My Agoncillo Family Roots

My Lola Rene (Mrs. Rene Frial Faeldonea whose name is mentioned on the engraved caption to the thimble) is my Grandma Gilda Agoncillo Frial Villanueva's sister and  a successful businesswoman from Dumalag, Capiz.  Lola Rene gave this thimble, actually a family heirloom, to Imelda Marcos during the heyday of the Marcoses.  A family heirloom lost from the family possession, but now available for the public to view at the Malacanang Museum.

The thimble was one of the thimbles used by Dona Marcella Marino Agoncillo to my Great Grandmother Maura Agoncillo Frial, a niece of Felipe Agoncillo, Marcella's husband.   Dona Marcella gave one of her thimbles to my Great Grandma when she was married to my Great  Grand Father.   The Agoncillo's  were a prominent and wealthy family from Taal, Batangas who were into the shipping business, among many other pursuits.   My Great Grandma Maura, was married-off to my Great Grandpa, Adolfo of the political Frial family who ruled the town of Dumalag, Capiz for many decades, well over a century, until recently.

Because of our maternal connection to the Agoncillo family of Taal, Batangas, many of us in our side of the family do not carry the Agoncillo surname anymore, but just the same, we are still very very proud of our noble forebears, Don  Felipe, the first diplomat of the Philippines (envoy to the United States) and Dona Marcella, the lady who sewed the very first Philippine flag.

We are now trying to rebuild our family tree and connect back to our Agoncillo relatives who may or may not anymore carry the Agoncillo surname.  So far, we've had major breakthroughs and we have found many relatives all over the Philippines, the United States (the US seems to be a favorite destination for the Agoncillos), the Middle East and Europe, where I am now.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Agoncillo%27s_thimble.jpg

If you are an Agoncillo or related to the Agoncillos, please reach me at mikeignacio@hotmail.com   so I can email you a copy of our family tree in progress.  Perhaps you can help us piece the puzzle together, or fill up the blanks referring to your side of the family.

- Mike Ignacio