Vintage photographs and eternal memories (part 1)

For the past few nights, I think I am evolving into a creature of nocturne (due to excessive caffeine & sugar). I couldn't help but do the following activities: peek at my work (sometimes I bring home work... nasty!), check my email, see updates on people's multiply and hop from one blog to another (especially the showbiz blogs... hahaha!). I also couldn't help but fix the "stuff" in our PC, such as placing files in folders and deleting unecessary items or programs. In other words, spring cleaning... electronic-style.

Upon doing the electronic spring cleaning, I checked our "family picture files". What's in it? The usual... my pictures, latest pics of my folks, the scanned old pics (since I am the assigned "scanner whore"), our family CD album cover: softcopy version (and this has been the current addiction of my pappeee... go to amazon.com and save album covers for iTunes purposes) and my lola's "CBS @ 80" photo album. I opened my lola's photo album and started to stare at each picture. I got amazed that each photograph was fabulously taken and each photo has a story of its own. Checking these pictures was like watching an old 30's or 40's movie (ah those days were flicks by Greta Garbo and Judy Garland... winner!) or something. Then I realized that my grandparents had the ultimate time in their lives, despite the series of historical events that occured: The Great Depression (I'm not sure if RP was affected back in the 30's) World War II or the Japanese Occupation and Martial Law.

Here are some of the photographs of my Santiago grandparents, circa 1930s to 1960s... so vintage... so fabulous.

My lola at the far right... the mestiza looking lass... think this was her high school pic, circa 1930's

My late lolo Eliong... who looked like the last emperor of China (Pu Yee)... taken at the early 30's.

Woohoo their wedding!! It was actually on papers, specifically Manila Bulletin and Taliba.

If I may remember correctly, Pappeeee said that this was taken during the war... my grandparents were at the far right, together with my lolo's siblings and parents (those who were seated) .. guess they had to have a photo op before they hide somewhere along the boondoks or something... Hehehe joke!

After the war, it became a trend to my grandparent's family to have tons of offsprings. Each of my grandparent's sibs (even my grandparents) had an average number of 7 kids. But in fairness, it looked good on family photos.

With the Santiago clan at the Santiago residence in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.. my lolo's side of the family.. Pappeeee wasn't even born yet.

With the Borja clan at the Borja residence in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija... my lola's side of the family... and yes even on this side, Papppeee wasn't even born yet.

Alas, my grandparent's family... that lil kid in the middle with a shiny necktie... that's Pappeee! This was taken in the mid-60's.

Papppeee said that both clans had colorful life experiences back in the hay days, whether those were happy events or unfortunate circumstances. But in spite of all these happenings, it made the family stronger and more united, which is why up to this date, clan reunions are significant events that occur once or twice a year.

These days, when there's an opportunity for us to have lunch or dinner together, it is inevitable that my dad would narrate family stories from the past. Even if I heard it for so many times, I would be excited to listen to them. In the end, it makes me feel proud that I'm part of this brood. =)

Moving forward, as part of my household duties as the "scanner whore" (hehehe!), I will be sharing stories of my Mooommmmmyyy's family. It's also fascinating because they also have (through the vintage photographs) wonderful stories to tell.