THE HISTORY OF THE JUNI CLAN
by Filomeno A. Juni, Historian-Juni Clan
(1927 - 2007)
In the early 1860’s, three first cousins, two of them surnamed JUNI left Bo. Botoc, Loay, Bohol to seek their fortunes, agreeing that they will return and let their families know the results of their adventure when they are already settled in the places where FATE will take them. One of the three was FRANCISCO 'Baraoy' JUNI. He settled in sitio Baong-baong (now Magting), Mambajao, Camuigin. A place between the flowing brooks of Luangan and Megi, for water was his prime consideration in choosing his land.
FRANCISCO became a ‘kaingero’, ‘gabasero’,‘hag-otero’, and fisherman. Then he bought and developed choice lands in what was then the forested and sparsely populated sitios which are now barangays Anito and Magting. When settlers came, he gave them favourable tenancy conditions so that his choice lands will be fully developed. When this came to pass, he thought of marriage.
Grandmother GRACIANA 'Gaci' BONGAO was said to have been drifted away by the westerly winds 'habagat' while fishing with her father from San Ricardo, Panaon Island in Leyte. They reached land and were found by FRANCISCO at the shore of the place now owned by an American Mr. Tom Palmere. They stayed with him. As a young girl at 16,Gaci became Francisco’s wife at the age of 32.
After his marriage, Francisco went back to Bo. Botoc, Loay, Bohol (his birthplace), to fulfill the agreement with his cousins. It was there that he learned where his two other cousins had settled. The one NOT surnamed 'JUNI' had settled in then undivided Negros and the other surnamed JUNI, was employed in the Spanish Navy stationed in Portugal. So, it is not surprising that we have relatives in both Negros and Portugal. When he went back to Magting, FRANCISCO brought with him his three unmarried sisters known only by their nicknames Ogay, Agday, and Ampy.
Out of that winter-summer marriage were born six children, 4-girls and 2-boys. The 4-girls were Estefania, Bebiana, Susana, and Basilisa. The 2-boys were Fermin and Eusebio. ESTEFANIA married RUFINO CARILLO whose children were Victor, Primitivo, Margarita, Eulogia, and Consorcia. BEBIANA married JOSE MAYONE whose children were Leonila, Valerio, and Toribia. SUSANA married DONATO LUMBA whose children were Regalada, Francisca, and Rosario. BASILISA married MACARIO BACOL whose children were Eustacio, Mercedes, and Lucio. FERMIN married MARIA DOLDOL whose children were Francisco, Felicitas, Casildo, and Lucita. EUSEBIO married JULIA AVES whose children were Deogracias, Bienvenida, Rosales, Leon, Gerarda, Clemencia, Augusto, Filomeno and Julieta.
Out of the six children and 28 grandchildren grew the JUNI clan whose 4th reunion is the subject and purpose of this souvenir program. We are the descendants of that illustrious Boholano who rose from ‘kaingero’ to ‘Cabesa de Barangay’ of Magting and Anito. Ours is the duty to carry on his priceless heritage of making the JUNI surname an excellent name, a name to be PROUD of.
We have produced all kinds of professionals: physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, lawyers, physical therapists, engineers, teachers, seaman, foresters and other professions all dedicated to the progress of the Philippines.
Whatever we may become, wherever the westerly winds may carry us, we must always remember what that noted black author William Haley as his “ROOTS”. We are only the branches and leaves but OURS is the solemn PRIDE and that WE are the pro-genies of a sturdy, valiant, courageous and steadfast “ROOTS” personified by FRANCISCO (Baraoy) JUNI and his cousins in Negros and Portugal.
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Transcripts from the JUNI Clan 4th Grand Reunion, April 28-29, 2000. Ferrabrel Social Hall, Lacas, Mambajao, Camugin.
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ADDENDUM:
1) JUNI comes from a place in north central France called JOIGNY. Juan de Juni(1506-1577) was the first known recorded JUNI and was a famous Spanish Sculptor during his time. Juan de Juni (Juan of Joigny) was born in Joigny, in France but moved to Spain in the 1530s. Follow the link below:
http://www.spanish-art.org/spanish-sculpture-juni.html
2) 'JUNI' meaning 'SOUND' is an indigenous Filipino name as listed under the Katálogo ng mga Apelyidong Pilipino that remained in use even after the Clavería edict, On November 21, 1849 Governor General Narciso Clavería ordered a systematic distribution of family names for the natives to use:
http://www.bibingka.com/names/
3) In appreciation for the information supplied by LEO JUNI (Ret/ PA) - Dingras, Pangasinan, Engr. CARMELITO JUNI SR., Loay, Bohol and RACHEL JUNI-ABANIL, Camiguin. All of them contributed in the construction of the family tree of the three(3) main Juni Groups in the Philippines - Camiguin, Bohol & Pangasinan.