DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL OF PAMPANGA AND CEFERINO DULAY OF TONDO AND MARIKINA VALLEY.

Ceferino and Diosdado were contemporaries. Ceferino is known today as the 4th generation leader of the Dulay Clan of Marikina, while Diosdado became the president of the Philippines. Both were descendants of Lakan Dula, the pre – Hispanic King of Manila, based in Tondo, Manila. Of the two, Ceferino is younger. When Diosdado ran for president, Ceferino moved around the known settlements of Lakan Dula descendants. He spent time with then Mayor Eleuterio Dulay, of Laoang, Northern Samar to make sure that Diosdado will win in Samar Island. When Diosdado won, he placed Ceferino in a job in Manila City Hall, near his home in Tondo.

Several years later, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, daughter of Diosdado is leading the EDSA Dos against President Erap Estrada. Sofronio, eldest son of Ceferino and the 5th generation leader of Dulay Clan of Marikina, resigned as the leader of Estrada’s PMP Chairman’s Forum and helped in the efforts of Gloria in EDSA Dos. While the struggle is going on in EDSA, Yoko Ramos, a private secretary of Gloria called on Sofronio telling him that Gloria will visit the ancestral house of the Dulay Clan of Marikina Valley and they will talk about some plans. The Dulay Clan of Marikina, while fighting in EDSA Dos, eagerly waited for the talk of their clan leader and Gloria. The fight was won, Gloria was sworn in as President of the Philippine Islands but she never visited the Dulay Ancestral House up to now. Buti pa nga si MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, Congressman Marcy Teodoro, Monsignor Mariano Balbago, PMA Alumni Butch Cabanban, PMA class baron Ace Esmeralda, Br. Blas Dula Lagrimas of Recoletos School of Theology, Manny Alvarez, Bob Servino, Mayor Marides Fernando, PSupt Fortunato Guerrero, Kag. Manolo Estanisalo,Vice Mayor Marion Andres, realtor Demy Posadas, PNOC -EC Director Ralph Mangubat, Kap. Apin de Guzman,Ignatius Anagbogu at marami pang iba, eh nakapag dinner na sa ancestral house ng angkan.

Gloria, the president and Sofronio, a clan leader met several times in Malacanan Palace on different occasions, but Sofronio did not bother Gloria anymore about that supposed to be visit of Gloria to the Dulay Clan of Marikina. Sofronio did not even introduce himself nor ask personally for any favor from Gloria, Gloria did not offer Sofronio anything in relation to his role in EDSA Dos. Yoko Ramos resigned from the palace. Gloria is different from Diosdado..

Gloria is about to finished her term as Philippine president. Sofronio, a long time management professor of the Far Eastern University near Tondo, finished his Master in Development Management in the Asian Institute of Management and had been elected as one of the Board of Directors of the Asian Institute of Management Alumni Association. He is pursuing a doctorate in Public Administration in the University of the Philippines. He had been offered consultancy stint by Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando, Marikina Congressman Marcy Teodoro and Northern Samar Congressman Emil Ong.

The Macapagal Clan of Pampanga and the Dulay Clan of Marikina, although both sharing common Lakan Dula heritage, has a history of “warm and cold interactions” among their leaders and descendants. Gloria Arroyo is not in control or not aware of what is happening within the clans of the descendants of Lakan Dula. Some clans are even questioning if the Macapagals are really descendants of Lakan Dula of Tondo.

The Dulay Clan of Marikina, amidst prosperity, influence and educational progress wishes to stay in the old tradition of chivalry. Sofronio I is grooming his legal heir, Sofronio ll as the 6th generation and future leader of the clan. Sofronio ll is an honor student of an exclusive boy school, a sacristan and a rugged basketball player in the barangay leagues in Marikina Heights and San Roque. Sofronio l told his son: “Someday, if ever there will be a chance for the Macapagal clan to help the Dulay clan in a reverse role, be as gentleman as Diosdado.”

This morning, Jun Salvador visited the leader of the Dulay Clan of Marikina and told him that a group of a descendant of Philippine hero Dr. Pio Valenzuela would like to meet him. The consolidation of the Lakan Dula descendants goes on as usual.