The house in Passi, circa early 2000s

In this black and white photo taken by Mark Avestruz, grandson of Lola Jeanette Palencia, Lolo and Lola's house looks run down and lonely. But the basic bones that framed many wonderful memories are still recognizable: the front entry way; the yard where Lolo used to sweep and where cousins played tag; the passage to the bakery and the apartment above where Tito Jomarie and family used to live; and many more.

The parked tricycle bears the name of the youngest first cousin (third generation)--as if to symbolize the end of an era. It's bittersweet.

Santo Entierro

Every year during Holy Week many families in the Philippines continue to keep the tradition of dressing up their saints and parading them around town. For the Patinos of Passi, the tradition has been kept for probably well over a century. As the world changes, we grow up and move away, it's comforting to know that our Santo Entierro gets dressed up, picked up by men dressed as apostles, and then goes on procession around town with hundreds of other devotees--just as it did back in the day when our grandparents were still around.