Jun 01 2007

Finding Love at the Gran Via, Madrid

Published by Toe at 2:57 pm under Family

The year was 1956. It was the time of rock and roll, malt shops, hula-hoops, and the American bandstand. It was the beginning of the Cold War. It was the time of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean. It was the time of sideburns, loafers, and poodle skirts. Such was the time when Romeo and Rosario were in their vibrant youths, studying in Madrid as was the fashion of the Filipino middle class at that time, and traveling around Europe with their amigas and amigos. One fine day in 1956, Romeo, 23 years old, a fresh law graduate from the University of the Philippines, and currently taking his Doctor of Laws at the Universidad Central de Madrid on a scholarship, was walking along the Gran Via with his Filipino classmate, Mariano. They did not have any shopping money, but they still enjoyed this lively, ornate and upscale shopping street in Madrid with its large hotels and movie theaters, and the grand architecture prevalent among many of its buildings.

street

As they were ambling along Madrid’s main avenue, two women were walking towards them. Romeo looked at one of them and thought to himself, “What a beautiful Chinese girl with long hair. Someday she will be my wife.”

When the two women approached them, Mariano was surprised to see that the other woman was his friend, another Filipina named Chit. Mariano and Chit introduced Romeo to Chit’s companion and Romeo was very happy to find out that the beautiful Chinese girl with long hair was not Chinese but Filipina. Her name was Rosario. She was sent to Madrid by her parents, Don Roman and Dona Antonina, to take up lessons in piano, guitar, languages, etc.. And that was the first time that Romeo and Rosario met.

One day, Rosario was resting in the nun’s convent where she lived in Madrid. Her parents gave strict instructions to the nuns not to let anyone visit her. But Madre Julia came in and told her that she had a caller. When Rosario went to the receiving room, she was astounded when Madre Julia announced her visitor, “Senorita Rosario, Senorito Romeo esta aqui a ver a usted” (Miss Rosario, Mr. Romeo is here to see you).

“But how did he get past the strict nuns who took her under their care?” Rosario wondered to herself.

Romeo told her soon enough. He said that he told Madre Julia, “Rosario es mi prima” (Rosario is my cousin).

Of course Madre Julia didn’t believe him. She said, “Porque Senorita Rosario es hermosa y blanca y usted es moreno?” (Why is it that she is pretty and fair and you are dark?).

Romeo, a fresh graduate from UP Law, was used to being on his toes, and promptly replied, “Porque mi padre es moreno y mi madre quien es la hermana de Senorita Rosario’s madre esta blanca (My father is dark and my mother, who is the sister of Miss Rosario’s mother is fair). What audacity… lying to a nun!  :)

Madre Julia glared at Romeo but allowed the young senorito to enter.

Note: I invented all the Spanish translation. I don’t know if they’re correct but that is as far as I could recall from my college Spanish.

Despite Romeo’s stealth in going past the forbidding scary nuns in the convent, the courtship between Romeo and Rosario stood to a halt. That summer, unknown to Romeo, Rosario left the confines of her convent and went on a tour around Europe by bus with seven of her amigas. Romeo was flabbergasted. How could she leave him in Madrid? So he went around Europe in search of his love. He went to the big cities, Rome and Paris. Unfortunately, Rosario went to the provinces of Europe and Romeo did not find her.

But love found a way. They got married at the Manila Cathedral in Manila on June 1, 1960. 47 years, six children, and 12 grandchildren later, Romeo and Rosario are still in love. Now in their seventies, there are several sightings of them still holding hands.

holdinghands

Romeo and Rosario are also known in this blog as Daddy and Mommy. And today, they are celebrating 47 years of marital bliss.

Happy 47th Anniversary Dad and Mom!!!

formal

Mom and Dad will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in three years. Mom’s only wish is for the entire family to be together on that special day. With two sisters and their families in the States, and myself and Honey here in Cambodia, here is the most complete family picture we’ve had in a long time.

family

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52 responses so far

52 Responses to “Finding Love at the Gran Via, Madrid”

  1. # mommyon 01 Jun 2007 at 3:23 pm

    Ikaw ha! You really revealed our love life. The past 47 years have been the best for us, and we thank our children, their spouses, and their children for thier support, understanding and love. We thank God for these 47 years, and ask for His continued blessings.

  2. # mommyon 01 Jun 2007 at 3:28 pm

    You need to take lessons in Spanish. But puede na.

  3. # Okion 01 Jun 2007 at 3:29 pm

    It’s one of the best love stories ever written. Nakakainggit naman. Happy 47th Anniversary sa mommy at daddy mo.

  4. # Gypsyon 01 Jun 2007 at 4:16 pm

    I wish I could say (like your mom), “I met the love of my life in Madrid.” Hindi lang romantic, sosyal pa, grabe! Please extend my greetings to them…47 years of quality marriage is quite an achievement!

  5. # Sidneyon 01 Jun 2007 at 8:57 pm

    This is a nice love story !!!
    Happy anniversary !

  6. # Noypeteson 01 Jun 2007 at 10:08 pm

    Uy sosyal pala ang mga magulang mo! Maligayang pag-bati sa ika-apatnapu at pitong taon nilang maligayang pag-sasama! Harinawang magpatuloy ang ligaya nila at pagmamahalan habang buhay!

    ..Yung tatay ko at nanay ko nagkakilala sila sa talipapa ng barangay nila sa probinsiya. Nag-titinda ng isda at inihaw na mais yung nanay ko at yung tatay ko naman ay butangero sa palengke! Kain ng kain yung tatay ko ng mais at inihaw na isda na galing sa paninda ng nanay ko pero di niya binabayaran. Sinumbong siya ng nanay ko sa tatay niya na siyang pinaka-siga sa lahat ng mga butangero sa buong bisaya. Sa madaling salita eh binugbog ng lolo ko yung tatay ko at magmula nuon naging mabait na siya sa nanay ko at tuluyan silang nagka-ibigan. Ikinasal sila sa tabing ilog ng lasenggong kastilang pari sa kanilang parokya at tumira muna sila sa isang bahay kubo na may nuno sa punso sa likuran at duon nagumpisa ang aming pamilya. Isa-isa kaming magka-kapatid na lumabas sa mundo at tinulungan palakihin ng mga “yaya at yayo” naming mga nuno sa punso.

  7. # snglguyon 01 Jun 2007 at 11:31 pm

    Hmmm, love really found a way, didn’t it?

    This is quite a coincidence, my parents would have celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary too, this year.

    Happy Wedding anniversary Mr.and Mrs Mendoza…

  8. # joveon 02 Jun 2007 at 1:31 am

    hi toe, this is such a nice love story. (and it made me miss madrid and specifically la gran via, because of a memorable parade i joined and witnessed in that great street, when i was in spain last year)

    congratulations are in order for your folks! more years, more years together!

  9. # gibbs cadizon 02 Jun 2007 at 2:21 am

    what a wonderful, heartwarming story! happy anniversary to your daddy and mommy for being such inspirations. :) mind if we trade links? :)

  10. # Toeon 02 Jun 2007 at 9:42 am

    Mommy, my plan was if I went home last May, I would have researched more on your love life and gotten some nice pictures. Too bad. Anyway, Happy Anniversary again to you and Dad! I hope you enjoyed this. BTW, I chose Spanish in the foreign language part of the FSO exam and I passed. :)

    Thanks Oki. It’s also one of my Dad’s favorite stories to tell. :)

    Gypsy, hay naku… wish ko din ‘yan. Unfortunately, I’ve never been to Madrid. :) Well, you’ll never know… you may meet the love of your life in one of the most romantic places ever too. :)

  11. # Toeon 02 Jun 2007 at 9:47 am

    Thanks Sidney. It’s one of the stories that I grew up with. :)

    Noypetes, hahahahaha! Totoo ba yung kwento mo? Sobra talagang nakakatawa! Ewan ko kung pang-teleserye o pang-sitcom. Aba, ilang tao ang makakapagsabi na nuno sa punso ang nag-alaga sa kanila? Ano nga pala ang butangero? :)

    Snglguy, oh your parents got married in 1960 too. Thanks for the greeting. They always read my blog and they’re sure to read your good wishes. :)

  12. # Toeon 02 Jun 2007 at 9:50 am

    Jove, I’ve been wondering nga if you’re somehow related to me. My Mom’s middle name is Francisco. It’s also one of my wishes to go to Madrid and see the famous Gran Via. Thanks for your greeting. My parents read my blog and I’m sure that they appreciate it. :)

    Hi Gibbs, of course, I’d be honored to trade links with you. :)

  13. # Ferdzon 02 Jun 2007 at 11:00 am

    Wow! It’s a love story out of a novel. Pwedeng gawing pelikula (o teleserye?) Hehe. Happy anniversary to your mom and dad!!

  14. # Daphneon 02 Jun 2007 at 1:59 pm

    Oh wow what a sweet heartwarming love story. Courtship in Madrid, pursuit all over Europe and ending in marital bliss in Manila – great memories.

    Happy 47th year of wedded blessings po :)

  15. # chaseon 02 Jun 2007 at 5:11 pm

    What a beautiful love story it is. Happy 47 year wedding anniversary to your Mommy and Daddy.

    Talking about Madrid my mother told me to visit that city and find some of my relatives and ancestors. Coz my family came from Madrid to the Phils.

  16. # annamanilaon 02 Jun 2007 at 6:27 pm

    I swear it could be a story straight from a Bienvenido Santos or NVM Gonzalez book — about Pinoy pensionados (scholars) in the US decades ago. Different setting nga lang. Madrid, Spain ha.

    That was a twist of fate — your dad loved on first sight who he thought was a Chinese girl and who turned out to be a countrywoman! Well, so that’s where you got your chinky eyed good looks too ha.

    I am sure it’s going to be a grand celebration — the one coming in three years.

  17. # momoftwoon 02 Jun 2007 at 10:30 pm

    Ganda naman ng love story ng parents mo :) Happy anniversary to them :) You have cool parents!

  18. # Wilon 03 Jun 2007 at 1:14 am

    Hey, nice Spanish. I also studied Spanish but I forgot a lot of it. Que lastima! hehe

    so, umm…how did they find each other again after she left Madrid unbeknownst to him?

  19. # aueeon 03 Jun 2007 at 1:15 am

    Wow! European love affair, ang sweet naman at parang ang gastos ha!
    ;-P

    happy anniversary to your parents… I esp liked that you mention they still hold hands. *sighs*

  20. # Linguist-in-Waitingon 03 Jun 2007 at 1:59 am

    Wow. Ang sweet naman. I didn’t realize that even in 1956, Spain was still a destination for education for Filipinos. Ngayon, I would guess na hindi na masyado, at napalitan na ng ibang bansa. Anyway, still that was a very romantic setting to fall in love.

    LIW

  21. # Leahon 03 Jun 2007 at 3:30 am

    Hello Toe,
    Best wishes to your mommy and daddy. What a great story; love at first sight. Now I’d like to read your dad or your mom’s version. I’m sure you make them proud.

    Incidentally, my parents celebrated their 47th anniversary on the same day. June 1, 1960 din sila kinasal.

  22. # tin-tinon 03 Jun 2007 at 9:10 am

    Mommy, happy anniversary sa inyo! :)

    ang ganda naman ng lovestory nila. sana ako din, ganyan ang maging lovestory ko. pero sabagay, it’s not how you met but how you’ll handle the relationship. pero sana pa rin, in a faraway land kme magkita. hahahaha.

    and ate toe, napadaan ako ng kamuning church the other night.. at syempre tiningnan ko yung paligid at nirelate sa mga kwento mo :)

  23. # Abanikoon 03 Jun 2007 at 4:29 pm

    Wow, a love story for the movies. Hehe. Ang yaman nyo pala, Toe. Your mom went to Madrid just to take up piano lessons. Hehe. Happy anniversary to your parents.

  24. # Mon 03 Jun 2007 at 6:13 pm

    Nakakainggit naman ang lovestory na yan…sana ganyan rin ang lovestory ko …sobrang sosi!! Gusto ko sana sa Paris yung setting pero wala …puro french bread lang and nakita ko. Anyway, Happy Anniversary to your Mom and Dad!

  25. # Adeon 03 Jun 2007 at 7:50 pm

    Awwww…. what a sweet, sweet story. :) Congrats! :)

  26. # Toeon 03 Jun 2007 at 8:55 pm

    Ferdz, hehe… pwedeng si Piolo at si Claudine ang artista ng teleserye nila. :)

    Daphne, wow… you make it sound like the romance part of a James Bond novel. :)

    Chase, I’ve never been to Madrid either and it’s one of the places I want to go to. It’s hiwalay kc when you go the mainland e diba? :)

  27. # Toeon 03 Jun 2007 at 9:31 pm

    Annamanila, you are right. It could even be a more modern Noli Me Tangere with my Mom living under the care of nuns. Grabe, I can’t imagine she did that. :)

    Thanks Momoftwo. They are pretty cool, even at their present age. :)

    Wil, I think that’s another story… hehe… it’s my Mom’s father (no longer nuns) that my Dad has to contend with once they got to Manila. :)

  28. # Toeon 03 Jun 2007 at 9:34 pm

    Auee, perhaps it wasn’t that expensive then. At least, I know my Dad didn’t have money. He was there on a scholarship. Yeah, they still hold hands (and lock the door… hehe). :)

    LIW, a lot of their friends went to Spain. Oo nga… now, no one goes to Spain no? Mostly the US, Australia, Netherlands…

    Leah, oh sabay pala sila… Happy Anniversary to your parents too. :)

  29. # Toeon 03 Jun 2007 at 9:40 pm

    Tin-Tin, oo nga, it’s really how you handle the situation. Don’t worry. I do hope that your great romance would indeed be as exotic. :) Oh thanks for remembering my Kamuning stories. :)

    Abaniko, I think it was a classic rich and poor story. My Mom was quite well off but my Dad was a poor boy from Batangas. :)

    M, anokavah? Nag-date ka naman ng maigi sa France e. :) Don’t worry, malapit na ‘yan. Just be patient. :)

    Thanks Ade :)

  30. # Belleon 04 Jun 2007 at 7:15 am

    quiero que tu espanol es bueno. tambien, soy morena como tu padre. tu padres hablan espanol bien todavia? que bueno!! aniversario feliz a tus padres! entonces, eres mestiza espanola?

  31. # eyon 04 Jun 2007 at 9:20 am

    wow! what a love story!
    happy anniversary to your mom & dad.

  32. # karenon 04 Jun 2007 at 11:54 am

    wow! what a romantic story in a romantic setting! happy anniversary to your mom and dad :)

    btw, i changed my URL…yep, i caved in and got my own domain :)

  33. # Gypsyon 04 Jun 2007 at 1:01 pm

    Toeeeee!! Sana magdilang-anghel kaaa!! :)

  34. # sixteron 04 Jun 2007 at 1:36 pm

    you forgot to mention that lolo roman had a private investigator check out dad :

  35. # mommyon 04 Jun 2007 at 4:07 pm

    Thanks all for the greetings. I am very happy that you all enjoyed our love story. Sana ganun din kayong lahat.
    By the way, this is Daddy’s version related by Tonette because this is his favorite story told millions of times over to our children, friends and now to our granchildren.

  36. # Shark!on 04 Jun 2007 at 7:44 pm

    parece que los favos de tio manolilio que se comieron de la vida con se vida lengua estofada mechado afritada . . . quiero que practicar mi espangol tambien . . .

  37. # pinayhekmion 04 Jun 2007 at 10:26 pm

    I love these trek back in times post you write. What a wonderful story! I hope you all are complete for the golden wedding anniversary.

    Happy Happy 47th to Mommy and Daddy!

  38. # katon 05 Jun 2007 at 3:27 am

    what a great story! love the flashback! happy anniversary to mommy and daddy!

  39. # Rosanneon 05 Jun 2007 at 4:02 am

    Hi Cuzin,

    I love this entry!! Siempre, she’s my Ninang and one of my favorite people!! Congratulations to Ninang ang U. Romy.

    Rosane

  40. # Toeon 05 Jun 2007 at 8:03 am

    Belle, muchas gracias! :) Yo no soy meztiza espanola. Soy meztiza chinese (hehe!) pero soy tambien morena a poco. Que lastima! Escribir en espanol mul dificil! :)

    Ey, yes my Dad loves telling that story… thanks. :)

    Karen, that’s great! Congratulations on your new domain. Thanks, yes it’s probably great to fall in love in Madrid. :)

  41. # Toeon 05 Jun 2007 at 8:06 am

    Gypsy, you’re a gypsy… of course it will happen in a romantic place. :)

    Sixter, oo nga… I have to ask Dad to expound that story though… my memory is quite hazy.

    Mommy, I will ask you to refresh my memory on a lot of stories of you and Dad pa. :)

  42. # Toeon 05 Jun 2007 at 8:12 am

    Shark!, yo no se que tus escribis. Porque tu Tio Manolilio come la vida? Hahaha! :)

    I hope so too Pinayhekmi! :) We have to start planning for it already. Thanks, I also like writing about memories of the past. :)

  43. # Toeon 05 Jun 2007 at 8:16 am

    Thanks Kat! These are stories that I hope to pass on to the next generation. :)

    Cuzin Rosanne! Thanks for the greeting. I hope we could all reach what our parents have reached. :)

  44. # vernson 05 Jun 2007 at 11:38 am

    ahhhhh ano ba kuwento ko? Nakita ko love ko sa burol? wahahaha

    anyway kidding aside..Belated Happy Wedding Anniversary to your Mom and Dad…ahhhh ang ganda naman ng love story nila. Tama nga si Gypsy..sosyal!

  45. # nicehearton 05 Jun 2007 at 11:46 am

    Such a romantic and beautiful love story. :)

    Ang galing nyo namang mag-espanyol ni Belle. :)

    To Toe’s mommy, happy anniversary po to you and your husband.

  46. # ditas montemayor-hertelon 06 Jun 2007 at 12:07 am

    hi tonette,

    cousin ditas here. mom forwarded the blog and enjoyed the story. i shall be in touch with them.

    my husband wanted to go with t. bella and u. peping and mom and dad 2 years ago when we went to Thailand and went by manila for a short visit. if my husband had time he would have. he still keeps asking if we could go to see the angkor wat….he loves to travel. i think i am done with that side of the world.

    it’s always interesting to experience another culture, right? enjoy cambodia.

  47. # katon 06 Jun 2007 at 12:52 am

    p.s. i just noticed we have the same anniversary! june 1 2001 is my anniversary! but for us, we still have 41 years to go just to catch up to your parents!

  48. # Toeon 06 Jun 2007 at 8:38 am

    Verns, hindi… sa ulan kayo nagkita. :) Sosyal nga si Mommy noong dalaga pa siya. :)

    Niceheart… haha… I’m sure mali-mali yung kastila ko. :) That’s all I remember after 12 units of Spanish in college.

  49. # Toeon 06 Jun 2007 at 8:40 am

    Hi Tita Ditas. Thanks for reading my blog. Oh, you should have come here when the septos (septuagenarians, because they’re all in their 70s) visited us. We had so much fun. :) You’re welcome to visit us whenever you do come here. We’ll be here until July next year. :)

    Happy Anniversary to you too, Kat! :) May you have much much more than 41 years to go! :)

  50. # ZJon 06 Jun 2007 at 11:22 am

    Uyy, congrats and happy anniversary kina Mommy at Daddy mo! Love made in Spain pala sila :D
    Aba, e di todo-todo na ang preparasyon para sa golden anniversary nila?
    Exciting!

  51. # Toeon 07 Jun 2007 at 10:23 am

    ZJ, hindi pa naman… still brainstorming. :) Hey, hope to see you on Sunday! :)

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