About the Family
(Vasallo Family of Pantubig, San Rafael, Bulacan)
Tiburcio dela Fuente Vasallo, born April 14, 1894, died June 19, 1942, married to Teresa Vergel de Dios Cavestany, born June 16, 1898, died November 18, 1994.
Teresa “Nena” Vergel de Dios Cavestany got married at a very young age 19. She was from Angat, Bulacan, while Tiburcio dela Fuente Vasallo was from Caingin, San Rafael, Bulacan.
How did Tibo meet Nena?
Tibo met Nena in Manila at the residence of Don Antonino Vergel de Dios, uncle of Nena’s mother Filomena Vergel de Dios Cavestany, where she was also residing that time.
Don Antonino was a dentist who studied in Paris, France. He was known to have taken part in the “Propaganda Movement” against Spain, together with his contemporaries including Jose Rizal. The Filipino activists in Europe used to meet at Don Antonino’s residence in Paris.
At the time that Nena was residing in the house of Don Antonino in Manila, Tibo came to be one of the resident- apprentices in Don Antonino’s dental clinic. According to Nena she was supposed to be one of the heirs of Don Antonino’s accumulated wealth, but when she eloped with Tibo at a very young age of 19, Don Antonino got mad at her that when he died he gave her nothing of his possessions.
At first Tibo and Nena stayed in Caingin, San Rafael, Bulacan, in one house together with the big family of Tibo’s parents, Francisco “Kiko” and Esperanza dela Fuente Vasallo. After Martha Bella was born, they permanently resided at Pantubig, San Rafael, Bulacan. Tibo was able to practice dentistry in Pantubig, his patients coming from all over San Rafael and the neighboring towns of Baliuag, Bustos. San Ildefonso and Angat, Bulacan.
Later on, as the family was getting bigger, he decided to buy and drive a cargo truck, said to be the first of its kind in San Rafael. He used to transport produce from San Rafael and the neighboring towns to Divisoria in Manila and bring back goods that were bought by businessmen and store owners in Bulacan.
Tibo and Nena’s offsprings are as follows: Martha Bella, Maria Nemesia “Marina”, Luz Victoria “Lucing”, Francisco “Frank”, Felix, Maria Matilde, Benjamin Benito, Esperanza “Panching” and the youngest Teodora “Dory”. The youngest died at a very young age before the outbreak of World War II. The bread winner of the family Tibo, died at age 48 in 1942, leaving behind Nena and his 5 daughters and 3 sons.
Now that she is a widow and war raging all over the world, she found it difficult to raise their children. She tried to fill in the responsibilities of being a mother and father to her children and tried every means, working very hard to provide for her children. It was also very trying times for her eldest children, Marina and Fely, for they needed to help their mother earn a living and take care of their siblings. Marina helped by buying and selling goods while Fely “Felix” became a farm hand ( helper in the farm) and later a helper in a Jockey Club in Manila. Not long after Felix was able to join the U.S. Navy.