Andres Cosalan

A Natural Born Leader

My Grandfather A collaborative effort by Andrea Dominique Cosalan & Lyndenne Gadian On the 26th of June, 1927, Andres Acop Cosalan, was born in Acop. He is the ninth and last child of Fernando Cosalan “Anchong” and Cecilia Aguinaya Acop “Tarilja”.

Atty. Andres Cosalan was originally born as Magellan A. Cosalan. This was his pre-baptismal name given to him by his older sisters. 'Andres' is his Christian name and came from the Belgian priest who baptized him at age 12. Growing up, Andres or “Andy” as called by his siblings, preferred to be independent from his parents even when they belonged to a well-to-do level. He had to find means for his educational expense during elementary and high school by being a convent houseboy and sacristan, timber-cutting, mining, and helping out his parents with the farm. As the last boy in the family, everyone doted on him. He was enrolled in primary School by his older sister Nieves; and was helped out with his education by Carlota, Filomena and Enrique. As he was an Igorot boy, he claims that he didn’t like wearing shoes at all.

Instead he preferred to walk barefoot. He had to carry his shoes as he walked to school and since shoes were required, he only wore them once he was in the classroom.

The Lawyer & Politician He pursued Law Proper studies at the University of the Philippines. During these times did he experience a language barrier between his schoolmates and professors. He grew up to the tunes of the Ibaloi, English, and Ilokano languages -- Tagalog was not one of them. He retells how he only spoke 'carabao' Tagalog and because of that, his friends made fun of, chided, and forced him to learn the language. This however only discouraged him. Out of pride of own linguistic identity and anti-conformism, he closed his heart and mind towards doing so. But he admitted that there are drawbacks to this most especially in a 'tagalized' country... he feels as if an alien language is spoken. Still, on any given day, Lolo Andy prefers to speak in English, Ibaloi, or Ilokano over Filipino."

It was of no surprise that Andy would follow some of his relatives' footsteps. At first, he resisted entering politics believing it to be expensive and demoralizing, ridding one of honest character and value.

Nonetheless, circumstances inspired him to join and render service to his people.

He was Representative/ Congressman in Benguet from 1969-1984.

He married his college sweetheart, the former Miss Isabel “Soling” P. Morales, daughter of pioneer Ilocano teachers in the old Mountain Province, and whose father went from teaching to become Municipal Treasurer, Deputy Provincial Treasurer, Mountain Province, then Mayor of Banaue, Ifugao and Board Member of Ifugao province.

Mrs. Isabel Cosalan, teacher by profession, was born in Bontoc, Mt. Province and grew up in Banaue, Ifugao, where her parents established their home.

The Romantic One

Of course, Andy’s version was that they first laid eyes on each other in Baguio and Soling couldn't get enough of this handsome young man that she begged Andy to marry her.

(This anecdote, has been retold so many times by Andy, even during their 60th Wedding Anniversary.) But truthfully, Andy was the romantic. When he went and asked for Soling’s hand in marriage, he had to sleep in a classroom as Soling’s father, Andres Morales refused to invite him in their home. He also used to write for the Midland Courier and there composed and published poems for Soling . Andy and Soling were blessed with six children. They had a total of 9 children of which two were stillbirths. All children have been very successful in their chosen careers: Ronnie, who was just re-elected Congressman of Benguet; Edwin, the current Medical Director of Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital in Baguio; Msgr. Andres M. Cosalan, Jr. , current Vicar General of the Diocese of Baguio; Lyndenne who is a Registered Nurse working in Seattle VA; David who recently died was formerly a Committee Secretary in Congress; Marie Belle who is a Systems Analyst working for a Mutual Funds company in Toronto and Annie who works at UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Manila.

To those outside of the family Andy is often a stern, idealistic, charismatic, disciplined, self-made man whose temper has gained urban myth status. He is known to be very insistent with his ideas and plans but can be very diplomatic as well.

The Family Man: Fun-loving & Silly But for those of him who know him as” Lolo” Grandfather, not Atty. Andy Cosalan, he is the ever funloving and sometimes, silly grandfather that we grew up with.

One of my funniest memories with Lolo was back in the mid 90s during my usual summer stay with him and grandma, where he allowed me to dress him up in Grandma's clothes and makeup. He walked around the garden acting like a little old lady with the matching “kembot” pelvic rock before finally ending the stint with 'the neighbors might think they live next door to a crazy old man.'

Andy definitely knows how to loosen up and entertain his grandchildren. The year 2000 was greeted with laughter as Lolo danced solo around the beach bonfire until his pants 'accidentally-on-purpose' fell to the ground, sending Lola Soling, his children, and his grandchildren into a series of giggling fits.

Laughter aside, he does have his loving, protective, concerned, and doting moments just as any grandfather would. He can be repetitive and pushy and cynical but as with his children, he only wants nothing but the best for his grandchildren. Yes, he would spoil us when we were wee little kids, but as grown-ups now, he likes to do sit-down talks about our future and find ways of how he could chip in -even if it's just moral support, motivation, or life advice. He is very hands-on with each of our lives; each life achievement is a shining moment for him which in turn touches us. Having our childhood photos, prom photos, college graduation photos, or even wedding photos strewn across the house as if they were trophies is a heartwarming thought. And the stories of the aunts and uncles sharing how much Lolo and Lola cherish our letters and photos to them just melt our souls. It has been said a few times that what he may not have openly expressed with his children, he makes up for with his grandchildren.

But as each of us have been slowly catching the bus to adulthood, he too has slowly been excited with the prospects it brings -- watching his grandchildren enter the married and family life. I remember when I was fresh out of college and Lolo asked me what my priorities were between career,

future studies, marriage, and family life and how I'd rank them. I chose studies and career first followed by marriage and family. He shook his head and said "you have your priorities mixed up!" As a family man, he believed bringing life to this world was one of the greatest achievements a married couple could do as well as making sure they grow up into admirable personalities. To him, it was family first, career second. Such mindset and principle even brought the Andres and his family recognition by the Gintong Ina/Ama Foundation as one of the three outstanding families in the Philippines in 1993.

The Diplomat & The Education Advocate For the rest of his clan, Andres is well respected. His older siblings dote on him as well as look up to him, albeit he is the youngest of them all. Everytime his older brothers Felipe and Enrique find themselves in a dispute, it was Andy who tried to mediate between the two, especially when they both took each other to court for a land feud.

His older brothers would even go to him for advice, as he is well known to be diplomatic and very much approachable. His home in Manila used to be the summer refuge for his close relatives; He welcomed his siblings’ children and their grandchildren.

Andy believed in education and helped numerous of his relatives-- nieces and nephews with their education. A couple of his nieces and nephews, namely Felipe and Nieves’ children used to live with him and Soling when he was in office. They would help in housework or was encouraged by Andy to find work, in exchange he assisted them so they can get the best possible education.

He is now 87 years old, but his memory is still sharp and his charisma still unparalleled. He lives with his wife, Soling in Quezon City but still frequents Baguio and Acop. He has grown into a well-rounded, worldly man. In fact he will be remembered and cherished by the Benguet province as one of the greatest and most accomplished sons ever born in the mountains. He is worthy of the praise that every Igorot who has known him speak of, not because of his family name or roots. But because of how he served his people and province and how he never walked far astray from the principles he upheld even when he was in a position of ‘power’...

Indeed, the Ibaloi community has so much respect for Andres but to his family, he is still “Andy”, the last but never the least child of Anchong and TariljaCosalan. *** Lolo Andy would very much appreciate if you write him letters as this was his frequent request when we have called him several times.

You can mail your letters to :

Blk 27, Lot 11, Diego Silang St. New Capitol Estate 1, Commonwealth, QC, Philippines