The following (updated) history text is from the family tree written by Gregoria S. Echavez in 1999: (related by Oliver E. Jung)
The Echavez ancestors of the family come from Aloguinsan, Cebu. Not much can be told about our family of the Echavez beginnings.
Our great grandfather is Juan Echavez married to Eustaquia Teves of the Dumaguete Teveses. His children were Leandro, our grandfather, Emeterio, Saturnino, Ceferina, Emeteria and Elisa.
Leandro married to Margarita Verano. Emeterio was the father of Leoncio Echavez, a soldier. Saturnino (1866-1933) was a General during the spanish revolution, a anti spanish hero of the Ginatilanons and now a street in Cebu City bears his name (Echavez street). One sister got married in Negros Oriental and another in Aloguinsan, Cebu.
The family of Leandro Echavez immigrated to "Tolong Viejo", later renamed to "Santa Catalina", Negros Oriental. Benito, our father was the eldest of the grandchildren of Juan Echavez and Eustaquia Teves.
He was highly respected and loved by his younger siblings and cousins and was adressed as "Manoy". He married Dionisia Cinco from Ginatilan, Cebu.
One time he went to the forest to get rattan for the industrial work of his son Honorato. Honorato and two other boys went with him. While cutting the rattan, he felt something poke at his back. When he turned around, it was a snake as big as a post. He fought the snake and killed it.
He was a brave man and died in his early forties. During the necrological service, he was described as an orator as he was good in public speaking, a writer and a defender of the oppressed and very articulate in Spanish.
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