Carlos Eduardo Ermita Alvarez on Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita: I treasure each moment I share with my Lolo. Since I live in Cebu, I try to spend time with him when I’m in Manila. During summer, we go to the beach to enjoy each other’s company. He taught me how to play golf when I was seven. Even with his busy schedule, he watches my soccer games in Manila. He never fails to tell me stories where I learn many lessons. All these and many more are cherished moments with my Lolo. I love you, Lolo. Happy Grandparents’ Day.
Joseph Ortega Pollisco on La Union Governor Victor F. Ortega: My most memorable experience with my grandfather was in New Zealand last year. We were riding the "luge" down a scenic route and sitting side-by-side. The steeper the slope got, the faster the ride went. It was really a lot of fun! Then, there was a lift at the end of the ride and it was a little scary because the lift went high. I will never forget that moment.
Jonty Cruz on former President Corazon Aquino: Cory Aquino is known for many reasons, the first woman President of our motherland, the wife of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and for some, the mother of the famous Kris Aquino. But for me, she is the greatest grandmother anyone could have. She is a responsible, generous, caring and loving grandmother. If I were to choose a very special experience I spent with my Lola it would be the time my she, my older brother Jiggy, my cousin Miguel and I attended a celebration of the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ championship party at the Linden Suites, three years ago. We were so excited to meet the team and we were hoping to get some autographs. Instead, we got to meet the whole team like Rich Alvarez, Wesley Gonzales and Enrico Villanueva all thanks to Lola. So as we celebrate Grandparents’ Day, I want Lola to know that as far as I’m concerned, every day is Grandparents Day.
Estelle Ople Osorio on the late Senator Blas Ople: Among the many precious memories my Lolo left me, it is my 16th birthday that I treasure most. I invited him to come to my birthday party, not really expecting that he’d be able to make it. I knew he had a busy schedule and teenage parties were hardly his thing, so I decided to plan my birthday as if there weren’t going to be any adults in attendance. I had heavy metal bands playing and there was a lot of alcohol in circulation. By the time Lolo came, most of my relatives had already left. My Lolo took a seat and stayed up till the end of the party. He nodded his head to the music at my prodding, and even had his picture taken with a few of my friends.
After all the bands had finished playing, he stood up and shook hands with each one of them. He even wrote an article about them (the bands) and my party the very next day. It was the best gift I could ever ask for – the love of the best grandfather in the world!
Rajo Laurel on Betty and Pepe Laurel: I feel quite blessed that I was able to grow up with my grandparents. One memory stands out and will be forever etched in my heart. The year was 1998, my entire family decided to spend that summer in Vancouver, Canada. Everyone was particularly excited because we were going to surprise my Lolo on his birthday. I was tasked to take him out of the house so that everyone could prepare. Lola and I decided to drive around Vancouver and take as long as we could. After visiting most of the sights, I called home to see if it was time to take Lolo back. But I was told to stall. After running out of sights to see, I decided to stop the car and head off to the Spanish Banks, one of the strip of beaches there. I decided to create a photo shoot for my grandparents. Armed with my fool-proof, point and shoot camera, I excitedly took photos. The result of which was one of the most endearing photos of them, capturing the true essence of what they meant to each other. A love that lasted more than 50 years… a visual proof to a great relationship. To this day, my grandparents’ marriage is my benchmark as to what a successful marriage should be … a combination of friendship, respect, honesty and unconditional love. The surprise party was a success. As with all the Laurel parties, it had hearty doses of laughter, songs, tears, fabulous food and an abundance of joy.
Maki Cruz on construction industry leader FF Cruz and Angelita Almeda-Cruz: It’s hard to pinpoint one specific moment when I treasured my grandparents’ company the most. I value each occasion that I spend with them since I am so lucky to have such loving grandparents. My grandfather, in particular, whom I call Tatay, is more like an older pal who I can talk to and learn from. As I spend more time with him I realize what a great man he is. He is my role model.
Lawyers Amor Sycip Herrera (right) and Mina Sycip Herrera (left) on Washington Sycip and Justice Ameurfina Melencio Herrera: We thought that the question "What is your most treasured moment with your grandparents?" would be an easy one to answer. However, because we have so many treasured moments with both our Angkong and our Lola, this question proved to be much harder to answer than we thought. After much reflection, we finally came up with our most treasured moments with the best grandparents in the world!
One of our most treasured memories with our Lola, Justice Ameurfina Melencio Herrera happened last year when our family finally went to Boracay for a vacation. Being excellent at fishing, our Lola had her heart set on going fishing. Despite the fact that we had to be ready by 6 a.m., we were all excited to go.
Lola regaled her grandchildren with tales of her occasionally naughty children (a.k.a our dad and our titas) as they were growing up — lipstick on her mirror, watermelon seeds and ice-spitting contests (of which our Lola was the unintended victim on at least one occasion). Inspired by Lola’s stories, we reminisced about our own favorite family memories such as Easter egg hunts in Baguio, eat all you can sessions where we gorged on fresh tilapia, green mango and siniguelas at Taal Lake, yummy family dinners meticulously prepared by Lola, New Year’s Eve celebrations and many more. While we didn’t catch many fish that day, we definitely loaded up on a whole lot of fun and laughter.
We remember many happy moments with our Angkong (Washington Sycip). Our most treasured moments with him were during "grandkids night," a tradition which began around four years ago and which happily continues to this day. On thess nights, we get treated to the best restaurants in town (based on Angkong’s painstaking research!) More importantly, we get to talk to Angkong about anything and everything — from weighty topics such as the state of the Philippine economy, the latest political scandal, population control, micro-financing and basic education to the latest trends, movies and chismis. On one memorable evening, Angkong even shared with us his experiences as a cryptographer during World War II. We love spending quality time with Angkong and the "grandkids night" definitely takes top priority over everything else on our social calendars because Angkong is, without a doubt, the coolest date around!
Carissa Oledan Coscolluela on Liding Oledan: I was fortunate enough to have grown up at a time when both my maternal grandparents had the energy to bring me with them every time they traveled. With my Lola I did simple things that made her happy, like tending to (as in watering and weeding) her rose garden in California, going to the fruit market, cooking meals for the whole family, or just sitting around watching Shirley Temple movies. She took me to my first Broadway and West End plays and tolerated my not-so-great renditions of Tomorrow from Annie and Oh What A Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma! I feel especially blessed that I grew up near an extraordinary and formidable woman from whom I learned the importance of faith and the virtues of courage, integrity, honesty and generosity.