I was just going through our family pictures. I mean all the pictures we have I want to separate them individually. One of the photos in my file was taken during my baptism. I am pretty sure that this photo was taken in the late 1968. As you know in the old days the parents wanted the child to be baptized right away. The child is not even allowed to travel from one place to the other if its not really necessary.
I am kind of holding back some tears because I have been missing my parents lately. I think one of the reasons why is because the TV here has been showing the late President Cory Aquino who just died a week or so ago and her Senator husband Benigno Aquino who died in the 1980’s. Just watching them made me think of my parents. It reality hit me again that gosh I don’t have any parents anymore.
Anyway, In the photo of my baptism, on the left my sister Doming, next to her my Mama and Papa. Next to my dad were my Ninang and Ninong, he is holding me. They are good friends of my dad since they also came from Bohol. They lived in a town just one town away from us. Its bigger than the town we are living. They owned a big store there. They sold all kinds of stuff. From clothing to rice to flip flops, kitchen stuff, garden stuff, toys and others. Its more like a convenience store. They had lots of customers. I remember when I was about less than 5 years old we would go to their store and whenever my Ninang or Ninong saw me they will let me chose any doll that I want to have in the store and lots of candies of course. I love them to pieces for that.
Even their kids gave me stuff. I was in heaven then. I was really so proud in my school that they are my godparents. Both of Ninang and Ninong died when I was in high school if I remember correctly. I see some of their kids sometimes when I go visit our farm. My sister was a classmate of their daughter too so the talking sometimes when seeing my Ninang & Ninong’s kids would last for hours.
My other set of god parents, I just saw them 3 times in my life. I knew who they were when they came to visit us in our house before. They were just living away from us, they visit us whenever they can. They are very nice people also its just that I never saw them that much. I think they were also from Bohol. Both of my godparents lived away from us.
Just looking at the photo I am proud that my parents spent some money for my nice gown. I’m sure in those days even just that gown its quiet expensive for them. Also I think they also butchered some pigs or something. I wish I did ask them about it before my parents passed away. You know how it is in the province to have baptism the parents will really spend money for a party. All the family will come to the house to party. I also wished my parents wrote in the back of the photo the people and the date that the photo was taken. I might ask my older sister when I see her what’s the name of my god parents. She might know everything during the baptism. I think I was baptized in our town’s church. My gosh I have some investigating to do soon.
Well, here I am 40 years ago now live the good life. Happy to be alive.
Cheers Everyone!
I felt the same as you Feyma, may not be abundant in material things but deep in my heart i know i am living a good life. I felt loved and cared for, not to mention that i am blessed with wonderful people "my family" outpouring me with unconditional love. It's nice that you still have a photo of your baptism, i don't even have one.
Kamusta ka Feyma,
Is great to go through old photos of family. When my grandparents passed away, there were so many old photos to go through, alot from the 1920's, 30's,40's, and 50's of people we are not sure of. We had wished we sat down and talked about these pictures with them before they passed on, but we didn't. Of course there usually wasn't anything written on the back of them either, and plus we found so many old negatives also, that I had taken to the photo shop and developed, was so interesting to see my grandparents back when they were young.
So now is the time to start asking about those things, before it too late..nice story Feyma, and thanks for sharing.
Salamat kaayo,
Danny 🙂
Hi Feyma,
Your story remind me of a John McCutcheon song titled "Water from Another Time." Lyrics include:
Tattered quilt on the goose down bed
"Every stitch tells a story", my Grandma said
Her mama's nightgown, her Grandpa's pants
And the dress she wore to her high school dance
Now wrapped at night in those patchwork scenes
I waltz with Grandma in my dreams
My arms, my heart, my life entwined
With water from another time
Thank you for sharing your memories and photo of your parents and godparents. We are blessed with your memories of "water from another time."
Hi Feyms,
It’s great that you still have some keepsake from your childhood; it really brings out the happiest moments. In my case I only have one left, and that was my first communion picture. I guess being NPA family (No permanent address) sometimes you loose a lot of valuable stuff, I wish I had all my childhood pictures so I can show my kids what their mama looked like when I was a child. (My brother’s said I look like Max Alvardo…muhilak gud ko kanunay hehehehhe.)
Talking about Cory Aquino’s funeral I cried so much, especially when they sung “Magkaisa” I could not stop crying…
Hi Feyma,
Thanks for sharing your memories,so many of my photo's have been lost over the years.
I find it interesting that your family originaly came from Bohol.
It appears that there was in the past a mass migration from Visayas to Mindanao.Did this happen after WW2,it would be interesting to learn more about it.
regards Chas.
Hi, Feyma,
Nice posts, old times are the best sometimes to remember. Baptism in the Philippines is one of the greatest occasion that we Filipinos love to celebrate. Parents are so proud of the baptismal of their infants or young ones, and baptism became a very important part of each Filipinos lives. To have faith on religion, to God and to themselves as human beings. I love the old picture also of your baptism, it reminds you of your parents and god parents how they adore you as a baby…I can relate to that also. I wish to be back home soon, and dig up some old pictures of the past, for me it's a treasure to remember…God bless you always and your family, and more power.
Here is some good scripture to help you in times of sorrow. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. JOHN 3:15 Verily verily,I say unto you, IF a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. also John chapter three tells us what we need to do to inherit eternal life. Romans 10:9,10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth into righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. My mother passed several years ago. I take comfort in these scriptures knowing that I will see her up in Heaven some day. God bless you and your family.
Hi Vanessa – Yes the material stuff doesn't mean so much if you don't have anybody to share with.
Honestly I didn't even realized I had all those pictures with me all this time. I'm glad I found them.
Hi Danny – I know what you mean. Going through old photos, the reminiscing of good and bad it's something to talk about during get together parties.
Lucky for you guys you still have negatives with you. With the technology nowadays you can put that into CD's and it will last a lifetime.
Good to see you again Danny.
Hi Jack – Thank you for that lyrics of the song. It really is a good lyrics.
Thank you for stopping by!
Hi ann – Hmm, come to think of it I don't think I have pictures of my first communion. I will ask my family about it though. Maybe some of them has one. Hey at least you had one photo with you. Thats good enough. Your the only Max Alvarado look alike that I know of nga gwapa. At least may kamukha kang artista.
It's really a priceless moments.
I tried not to watch as much though because I still hurt for my mom's death. It's hard to watch.
Take care my friend.
Hi chasdv – Yes my Dad was originally from Bohol, my Mom was originally from Cebu. The 2 of them meet and married in Lanao. They stayed there for years. Until my dad tried venturing down the Southern most part of Mindanao and got lucky in South Cotabato then, now Sarangani Province. Me and my 2 other siblings born in Sarangani.
Not just the Visayan migrated here, also a lot of people from Luzon too. I think that's after the WW2. My Dad came here after the war.
Thanks for your comment Chas. Take care.
Hi Roselyn – Can't agree you more.
Hope you will find a lot of your old photos. Good luck.
Keep reading the Lip magazine. Good to see you here.
Hi Robert Graves – Thank you for the good verses on the scriptures. I appreciate very much. Amen to that.
Take care!
Ngeee, thanx friend for the lovely comment…. Basin c pokwang akong look alike… (I like her; she always makes me laugh…)
Take care.
sounds to me like your realizing your own mortality Feyma, I too think like you do and miss the wisdom of my parents and reflect on the past. You have done well thanks to the support of your family now is the time to build your legacy for your own children as the cycle of life continues. Enjoy your life Feyma enjoy your family love and be loved it really is what life is all about 🙂
You look so very much like your Dad.
It seems so wonderful to me that you recognize the sacrifice of your parents. And that you can see their values in many different parts of perhaps only began as a record of an event.
To read your comments and look at the photo at the same time is so revealing about the people involved, the relationships, and the magnitude of those occasions.
How so very marvelous. . .
Feyma,
The picture of your baptism… get Bob or yourself to scan the picture and e-mail the scan to me and I can "restore" it in such a way that it will look almost new.
It will continue to fade, especially if you have it out on display all the time. Best place to store it is in a dark dryt place and only pull it out for short periods of time.
I will have to charge you for this service … I'm thinking a cup of Bob's favorite coffee should be enough.
Seriously now, I expect to be in Davao in a few months and if you have a shoe box full of old faded pictures like that, I would be glad to make them look a lot newer. Once the images are digitized, and printed with modern inks, they should last at least 100 years without fading. And of course, you would have the digital image that will outlast all of us.
I enjoy your articles, and of course, Bob's articles too. Keep up the good work.
Take care. –Rich–