“Sanglahi”, derived from the Filipino word “isa” which means one and “lahi” which means race, was a name chosen on a cool rainy April day 1987 in Ocean City, MD. at the gathering of families and friends of Federico C. Dominguez’s 1st death anniversary.
Headed by my mother, Agripina Reyes Dominguez, this non-profit organization was formed originally as a family credit union. It is to be utilized as a means to help out those who are in need of financial assistance when necessary. The real origin came from a tradition that my grandfather, Ricardo B. Reyes had started when we were kids. It was his fondness of his grandchildren that opted the clan to have a family re-union every January to celebrate his birthday. The tradition continued years after he passed away and had really made an impact on the whole Reyes clan. We continued family reunions for my grandmother, Rosario Rabago Vda de Reyes’ birthday. These reunions embodied the usual festive meals and presentation of some kind by the “apos” (grandchildren). Like the “banduria”(a stringed instrument) group that was started by my oldest Aunt, Dely Reyes-Tanchico.
The bond among cousins grew deep within us that when my sister Agnes Dominguez-Nepomuceno moved to the U.S., she longed to have reunions once again. With that desire, she slowly planned and made into reality, a mini reunion to celebrate my dad or mom’s birthday. It has become very successful through the years and has become very popular that most family reunions our friends have has been transparently modeled after ours. And this is one thing we are proud of.
The death of my father was thought of as not the end of the reunions but its commencement. In that manner, my sister decided that the Sanglahi, Inc. be formed in his memory and to keep it alive to keep the family together regardless of where they are.
Agnes drew the first “Sanglahi” newsletter a year later and has been typing the news about members of the family on a typewriter that her oldest son had for college. Eventually, computers have become very popular and I had bits of spare time so I took over the publishing of the newsletter. She remains as the Editor-in-Chief and publisher (for she spent her own hard-earned money for postage and copies while the newsletter was in circulation).
Now that the information superhighway has come upon us, with e-mail addresses for every person and webpages for every company, we thought, why not create one for “Sanglahi”? So, on August 8,1998, the Sanglahi Home Page was born.
This webpage will now serve as our link to one another, to show oneness, in race, blood and voice.
With that, I leave you with one task – and that is to be brave and bold enough to send me e-mails about your lives, where you are, important dates and events to keep everyone abreast. If you don’t have access to a computer, write to me at the address given below. Again, it is with pride that we give you this web page as a token of love and willingness to stay as “one”.
We hope to see more of you on our next reunion. And please send your birthdates, anniversary dates, and other important dates you would like mentioned in our home page. Just click on the hyperlink below to go back to the main site, click on the guest book and leave me your e-mail address, website address in order that I may add you to my link. Please comment on the page. I welcome suggestions.