The Lims of Cotabato by Jose "Boyet" Lim III
Posted on Sunday, 10 June 2018
THE LIMs OF COTABATO…
By Jose “Boyet” Lim III
Not much is known about them now as time has eroded the sturdier
chapters of their history, as is bound to happen in all matters undocumented.
From word of mouth, the first settler from China of the family
landed in the hostile shores of the western side of Mindanao probably between
1870-90s, as what, or as who, is not known with certainty. It can merely be
surmised that he must had been a very adventurous fellow, or a simpleton who
knew nothing better than staying afoot in the midst of Moros.
As fate would plot it, however, he must had been able to
assimilate with the Moros and the natives, and more than that, married a
distant descendant of Sultan Kudarat. That must had repositioned his place in
those times’ social order from a drifter of the high seas to the ranks of
emerging local chieftains.
One of his sons, christened Jose Lim Sr, better known as Binsuan
among the Moros and locals, was such a popular toughie on that western Mindanao
seaboard that he got himself elected as the first mayor of what then was simply
known as Cotabato. It was during his administration that the Quirino Bridge
connecting Nuling, now the town of Sultan Kudarat, to the city, and the
erstwhile Cotabato City Hall which is currently being developed into a City
Museum, were built. To his small legacy was renamed Felipe II Street to Jose Lim
Sr Street in downtown Cotabato City.
His son of his namesake, Jose Lim Jr., is my father. As a young
man, he was sent by my grandfather to the rescue of businessmen in Buluan who
were having tax woes, as their bookkeeper. There he met my mother, the maiden
Concepcion Antiporda, a native of Tayug, Pangasinan and a pharmacist from the
University of the East in Manila serving her rural community time, yes, of all
places, in Buluan.
Arsenio Lim, who is today celebrating his 50th wedding
anniversary with my Aunt Myrna Barracoso of Coron, is my father’s half brother,
and my uncle. The handsome fellow standing in the picture is Arsenio Lim, Jr.,
“Chin Chin” to us, his son, who is a known dentist in Davao City with a
Master’s Degree in Dental Surgery from Australia. His wife Jen, is also a
dentist. Both are practicing their profession at the Lim Dental Clinic along
Tomas Claudio Street, now Quirino Avenue, Davao City. If you want to save on
their professional fees, call me. We’ll split the discount.
The beautiful lady to the right is Judith, my darling first
cousin. Her father is Rodolfo, closest brother to my father. Like my father,
Uncle Rody was a toughie and lived on his own from age 12. He passed away some
years ago, but not before he was able to join us in the birthday celebration of
my father at my place, which in our recollection, has become one of the most
memorable get-togethers our family ever had in Davao City.
The lady on the left must be one of my Muslim cousins. Pretty
too, right?
If I were in Cotabato City now, I would be speaking on behalf of
my father, at this 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration.
To Uncle Babes and Auntie Myrna, it is probably easier now to
get to Pluto than to get to what you have accomplished as parents and a great
couple of 50 years. Yours is an example for all of us to emulate, which is a
tall order for a Lim, but which, nevertheless, should be a burning inspiration
to the younger men and women of this generation. You have gone thru the whole
nine yards to show that parenting is a lifetime profession goldenly worth it as
may be gleaned from the fruits of your tree.
The spirit of that Chinaman of the 1890s must now be hovering in
his chinky grin over your celebration.
Like him, we too are mighty
proud of you!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
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