Where are You From?

This is the natural first question when meeting someone surnamed Ginete. Seems like there's an instant need to connect. My side of the Ginete is from Bulan, Sorsogon where our family has lived at least since 1800's. My father, Manuel Gueta Ginete, used to tell us that his grandfather is someone named Victoriano Ginete. He was a cabeza de barangay during the Spanish times and he would usually be on his horse patrolling the village of Gate, then a prominent trading post between Filipinos and Chinese.

Victoriano, according to my father, was quite a personality. He carried a whip and would not hesitate to cane anyone found drunk and disorderly. He was upright and had social manners, urbanidad, as they would say then. One of his sons, Geronimo, apparently took after him in being upright and strict. Geronimo's reputation among his brothers was that nobody could talk while having dinner and everyone was on their toes at all times. I couldn't imagine how this would work today.

So if I am from that branch of Victoriano, where are you from?

Will continue this later. In the meantime, appreciate your comments.