GUIANG FAMILY WEBSITE
Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
The Guiang PAtriarch
Photo of Pascual II & Eufresina Guiang
The Children
Being the eldest in the family, Hilario proved to be the model of his younger brothers and sisters. With his courage, guts and determination, together with his 1st degree cousins, Mauro Guiang Fuertes, and Fernando Pobre Reyno, he spent challenging and adventurous life in the United States of America and Canada in mid 1900 thru 1950s. As working students, Hilario and Mauro attended University of Cincinnati in Ohio. Hilario also attended St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, USA. Both received Bachelor Degree in Education. The two decided to stay single and spent their retirement life back in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Their cousin Fernando went home ahead to the Philippines and raised his own family in Paoay. Fernando loved to cook as he was the most invited chef of social gatherings during his time in Paoay.
Luisa, Catalina, Leon, Maria Natividad, Eufrocina, Maria Concepcion, and Bienvenida like their oldest brother remained single. Leoncia, an elementary public school teacher, was married to Quirino Gonzales and had a child who died infant.
SERGIO POBRE GUIANG was the 9th son of Ramon and Fabiana. He joined the US Army, 23rd Infantry Regiment, B CO 1 BN Army, and was an undisputed hero in the infamous bloody Korean War, Battle Zone: Changnyong in l950. A freedom fighter, Sergio was a brave soldier who died with his boots on. During the same year, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart by the United States of America.
The high-class award signed by US President Harry Truman reads:
“Private First Class Sergio P. Guiang, RA10307066, Infantry, died in the military operations in Korea on August 3l, l950. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives and through it, he lives in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.”
Sergio or Serapio, as called by his family and close friends, is a great HERO and proudly honored not only by the Guiang Family, but the United States of America. He sacrificed his life to give freedom and peace to our generations.
PASCUAL POBRE GUIANG is the 10th in the Family Circle of 12. A government educator for many decades, he retired as District Supervisor in the Isabela School Division of the Department of Education in 1970s. His 43-long-year service in the academia impressed both his peers and superiors owing to his untarnished record and sterling achievements. Prior to his career in education, when the World War II broke out in 1945 he joined the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East) in Northern Luzon under the 14th Infantry, 5th Battalion, as member of the “Bolo” men unit with the rank of Major. He served as a trusted aide under the anti-Japanese guerilla unit of resistant leader Col. Fernando Bernolo Ramos, his father-in-law. At the height of the Japanese Occupation in Isabela, he was held by the enemy as one of the 50 prisoners of war (POWs). He and his captive comrades were incarcerated in a garrison for four days and nights without food or water. All were severely tortured and beaten as they were tagged as suspects in the ambush-slaying of four Japanese soldiers in the area.
Pascual II is married to Eufresina, the eldest daughter of spouses Fernando Ramos and Dativa Abenoja who hailed from Munoz, Nueva Ecija and migrated later to Isabela where they lived there as pioneers. The young Pascual and Eufresina first met each other at Isabela and after being engaged for several months, they got married in 1930s. After the Liberation Period (postwar era), the couple built a two-story house in a sprawling lot compound at Roxas Town where they raised all their 8 children - teachers, optometrist, architectural designer, journalist, CPA, musician. Pascual and Eufresina have 19 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren (most children and their families are now living outside Paoay). Three married children are now living in California and Nevada. One grandson (with family) live in Australia and another grandson (with family) live in Canada.
Pascual II and his wife retired at the Guiang ancestral home in Paoay. The couple celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in mid '80s. They renewed their marriage vows in a grand ceremony held at Paoay’s St. Augustine Catholic Church attended by their children, relatives, and friends.
In 1980s, both rejoined their children in California, but after several years the aging couple decided to return home and live in Paoay Town. In 2002, Mr. and Mr. Pascual P. Guiang II hosted a grand luncheon banquet held at the Sierra Madre ballroom of the five-star Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel in Calayab, Laoag City near Paoay town to mark their 90's and 80's birthdays, respectively. Hundreds of guests consisting of their children, relatives, and friends graced the four-hour gathering.
MAXIMO POBRE GUIANG (who left Paoay to study and live in Manila) is the youngest brother in Guiang’s “Family Circle of 12” did not live that long after retirement to see his five children’s success - businessmen nurses and CPA. He passed away years after he retired at age 65 in the early 1980s as government senior officer at the headquarter of the Philippine Government Department of Trade and Commerce in Manila. He was the protégé of their uncle, the then Philippine ambassador to Egypt Attorney Bartolome Umayam. Fanie and three children (with family) now live in California.
Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines