Museo ni Lolo
Two days ago, I was invited to attend the inauguration of the Hagonoy Water District. Apparently it was a big deal--not only because it was the first building to have an escalator in my hometown (oooh), it was also the first building with automatic sliding doors (!).
What made me go, however, was the fact that they were dedicating one room of the building as a museum and library in my grandfather's honor. This was aside from the fact that they decided to name the building after my grandfather (!). So yes, I officially love them.
My grandmother smiling and clapping after she cut the ribbon to my lolo's museum
Inside the "museum" (a small room, actually--but still something to be thankful for) were things I recognized from home. My grandfather's office table, which once greeted people who entered our humble townhouse, now served as the centerpiece for the museum. A framed sample of the Blas F. Ople Limited Stamps, once proudly displayed in the Ople Center office, was now there as well. Books from the Ople Library, some of them my favorites, now lined glass-encased bookshelves which the public would soon be able to access. I didn't mind. My grandfather has always dreamed of putting up a public library in Hagonoy, and maybe this can be a start. (Sir Danton Remoto of Ang Ladlad fame, who was beside me for most of the ceremony, said he will personally donate some of his books on Philippine Literature to our library)
A picture of the limited edition Ople Stamps. I wish I bought some of these when they were still printing it...
Sir Danton, who's always a joy to see and talk to, posing with me in front of my lolo's plaque. He promised to give us books, hurray, hurray--even more reason for me to like him!
Then, there were things I've never seen before. :) The signed memo from former President Marcos, for example, telling my lolo that he is now the Minister of Labor of the Philippines. A quote from one of his elementary classmates about how bright a student he's always been and how friendly and approachable he was. And a picture of my great grandfather and great grandmother, whom we used to pay respect to every All Souls' Day, no matter how crowded the cemetery. I never knew how they looked like, until that day.
Sigh.
And I guess what I'd really like to say is that I'm immensely proud and thankful to my grandfather. Without him, we'd probably still be in Hagonoy--a family making a living from building and repairing boats, walking to school without shoes (or probably not going to school at all...).
I am also incredibly grateful to the people of the Hagonoy Water District for dedicating a museum in my grandfather's honor. I hate admitting it, but my memories of my grandfather have begun to fade. I remember him most for the little things-- Sunday lunch at Saisaki. Him smiling as I *gently* forced him to headbang at one of my birthday parties. How wrinkly and soft his palms were, and how funny it was that he insisted to use a comb and spraynet despite his thinning hair :p COFFEE AND CIGARETTES, always, always--with his newspaper in the mornings. But I've begun to forget the bigger things, the things that matter in the long run. How hard he has worked, the sacrifices he has made, not only for our family, but also for our country. And it took a 4-hour inauguration of the most modern building in Hagonoy to make me realize that...
My mom--who has made it her mission to keep my grandfather's legacy alive through the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute--and, well, me!
Currently Reading: Get them On Your Side - Samuel Bacharach
Currently Listening: Taylor Hicks - Do I Make You Proud?