Wednesday, August 27, 2008
TRIBUTE TO ALL OUR GRANDPARENTS
When doing street photography, I usually shy away from subjects who are enjoying their afternoon siesta; I consider it too private a moment to intrude upon. However, there are scenes I chance upon at times that are too compelling to pass up, like this one which encapsulated the special bond between a child and grandparent.
This scene is a poignant reminder of the many local kids who are being raised by their ageing grandparents because the parents are working in a distant city or overseas.
It's also a reminder of our ageing grandparents living abroad who are tasked to look after the children because both mom and dad are working full-time to make ends meet, and hiring a babysitter is just out of the question.
It's also a reminder of our ageing grandparents working at the McDonalds and Burger Kings in the States and Canada who clean the tables and sweep the floors as we enjoy our breakfasts and lunches.
It's also a reminder of a family friend in New York who was the inspiration behind my story of fiction, A Grand Mother, who passed away about a year ago without realizing her ultimate dream: to return to Manila to live the remaining years of her life.
So, to all our grandparents living here and abroad, God bless and good health!
A Child is Waiting
A Cool Siesta
Point & Shoot Street Photography
Siesta Time - My Sari-Sari Store
I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
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Labels: life in Manila, photography
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:22 AM
13 Comments:
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Panaderos said... This photo is quite moving. I wish that old man continued good health and more happy and blessed years to spend with his grandson.
A simple but meaningful photo, Eric. Thanks.-
pusa said...
very nice, and as what panadero said it is quite moving!
it speaks a thousand words-
FilMasons NSW said...
A great picture and post, especially for all grandparents out there.
Being one, I can attest to a new purpose in life after parenting. One somehow misses that phase in one's life, and now given a second chance of sorts -- with the main difference that we have more time and thinking we are more experienced.
Nothing beats grandparenting, the joys and challenges!
Pappy-
EM said...
Makes me remember my own grandparents. When we visit them in Albay Bicol, in the early morning, my lolo would take me from my parents who are still sleeping and he will take me around his neighborhood just to introduce me to the people. Your photo has brought back that feeling I used to associate with my lolo.... a deep kind of comfort and love. I wish and pray for the best to all grandparents who have given their remaining time to take care of their grandchildren.
thanks senior.-
NOYPETES said...
Eric,
Ito yung tribute ko sa Lola Asun ko na nasa blogsite ko:
Laki sa Lola, laki sa Lolo Jeproks! Sep 21, '06 11:01 PM
for everyone
lola on the rescue pag hinahabol na ako ni inang ng walis ting-ting at bakya. Ano mang kalokohan at kabalbalan ang ginagawa ko, anghel pa rin ako sa mga mata ni lola. masarap parati ang tsibug ko dahil si lola ang tsip-kusinera sa bahay namin, bunsoy daw ay dapat pangalagaan. Ang turon'g kastila kay lola ay nagsilbing panagip ko rin tuwing ipina-pakiusap ni lola na patawarin na ko sa mga kalokohan ko sa eskuwela sa mga kastilaloy na pari sa universidad de santo tomas sa espana, maynila. Diyan ako lumaki sa paligid ng universidad. gov. forbes, dapitan, maria cristina, maria clara. nag-binata na ako at nag-uwi ng dalagang kasintahan, sabihin na lang natin na "malapit siya sa simbahan" pero balingkinitan ang katawan. Simangot si inang at ubod naman ng pintas si itang pero ayos pa rin kay lola. "Ang importante ay may pinag-aralan siya" ang sabi ni Lola. Salamat lola sa pag-aruga at pag-mamahal mo sa akin na siyang ipapasa ko sa mga anak ko bilang ala-ala mo. Ngayon naman eh bayad utang ako sa bunso ko. lahat na yata ng kalokohan ko nuong bata pa ako eh dinoble nito! pero wala akong lola para sa kanya dahil ang tanging lola niya ay amerikana di tulad ng pinoy lola kong mahal. Ito namang kaibigan kong tuso rin naman. Inimport ang ina niya galing sa maynila at dala na rin ng pananabik ng ina niya sa mga apo ay iniwan ang nakasanayang buhay sa maynila at siya ngayon ang tanging tagapag-alaga sa mga anak niya. "Ay siya at libre na ako pag weekend" tuwang sinabi ni mokong. "puwede na tayong lumayas at mag-jeproks ulit!" Sa mga dakilang lola at lolo na na-uto ng mga anak nila para alagaan ang mga apo nila dito sa amerika, singilin niyo po ang mga diyaskeng anak niyo ng minimum wage para meron kayong pang-binggo tuwing linggo!-
said... love this entry, eric. i have to admit that i am a favored grandchild on both sides of the family. that's probably because i've charmed them too much, hahaha! now that i red this, it made me miss the times when lola and i would go shopping in sfo. sabay palibre na rin sa union square, hahaha!
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said...
You know, what touched me most was your statement that you try not to take pictures of people having their siesta, because it's an intrusion on a private moment (And in addition, you know, if I were taking a siesta my mouth would be open, drooling, etc etc -- not a pretty sight)
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mgaputonimimi said...
awww. na miss ko tuloy lola ko....
those times... while i was a little girl sitting and swinging on her daster on her lap and moon bathing...
~
ganda ng pag ka capture nyo! nakakahiya talaga minsan mag shoot sa mga ganyang sitwasyon... it's like your invading their privacy..
pero cant help not to shoot.. ^_^-
said...
I get teary eyed when I saw your photo.
I feel that young boy is me and the future is bleak.-
Photo Cache said...
Very touching image. People should recognize the major part grandparents play in their grandkids upbringing.
This is where I feel deprived. I did not have grandparents while growing up. Born to older parents, I guess that's bound to happen. My paternal grandfather died when I was around 16, but I hardly seen him. My maternal grandpa died when my mom was 17 and her mother died when I was about 2. Hence, pics like this pinches my heart a little bit.-
escape said...
siesta is truly alive in the streets in the philippines. i've got lots of siesta shots from the places that ive visited but never had the chance to post them.
this particular shot is really good.-
ka tony said...
Magandang araw Eric,
Salamat sa pagbigay halaga at parangal sa mga Lolo at Lola. Dito sa Amerika ay kadalasan ang grandma ay medyo hindi na naaabutan ng mga apo at lalo naman ang mga lolo.
Si lolo ay kadalasan ay pumanaw na o 'di kaya naki pag divorce na kay lola. Kadalasan naman si lolo at si lola ay nasa "Nursing Home" o inialay na sa "tahanan ng hintayan ng kamatayan"
Masuwete pa rin ang mga lolo at lola sa Pilipinas, na makakakita ng may nakatirang tatlong henerasyon pa rin sa isang bubong!
Salamat sa Bayang Pilipinas,
ka tony-
nutart said...
I recall my grandparents (of both sides---my ma and pa) telling us so many stories about this and that. Sometimes, i think they would even make things up just so they have something to narrate.;-) I recall my grandfather (my father's side) would even lug a sack of santol just as pasalubong to us. And he was about in his late 70's at that time!
Now, that my father is a lolo himself, he would tell us that he'd sometimes wonder why a seat at the bus would be offered to him. Then he would get to glance at himself by the mirror and see an old man---sheer torture, says he.
