05.25.08
Our House
“Since when
don’t you have visitors?” an aunt remarked earlier today.
Our house,
no matter how impecunious has surprisingly become a hub to art, music, and
coffee lovers. Café Romano, as it is
lovingly called by our friends, still wins the hearts of so many despite its
“distressed” wood and timeworn appearance. I blame Papa’s artworks for the regular visitors, and sometimes it’s
Misha’s fault for being such an adorable little musician, and oftentimes I
think it’s the free espresso.
When a legion from the Federation of Philippine
Photographers headed by Mrs. Huang swarmed quaint Café Romano last week, I realized that I have finally mastered the art of juggling two favourite
tasks (musician and barista). Man,
they sure know how to make musical requests; Rach’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini between rounds of coffee!
But I didn’t mind, they were wonderful people. Their main purpose for the
Dipolog trip was the Pagsalabuk festival
reigning over the whole month of May, and the fiesta which took place
yesterday, but earning its name as an artist’s home, the photographers made our
house part of their photographic itinerary. The
family still thought that was a ridiculous idea, but who could say no to the darling
Mrs. Huang?
This little
abode surely doesn’t look much from the outside, but I don’t really care. I’m very grateful that I don’t live in some
Potemkin village that boasts an impressive façade only to conceal broken lives. I’m even thankful for the occasional holes in
the walls. Who knows, perhaps that’s through
where people see the inside value of this home… and after all, maybe it’s more
than just the free espresso.
“I’ll light the fire
You put the flowers in the vase
That you bought today
Staring at the fire
For hours and hours
While I listen to you
Play your love songs
All night long for me
Only for me…”
