Florinda Baena Villanueva and David Rubio Larena

Florinda Baena Villanueva and  David Rubio Larena 

 

A Cultural Beacon of Dumaguete: The Legacy of Penn T. Larena

In the Field of Arts,Culture and Heritage 

In celebration of Dumaguete City's 75th Diamond Jubilee, Prof. Josefino “Penn” Tulabing Larena Jr. was rightfully nominated for the Most Outstanding Dumagueteño Award—a recognition befitting a man whose life and work have been passionately dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the city’s arts, culture, heritage, tourism, and civic pride.

For more than two decades, Penn Larena has stood as one of Dumaguete’s most tireless cultural champions. Through photo exhibits, heritage seminars, festivals, mural installations, historic clean-up campaigns, and educational initiatives, he has led efforts that strengthened local identity, bridged generational knowledge, and illuminated the rich soul of the city for locals and visitors alike.

His notable achievements in the field of arts, culture, and heritage include:

1.      Chairman of the “Handumanan sa Dumaguete” Photo Exhibit (2012), a signature cultural event for National Heritage Month that captured and celebrated the timeless story of Dumaguete through powerful visuals.

2.      A vital member of the Heritage Exhibit Booth Committee at the Buglasan Festival (2006–2014), where he brought the city’s past to life at Negros Oriental’s grandest cultural showcase.

3.      President of the Negros Oriental Alliance of Culture & Arts Advocates (NOACAA-INC), a dynamic organization committed to regional cultural advancement.

4.      Delegate to prestigious cultural gatherings including the 10th International Conference on Philippine Studies (2016) and the 2017 West Visayas Regional Museum Congress, where he carried Dumaguete’s cultural voice to national and international forums.

5.      Organizer and lecturer at the Second History of Dumaguete Seminar (2015), fostering public understanding and pride in the city’s heritage.

6.      Key member of the Organizing Committee for National Heritage Month in Dumaguete (2011–2015), aligning local celebrations with the national heritage movement.

7.      Spearheaded clean-up and preservation efforts for Dumaguete’s monuments and public plazas since 2014—ensuring that historical landmarks remain living testaments to the city’s past.

8.      Philatelic Exhibit Lead for the Dumaguete Stamp Club (2021), where he curated rare stamps featuring Filipino and American themes, linking global narratives with local history.

9.      Provincial Coordinator for National Indigenous Peoples Month (2005), honoring cultural diversity and uplifting indigenous traditions across the province.

10.  Instrumental in the beautification and restoration of the American Cemetery and the annual celebration of Philippine-American Friendship Day—a solemn tribute to shared histories.

Beyond these core achievements, Larena has continuously extended his influence:

·         First Chairman of the City’s Historical & Heritage Committee, where he authored the key communication that re-established the City Heritage Council.

·         Served in the Dumaguete City Tourism Council from 2001 to 2018, playing a crucial role in major cultural and tourism initiatives.

·         Founded the Buglas Reading & Writers Club, now nationally affiliated with NARA (National Alliance of Reading Advocates).

·         Vice President and former Assistant Treasurer of the Dumaguete Festival & Arts Society Inc.

·         Active in Flores de Mayo / Santacruzan from 1999 to 2008.

·         Delegate to the CCP Regional Dance Workshops in 2003 and 2005, supporting the flourishing of local dance traditions.

·         Member of the Kalsa Restoration Committee under the Perdices Administration.

·         Current moderator of the Paulinian Arts Society, Dumaguete’s oldest art club.

·         Curator and host of Art Talks with local artists, creating platforms for dialogue and creativity.

·         Committee member of the 2024 Capitol Building Centennial Celebration.

·         Longtime member of the Silliman University Church History Committee (2002–present).

·         A restablished founding member of the Order of the Knights of Rizal in Negros Oriental, perpetuating national values in local contexts.

Through his unwavering devotion, Penn T. Larena has not only safeguarded Dumaguete’s cultural treasures but also ignited a collective passion among citizens to honor their heritage. His legacy is written not only in documents, exhibits, and restored landmarks—but in the very heart of Dumaguete itself. 

Negrense Poet

20 years as a Social Sciences Professor

27 years as a Heritage Tour Guide

27 Cultural Heritage Advocate 

27 Civic Leader

Fourth Degree KGOR -Order of the Knights of Rizal 

Negrense Historian 

 

Mariano Larena y de Sandes

 

Manuel Landero Pastor

 Manuel Pastor y Landero (Cádiz, August 6, 1829 – Seville, January 28, 1889) was a prominent Spanish civil engineer ,sugar trader and politician who played a significant role during the Revolutionary Sexennium.​

Early Life and Education

Born in Cádiz to José María Pastor Menchaca and Ana María Landero Bauza, Pastor y Landero pursued studies in civil engineering, equipping him for a career that would intertwine technical expertise with public service. ​

Engineering Career

Pastor y Landero's engineering contributions were notably centered around the Guadalquivir River in Seville. He oversaw significant projects, including the construction of the commercial dock situated between the Torre del Oro and the Isabel II Bridge. ​

In 1869, he secured a concession to construct a 189-kilometer railway line connecting Mérida and Seville. Despite initiating construction, financial constraints and the challenging terrain of the Sierra Morena impeded progress. Consequently, in 1880, he sold the concession to the MZA company. ​

As a civil engineer, he was part of the inspector and administrative commission overseeing works on the Guadalquivir River in 1866.

In 1869, he was a board member of the Bank of Seville, likely holding a significant number of shares, though he was not listed among its founders. He also served as a consulting engineer for the National Mortgage Credit Institution.

On January 10, 1870, he was one of the founding shareholders of the Mérida-Seville Railway Company, according to a deed signed before notary Antonio Valverde Cambra. 

By 1872, he was the chief engineer of the Mérida-Seville Railway, with offices at No. 3 Palmas Street. The concession for the railway was granted on March 24, 1869, in his name, with perpetual rights and no subsidies, which he later transferred to the company.

The railway’s advisory board included:

President: Pedro Luis Huidobro Ruiz
Vice President: Juan Brieva Muriel
Treasurer: Tomás de la Calzada Rodríguez
Secretary: José Domingo Irureta Goyena
Board Members: Gonzalo Segovia García, Rafael Laffite Laffite, Manuel de la Cámara, Basilio del Camino y Camino, Pedro Segundo Pérez Tovía, Juan Pedro Lacave Soulé, Dionisio Moreno Romero (a partner of Simón Oñativia Aresti in the Nuestra Señora de los Reyes mine, also part of Laorden y Moreno), Ricardo Soto Lavaggi, Simón Martínez Martínez, Francisco Alonso, and Marcelino Martínez Herrero.

By 1881, Pastor y Landero was the railway’s concessionaire and managing director. At that time, the remaining advisory board members were Tomás de la Calzada Rodríguez, Basilio del Camino, José Domingo Irureta Goyena (heir of Domingo Pérez Ansoátegui and nephew of his wife), and Juan Brieva Muriel. 

Family Life

Manuel Pastor y Landero was born in Cádiz on August 6, 1829, the son of José María Pastor Menchaca and Ana María Landero Bauza. He married Eugenia Villamil Teves settled in "Ayuquitan Calo San Jose Negros Oriental ".

Political Involvement

Pastor y Landero's political career was marked by multiple terms as a deputy in the Cortes. He represented Seville during the 1869 and 1872 legislatures and Cazalla de la Sierra in 1871. On June 16, 1870, he presented a petition to the constituent Cortes with 11,370 signatures from Seville residents, advocating for Antonio de Orleans, Duke of Montpensier, to be appointed King of Spain. ​

In 1874, he served as a provincial deputy and was a member of the Constitutional Conservative Committee. Additionally, in 1872, he became vice president of the Hispano-Ultramarino Center, an organization dedicated to maintaining Spain's territorial integrity by preserving its overseas possessions. ​

Affiliations and Memberships

Beyond his engineering and political endeavors, Pastor y Landero was associated with the Tolerance and Fraternity Lodge in Cádiz as a Freemason and was a member of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza. ​bancaandalucia.blogspot.com

Later Life and Death

 Twin lakes Natural Park Sibulan was discovered by two Spanish Farmers Miguel Patero and Manuel Pastor in 1878. Manuel Pastor y Landero passed away on January 28, 1889, in Seville.

Don Manuel Pastor

Brigida Gomez Baena-Abilla

 Brigida Gomez Baena-Abilla, born around 1865 in Bais City, Negros Oriental, Philippines, had a life that was both vibrant and layered with historical and familial significance. Her roots traced back to Spain, as her family originally hailed from Ávila, Spain. Brigida's father, Lorenzo Bruno Gomez, and her mother, Ramona Ramos Gonzales, were both 27 years old when she was born, raising her in a time of great societal change and economic development in the Philippines.

Her first marriage was to Diego Garcia Baena, a Spanish Navy officer and widower from Cádiz, Spain. Diego's previous experiences and his role in the Spanish Navy likely exposed Brigida to a life of adventure and cultural richness, while her connection to him anchored her firmly in the Spanish heritage that would influence her path forward.

However, Brigida’s life was not confined to one union. In 1898, after the death of her first  husband she remarried Eleuterio Quiterio Pileo Abilla, a prominent Spanish haciendero, and first cousin to Don Manuel Abilla, a well-known sugar trader in the region. This second marriage further solidified her position as an influential figure in Bais, Negros Oriental, as she became part of one of the wealthiest families in the area. Eleuterio’s business dealings, primarily in sugar, contributed greatly to the region's economy and allowed Brigida to thrive as a haciendera. Her role in managing the family estates and navigating the complexities of both local and Spanish cultural expectations was vital to her standing in the community.

Brigida’s legacy is carried on through her children, who reflect her vibrant and colorful life. She had several children from her first marriage to Diego Garcia Baena:

• Francisca Gomez Baena (1883–1932) married to Enrique Teves Villanueva
• Diego Jr. Baena (1885–1950)
• Antonio Baena Gómez (1885–1955) married ) Dolores "Loleng" Teves. Villanueva
• Isabel Baena (1885–1960) married Jeremias Alcon Teves
• Bruno Vicente Ezequiel Mateo de la Santa Trinidad Baena (1894–Deceased)
• 
  

From her second marriage to Eleuterio, Brigida had:

• Rafael Gomez-Abilla (1899–1985), who married Rosario Mapeso  Pinili
• Hortencio Abilla, who married Rosario  Villanueva 

Through her two marriages, Brigida’s life was woven into the tapestry of both Spanish and Filipino cultures, navigating the dynamics of both colonial and local societal expectations. As an influential figure, she managed the family’s vast agricultural estates and participated actively in the social and economic life of Bais, Negros Oriental.

Brigida’s colorful life as an haciendera and her passionate love life left a lasting mark on her community. Her keen intellect, grace, and business acumen allowed her to thrive in a male-dominated society, securing her legacy as a strong matriarch and businesswoman.

She passed away in 1945 in Bais, Negros Oriental, at the age of 82, and was laid to rest there, leaving behind a legacy of strength, resilience, and influence that continued to reverberate through the generations. Brigida’s story is one of personal triumph, cultural fusion, and the enduring power of love and family across both continents and time.

Enrique Teves Villanueva

 Enrique Teves Villanueva and Francesca Gomez Baena, my great-grandparents, hold a significant place in the history of Negros Oriental, Philippines. Enrique, hailing from Bais City and belonging to the prominent Pinili, Villamil, Teves, and Regis clans, was a notable Filipino politician. He served as the Governor of Negros Oriental from 1916 to 1925 and represented the second district of Negros Oriental in the House of Representatives from June 2, 1925, until his death on October 12, 1930. His tenure was marked by remarkable infrastructural contributions, including the development of Rizal Boulevard, Quezon Park, the Provincial Capitol, and several bridges. Additionally, the town of Enrique Villanueva in Siquijor stands as a testament to his lasting impact on the region.

Francesca Gomez Baena, Enrique's wife, came from the distinguished Gonzales, Garcia, Gomez, Baena, and Abilla families from Bais City . She was celebrated as the first Miss Negros Oriental Carnival Queen, underscoring her prominence in the community. Through her marriage to Enrique, she played a crucial role in supporting his political career and contributing to the region's development. Their union not only brought together influential families but also left an enduring legacy marked by public works and infrastructural advancements that continue to benefit Negros Oriental to this day.

Photo from my second cousin Wojapi Twobulls

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