Couple’s unusual love story to be recalled at reunion

DAGUPAN CITY — The Martinez clan in this city, which includes writers Jun and Dante Martinez Velasco, boasts of having grandparents – the late Felix Martinez and Maria Pilar Montero-Martinez -- who were noted for their unusual love story. In fact, clan members who are set to hold a reunion this Christmas season believe it was "a love story made in heaven."’

Felix, who was fondly called Peles and Maria Pilar, who was called Elang, were born on the same day, Oct. 12, 1901 -- Felix in Barangay Malued, and Maria Pilar at the Dagupan Poblacion. But the coincidences do not end there. They were also baptized in the same church, the Roman Catholic Church, with their names in the registry book listed one after the other.

The couple, says Mrs. Paz M. Llamas, widow of the late city treasurer Hernando Llamas, married at age l5, and began a love affair capped by wedding rites at the Philippine Independent church here under Bishop Gregorio Gaerlan. Parents of Felix, notably Benito Martinez, a good friend of the brother of national hero Jose Rizal, and Cayetano Montero Montero, father of Maria Pilar, bolted the Catholic Church because a church official was in love with Felix’s would-be bride. She was one of the loveliest girls in Dagupan at the time.

Their children are Nieves Canlas, Juanita Rabago. Orlando (all deceased), Paz Llamas, Aurora Velalsco, Guillermo, Alodea Dy, Celerina Dacumos and Estrella Singh, They have some 100 grandchildren and great grandchildren. These interesting facts in the lives of the Martinez couple will be recalled once more when the Martinez clan will hold a grand reunion in December next year.

Earlier, an executive committee headed by Land Bank (Makati) executive Jethro Martinez reported that the family reunion held on Jan. l2, this year at the Magic Club Warehouse in Barangay Malued here had drawn enthusiastic response to the plan for a clan reunion.