Host Andrew Martin meets Filipino genealogist, author, and genealogy YouTuber – Todd Lucero Sales for this episode of Series Seven. He hears how Todd got hooked on researching his family history, the challenges of researching in the Philippines, how he is able to research professionally, and the impact on family history under hundreds of years of rule under Spain.
S07EP03 – 'The Elevated' with Todd Lucero Sales – The Family Histories Podcast
The Life Story – Feliciana Maria Cebbalos
Todd has chosen to tell the Life Story of his 4x Great Grandmother Feliciana Maria Cebbalos, who had a relationship with a Catholic priest named Father Francisco Diaz, resulting in two children being born outside of marriage in Argao, Cebu, Philippines.
Family lore through the generations reached Todd with a story of Feliciana being so beautiful that she caught the attention of many priests travelling the area, but by using surviving records he’s been able to verify the details and discover her life raising their children alone against a backdrop of stigma of being an un-married mother.
Despite this stigma against her and the children, the church did appear to accept her, and provide for her and her descendants.
The Brick Wall – Mr. Tan
It’s a maternal brick wall in Argao, Cebu Island in approximately 1882, that’s giving Todd problems.
His Great Grandmother was born in 1882, to his 2x Gt Grandmother Manuella and a Chinese man known only to the family as Mr Tan.
Mr Tan and Manuella did not marry, but he stayed to provide for his children with her – even building them a house. However, he left the family and returned to his first family in China.
Todd has tested his DNA, and has found a few potential leads, and shows about 20% DNA that’s estimated as being from China. However, he’s so far been unable to identify that branch for sure, but believes that there’s a connection to the Fujian province of China.
- Who was Mr Tan?
- When did he arrive in the Philippines?
- Where did Mr Tan go?
If you think that you can help with a research idea or clue, then you can send him an email via the address he mentions in the episode, or you can send us a message and we’ll pass it on.
In the meantime, Andrew is keen to offer Todd his help, but will he get the answers he needs?
Resources
A list of the resources and websites mentioned in this episode:
- The Filipino Genealogy Channel – Todd’s YouTube Channel
- 23andMe – DNA testing company
Episode Credits
- Andrew Martin – Host and Producer
- Todd Lucero Sales – Guest
