A Long Time Ago, From A Galaxy Far, Far Away….

….the Dacanay legacy was born. Some ancestral research was being done and seemed to reach a dead end with my father’s family. It’s difficult to go back more than a few generations in a digital age when verbal history is all that exists. We do know that we are an amalgam of jumbled Asianness centered in the Philippines and inclusive of the Spanish settlers. I wasn’t prepared for what came next.

Dacanay appears to be derived from the Sanskrit, Dakinī which translates to “Sky Walker” or “one who travels the sky.” The name is often associated with freedom of the mind, transformative energy from the proverbial Dark Side to the light. Yes, I claim it to be canon. The Force is strong in my family and somehow a Skywalker from a galaxy far, far away managed to settle on Earth and keep the bloodline strong. I am even named after a constellation and have spent many a summer’s night gazing up at the sky searching for shooting stars or signs of life. Or perhaps another moon? Thanks to George Lucas, we have an idea of where some of our ancestors (allegedly) came from and how they interacted with those around them.

And this knowledge suddenly explained my family’s appreciation for the Star Wars films. I remember growing up watching the VHS tapes and yearning for an intergalactic adventure. I even had an impressive collection of film memorabilia which I unwittingly gave away before I discovered my heritage! These days, I show my familial pride through fan girl t-shirts, spontaneous trivia matches with Disneyland Cast Members (they shot first) and enamel pins. If you are a fellow pin collector, I just happen to be giving away a Princess Leia set of 4 by Hallmark that is my new obsession. Be sure to check it out over on Instagram. It’s the easiest contest you’ll ever enter. But hurry, the giveaway closes 12/9 at 8pm!

We owe George Lucas many thanks for documenting our family history and look forward to learning more about our ancestors. Be sure to check out the final chapter of the Skywalker saga in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker in theatres December 20th. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill and the late Carrie Fisher reprise their roles along with a few other familiar faces.

Are you Rebel Scum or do you chant Long Live The Sith?