Solidifying the Banaken Family through Love and Sharing

GOD IS LOVE. In the Holy Bible, God said; “Love one another as I love you all”, this is a clear message for every members of the Banaken-Kelayan family. We shall never be swayed or succumb to the influence of the devil who wants to spread hatred and divisiveness amongst people. As I mentioned in my message during our first Banaken-Kelayan clan reunion last December 28, 2014, let us be one solid family. The ball is now passed unto you-the second, third, fourth and other generations to come. We, the three remaining members of the first generation are already at the twilight of our ages and sooner or later, we will all go to the other side of life.

To those who are blessed, share God’s blessings to others who are less fortunate. Do not be self-centered and  tight-wads, as the saying goes "Consider the interest of the many above your own personal interest". Help and serve not only to your relatives but also to others in some simple ways. By doing so, you are also serving God. Follow the footstep of your great grandmother Kelayan; your mother, aunt and grandmother Juanita who at their prime ages, have shown true love and concern not only to us but also to others. I, myself will never forget the love and care showered upon me by manang Juanita when I was a small kid particularly during the time when our late mother left us for months in search for our food in the lowlands.

GOD BLESS, WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!

 JOSE L. BANAKEN
Adapted from the 2nd Family Reunion
Edited by: MBP

Limitless Love from the Roots to the Vines

I felt that it is imperative to choose love as the most important element in life that everyone in our family must cultivate. I have seen that love is lacking in us. There should to be love between a husband and his wife, between and among cousins, nephews, nieces and uncles and aunts and sundries. God commands us to love even our enemies. If someone throws you a stone, throw back bread. If you are slapped in the face, offer the other side. If you are robbed of your clothes, give your coat. This is how immense God would have loved to be- Limitless.

Look at our relatives in Banao. They are all very loving and respectful of us. We should also extend the same to them. It is only under the sun. With love prevailing at all times, it feels good that the sun is shining over us endlessly and completely devoid of any dark moment. As our father and mother did love us as their precious children, in like manner every family member must radiate love to one another.
             
MATAGO TAGO TAKO AMIN!
              

JUANITA B. ALUYEN
Adapted from the 2nd Family Reunion
Edited by:  MBP

Contribute Luster to the Banaken Name

May each member of our family ever cherish this occasion being our first exclusive gathering. Indeed we surely miss the presence of a few who are in the foreign countries although I am sure that all of them wished very much to savor the joy of being together.

It is unfortunate that this reunion and the first ever gathering being conducted only at the time when the surviving members of the first generation are in their ripe ages. If early death would intervene, this maybe the first and the last that we might be participating. We are almost near the point of destination in our earthly sojourn. Allegorically speaking, the sun is setting in the west.

I invite everyone to enjoy this affair and make it as meaningful and memorable as it could be. This will be the moment for deeper feeling of affinity with one another. It is expected that healthy relationship should deepen most especially with those who just came into the family by affinity. Certainly, meeting with new faces, hearing peculiar names would all the more add significance to this occasion which will hopefully linger in your thoughts and memories for long.

It is most heartening and I would say it with pride and gratefulness that the Lord has loved us and blessed us abundantly for which we should thank Him profusely. At least we can pride ourselves that purely females of the second generation have in good measure distinguished themselves in their chosen endeavor. A few as well of the third generation similarly are keeping abreast. And many more others following are proving their worth. Indeed, the development in our family appears promising and therefore we feel so proud of you. Several of you are contributing luster to our family name. Keep up and be challenged to do more for the benefits of others, the community and the country in general. To God be the glory!

As parents of the first generation, we can honestly say that we did our best to show you the way of life most particularly on the aspect of education. There may have been failures along the way mainly for the fact that many did not listen to the voice of wisdom and counsel but of their own parochial mind set. Most particularly among your male cousins who virtually ignored idealism and went on to their merry ways. There is a tragedy of epic proportion that invites offensive retort. So miserable focus in life about which we may call an ironical twist of fate and horrific magnitude of defeat and condemnation.

Amidst the failures in our family, we can still proudly count the blessings showered upon us by the Almighty and more are expected as time goes by especially if we maintain our faith in Him realizing that it is Him alone is the author of prosperity and no one else. May He bind us together always as we move onward in quest for a better life. Let us bear in mind what Jesus said: "I am the Door, the Way, the Life, the Truth, the Bread and the Living Water".

It is admitted that every bitter experiences anyone of us had gone through must be set aside and be forgotten in oblivion. One is cleansed of sins only through love and forgiveness to others. Fuel your dream to fruition with complete reliance to God.

Allow no room for enmity, long live BANAKEN family!

BARTOLOME L. BANAKEN SR.
Adapted from the 1st Family Reunion
Edited by: MBP

Family Reunion: A Tradition to Continue Forge Unity for the Banaken Vines

The surviving siblings of the Kelayan-Banaken family namely Jose, Juanita and Bartolome Sr.,  all of whom are in their ripe ages, proposed a sort of a get-together among the progenies of the family which in a way maybe considered a bidding adieu by the oldies. The members of the second and third generations of the family readily responded with a great enthusiasm and held it in Katayyaw, Liliteg, Guinzadan Norte which is an idyllic rural place.

With the exception of those in the foreign countries and few locals who missed the occasion for one or another, a majority attended and all took part in the reveilles until late in the afternoon. It was remarkably noted that during the affair, the subfamily of Golgolan had the most in attendance. On the other hand, the subfamily of Juanita had the least attendance in the person of Victor B. Aluyen and his son Jonathan Aluyen although there are six siblings of them.

The said occasion was held on a Sunday being considered as a day of the Lord. It was very worthy to note that three (3) members rendered bible verses sharing in the opening program. Others went to church services before joining in the main activities.

I just noticed that there were very few members by affinity who showed up and I saw the need of extending prominence to these members for more intimate recognition. Also, there should be recognition of distinctions for every member of the family who contributed to uplift the prestige of the family. The first and second generations need not be included. I am very sure that the people from these generations knew very well one another while the younger generations do not. For instance, the third and present generations from the subfamily of Alipio Sr. going down to the order of births of the first generation. The growing kids are the ones who should know one another. Those who joined us by affinity should be separately introduced for intimate recognition. The succeeding generations shall soon have their respective turns to know very well each other as they grow older. Do siblings in these generations from each subfamily knew very well one another? I am very certain that they do not. Thus, a reunion shall be held periodically to give a must impact upon the younger members.

Similar to other family reunions, there was a usual presentation of subfamilies. As the day winds down, there has to be communal dancing and singing which may create a feeling that projects unity. For instance, Jose who has difficulty in walking can limp with spread arms and trail along a big circle of members to the tune of the gongs. Juanita who experienced legs paralysis can follow suit energized by the merry-making.

All of us were happy and satisfied with the success of the first family reunion. In a meeting among the second generation, they had unanimously agreed to conduct the second one in December 2015. It was then suggested that in order to give additional impact to all members, the reunion shall become a tradition of the family. It shall be held every two (2) years on a hosting rotation basis by the subfamily for the benefits of the up-coming generations.

I can now imagine that through a hole in the sky, our forebears Kelayan and Banaken are looking down at us with big, big smiles.

To GOD be the glory!

BARTOLOME L. BANAKEN SR.
Arranged and edited by: MBP

A Memoir of the Banaken-Kelayan Roots



Kelayan Lacdagan Banaken

The progenies of the Banaken family should have carried or used either Inginga, Nasibod, Lapayag, the Ilocano term for “inga” or even Bangcoog as the last name being the name of Inginga’s father. However, in earlier times it was the practice for the offsprings to use the given name of their father as their last; hence, the name Banaken as our last name. Among the second generation of the Inginga clan, only Kidsolan Inginga and Canuto Inginga of the Dionisio Inginga sub-family used the said last name. All others used the names of their father's like Palangdan, Dionisio, Banaken and Klete.

Banaken had six (6) siblings by the names Palangdan, Baungot, Dionisio, Klete, and Dalocnan, the only female. On the other hand, Kelayan who was the offspring of Lacdagan and Dayespan had three (3) siblings namely Awisan, Pette Libayan who was not able to bear a child.

The Banaken couple never went to school since the establishment of schools took place only when they had their own family. They were farmers with palay and camote as their main products. They had no source of income except for daily wage earning from time to time. More often, with the scarcity of cash at that time, they were just paid ten (10) bundles of palay. In order to sustain the needs of the family, being the head and bread winner, Banaken had to go the lowlands and do manual labor in exchange of salt and other basic needs. Basically, they had lived their lives through modest means. But thou humble their lives have been, they were imbued with sterling character allowing no perversity to disturb their family. Both were strict in values development, Banaken was strict to discipline while Kelayan commanded respect and influenced the woman folks who evidently possessed leadership. She is also a balladeer that no one among her children inherited. Banaken inherited a little of Spanish features but more on the part of Baungot and Dionisio. He died at his prime age unable to see Alipio, his first child to graduate at Trinidad Agricultural High School. Alipio Sr. was in fourth year high school when the World War II broke out. Kelayan died in 1983.

Despite difficulties in life, they had the strong desire to see their children acquire education. In stark contrast to the prevailing belief that education is harbinger of “tangla or matangla” a derogatory term for a dysfunctional life ways. All of their children really owe them much gratitude.

The couple reared five children namely Alipio, Francisco, Bartolome, Juanita, and Jose. Dacwag, the sixth and next to Jose died in his early teen while the seventh, Helen died in infancy. The siblings were also known and called by their igorot names. Alipio was called Wapawap and Bangcoog; Francisco was called Golgolan, Lakisa, Logangis, and Tibanggal; Bartolome was called Bandol, Oyto and Gedeng while Jose was Cayat, Mengek and Babate.

Providentially, the Banaken couple supported Alipio through high school at Trinidad Agricultural High School now Benguet State University who chose to take up the Special Normal curriculum which was offered to address the strong demand for teachers in the Cordilleras. Ideally, those to teach in the elementary level should be graduates of 4 year training in education. But this special program was offered to meet the acute demand for teachers in the highlands

Golgolan barely finished the primary grades. He got married during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Bartolome finished his elementary education after the liberation period and enrolled also in Trinidad Agricultural School and took up the Special Normal curriculum. Juanita had barely got to first year but she had stopped due to lack of financial support. Our mother, Kelayan being a widow cannot afford the needed support.

Consequently, poverty thwarted the strong desire of our mother to see her children got educated. She only did not get widowed; she was advancing in age. Jose, in the later part of his elementary education had to stay with the childless Til-adan couple. Initially, he enrolled at Kayan Holy Rosary High for first year but eventually he had to quit and went down to Manila as a self-supporting student in the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). While working at BPI, he pursued his college education and remained in the bank until his retirement.

Very evidently, the Banaken-Kelayan couple desired their children to acquire education not having been influenced by prevailing sentiment during their time that material wealth is much preferred to education. A prominent belief then that labor brings forth wealth while education was a waste of time. If this zeal for education would prevail among every progeny of the Banaken Family, I cannot imagine the wonders it will bring to our family. May they rest in peace!

 

BARTOLOME L. BANAKEN SR.

Edited by: MBP