Greased Lightning, Espitong at iba pa

I have so many memories at Lola's house (including the powder incident with Miguel) that it would be an arduous task to recall them all. Here are some instances that easily stick out...

I remember Ate Minotte choreographing our own rendition of Greased Lightning in Lola's room. We all cut out "T-Birds" signs and taped them on the back of our leather jackets which we bought in Hong Kong's night market that summer. Sayang, we didn't have a video cam yet that time but the images of that moment is still clear in my mind. I can still see Ate Minotte standing on that low hardwood table with the iron frame and legs, squatting and pointing out (panning from side to side) ala John Travolta.

Does anyone remember Francis Pira, a.k.a. Espitong? He was the son of my dad's friend who stayed with us a few days. I remember him joining our tirador games and Randy, Kuya Franco or Mikko slinging those siksik palara bullets that stung like hell. Needless to say, he was welted really badly and we never saw him again... I think.

A fond memory is when the 7 dwarves would sleep in Lola's room, a usual occurence back then, and convert it into a virtual maze of blankets and pillows. We'd have flashlights with us so that we could keep on playing when the lights went out. I remember that fancy tree decor that was actually a bunch of nylon strings which lit up at its ends. We used it as our disco light when we'd play Randy's JVC cassette player.

Joey and Maan's Marga

Welcome to Tilamsik:

Ana Margarita Ramos Oreta (Marga)
born June 28, 2005.

Hey Mickey!

I'm sure most of us remember Mickey, the rat na kasing laki ng pusa that makes Lola's sala his home. I can still clearly recall the number of times Mickey has appeared from nowhere and makes all of us either scream, jump, climb on the chair, etc. I am still amazed at Mickey's courage as he weaves through people's feet under Lola's table and darts across the sala to hide behind the sofa. Upon inspection, a big hole and some proof of Mickey's presence was found under both sofas. Mickey even possesses super strength that he was able to bore a hole through the cement of Lola's wall. Sometimes, the ledge above Lola's door is where Mickey detours on his way to the ledge above the glass sliding door. From there, I really don't know where he goes.

Don't know if Mickey is still around. Maybe he is hiding behind the oven in Lola's kitchen or inside her room. He may be busy scrounging around the stuff under Lola's bed. Who knows? Will let you know if Mickey decides to show himself again and will even try to take a snapshot.

Haven't seen Mickey in a while. The hole on the wall has been covered with cement while the sofas are newly re-upholstered with leatherette.

Kofranks

We were Nuns!!!

Joy, Eena, Mayoy and I played in Lola's little kitchen. We got all of Lola's dining chairs and arranged them into 4 little rooms (2 chairs each room) in Lola's little kitchen. We had Lola's sheets to cover each room and we occupied one room each. We pretended we were nuns and have towels to cover our hair (belo namin). I don't remember our sister names but I know it all started with Sister Mary....whatever. I guess during those times we all wanted to be nuns....YAH RIGHT!

Marijo

Paths to Lola’s House

I remember my 3 paths to get to Lola’s house, and being little, how I dreaded every one of those paths. The first path was to go through the terrace, where all of Lolo and Lola’s “vicious” little dogs would bark and chase me. I hated those dogs. The second path was to go through the dark, hot garage and the smelly kitchen with “ipis”. As a little girl, I remember running through the garage and the kitchen to get past it as quickly as I could. The third path was to walk outside the compound, around the corner and through the office or gates on Dona Juana Rodriguez. This meant being out in the, then seemingly, busy highway – very intimidating for a little girl.

Now much older and, I would like to think, wiser, those dreaded paths seem so silly and have become precious memories to me. The thought of those little dogs always bring a smile to my face. I sometimes come across places that smell like the garage or kitchen and it brings back fond memories of Lola’s house. Dona Juana Rodriguez is not the wide highway I thought it to be, it’s a narrow road that somehow represented the boundaries of my childhood. I felt safe, as long as I stayed within those boundaries. Those dreaded paths to Lola’s house meant good times with my cousins – and nothing was going to stop me from getting there EVERYDAY.

Lia

My memories and my last visit

Flashback lang nung bata pa ako.......I always loved going to the "Big House". I wake up early in the morning every weekend (around 6am). I would go straight to Lola's and have breakfast because I knew that they would be awake at that time. I would always see Lolo with his coffee, wearing his sweats in the terrace just looking around.......at peace with himself.

One memory that stands out with my experience in Lola's house was when Rammy and I emptied 2 containers of Baby Powder in Lola's trash can.....I even remember balancing it on the door of one of the cubicles (the one that has no shower), and Rammy holding the door. It was suppose to be for one of the cousins.....since we all were into making traps and converting Lola's room into a make shift "haunted house"......sad to say.......actually really very funny during that time, that it was Lola that got it. We were hiding behind all the clothes in the bathroom when she came in. Talagang sapol!!! Lola screamed!!! and she was really covered in powder. Rammy and I ran.....and she never knew it was us.

Being the youngest within the generation of cousins, it was hard for me to fit in.......parati akong saling-pusa!.......or your basic "Utusan". I remember that age played a big part in the family. The guys would make fun of me all the time.

I always hear about our family being solid and that you can always count on family etc....... Frankly, I always had my doubts because of what I went through.....being the youngest and all......baka "Saling Pusa nanaman ako".

It all finally went full circle last Christmas (05).......I mean the Holidays of 05......my last visit. As everyone knows by now, I just went through .....and still going through a big D. I was really very down....nawala lahat ng yabang ko at marami pang iba na nawala!.....but that is another story.

My original plan was to go home and spend time with my friends. I would just go to the Big House during Christmas and New Year. Too many emotions were playing. I really didn't know how to face the family......that's why I sent out an email before I went home.

I knew that Walf would be there and understand because he's been there, and I know that he would always stand by me. The thing that surprised me the most was the time I spent with the Sevillas. I felt that they went out of their way to make me feel better. Kuya Rosky organized a Cali trip. Kuya Franco basically opened his doors to me........parang Dr. Phil! He even gave me a book to read for prayers and reflections.....it helped a lot......the other cousins in NJ were even wondering why I wasn't getting mad etc..... Randy even picked me up in my friend's house......brought me to Cali, and on the way back, treated me for lunch! Pixie, cooked dinner for me and surprisingly, it really tasted good!

On my last day, I spent it in Lola's. Eena treated, if I remember correctly, the best tasting Inihaw na manok at baboy I ever ate. The 3 Sevilla brothers were present, and Lola was ok with the idea for us to stay late. We talked about everything........for the first time I really felt like an "Equal". It was already past 3am and we were still talking and laughing, but sadly I had to leave because my flight was at 6 something. I hugged all 3 of them and Eena walked me out.


Balik Amerika:

I remember riding in Ate Mayoy's car with Ate Lia sitting at the back. We were on our way to the Noodle House for dinner. I told them about my trip, and stressed the fact how lucky I was to experience a family coming together to help a member out. I lost my wife, but I know that my family will always be there.......without any doubt!---PIG

"Sa Lola lang ako"

"Sa lola lang ako"those were the usual words I say when I leave the house in the morning. Lolo Soc and Lola Med's house was my second home in the compound.It is the place where we all go and meet to play with everybody the whole day. Imagine during those days, we did not have cable t.v., cellphones, play stations and big malls to go to. We were happy with "shato", steel roller skates, "habulan sa bubong", biking around New Manila and kick ball in the house of the Resurreccions. As long as we were playing, we were happy.Come to think of it, we can do anything during those days-leave in the morning and be home by night time and our parents would not worry.
I guess it was always like Sunday during those days, we were always together enjoying each others company.Today, I can imagine Sunday lunch in the compound is completely different-But if given a chance, I'm sure everybody would want to go to Lola's house and just chat and laugh of what we did when we were young. Looking forward to that day. Regards to all. Mikko

Somersault

It was in Lolo and Lolo's bed that I learned how to somersault. At the beginning, it was just "circo" in the bed until my cousins and I discovered the filing cabinet. We would climb the filing cabinet and jump with all our might, accompanied by twists and turns, and land smack on the bed. Of course, this was done when they were not around.

We would try our best to put back the furniture and the bed covers in place upon learning that Lolo and Lola were on their way back. Except for one occasion wherein we couldn't hide the fact that we were jumping all over their bed – one of the legs broke off. I could hear Lola very clearly with her famous "Mga bata!!!!!".

I miss the times I spent with my cousins growing up in Broadway. The games we played were so fun and imaginative: building tents in Lola's room, playing haunted house, high jump, olympics-style games with teams such as eagles and stags, water pistol fights, rubber band and paper bullet battles and the ever-popular "Mr. Utot". I wish our kids could have the same simple games. What makes me happy is seeing that the generation after us seems to also have a similar bonding towards each other as we did. I hope that even if most are in far away places, they would continue to keep in touch.

Like we always tell our friends, "kaming mga Rodrigo ay hindi lang magpipinsan, para kaming magkakapatid".

Kofranks

welcome to tilamsik

hello cousins and in-laws around the world. welcome to the new tilamsik at blogspot!

i took the liberty to set up a forum where we can post pictures, write and share
about ourselves, our kids--so we can keep in touch, like making kuwetuhan
in lola med's house. i am always interested in what is
happening to all of us and i am hoping that distance will not deter us from
continuing to stay close.

i know in my heart that we are all gifted writers, many of us are just shy and private.
but should you feel the urge to share--anything from books, movies, fitness, recipes, your growing
kids to your angst at midlife--please feel free to do so. you don't even have to sign it.

maybe i can set a weekly theme. you don't have to comply with the theme.
just feel free to use it as a springboard to say what you want.

okay, i will start with the theme "THE BEST MEMORIES OF LOLO AND LOLA'S HOUSE" and lest
ma-purga na kayo sa life-stories ko, please share para masaya.

pictures are so welcome. franco has the best access because he can get from
lola's albums. how about it, kofranks? paki-post yung mga funny--so i will miss
you less.

hope to view your posts or comments man lang, okay?

> (ate) minotte

lolo soc's motorized necktie organizer

who remembers hiding in lolo's cabinet? do you remember the turning thingy for his neckties? at that time, that was the most hi-tech thing i have ever seen in my life. i also thought their then newly-renovated bathroom was a special place.

how about the flower soap of lola in a tall bottle? i felt that those rose shapedcolored soap bars were the most luxurious thing in the world! well for those who have migrated early, i have news for you--nandoon pa yung mga flower soap at wala na siyang amoy.

one thing i keep telling my kids, when we were all in lolo/lola's house, we could know who was in the room by the slippers outside the door.

i was so sad to leave manila last year because nothing will replace the broadway years. medyo dwindling na nga kami noon as there were more people in new jersey than in broadway. but guess what? though broadway will never be replaced, i have found new bonds with cousins in the east and in the west. i realized how kind and generous they all were. marijo helped me out with free milk for monica and lia, mayoy, and ched and the rest of the new jersey connection sent me coats and summer clothes for the kids!

mabuhay ang bonds natin!