Tita Dory, enjoying a quiet afternoon at the USI Alumni Home.


Early in the morning of March 3, 2009, I received a phone call from Mr. Nilo Aureus, the publisher of Bicol Mail, Bicolandia’s only regionally circulated and locally published newspaper in the City of Naga.

        He wanted me to meet a lady from the town of Presentacion, who is currently vacationing in the city, and is expected to return to the United States within the week. She is visiting the facilities and office of Bicol Mail, and is curious to meet the people behind the paper, especially the writers and reporters. She is able to access the online version of the paper, at her place in America, and every now and then, receive actual printed copies of the publication, sent by her relatives from the Philippines.

        Mr. Aureus presented to the visitor my current series of essays on the Indigenous peoples on Mt. Asog/Mt. Iriga, which prompted the lady visitor to want to meet me. The interest became more intense when informed that the author has recently published a coffee table book on Caramoan, another neighboring town of Presentacion, in the Caramoan Peninsula.

        That early morning call led to an afternoon appointment with the lady. Promptly at 5:00 p.m., I proceeded to the Universidad de Santa Isabel (USI) Alumni Home. The smiling face that greeted me at the door has the totally disarming effect on me. It was affection at first sight.

        The visit is in compliance with my publisher’s request, if I could gather some information on a project that has been undertaken by Mrs. Adoracion Lopo-Peña, “Tita Dory”, in her hometown, particularly at the place of her birth, at Brgy. Maangas, Presentacion. Would I be interested as this place has been visited many times by this writer in the course of his research on the Caramoan Peninsula? Mr. Aureus tickled my curiosity.

        I frankly and politely told my host that I would only report on the story, if I am personally convinced of its value. Tita Dory asked me to join her as we sat across each other, on a table, to be more comfortable, and offered me a steaming cup of coffee, as she shared her story.

        What I had originally planned as a quick 15 minutes interview, turned into an extended two hours sharing, as she opened up about her life, which on reflection, could probably merit one drama episode on the popular “Maala-ala mo Kaya” (MMK) TV series in a leading television network.

        Tita Dory could be considered as among the successful alumni of Colegio de Sta. Isabel (USI), the First Normal School for Women in the Philippines, with over a century of colorful history. Tita Dory belongs to class 1949 of the institution, and was in Naga City for the “Diamond Jubilarian Alumni Homecoming”. She’s among the most sought after personality of her batch which understandably shrinks in number as years go by. I met many of the excited ladies and officers of the USI Alumni Association, who also came by to visit her. She is like a star, going by the attention lavished on her. It made me very glad to see her showing with pride, my book “Captivating Caramoan”, to her visitors.

        Tita Dory count herself as among the lucky pioneers of USI who successfully immigrated to the United States. Through sheer grit, dedication and hard work, she was able to land a career, that provided her the opportunity, to raise all of her kids, to become successful themselves at their own chosen paths. Her daughter, Ma. Elena Peña-Tubera, is an International Rate Specialist of United Airlines based in California. Marilou L. Peña is a Nurse Practitioner at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, and Magdaline Peña-Adriano, is the Manager of the Marketing Department of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, from where Tita Dory retired. She also has two sons, Lauro Peña III and Lauro Peña IV, who are both equally successful.

        She lost her husband Larry (A.K.A. Lauro) C. Peña in 2006. After her retirement in December 1997, she found a new place to live at a Senior’s Condo, at the West Covina County of Los Angeles, California. Her children come for visits now and then. With other seniors and retirees, she occupies herself and keeps busy.

        Tita Dory proudly recalls being called an educator, a teacher, and with fondness, remembers her early years as a moulder of minds, starting her work as an elementary school teacher, to head teacher, to teacher evaluator, and eventually, as part time college instructor at the Naga College Foundation, University of Northeastern Philippines, University of Nueva Caceres and at Ateneo de Naga University. Circumstances and other factors made her decide to try her luck as an immigrant. Her decision to cross the ocean, in search of a new life with a growing family, steeled her resolve to succeed, no matter how difficult life will be. She retired as Claims Examiner of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, and amusingly recalled the label given her, by her grandchildren in U.S., as “Retarded and Insecured”.

        With a modest retirement benefit securedly tucked to her name, she manages an occasional visit to her country of birth, through the support of her grown up children, and eagerly looks forward to her school’s alumni homecoming, as a special opportunity to renew old ties of friendship, with her classmates and friends.

        What she accomplished, however, in Brgy. Maangas, where she came from, became the focal point of my interest, as I used to frequent this seaside community years ago, while doing research work, as a member of then Gov. Luis R. Villafuerte’s exploration team. Documents which I was able to access confirmed the fact that through Tita Dory’s intercession, and measure of influence, she was able to convince her family (the surviving heirs of Casiano Lopo and Dalmacia Royo, their parents) to give up an inheritance and donate a parcel of land to the church, through the Archdiocese of Caceres. This is the first and only privately donated property to be designated as a Catholic Cemetery in Maangas, her birthplace.

        This cemetery is not the first, in the seaside communities along Lagonoy Gulf. Mrs. Lilia Purisima, the Parish Secretary of Maangas, volunteered the information that there are actually three existing public cemeteries in the area. The first is located in Brgy. Buenavista, and the existing public cemetery in Maangas. There is also a public cemetery in Brgy. Adiangao, which is an enclave of the Municipality of San Jose.

        The donated lot of the Lopo Family, however, is the first catholic cemetery, ever established in Brgy. Maangas, the largest community along Lagonoy Gulf. In fact, the church in Maangas could even be bigger and more impressive than other smaller town church buildings in Camarines Sur. It is an impression I have, having visited and explored all the towns in the province, and could be easily confirmed on the ground, when we visited the site of the Catholic Cemetery last month. It was a two hour journey from Naga City via an overland route starting from Lagonoy, and crossing over seven major bridges to reach our destination. I took advantage of the Lenten Season, to bring my family out for a whole day exploration of the area, and experience with my youngest grandson, a trip to the refreshing waters of the Kinahulogan Falls.

        The cemetery is located about a hundred meters from the roadside, beside the existing public cemetery, with a small stream bounding the property. Our visit, together with my family, revealed two things. There was a beautiful Gazebo overlooking the stream, and a chapel was already built about 20 meters further up. Below the chapel are a number of concrete restosan. All these structures were built and funded by Tita Dory, out of her own personal resources.

        Recognizing the importance and significance of this gift of love to the parish, and to the people of Maangas, Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, himself came to visit the site and said mass at the chapel. My inquiry revealed that this facility, which has long been the hope of the parish and the residents of the area, has already began to serve its purpose. A letter sent by the church to the administration of USI confirmed this fact.

        For those who have to say their goodbyes to their loved ones, as they cross the great divide, this donation of the first catholic cemetery in Maangas, Presentacion, Camarines Sur is indeed, a welcome gift from the Lopo-Peña family, and a testament to the Christian values imbibed by this caring lady of Maangas, who has never forgotten her roots.

        Tita Dory’s gift will definitely be, a treasure, that will last beyond her lifetime. By the way, I forgot to drink my coffee, totally engrossed with her life’s story. Perhaps, another day….




Tita Dory, during the ribbon cutting ceremonies, of the Gazebo.


Tita Dory, during the ribbon cutting ceremonies, of the Gazebo, and with friends and family (below), inside the Maangas, Parish Church.


The Chapel of the Roman Catholic Cemetery of St. Vincent Ferrer, in Matangtubig, Maangas.


The Gazebo, which serve as an ideal resting area, and on quiet days