Kimpo.ph

by Atty. Phillip I. Kimpo
(Amado & Blandina Kimpo Family)

It has been popularly and commonly accepted by all members of the KIMPO and QUIMPO clans that they belong to the same branch of the Family, the same lineage whose blood springs but from one common source. Hence, the issue as to whether the original spelling of this one common family is spelt with a “K” (Kimpo) or with a “Q” (Quimpo) only takes secondary importance, for after all they all belong to the same family, sharing the same features and characteristics. But if only to make a determination, for curiosity’s sake, which of the two names (with different spellings) is the original still remains far from settled.

There are two versions.

Version one says that the original name was QUIMPO (spelt with a “Q”). Obviously, it is a combination of two Chinese words, namely, “Quim” and “Po”, being then carried by a Chinese family or clan (just like “Tee-Han-Kee”, “Tua-Son”, or “Yu-Cheng-Co”). However, because of nationalism (primarily) and the alleged difficulty in pronunciation by the Americans (secondarily), the Quimpo clan from the neighboring town of Numancia, led by the town mayor “Kapitan LEONCIO QUIMPO” (Tan Onsoy), changed the spelling of the name from “QUIMPO” to “KIMPO”, after failing to convince their counterparts from the capital town of Kalibo and likewise Altavas. Nationalistic – because it uses the Pilipino letter “K” just like in “Katipunan” (the nationalist organization formed to topple the Spanish regime). Pronunciation wise – the Americans, during their Era, used to pronounce the name as QUIMPO (“Kwim-po”). Thus, to make it easy for the Americans to pronounce the name correctly, the spelling of the name QUIMPO was simplified to KIMPO.

Version two says that the original name was really KIMPO (spelt with a “K”). Due probably to a Spanish decree or order, the spelling of the name was altered to QUIMPO (spelt with a “Q”) in order to make it Hispanic or Spanish. It must be noted that the KIMPO clan inhabiting the capital town of Kalibo and the neighboring town of Numancia, both separated by the Aklan River, were actually the early Korean Christians who fled their homeland on account of religious persecution and came to the Philippines, the only Christian country in Asia. In their quest for religious freedom, particularly in preserving their newly-found Christian faith, they happened to reach Panay Island in the middle part of the Philippines. Intentionally, they chose to settle near the river bank of the Aklan River since these families of Korean Christians were inhabitants of the KIMPO area (literally translated “port of gold”) in Korea. Thus, it is no wonder then that later the Quimpos from Numancia, led by Tan Onsoy, then the town mayor, chose to return back to the original KIMPO. It is theorized that his campaign to return back the QUIMPO to the original KIMPO was brought about by his close contact and association with the Americans, particularly when he was appointed, together with his son FELIX, as Delegate for the town of Numancia to the Taft Commission of April 14, 1901. This version is gaining ground as it has been recently confirmed by a Korean anthropologist who did a study on the issue. No less than former Aklan Representative Allen S. Quimpo agrees with this version; hence, his numerous visits to the capital city of Seoul, South Korea, attempting to make Kalibo the sister city (town) of the former.

Originally published in Corsarius.net and the 2nd Reunion souvenir program.