The Cabales Clan had its first Grand Reunion in January 2003 in Ibajay, Aklan. It was held on a Friday just before the Ibajay Atiati Festival which is celebrated in the 3rd week of January. There were many that came, quite a number of whom have never set foot in Aklan before.
It is a fact that there are many "members of the Cabales Clan" scattered all over the archipelago and in many parts of the world and not even knowing where their family originated. Sometimes they think that are just a small family with only a handful of relatives. Well, they will get a big surprise of their lives when they visit Ibajay, Aklan. For there you will find Barangay Bagacay, the place where most, if not all, Cabales Families came from. Even today, 90% of its residents have Cabales either as their surnames or middle names or that of their parents or grandparents.
Many years ago, I met a brother and sister who were members of a Cabales Family in Cavite. They were originally from South Cotabato - that was what they told me. But when pressed further, they said that their grandfather was from Altavas, Aklan. They have never been to Aklan, though as their parents and all their brothers and sisters migrated to Canada.
Another "branch" of the Cabales Family lived in Metro Manila and Bulacan for 3 generations. Being a "small" family, they were closely knit and used to have small family gatherings of 1st and 2nd degree uncles and aunts and cousins as well. They trace their roots from their grandfather, "Bertong Bulotong", who lived in Jose Abad Santos Street, Manila near the slaughter house before the war. Their grandfather was a stow-away from Aklan and for whatever reasons, never revealed his own family to his children and grandchildren.
My Uncle Fred/Boy lives in Jacksonville, Florida. He has an insatiable quest for relatives and in the process met several guys surnamed Cabales. There was one US Navy guy that he met whose father came from Cavite but whose grandfather came from Malinao, Aklan. Another lady, who even fondly calls him Tito, said that they lived in Fairview but her deceased father also came from Aklan. What was surprising was this other guy - a Jew from Israel - who said that his great grandfather came from an island in the Philippines, called Panay. (For those that are not familiar with Philippine Geography, Panay is one of the major islands of the Philippines whose 4 provinces include Aklan. By the way, Aklan used to be a part of the Province of Capiz, also in Panay).
Many of us may not have the opportunity to visit our old sleepy town of Ibajay which comes alive only during the Annual Atiati Festival. We may never even have the chance of seeing or meeting each other personally though the feeling may be so strong. Hence, my cousin Edygatz (Eduardo Cabales Gatarin) proposed the creation of this web site as a medium for interaction among members of the Cabales Clan. We invite you therefore to join us by telling us about yourself, members of your family and your family history. We love to know you and in the name of our forefathers I would like to say Welcome to this site!
ALEXANDER DULCE CABALES
Son of Saqueo, Grandson of Tomas and Great Grandson of Pio
