A traveling doctor’s tale of mementos
MANILA, Philippines - Modern Living TV (MLTV) has returned on air last Saturday with an episode that proved why its “Season 4” is definitely a must-see. This season goes beyond showing its avid viewers the country’s best living spaces — it also turns the spotlight on home technology and entertainment, more do-it-yourself makeovers, and interesting people with endearing lifestyle stories to tell.
For the first serving of Style Spotlight, a new segment that features individuals with a keen sense of style, beloved MLTV host Bianca Gonzalez visited a woman whose chic abode tells of her deep love for traveling.
Dr. Rose Capeding, an esteemed medical researcher slash globetrotter, welcomed Bianca into her romantic house filled with travel mementos from almost every corner of the world. To walk around her Victorian-inspired house is akin to taking a trip across different countries and learning about their colorful personalities and fascinating quirks.
Bianca sat down with Dr. Rose to talk about her diverse collection which surely inspired MLTV viewers to start organizing their travel mementos.
Bianca: Tell us about your story and when you started to travel the world.
Dr. Rose: It’s actually part of my job. As a medical researcher, we travel a lot to present our results; we attend meetings and we get invited to be advisers or consultants. I really started traveling around the early 1990s.
Do you remember the very first souvenir you bought on your first travel?
Yes, it was a Chinese boy figurine with all these coins and flowers; he sits on top of a carabao. This was from Hong Kong, when we had to do a study on the HIV conjugate vaccine; it was more than 20 years ago.
When you bought it, did you know that you were going to start a travel memento collection?
No, to be honest. An old lady who was wearing a traditional Chinese attire told me that if I buy it during my first trip, I will have good fortune and will go places — and she was right. So every time I visit Hong Kong, I remember that lady with a good heart.
How many countries have you already been to?
You know, me and my husband bought this book in London that features 100 countries that you should visit. And when we scanned it, we realized that we have been to 98 of the 100 cities on the list. One of the two places we have not visited yet is Damascus in Syria. Actually, a few years back, I was invited to Damascus to give a lecture but unfortunately, I didn’t push through because of the bombings.
So let’s talk about your strategy or diskarte when it comes to shopping for souvenirs and the best places to go or who to ask to be able to find unique items in a foreign land.
I just walk around the city or sometimes, I join group tours; and when I come across a store that has something that catches my attention, I buy it. Just let youself wander around.
Which city that you’ve been to has a souvenir shop where everything inside is really beautiful?
I’d say Portugal because of its ceramic plates, and also Mexico. I remember these dolls from Guadalajara (which is considered by many travel bugs as the quintessential Mexican destination) and these intricate handmade glass pieces from Murano Island in Italy. Istanbul is also a great place for buying exceptional souvenirs.
How do you take home these items? Is it expensive to have them shipped?
Not really. For me, as long as you really want it — and if it will give you fond memories of a specific trip — shipping it will be worth it.
I see a lot of intricate plates; can you tell us something about them?
I started buying one from Portugal and since then, whenever I see a plate that has a touch of floral detail, I buy it. Now my plate collection has grown — I have some from Moscow, Madrid, Barcelona, Florence, Puerto Rico, Israel, Turkey, Vienna, and Amsterdam.
I also notice that your different tables are adorned with souvenirs. How do you decide on what goes where?
I just try to harmonize and I also read a lot of design magazines. I learn a lot from the experts.
What’s your advice to people who are planning to start their own souvenir collection?
If you find a particular item that you really love while on a trip, just buy it, because if you don’t, you might lose that rare opportunity. Who knows, ‘di ba? You might never visit that country again. So to avoid regrets (and if the budget permits), just go for it. Each item will represent a specific memory that you will cherish and each memento is a reminder of that certain place — its vibe and characteristics. And for sure, these precious little items will always find a spot in your home.
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Catch the latest episodes of Modern Living TV Season 4 every Saturday, 6 p.m. on ANC with replays on Sundays at 10 a.m.
