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This is the story of the Madriaga Family of Louisiana.
The growing sea of descendants began in 1846, when Felipe Madriaga of Ilocos Norte brought his love, Bridget Nugent of Ireland,
to Louisiana to settle down. The story continues.
The Ferniz family, Hermogenes Ferniz, Sidonia Borabod Ferniz, and their children at Manila Village.
(Barataria Bay, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana).
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| August 29, 2005 |
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| Hurricane Katrina over Louisiana and Mississippi |
It's been an interesting life. I've become very reflective and have learned to appreciate the people and
experiences that shaped me into who I am at this moment. Never have I been more aware of my need to define myself and
my place in this world than after August 29, 2005, as I endured the ravaging winds of Hurricane Katrina. The aftermath
has been worse than the actual storm.
Here are my history, reflections, writings, and photographs. There are many good things to be thankful for:
a whole life of experience, a wonderful family, and the gift of their lives, as God spared us all from the storm. I
hope you enjoy what I've shared.
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| Our last happy time together before Hurricane Katrina |
 
I was born Rhonda Lee Richoux, daughter of Joseph Dudley Richoux of Larose, La., and Lillian Mae Burtanog,
of New Orleans. I suppose my main ethnic heritage is Asian-Cajun, but, if you study my family, you'll find out that
the first Richoux came to Loluisiana directly from France, not through Canada, and you'll find a Spanish name or two on both
sides of the family. Spain liked to mess with other parts of the world back in the day, just like France, England and Portugal.
They left their mark, and their names, on the cultures they intruded upon.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed or damaged the homes of almost
my entire living family. The loss of our homes was devastating. Equally devastating, to me, was the loss of old photographs
that can never be replaced. The original of the picture above, of my great grandfather Benito Yabut Martinez, my great
grandmother Rosalie Borabod, and their eldest child, my grandmother Lillian Martinez, was one I had placed on one of my web
pages. Had I not saved some of our photographs to my computer, the images would have been lost to our family forever.
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About FILIPINOLA:
I first thought of the title "Filipino Louisiana", to share the
history of my Filipino ancestors. But I have so much to say, about my whole family, about New Orleans, the city of my
heart, and about myself. FILIPINOLA has "Filipino" in it, and "New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA)" in it.
I've posted this website for several reasons:
- To write about the history of my family in Louisiana
- To tell the stories of growing up in New Orleans
- To share the photos that tell our story
I hope that you will find something interesting in these pages! ~ Rhonda Lee Richoux
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| (Circa 1895) |
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| Felipe Madriaga, his wife Brigett Nugent, and their family |
My Genealogy Page
| Rosalie Borabod Martinez |
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| My great-grandmother. Her mother was Elizabeth Madriaga, the second daughter of Felipe and Bridgett |
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To contact me or to post a comment, click on "Contact Me" in the navigation bar above.
All contents © Rhonda Lee Richoux except for comments and quotes
where credit is given to another author. Please include my name if you
copy,
post or quote anything from my site. Thank you!
My life changed significantly for the better
the day I stopped asking God to change people, and instead asked him to change me.
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