Family reunion

AT THE beginning of the month, I attended our Global Grand Solis Family Reunion in Culasi, Antique.

It was the first time I attended with my mom who carries the Solis bloodline.

It was their third grand family reunion since the 1990s.

Many relatives from the US came home for the event.

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From my mom’s stories, I knew that I am related to Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao.

I told the governor so when I first met her at some Bugal kang Antique event in San Jose a few years back.

This time, I refreshed the governor’s memory with my mom to corroborate my claim.

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Our Dumangas delegation—my mother, my brother and his family, and I—went with a small group from Manila, Dumaguete, and Mindanao.

Uncle Nick (mom’s brother) and wife Fely from Bulacan came with Aunt Edith (mom’s sister) of New Jersey.

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Aunties Celia, Hope, and Rhodora (mom’s first cousins) came with their husbands; I call them the Dumaguete group because as the Estolloso girls (before they were married), they grew up in Dumaguete.   

Celia now lives in Mabinay.

Hope lives in Michigan.

Rhodora in Dumaguete.

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Uncle Vicente (mom’s brother) from Matalam came with my cousin Michelle and her family.

The Mindanao delegation came with a precious treasure: Granny Esther (mom’s aunt), who at 94 was the oldest surviving member of the clan at the Solis reunion.

On Day 2 of the affair, Granny Amelia, the governor’s aunt, celebrated her 93rd birthday.

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We spent four nights in Culasi at a cousin’s hotel—the Solis Suites Hotel.

The reunion was for two days, July 1 and 2.

On the third day, we toured Madjaas Park.

My mom loved the Venice in the Sky gondola ride experience.

She was the first park visitor of the day who did the ride.

I took her photos and videos.

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I didn’t do the gondola ride myself because if I had done it in Venice, why would I do a replica?

Of course, my Venice gondola ride didn’t have the music that mom had.

Over the PA system, some Italian music was blaring.

Which was unfortunately ruined at some point by the videoke singing of some tone deaf enthusiast blaring at the nearby hall.

Imagine “That’s Amore” overpowered by “Zombie” by The Cranberries. 

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On Day 4, minus the delegation from Manila and Mindanao, we went to Boracay.

I love talking to my elders, mostly in their 70s like my mom, who is 76.

They’re having a ball about being able to travel at their age.

They also have a different view of the world.

I like the insights of these baby boomers.

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At one point in the reunion, my uncle Vicente was treated to a despedida by his cousins—mostly of the Polido and Javier lines.

From what I hear, it looked like uncle hasn’t gone back to Culasi in 50 years!

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I was a little pressured to spearhead the next Solis reunion… in 2025.

Now, with great name comes great responsibility.

It would be a shame to shy away from the challenge.

After all, I proudly carry the Solis as my middle name.

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This early, this much I know: There has to be events for different generations even as we try to put all the diversity in one room at a time.

I’m thinking, Just because the octogenarians can’t climb mountains anymore doesn’t mean the Gen Z people should not be given activities like hiking and mountain trekking. 

Or a visit to the the Malalison Island.

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This is true: Nothing bonds the Filipino family better than communal dining.

So there has to be several pork lechon and lechon vacas.

And if the family is truly blessed and has grown affluent, drinks should pour on tap! 

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To truly maximize participation, the richer Solises should also sponsor some (or all) of the expenses of the less fortunate Solises.

I mean, shouldn’t inclusion be the main point of a family reunion?/PN