Connecting With My 2nd Cousin Once Removed Through the Manlangit Line

Finding Family: Connecting With My 2nd Cousin Once Removed Through the Manlangit Line

By J.F.R. Perseveranda for Pinoybuilt.com

Genealogy has a way of connecting hearts as much as it connects DNA. Recently, I discovered a close match on Ancestry: braverifles43. According to the platform, we share 119 centimorgans across 9 segments, making him my 2nd cousin once removed (2C1R) — or possibly a half 2nd cousin. This is my 2nd closest DNA match, and it opens a window into our shared Manlangit heritage from Oas, Albay.

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My First Connection

When I saw braverifles43 in my DNA matches, I sent a simple message, introducing myself and asking about our ancestral ties:

“Hi! I recently received my DNA results and it looks like we’re distantly related. You’re actually my closest match on one side of my family tree. I was wondering if any of your ancestors might have come from the Bicol region of the Philippines. I’m based in Northern California and have roots there myself. Hope to hear back from you. Thank you.”
— J.F.

What came back was the beginning of a story that reconnects our family after generations.

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Our Shared Manlangit Lineage

Here’s the genealogical breakdown that ties us together:

• My great-grandmother: Saturnina Manlangit, from Oas, Albay
• braverifles43’s grandmother/mother: Teresita Reblora Manlangit (B: 30 Dec 1944, Oas, Albay – D: 23 May 1993, Marilao, Bulacan)
• Teresita’s parents: Rafael Manlangit and Merced Ranola Reblora (B: 24 Sep 1923, Oas – D: 28 Oct 2009, Oas)
• Merced’s parents: Pedro Ranara Reblora (B: 1900 – D: 1972, Oas) and Consolacion Ranola

This connection traces our family roots clearly back to Oas, Albay, where the Manlangit and Reblora families lived, worked, and grew together for generations.

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What Does “2nd Cousin Once Removed (2C1R)” Mean?

Family relationships can get confusing, so here’s a simple breakdown:

• 2nd cousin: you and another person share the same great-grandparents, but not grandparents.
• Once removed: indicates a difference of one generation. For example, your great-grandmother’s sibling’s grandchild is your 2nd cousin once removed.

In our case, braverifles43 is a member of my great-grandmother Saturnina Manlangit’s extended family, making him a 2nd cousin once removed (or possibly a half 2nd cousin if there were remarriages in the lineage). This is exactly what the 119 cM across 9 segments of DNA reflects.

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Why This Discovery Matters

This discovery is deeply personal. It connects me to living relatives, helps my dad and his siblings recognize their extended family, and shows how Filipino families spread across regions but remained linked by blood and tradition.

It also reflects a broader story:

• The migration of families from Oas, Albay to other parts of the Philippines and abroad.
• The way DNA can reveal connections lost to time, migration, and distance.
• The importance of preserving and celebrating Filipino family history.

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Sharing This With My Family

I am sharing this on Pinoybuilt so my dad and his siblings can see the connection themselves. Genealogy isn’t just about numbers — it’s about the people behind those numbers. Learning that we have a 2nd cousin once removed alive today makes history feel alive, tangible, and meaningful.

This story is for anyone tracing their Filipino roots. DNA may provide the proof, but family stories give it life.

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Conclusion

Our families may have been separated by geography, time, or circumstance, but DNA helps us bridge that gap. My connection to braverifles43 shows that even generations later, the Manlangit and Reblora lines remain part of our shared Filipino heritage. This is the beauty of genealogical discovery: it brings family together, no matter where they are in the world.

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For More Reading

• AncestryDNA – Understanding centimorgans and DNA matches
• Philippine Genealogical Society – How to trace family history in the Philippines
• History of Oas, Albay – Local archives and family heritage

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By: J.F.R. Perseveranda

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