Yesterday once more

"As long as we have memories, yesterday remains..."--this  quotation had no source at its end and came from a forwarded email a cousin sent when she shared a video of horses running free.

I found it the apt intro to this series of photos of ex-Brookside babies in various locales from Baguio to Los Baños to Malumanay street, Teachers Village, Quezon City. The last was where the yearly Christmas reunion of the Lolarga, Romero and Valdellon families used to be held, hosted by Uncle Esting and Auntie Linda (Col. Ernesto and Dr. Erlinda Lolarga).

Lola encouraged family fellowship, a tight-knit one. The closeness was forged in Baguio. So not only were our cousins cousins, we were and still are friends.

All these photos are from Lola's scrapbooks and photo albums.

Shown are Auntie Pacing (standing center), her six Romero children and an interloping niece. From row from left: Sonny, Babeth Lolarga, Tessie, Ferdie and Henry. Back Row: Toots and Rose. James Dean must've been at height of his fame, which explains Sonny and Henry's pose.

The Romeros again (from left): Ferdie, Tessie, Henry, Sonny, Toots and Rose. Behind the younger ones is Auntie Pacing.

I imagine this scene on the hill behind Lola's house. The girls are Allyn and Telly Valdellon, the boys Henry and Sonny.

The young girls are Aunties Grace and Shirley Cariño with Lola Purang behind, an unidentified woman and Apo Loly (Flora Cariño), Lola's younger sister who served for decades as a nurse at Baguio General Hospital.

Sonny was a good declaimer at Lourdes School Quezon City and was our pambato at impromptu programs at the Brookside house.

That's cousin Tess with the flowers of May behind her and what can only be a pair of Gregg shoes on her feet.

Sonny and Henry by the lake with their wooden swords

In another Baguio located in San Juan, Rizal,  a birthday party at the Valdellon residence in Little Baguio with (from left) Tess Romero, Telly, Beng and Allyn Valdellon

When her grandchildren would reach their cutie pie phase (toddler-hood), Lola would sometimes borrow them for a few weeks or months as in the case of my second of three brothers, Dennis. Here he is in Lola's garden.

A startled-looking Dennis (he must've just woken up that morning) with his yaya and older sister Babeth in cut-off shorts

Lola enjoys a dip in a hot spring with Tessie, Ferdie, Henry and Sonny.

By this time the older cousins Rose and Toots were in college but still spent their summers in Baguio. Dig those eyeglasses! That's the main door to the house. Unknown little girl there

Lola also welcomed her grand-kids' friends into her house. Here she poses with Rose (second from left) and college gang. The house was unfenced and directly faced M. Roxas street.

Christmas season was also when Lola would visit her children and their families in the big city. Here she's carrying baby Eleanor. On the wagon is Boysie, now Boise, Lolarga, surrounded by his sisters Minnie, Eileen and Louie.

The big Christmas lunch on Malumanay street was always followed by a program before the distribution of gifts. Here the Romero children sing accompanied by Henry on the guitar. From left are Tessie, Toots, Ferdie, Rose and Sonny. Eleanor Lolarga is held protectively by Ferdie.

Lola (third from right) with her children and daughters-in-law in Teachers' Village (from left): Uncle Celso, Daddy (Enrique Jr.), Mommy (Nene), Auntie Fe Valdellon, Auntie Pacing Romero and Auntie Linda Lolarga

Lola with daughter Fe and our younger cousins Nini Valdellon and Jing Lolarga

Their Uncle Junior, Our Uncle Celso

From Lolarga cousins in the Philippines and an aunt in the US come these reactions to the “Maalaala Mo Kaya” episode last Saturday aired over ABS-CBN. These are mainly recollections of our Daddy, Enrique C. Lolarga Jr., known to them as Uncle Junior and Manong. Manang Nene is my mother, Gliceria D. Lolarga. My relatives' letters make me feel I’m sitting at his wake again, listening to these lovely memories

From Jocelyn “Jing” Lolarga-Deco, our cousin and daughter of Celso C. Lolarga and Josie Geslani:

“Alam mo we really felt so proud watching your dad's story at MMK last Saturday. My kids know Kimi and Ida, but they never knew Uncle Jr. Kako yun binabanggit na Celso is their Lolo. They were both really there for each other. Your dad was always around when Papa got sick or was hospitalized.

“We can really attest to Uncle Jr.'s service. It was as if he and Papa made it their commitment to make an impact on and improve the lot of those barrio folks.

“Wish though we were able to document those services, pati yung mga pag improve ng park and kalsada. Well, it's their legacy that counts here.
“
You should have seen your dad at work whenever he went to Canan Sur. The barrio folk somehow know that he has arrived with free medicine. And they would come in droves, and he would start treating them. No fanfare, no ceremony. To them, he was their lifeline to treatment of their illnesses. He would just quietly work away, examining each man, woman and child. He would calm and softly assure them they will get well.

“It was obvious he was really enjoying it because he would have so much medicine with him, yet he would take the bus to Dagupan.

“I hope you can give me a copy of the DVD. I intend to give them copies there of the show para sila rin, MAALALA rin nila si Uncle Junior.”

From Jose Mari G. Lolarga, Jing’s older brother:

“Like Jing, I was so proud for you guys, having Uncle Junior (who is my ninong sa binyag ) featured on TV. And MMK pa!

“I texted my friends, carpool and office mates to watch it. Several of them did, in fact! Our HR manager, who is a Hamada from Baguio, asked me Monday if I was related to Uncle Junior. And to think hindi ko siya na-text to watch it! He was elated to know relative ko pala yung na-feature.

“There were a lot of revelations while watching the show. I didn't realize he was almost run over by a car. But it did bring tears to my eyes , that scene with him in the living room came, about medicine being his 'calling.' A very simple mission in life, rare in these times we live in.

“I felt so much longing for them, Papa and Uncle Junior after. They were really close. I even texted our tenant-farmer who watched it. Kilala niya si Uncle Junior. I hope I can get a copy so I can give one to the people in Canan Sur. They benefited from your father's generosity. “

From Auntie Josie, mother of Mari and Jing Lolarga, comes this letter. She is now based in Roseville, California. The manong (elder brother) he refers to is Dr. Lolarga:

“Thanks for conjuring up the memories we all share of Manong. His precious quiet trips to Canan Sur in Malasiqui, Uncle Cel's little fort, were welcome treats for his little brother and the rest of the barrio folks who received his full medical attention free of charge. They would trek to our nipa hut to have their blood pressure checked and linger on to chat with the doctor, asking a lot of simple questions pertaining to their medical issues. They could not afford to make trips to a doctor who charged fees.

“I remember that after he had saved enough drug samples to bring, he would take the bus to Dagupan and excitedly hop into our jeep for the rugged ride home. He spent his last New Year there, playing tong-its with Uncle Cel and Julius. He came out mostly winning!

“The story was not only a tribute to him but also to Manang Nene for rallying behind Manong and you, her children, so that you could get education for your own eventual use.

“When I go back to the Philippines and Malasiqui to retire next year, let's picnic in Canan Sur and plant a fruit tree in honor of Manong Junior, a testimonial to his ‘rooted-ness’ to his principles and mission.

“In behalf of my three munchkins, Mari, Jing and Julius and their children, I send each one of you my love and prayers.

“Honestly, I would have wanted to post this in your blog, but I don't know how to. This is an ooops moment for a senior citizen, no matter how computer literate I claim to be."

Photo shows the Lolarga family of Pepin street, Dimasalang, Sampaloc, Manila. Uncle Celso stands far right on the second row; Daddy stands second from left on the same row. Complete tagging/caption to follow in my Facebook. Photo shared by ERLINE VALDELLON MENDOZA from her IPhone