phil_genalogy_n

3 tips on genealogical research in the philippines

(tip number 1) the best source is the human brain. seek out your oldest and most cooperative relative to help you build your family tree before everything gets lost in translation. / transmission. and while doing this, keep in mind that timing is everything. time your research during family events (all saints day, christmas, etc) when the not-so-seen-often relatives usually come out. it is during these times when things family are usually discussed openly and candidly. however, be discreet on querrying events that are supposed to be discussed in private to remain in good terms with everyone. and when the information starts pouring in, be like a boy scout (laging handa - meaning: always ready). be ready to record all relevant information in hard copy that you can retrieve later on when you need to. that means not relying on your 286-era brain to remember everything as you will most likely err; and establish your own dependable system of information classification and retrieval. good luck with the hunt, and may you find reliable sources that despite their 286-era brain is still dependable, notwithstanding their mood... [ addendum: so as not to confuse oneself further, concentrate only on one family line at a time. that is, if your father - concentrate only on his family line, before you get confused with relatives from your mother's family line ]

(tip number 2) if all brain sources prove futile, then arm yourself with the best historical information. and where else to go for all that information but the internet. arm yourself with a practical and smart common sense sieve to fish out the best information from the net, as there are a lot of junk out there. to have tons of seemingly irrelevant information is better than being mislead up a trail that is totally not yours. at least with the tons of irrelevant info, bits and pieces here and there may perhaps relate to one another and give a hint, if not an entire picture. for short, know the history of the place. was the town founded by the spanish government? or the spanish clergy? if the spanish clergy, what religious order? what was the name of the church first founded in the area, and by whom? does the church building still survive today? only after you have armed yourself with good information is it practical to become a centipede / millepede and embark on all that footwork to see for yourself the unmistakable proof of your existence.

(3) now that you know all there is to know about them, find a good place to hide. you will know why when you get to that point.

glossary