Roots

History felt very personal last week.

- JOE ZALDARRIAGA

I was invited by Kamuning Bakery owner and columnist Wilson Lee Flores at the famed Pandesal Forum to join a panel of historians.I wore a totally different hat and perhaps one of the most meaningful to me: that of a descendant of a Philippine-American War hero. It was a moment that linked my family’s story to a larger national narrative, offering a rare opportunity to share my roots and reflect on how they continue to shape the person I am today.

I brought with me two books. One was “Lost Graves, Found Lives,” written by my elder cousin Agapito Labalan Del Rosario and Dr. Rosario Cruz Lucero, my literature professor in De La Salle University and as I later discovered, is actually my aunt.

I also carried a book about the founder of the Socialist Party of the Philippines Pedro Abad Santos, authored by his protégé and Hukbalahap Supremo Ka Luis Taruc. It was a rare volume without publication details, perhaps because it was self-funded by the Supremo himself.

I brought those books with me because they hold the stories of my familiesthe Del Rosarios and the Abad Santoses of Pampanga. Beyond mere references, they are reminders that history is a living force that continues to shape who we are and how our society evolves.