Held in high esteem by his community, Cesar was a visionary and sought high adventure. He contributed generously to the Concerned Citizens of San Juan, the grassroots movement that resisted the proposed copper smelter in the seventies, and even delivered speeches and rallied the crowd from the stage. He was exceptionally good looking, charismatic, and courageous. He was a terrific storyteller. Before dreaming up a beach resort, he spent a lot of time developing Ticalan, the agricultural property the family refers to as Paralis. His son, environmentalist Lando Marasigan adds, “He had the instinct far ahead that Laiya was going to be the place to be when there wasn't even a road in sight. He made that road with a 2nd hand Landrover he got from his nephew, my kuya Junior, his protogé.”

“What I remember was that my father was always working in some distant place, and when he'd come home, it was a grand homecoming. One time after I decided to come back home, long after we had a falling out, I brought home a big group of friends and we were having dinner at the table—just my friends, dad, and me. He was overjoyed over my coming home and I even brought friends from my Northern exposure. It made the moment homely and poignant of its reconciliatory nature. After that, he sponsored our group -  Speleo Philippines. I think it was at the launching of a first of its kind duratrans exhibit of the Caves of Cagayan. He cut the ribbons and mingled with the other nitwits of the outdoors at Megamall.”

His granddaughter Marga recalls, “A fond memory I have is how he loved food. He would have a favorite food and have a lot of it - for example if he likes taho, the fridge would have one layer just for a tray of maybe 20 glasses filled with taho! Sacks of oysters, huge baskets of mangoes or mangosteen!” Lando shares, “Pops loved to eat good cooked meals. Nothing fancy the way Anthony Bordain would have it. He had lots of it. You'd always find him by the table with all the principals: meat, pork, chicken, fish, and veggies. How they're cooked and paired is a feast for the eyes. Remember its always plus 14. He enjoyed cooking, made sure he sent the right person to market to grab best, freshest parts. He was like a maestro conducting an orchestra in a busling and steaming kitchen. He tasted each and every dish with a long sandok. Nothing satisfied him until he saw everyone was fully satisfied. He made it a point that we start our meals all together. No sandos were allowed at the dinner table when we ate. The Original Sa Lido restaurant in Chinatown was his favorite.”

He held on to old school family values and it was of great importance to him that his children and grandchildren said hello when entering and goodbye when leaving his home. He would correct your posture if you were slouching. He would let you know if he disagreed. His grandson Roel Marasigan remembers his Lolo Cesar, “He was stern, stood by his beliefs, and always had a commanding presence.” He was very proud of his large family and was fascinated how his two daughters flanked eleven sons in their order of birth. Chamba was the name he gifted his youngest daughter. He loved being in the presence of his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was happiest outdoors with his loved ones. People still recall how he would often say, “Luz, ang mga bata.” He enjoyed watching her tend to their children and grandchildren. Just as he was a wonderful family man, he was a great friend too.

By Engr. Farah Mayo-Santamaria

The story of San Juan town in Batangas is best told by its citizens who experience life there while it  grows as a town.   Arch. Leon M. Mayo from San Juan is my father.  His parents are citizens of San Juan.  His great grandparents were original settlers of the town.   An urban planner / architect by profession, Leon is among those who understood the unique development journey of the  town.  The historical material in this tribute is sourced from his writings about San Juan town.    

The Town History 

At the Eastern edge of Batangas province is San Juan, Batangas. The town is at the boundary of Quezon province where the influence of this subregion is reflected in the San Juan’s deep South Tagalog roots, economy, lifestyle and speaking accent.  A comparatively new town founded in early 1800, San Juan’s  founding families are actually immigrants from nearby older settlements (i.e. Lipa, Batangas City, San Jose, and Cuenca in  Batangas province, from Tiaong, Candelaria and Sariaya in Quezon province, and even from Laguna).

The original immigrants of San Juan were mostly young families from older towns seeking greener pastures. They came in search of open lands which they can convert into plantations.  Because the lands were vast agricultural areas, a feudal type of landlord-tenant economic system evolved.  This type of economy brought about the golden age of the town during the American occupation of the country. 

Because San Juan had to compete with older established communities, its  citizens are practical, hardy people who worked and treasured their lands.  They  are known to be nationalistic, clannish, and fiercely proud of their roots.  In the Philippine-American war of 1890, the province of Batangas under Gen. Miguel Malvar was the last holdout in the resistance against the Americans. San Juan actively supported the Provincial war effort where on record, it lost the most men in the province while bravely holding off the enemy.   

San Juan’s network of agricultural lands would create the appropriate setting for what the town is today.  Satisfied with the old ways, proud landlords sustained their  plantations as long as possible.  This resulted in deferred urban development in the sixties for San Juan compared to neighboring towns that were rapidly urbanizing.  Today, the town’s green, open spaces are resort sites, organic farms and open fields  that the town is known for today.    

Growing Up in the Town 

My father, Leon Mercado Mayo, was born in San Juan, Batangas where he spent his infant years.  Even when his family relocated in Manila in the fifties (so that Leon and his brother Cesar, Jr. may start their schooling there), the family never failed to spend months in San Juan especially during summer and Christmas break.  Growing up, San Juan was a special place for Leon and his brother, Red, who typically  relished the company of kin and townmates as well as the many fun activities in the family plantation.  

Leon’s maternal grandfather, Kapitan Leon Mercado, was the haciendero family patriarch turned Katipunero officer during the war.  In the beginning of the 1900s, Kapitan Leon, like many other family patriarchs, built the family ancestral house that today is more than a century old.  Especially when Kapitan Leon the patriarch was alive, it was the custom of the large Mercado clan to come home (from their residences in Manila and other urban centers) and head for the ancestral house to celebrate the town fiesta, the Christmas season, social affairs and plainly, to keep in touch with their roots.  

Casa Leon, the Ancestral Home

San Juan town and the ancestral house holds a special place in Leon’s heart.  The house of Leon’s  grandfather today is Casa Leon, a preserved American period colonial style ancestral house in San Juan’s poblacion.  Not only was Leon and his brother born in Casa Leon, but the ownership and stewardship of the ancestral house is now entrusted to Leon.  This responsibility seemed fitting for Leon because of his profession.  Leon’s professional career involves  town and city planning projects and including  architectural heritage restoration.  

Leon has lectured on urbanization and the merits of heritage conservation in the course of his work.  He delights in literary activities and has written a book about the story of San Juan and the ancestral houses of San Juan.  His book entitled the Legacy of San Juan Batangas, has been presented in the Heritage Conservation Society’s Philippine Heritage Town and Cities program, and is today, one of the references for those who want to know the town history. In physical planning, a technical term known as Pride of Place exists.  This term resonates well with Leon’s view of his hometown and of being a proud Batangueno.  

Highly sentient about his town’s history and cultural heritage, and grateful to the opportunities the town had provided its people, Leon’s passion includes promoting San Juan to a wider audience.   In 2018, he created and launched his original play entitled Mansyon, Isang Musikal (a surprise to many who were not aware of Leon’s other artistic and musical interests). The Mansyon in the title alludes to Casa Leon, the music is 14 original songs, and the story is about San Juan’s practical journey from its unique feudalistic past.  

Family

Today, Casa Leon’s restoration continues and is visited by heritage house afficionados and enthusiasts.  Leon is married to Elvira Villavicencio who share his interest since her  family is also the steward of their 150-year-old Marella-Villavicencio ancestral house in Taal.   Elvira’s  great grandmother is Gliceria Marella Villavicencio, the Philippine heroine who aided the Katipunan resistance by donating one of her merchant ships to the cause.  

Leon and Elvira ’s children are Carla (Tobia), Melissa (Cariaso) and Farah  (Santamaria).  Being senior citizens, Leon and Elvira are blessed with six grandchildren:  Solen and Mateo, Milo and Nicola, and Lexi and Pablo respectively.  They are hopeful that the children will grow up to share Leon’s passion for his family heritage and the welfare of the old hometown where it all began.

Mula sa luwad na hinulma ng kanyang malikhaing mga kamay, kasabay ng pag-ikot ng labiang kahoy, sapat na init ng apoy at masusing paglalagay ng magagandang detalye nito, marahil ay hindi na mabibilang ang palayok na nagawa ng 94 na taong gulang na si 𝗚𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗹𝗮𝗼 ng Bayan ng San Juan.

Ang animo ay simpleng kasangkapan sa pagluluto ng mga masasarap na ulam Batangueño, kagaya ng Pinais at Sinaing na Tulingan, ay malaking bahagi sa buhay ng mga taga-Batangas.  Napakalaking parte rin ito ng buhay ng magluluwad o magpapalayok na si Nanay Cresencia, na nagsimula sa larangang ito sa edad na 12.

Ang pinarangalang Dangal ng Batangan for Folk Arts para sa taong 2024 ay may mahigit 80 taong karanasan sa paggawa ng palayok at isang buhay na patunay na kinakailangang pagyamanin at panatilihin ang nasabing kultura at tradisyon at patuloy na maibahagi ang pagkamalikhaing ito sa lahing Batangan.

Naging isang sentral na pigura sa maraming award-winning na pelikula at dokumentaryo si Nanay Crisencia, kabilang ang “Putik” ni Jeffrey Sandoval at “Natatanging Palayok” ni Ein Gil Randal Camuñas at Jean Rose Matienzo na naging finalist ng Sinag Maynila 2024 Documentary Category at nakatanggap ng Honorable Mention sa Best International Documentary Film category sa Campinas Film Festival 2023 sa Brazil.

Ang 2019 Outstanding San Juaneño ay naging featured artist din ng Likha+Mundo, isang Filipino home décor brand, na tinutulungan ang mga local artisans sa pagpapanatiling buhay ng kanilang mga malikhaing tradisyon.

Mula sa pagsasanib ng tradisyunal na sining at contemporary designs ng modernong palayok, ang mga disenyong ito ay nagbigay oportunidad sa kanila na gawaran ng Pamana Award sa nakaraang Stilo ArteFino Fair 2024.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang tradisyong ng kanyang larangan ay patuloy niyang pinagyayabong at ipinasa sa kanyang mga anak at mga apo.

Credits: Batangas Provincial Information Office and Jeffrey Sandoval

Sa idinaos na selebrasyon ng 443rd Foundation Day ng Lalawigan ng Batangas noong ika-8 ng Disyembre 2024, dalawang natatanging Batangueña ang binigyang-pagkilala ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Batangas bilang mga indibidwal na nagpakita ng angking husay at dedikasyon sa kani-kanilang mga sports o larangan ng palakasan .

Kabilang dito ang isa sa pinagkakapitagan at sikat na manlalaro ng bansa sa kasalukuyan, ang tinaguriang “The Phenom” ng Philippine Women’s Volleyball na si 𝗔𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗲𝘇. Mula sa payak na pamilya sa San Juan, Batangas, nagsimula ang karera ni Valdez bilang isang atleta sa Southern Tagalog Calabarzon Athletic Association (STCAA), kung saan siya natuklasan ng University of Sto. Tomas (UST) upang maglaro para sa kanilang high school varsity volleyball team, ang UST Tigress Cubs.

Sa kaniyang unang taon, napili siya bilang miyembro ng National Capital Region (NCR) team para sa Palarong Pambansa. Siya ang nangungunang manlalaro ng volleyball sa high school ng UST na nanalo ng ilang mga kampeonato: tatlong titulo sa University Athletic Association of the Philippines o UAAP (Seasons 70–72), at isa sa National Shakey's Girls' Volleyball League (2009), kung saan siya ay naging 3-time MVP.

Mas nakilala si Valdez sa kaniyang karera nang maging miyembro ng Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles sa kolehiyo, at nanalo ng dalawang beses sa UAAP. Siya rin ay nakuha para maglaro sa female professional volleyball team na nakabase sa Nonthaburi, Thailand, ang 3BB Nakornnont.

Nagkamit din si Valdez ng maraming indibidwal na parangal sa ilang mga laro ng volleyball gaya ng Premiere Volleyball League's Reinforce, Open, Invitational at Collegiate Conference bilang Best outside hitter, Best scorer, best Spiker at MVP, UAAP's Best Scorer, Best outside hitter at MVP, Ateneo's four-time Best Scorer, 3-time Best Server, 3-time Season MVP at Finals MVP.

Sa mahaba niyang karera sa larangan ng volleyball, nagkamit na si Valdez ng maraming indibidwal na parangal, kabilang dito ang kaniyang pagiging 2014 Female Athlete of the Year of Pexers Choice Awards, 2014 Woman of Style and Substance of People Asia, at 2023-2024's Most Trusted Sportsperson ng Reader's Digest 2024.

Si Valdez, na captain ball ng Creamline Cool Smashers at tinatawag ding Batangueño's volleybelle, ang naging kinatawan ngayong taon ng mga nagkamit ng parangal sa 2024 Dangal ng Batangan Awarding Ceremony at nagbigay ng mensahe ng pagtanggap at pagtugon.

Malaki ang kaniyang naging pasasalamat sa pamahalaang panlalawigan sa pagkilala ng institusyon sa kagaya niyang nasa larangan ng palakasan o sports. Ang natanggap umano niyang pagkilala ay iniaalay niya sa lahat ng mga manlalarong Batangueño na patuloy na namamayagpag sa loob at labas ng lalawigan at bansa.

Credit: Batangas Provincial Information Office