chief formulator of Philippine educational policy and is responsible for the Philippine primary and secondary...


Family Tree

The Family Patriarch was Gregorio Evangelista Varela,who married Josefa Araneta
Araneta family
The Aranetas are influential Filipino family that originated from Gipuzkoa, the Basque region of northern Spain. The name is derived from the Basque word "aran" meaning valley, with the suffix "eta" denoting a "place of" .-Origins:...

, together they had four children.
  • 1.Antonio-Araneta Varela who married Micaela Medel,they had six children
    • Josefa M. Varela
    • Gregorio M. Varela who married Potenciana Sitchon they had one son;
      • Antonio S. Varela II who married Fe Gamboa of Jaro, Iloilo
        Iloilo
        Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...

    • Pedro M. Varela a Medical Doctor married Virginia Villanueva Chanco they had six children
      • Estrella C. Varela
      • Ester C. Varela
      • Teresita C. Varela
      • Jose C. Varela who married Josefa Sitchon Narazo,one their sons Richard N. Varela is a Salesian Catholic
        Catholic
        The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...

         Priest
        Priest
        A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...

        ,Publisher as well as former Vice President of the Philippine Educational Publishing Association
      • Marietta C. Varela
      • Micaela C. Varela who became a Catholic
        Catholic
        The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...

         Nun, she was the former Directress of La Concolacion College-Caloocan
    • Vicente M. Varela a Provincial Judge, married Maria Ybiernas, they had 11 children, four of which entered religious life
      • Francisco Y. Varela his son Francis Varela is currently Under-secretary of the Department of Education (Philippines)
        Department of Education (Philippines)
        The Department of Education , is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the management and governing of the Philippine system of basic education. It is the chief formulator of Philippine educational policy and is responsible for the Philippine primary and secondary...

      • Jose Y Varela
      • Catalina Varela who became a Catholic
        Catholic
        The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...

         nun
      • Maria Rosario Varela
      • Pablo Y Varela
      • Lourdes Y Varela
      • Jesus Y Varela
        Jesus Y Varela
        The Most Reverend Jesus Y. Varela is a Filipino prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been the Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sorsogon, since his retirement on April 16, 2003. He was appointed bishop of Sorsogon on November 27, 1980 Prior to that he served as the first...

         who became a Prelate
        Prelate
        A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...

         and a Roman Catholic Bishop
        Bishop
        A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

      • Pedro Y Varela
      • Vicente Y Varela
      • Consuelo Y Varela who also became a Catholic
        Catholic
        The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...

         nun and Directress of St. Theresa's College, Cebu City
        St. Theresa's College, Cebu City
        St. Theresa's College, Cebu City, Philippines, is a Catholic institution of learning founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on June 1, 1933 upon the invitation of Monsignor Gabriel Reyes, then Archbishop of Cebu....

      • Mariano Y Varela who became a Catholic
        Catholic
        The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...

         Priest of the Society of Jesus
        Society of Jesus
        The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...

         and Former Executive Vice President Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
    • Paz M. Varela who married Manuel Y Sison
      • Jesus V. Sison
      • Teresita V. Sison (Gensoli upon marriage) she was former President of the Philippine Catholic Women's League
        Catholic Women's League
        The Catholic Women's League is a Roman Catholic lay organisation aimed at women in England and Wales. Through emigration in the past, the CWL may be found in some Commonwealth countries. It is especially flourishing in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. -References:* Olivier Rota,...

      • Luis V. Sison
      • Milagros V. Sison
    • Jose M. Varela married Gloria Yulo they had nine children
      • Ramon Y. Varela
      • Conchita Y. Varela who married Homero Sicangco, together they founded Bob's http://bobsbacolod.com/history, a wholly owned restaurant chain in the Philippines
        Philippines
        The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

        , which has become a culinary institution in Bacolod City
        Bacolod City
        The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...

      • Jose Y. Varela who served as a member of the Philippine Assembly married Hortensia Gustillo,one of their sons Eduardo Varela served as Mayor of Cadiz, Negros Occidental
      • Jorge Y. Varela
      • Gregorio Y. Varela who married Dolores Coscoluella
      • Gloria Y. Varela who married Pepito Sicangco
      • Antonio Y. Varela who married Delicia Salgado
      • Elenita Varela who married Manuel Abello
      • Eduardo Y. Varela

  • 2.Eusebio Araneta-Varela
  • 3.Francisco Araneta-Varela
  • 4.Dolores Araneta-Varela married Agaton Ramos they had three children
    • Crispino V. Ramos who married Melitona Ramos they had seven children; (at present a public school is named after him, the Don Crispino V. Ramos Elementary School at Barrio Taculing).
      • Rosario R. Ramos who married Felisimo Zarandin
      • Paz R. Ramos who married Amado Jalandoni
      • Ramon R. Ramos who married Patria Aguilar who died and was remarried to Salvacion Cuachon
      • Jose R. Ramos
      • Socorro R. Ramos who married Jose Villasor
      • Simplicio R. Ramos who married Clotilde Labayen - they had nine children: Josephine L. Ramos, Simplicio L. Ramos Jr., Rafael L. Ramos, Maria Teresa L. Ramos, Jesus L. Ramos, Ruby L. Ramos, Manuel L. Ramos, Crispino L. Ramos, and Jose Maria L. Ramos
      • Gregorio R. Ramos who married Carolina Licuanan
    • Mariano V. Ramos
      Mariano Ramos Ancestral House
      The Mariano Ramos Ancestral House is the home of the late Don Mariano Ramos, first appointed Presidente Municipal of Bacolod City, Philippines...

      , who served as Presidente Municipal (Mayor) of Bacolod City
      Bacolod City
      The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...

      , married Josefa Villanueva they had six children;
      • Consolacion V. Ramos who married Jose Alunan
      • Agaton V. Ramos who married Luz Solatorio
      • Romulo V. Ramos who married Luz Arceo
      • Jesusa V. Ramos who married Claudio Alunan, their daughter Josefa Alunan is married to former Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission
        Philippine Sports Commission
        The Philippine Sports Commission was created through Republic Act No. 6847 in 1990 to serve as the "sole policy-making and coordinating body of all amateur sports development programs and institutions in the Philippines"...

         and Congressman Monico Puentevella
        Monico Puentevella
        Monico Ogtong Puentevella is a Filipino politician. A member of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD Party, he has been elected three terms as a Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the Lone District of Bacolod City...

      • Editha V. Ramos who married Alberto Arceo
      • Hermelina V. Ramos who married Raymundo Dizon among their sons is La Salle
        Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
        The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...

         Catholic
        Catholic
        The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...

         religious brother, and former Philippine Cabinet Secretary Rolando Ramos Dizon
        Rolando Ramos Dizon
        Brother Rolando Ramos Dizon FSC PhD is a Filipino De La Salle Brother who was the President of De La Salle University-Manila and the De La Salle University System from 1998–2003, Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education from March 2003 to September 2004, Director-at-Large of the Catholic...

        ,and former Bacolod City
        Bacolod City
        The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...

        Mayor, Ray Dizon Jr.
    • Maria V. Ramos married Leopoldo Sitchon they had eight children;
      • Jesus R. Sitchon
      • Jose R. Sitchon
      • Roberto R. Sitchon
      • Leonardo R. Sitchon
      • Carmelo R. Sitchon
      • Ramon R. Sitchon
      • Graciano R. Sitchon
      • Josefina R. Sitchon

Sources

  • http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=43275
  • http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=604525

External links

  • http://thearanetaclan.blogspot.com/2006/06/familia-araneta.html
  • http://www.cbcponline.org/bishops/bishops/varela.html
  • http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=24829
  • http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2589296/
  • http://www.bagocity.gov.ph/history.htm
  • http://yourworldtodaynews.blogspot.com/2008/11/remember-remember-fifth-november.html
  • http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/dsbenedicto-negoc/index.php?cat1=2&PHPSESSID=46ae8467e8c42f5a46ea9bbb4ea39b56
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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