WHAT was the world like in 1923?
This was the question posed by Fr. Cruzito Manding of the Redemptorists right before he led the whole assembly into prayer for my lolo’s birthday celebration.
The year 1923 was a historic year for many reasons: The Walt Disney Company was founded; Time Magazine began its publication; the showing of the classic Ten Commandments movie; and frozen food was invented, among others.
But for us who belong to the Gamutan Family, 1923 was a special and grace-filled year for this was the year that our beloved “Lolo” or “Tay Filo” was born.
On July 10, 1923, Teofilo Adag Gamutan was born in Valencia, Bohol. He was the sixth child of Diego and Eulalia Adag Gamutan.
At the age of 17, he enlisted in the American military as a musician and survived World War II.
After the war, he pursued a degree in Education and was later assigned to Baculin, Bagangga, Davao Oriental. It was there that he met and fell in love with a Mindanawon, our late lola Hildegarda Gamutan.
After some years, they moved to Davao City and raised a family of ten children.
This year marks the 95th birthday of our well-loved grandfather. The family chose a Filipino-Mindanawon motif to accentuate the grand celebration held at the Grand Agila Ballroom of the Waterfront Insular Hotel.
Gracing the event was the presence of all the ten sons and daughters of Tay Filo, namely: Elly de los Reyes, Walter Gamutan, Remie Timbreza, Teofilo Gamutan Jr., Robert Gamutan, Judith Capidos, Josie Gamutan, Zenaida Reyes, Nelly Lopez and Chona Palermo. They were all joined by their respective spouses, children and grandchildren.
As one can imagine, the whole was jam packed with distinguished guests, family friends and acquaintances. The celebration featured the cultural and festive performance of the Kaliwat Performing Artists Collective of Davao.