The Enterprising French Brothers in the City of Iloilo , Philippines

The Enterprising French Brothers in the City of Iloilo, Philippines

(By DinggolAranetaDivinagracia - IlonggoNationMovement)

Prologue: “Sometime in 1873 three Frenchmen established the widely successful merchandising enterprise “La Estrella del Norte” along Calle Real in Iloilo City, Philippines. The three (3) brothers were sons of Jewish parents Nathan dit Moise and Louise Levy, namely; Adolphe Blum Levy, the eldest and his two brothers Charles and Raphael. They sold jewelry, and trinkets, Swiss-made wristwatches; Gramophones and fine perfumes; imported clothing and many other novelty items.” --dinggol.d~~~

(Photo of Adolphe Blum Levy, 1849-1888)

The arrival of the Levy brothers:

The three brothers arrived in Iloilo City from the French region of Alsace-Lorraine by way of San Francisco, fleeing the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. They brought with them a stash of precious diamonds, and five (5) crates of religious icons, medals, gold chains, and many gilt eyeglass frames that they were unable to sell in California but were quite popular by then in the Philippines.

Their business venture became extremely successful that the brothers opened branches in Escolta-Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, and in Paris, France. Later, they expanded into watchmaking, the distribution of pharmaceuticals, the bicycles and then ultimately automobiles dealership and cargo shipping under the new business trade name of Levy Hermanos.

Adolphe Blum Levy married Benita Enríquez of Iloilo with whom he had a son named Francisco Enriquez Levy.

While his brother's families eventually returned home to the United States and France, Adolphe's descendants stayed in the Philippines after his death in Manila of Cholera on June 13, 1888. A close relative, Charles Weil, took over management of the Levy Hermanos business after Adolphe’s demised.

The U.S. Invasion of Iloilo:

The U.S. invasion of Iloilo headed by Gen. Marcus Miller began on February 7, 1899 --with the continuous naval bombardment of Iloilo City for about a week that brought total irreparable damages and demolished the historic “Fort San Pedro“ citadel. A week later, the American troops led by Gen. Robert Hughes landed at Fort San Pedro, and stormed the city where many villages were razed to the ground and hundreds of innocent civilians were brutally killed.

Just like all other City residents and businesses, La Estrella del Norte lost a substantial amount worth of properties and assets equivalent to multi-million US Dollars today during the conflagration.

On February 22, 1899 Iloilo City fell to the American forces and there was relative peace. Hence, La Estrella del Norte (LEDN) resumed its normal operation in Iloilo City during the American regime..

Villar, A Trusted LEDN Employee: 
One of the trusted bookkeepers of La Estrella del Norte was an unassuming man named Catalino Villar of Tanza in Iloilo City who married Vicenta Montalban of Cabatuan in Iloilo. The couple had eight (8) children, the eldest of whom was named Manuel a.k.a. "Maning" who was married to Curita Bamba of Orani, Bataan.

Manuel, an inspector for the Bureau of Fisheries, and his wife Curita, a wholesale fish dealer settled in Tondo, Manila where they raised their nine (9) children, selling seafood in the Divisoria area.

Their second child was Manuel “Manny” Villar, Jr., a bright and resourceful young man with business acumen who would eventually marry the former Ms. Cynthia Ampaya Aguilar who belongs to the wealthy and politically influential Las Piñas-Muntinlupa family in Metro Manila. (Last mid-term Senatorial election Cynthia Aguilar-Villar was the Number one winner).

Likewise, the two daughters of Manuel Montalban Villar, Sr. married the two (2) sons of Jose "Pakloy" Divinagracia of Dumangas in Iloilo; Jessie Divinagracia married to the eldest Odette Villar, while his brother Paolit (Paolo) Divinagracia also married Odette's younger sister. Both are the sisters of Manuel "Manny" Villar, Jr. who served as Senate President of the Philippines for quite sometime.

The Sonora Sisters of Bacolod City: 
Meanwhile, Adolphe Blum Levy’s son Francisco Enriquez Levy married Luisa Gallo of Iloilo and their children were Purificacion, Ramon, Alfredo, Vicente, Nestor, Luisa, Carmen, Rosendo and Francisco Jr.

Their eldest child, Purificacion married Dr. Jesus Sonora of Bacolod City who belongs to the Locsin Clan of the Negros branch. They were blessed with two (2) beautiful daughters; Jesusa Purificacion Sonora, a.k.a. Susan Roces and Rosa Maria Sonora, a.k.a Rosemarie Sonora.

The former movie actress Rosemarie Sonora and her estranged husband Jesse Cruz also known as actor Ricky Belmonte has a daughter named Ms. Sheryl Cruz, also a movie actress.

While the former celebrity movie actress Susan Roces who married Ronald Allan Kelley Poe; dubbed as “Ang Panday” and the “King of Filipino movies” as Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) are the legally adoptive parents of a foundling, an infant girl who was found at the Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo City and was christened as Mary Grace Poe. The couple's "Divine Grace" who grew up in Manila, married Neil Llamanzares at age 22 and immigrated to the U.S.A. to raise their family. However, after the demise of “The King” she returned to the Philippines with a purpose --to carry on the failed political dream of FPJ. She won in her first attempt inside the political arena topping the senatorial slate. Thereafter, she was one of the unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency during the last 2016 national election.

The Frenchman Adolphe Blum Levy who ventured in Iloilo City 146 years ago, and established “La Estrella del Norte” or the Star of the North, left shining stars from the south of the Philippines. In the Silver Screen, a direct descendant, the teenage movie idol of the yesteryear’s “Susan Roces” with her adopted daughter Grace Poe. And indirectly, from loyal employee Catalino, with his grandson Manuel “Manny” Villar, Jr. who is still shining bright in the political firmament of the country today.

(Former Senator Manuel“Manny”Villar, Jr.)

(Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares)



Epilogue: “Interestingly, many believe that in the very near future, one of these “shining stars” is destined by fate to enter the halls of Malacañang. Shall it be the Moneyed-Guy who styled himself with his “from rags to riches” fame; or the foundling who projects herself as the “epitome of sweet innocence” always wearing an immaculate white attire?

May the best one wins! ... Padayon! --dinggolSDname~~~
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