Another "Spot" worth noting!

Facebook is finding to be a treasure trove for my search for the Aspiras clan. I just had Gerald Aspiras reply and he said he is both from the Torrecarion and Aspiras line. How cool is that? To jog memories, Torrecarion Aspiras clan is related to my clan through Jose D. Aspiras, the late Philippine Minister of Tourism.

My fingers are crossed; we want to find more names...

Hopefully, he'll have some pics to add to this blog.

Here's another name for all you ASPIRAS' out there...

Hello!

With the help of my distant cousin, Charlotte ASPIRAS Teodoro, we found this new route for our family:

My grandfather, TEODORO GAGO (or Gayo) ASPIRAS, is the first cousin of TORIBIA ___ ASPIRAS. Toribia is the mother of the former Tourism Minister, JOSE D. ASPIRAS. Jose married and had his first daughter, AIDA ___ ASPIRAS, who then married and had CHARLOTTE ASPIRAS TEODORO.

JOSE D. ASPIRAS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS: (http://www.launion.gov.ph)One of The illustrious sons of this town is the late Jose D. Aspiras who was elected to the Philippine Congress in 1969. He also served as Minister of Tourism and Information Secretary during the time of President Marcos. Before he died in November 14, 1999, Aspiras was resident representative and managing director, with the rank of ambassador of the Manila Economic Cultural based in Taiwan.

The 16th century Agoo Parish Church, restored and refurbished (spearheaded by the late Minister Jose Aspiras) has been elevated to the rank of Basilica Minore by Pope John Paul II in 1981, one of the very few in the country today.


I certainly hope that I will find more Aspiras relatives out there...

Just confirming...

In light of finding a direct kin of Jose D. Aspiras, I confirmed with my own family who among his parents we are blood related to. It's been established that it was his mom, not his dad, as I previously written down, that is my grandfather's first cousin.

Thanks for going through this adventure with me, sometimes, the "spots" are not that clear and we have to sweep areas around until we see the clearer path...

I found another ASPIRAS!

I'm normally not a Facebook fan, but after finding another ASPIRAS, one that is actually a direct descendant of Jose D. Aspiras, his granddaughter from his daughter Aida, I am now a lifetime fan! I can't wait for CHARLOTTE to respond back and we will soon see how many more Aspiras families we can "dot" on our hunt route... How exciting!

Sometimes, all you need to get things done, is a little bit of a risk...

From Canada, brother #2, ALAN ASPIRAS LACHO

Current Location: CANADA


ate Tess or Marites Solomon








These are definite family pictures to treasure, it took a while to get these, but they are soooo worth it!

His first son, Brian Solomon Lacho, I used to babysit him back in 1987 before I went to the US, so his mom can recover from giving birth. But now, this is the closest I can get to him- looking at his picture. His sister, Ariane, I've never met, but boy did she bring out the best combination of my brother and sis-in-law, Marites Solomon. Since they are in Canada, we don't get to see them as much as we like, but thanks to emails and photos, we can still keep in touch and be updated on our everyday dealings.

Like I've said before, the good looks abound on this side of our family...

Here's the proof:

Brian and Ariane or aka, "Boya" and "Ara"

This is at Ara's Debutante Ball: Left: Brian and ate Tess / Attendees: Uncle Bob and Auntie Vi and cousin Tina Lacho, Kuya Noel and his family and our mom, Carmen Aspiras Lacho.


Ara or Ariane Solomon Lacho

Another good spot!

Current Location: Qatar

He's actually the one who started looking for the Aspiras line for his side of the family, but Ramon started helping and wham!- they found lots of us, including me, just a few days ago... He is our musical cousin who has had the pleasure of playing with the likes of APO Hiking Society, Side A, Aegis, Francis Magalona, Ai-Ai De las alas (his kumare), Basil Valdez, and many more Filipino music artists. His passion is music and art. Wow, I pale in comparison, I like to listen to music and barely dabbling in the craft division of art. Ha, ha...

A quick bio:
1st Married to Henrietta Espeleta Santiago from Batangas City) bore three (3) children- 1)Lourdes Cheryl Santiago Aspiras working for Qatar Airways, still single, 2)Charisma Antonette Aspiras Cassidy (now in Hilliard Ohio and married to Lee Thomas Cassidy and irish immigrant, and 3)Francis Anthony Santiago Aspiras married to Melanie Ngo (chinese) they have a son (another apo, Miguel Iniego Ngo Aspiras (6 yrs old).

From 2nd wife, Susan Mangahas Santiago (Bulacan), came two more beautiful children: 1)Gerald Patrice Santiago Aspiras, working for CSTS a geotech firm here in Doha QATAR. He graduated from University of Arizona (UofA) as a Geological & Mines Engineer. 2)Patricia Nicolle Santiago Aspiras is still in University of southern California, taking up nursing and in her junior year and should graduating in 2010.

Here's his family pictures. Enjoy!


Charisma, Cherry and BJ









And his son Gino Aspiras from his second wife


Tricia, his daughter from his second wife;









Jo with his new girlfriend, a Korean Air stewardess.






As I was told by "Jo" and "Monet", the Aspiras clan is spread all over the world though our definite origin came from the humble region of Agoo, La Union in the Luzion region of the Philippine islands. It's such an exciting notion that with his and his brother's help, we are armed to place them in our pedigree map and have each name confidently "point" out their place in our family.

From these pictures, how great is it that my Aspiras side have the looks, sense of adventure and smarts to make things happen.

Tidbit: Small world indeed; we lived in Gilbert and Mesa Arizona and have known many youth that were headed for UofA, and my 15-year old Lisa will be graduating from high school in 2010! All these coincidences, it's amazing we haven't all bumped into each other yet!

I'm well pleased...

I also found... JTA III

Spots are growing!

Current Location: Malaysia

He's another cousin! Can you see how he looks so much like my uncles Honorio, Dionisio and Manuel? How cool is that? The Aspiras men seem to have a signature look to them that identifies them with their famous last name.

His dad, Juan Montalbo Aspiras, is the cousin of my great uncle, Jose D. Aspiras. I actually had his dad's and grandpa's (Juan Antonio Fangon Aspiras) names for 7, count them, 7 years before I decided to take another try in connecting their name to ours. Ramon responded and we've been talking since! I'll be communicating with his dad and brother soon, too. He's been putting together names too, and has had a lot of success. I can't wait to find more names to contact through him. He's such a sweet man.

Here's his wonderful family:

His wife Malou with his two sons, Juan and Ramon II







His daughter Ramonette,



And he's now a grandpa, too!













I am quite excited to have "spotted" this other ASPIRAS stop in our ancestral hunt for this prolific surname...


Like I said before, "together, we can connect the dots."

I found RAMON OSCAR TORRECARRION ASPIRAS!