by Henry Echiverri MD
Gregorio Canonizado Echiverri was born May 1888. He went to Hawaii with brother Esteban in 1926, just before Auntie Connie was born. He was a volunteer National Guard in Hawaii during the war. He lived in the Island of Kawaii. He came home to Philippines in 1954 and died in 1958. He smoked a lot. During the Spanish time, they grew tobacco and even while living in Hawaii, he requested the native tobacco that wife Jacinta dutifully sent. Gregorio’s mother Eduvijes Canonizado was from Paoay. His grandmother was Vicenta Corpuz Acantilado. His Great grandfather was Fabian Lazaro Echiverri who was married to Angela Cleto.
Jacinta Pobre, pictured on the left, comes from a long line of land owners and politicians. Her great grandfather was Don Antonio Martin Pobre married to Tomasa Gonzales. Their children were Maria I, Policarpio, Maria II, Buenventura, and Timoteo whose wife was Pascuala Pobre Duque [Child of Don Jorge Duque and Cipriana Pobre]. Their children were Maximo married to Maria Leveriza [first marriage]. Second marriage was to Manuela Acasio [from Vintar, Ilocos Norte]. Children with Manuela were Faustino, Mauricia and Jacinta. A half brother Gavino Pobre was a councilor in Manila and lived in Intramuros beside the old Cathedral. Gavino was a prominent business owner of a printing company who rubbed shoulders with Manuel L. Quezon. He was killed by the Japanese during the occupation. Jacinta was an expert weaver [“abel”] for which Paoay was well known for. Jacinta practically raised her 3 children on her own [single parent before it became fashionable] as Gregorio toiled the land in Kawaii
Just like everyone else who came to America, Gregorio was able to provide for his family back home giving his children the opportunity to have good education. Crispin became a Physician, Connie and Felicitas finished BS E Ed. In the picture from left are: Consuelo Rosete, Felicitas Cu, Jacinta Pobre Echiverri, and Crispin Echiverri. Consuelo lives in Los Angeles, Felicitas resides in Hawaii and Crispin lives with me in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.
Gregorio came to the United States as part of an exodus of barrio folks recruited from the Ilocos Region to work in the sugar cane plantations of Hawaii. He rode the steamer President Cleveland on May 1926 with his brother Esteban. Several other cousins came; Federico, Raymundo, Jacinto to name a few, all of them Echiverris from Paoay, Ilocos Norte [see related story on Buenaventura]. He was stationed at Lihue Sugar Company in Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii. See related post “Documents uncovered”.
Younger brother Esteban [pictured with Gregorio on the right] went to Los Angeles and remained single. Reportedly, he was a superb violin player [Auntie Connie later meets him when she immigrated to Los Angeles in the late 50’s]. Gregorio came home to the Philippines in August 1954. He is shown carrying me as a baby alongside Lola Jacinta who was cradling an infant Emmy. Seated in front are Odette and Ruben. In many ways, the genes from these intrepid explorers and strong woman rans deep in my heart and my children’s. The one thing that burned in their heart was to make the world they lived in a better one. Our world is now bigger and we owe it to them to make it even better!