Oct 06 2007
Lolo Roman
Today, the sixth of October, I remember Lolo Roman, my grandfather on my mother’s side. Lolo was very fair with smooth baby skin which is very soft to touch. (Note: Lolo is Tagalog for grandfather). Because of his old age (he was 88 when he died), the skin on his neck was very loose and he reminded me of a cow. But he didn’t mind at all when I and my five silly brothers and sisters would fight over touching that soft loose skin on his neck. When Lolo Roman comes home from work, we would also fight over touching his earlobes which were also very soft, but more importantly, very cold, because of sitting so long in his air-conditioned car. He was very nice about it and would allow six crazy children to fight over his earlobes as he walked from the car to the house with his kamagong baston (cane).
We might have fought over his neck and his earlobes, but this kindly old man was a very important person. He was Don Roman Mabanta. No, silly! He was not a leader of a mafia as the title Don might imply. I suppose that during the olden times, it was the title given to important people. He was one of the first CPAs in the country. To be precise, he is exactly the hundredth CPA to be licensed in the Philippines. In 1932, he was the General Manager of the Philippine National Bank (PNB). He also owned the Eastern Deep Sea Fishing Corporation which owned six fishing boats – Mabanta Uno, Mabanta Dos, Eastern Uno, Eastern Dos, Eastern Tres, and Eastern Kuwarto. During World War II, the boats were sunk by the Americans. However, Lolo Roman received war reparations.
I was quite lucky that I got to know Lolo Roman and Lola Antonina because they lived in the house adjacent to ours, which Dad built for them. The two houses were almost like one as we would go from one to another freely. There was even a time when we slept in Lola’s house and would eat our meals in our house. Of course, my relationship with Lolo Roman ended quite early because he died when I was only six years old.
But I remember that he was very loving and gentle and kind. Lola Antonina was kind too but I was a bit scared of her as she was very strict. It didn’t help either as a child, I was extremely shy. I know that’s kind of hard to believe if you knew me now as I could win against anyone in a talk-off. But it’s true… I never ever talked to people outside our household, as they were to me strange frightful creatures and I was scared of most of them. But I wasn’t scared of Lolo Roman. I would go to him no matter what he was doing.
I remember that he had this green wallet full of coins. He would give the wallet to me and let me choose the coins I wanted. Silly me… I chose the pretty silver weightless mameras, (one centavo coins), not knowing that they were the least in value.
On weekends, my brothers and sisters and I would visit Lolo Roman in his office in Marian Hospital on UN Avenue. I didn’t know what Lolo did there as he was not a doctor. But Uncle Peping, who told me stories about Lolo and Lola when he was here in 2005, said that he was the Chairman of the Board of Marian Hospital. Anyway, my brothers and sisters and I enjoyed visiting his office because it was airconditioned. Lolo would also give us money to buy dipped cone in Dairy Queen (yes, Dairy Queen existed in Manila in the early seventies) or our favorite Juanchito’s Bibingka (Juanchito is our eldest cousin). It also gave us an excuse to touch his cold earlobes.
When Lolo got sick, they turned one room in his house into a hospital room, complete with a hospital bed, dextrose, those big oxygen tanks, nurses, etc.. On display was part of his hip which was removed when he fell. I have no idea why it was exhibited there in his room. I was in Grade One then and after school, I would visit Lolo in his room every afternoon. I was the only kid in the world who actually loved to hang out and play in a sick room. I was a very good and well-behaved kid (yeah, I know… hard to believe) so the nurses let me stay there. They even gave me my regular ration of comic books and they also allowed me to take my siesta on a narrow counter.
The best thing I remember about Lolo is that I’m his favorite apo (grandchild). Hehe… now, I hear violent objections from my siblings and my cousins. Sorry but I have quite a penchant for sowing friendly discord. But I will prove that I’m his favorite. As I said, I was an extremely shy little girl. I went to school in St. Joseph’s College where it was difficult for me to make friends because I was too shy to talk and play with anyone. I was often bullied by bigger and louder kids. During recess, it took me forever to buy my mango shake because I was too shy to let my presence be known to the manang (what we call the vendor). Most pathetic of all, I have never ever had a chance at the slide in the playground. The other kids wouldn’t let me play and I was too shy to tell them that it was my turn on the slide.
So one day while Lolo was still strong, I approached him while he was kneeling down on the pew praying in his altar with Lola Antonina. I said, “Lolo, can you give me a slide? I never have a chance to play with the slide in school because the other children wouldn’t let me play.â€
The very next day, there appeared a big beautiful colorful slide right smack in the middle of Lola Antonina’s garden. Oh, it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and I could play with it (with my kinder imaginery friends) to my heart’s content. It was mine. All mine. It was red and blue and green and yellow. I thought it was really big and it took me ages to slide from the top the bottom… unlike the slide in school which was puny. I especially loved playing on it when it was raining because it was more slippery and when I reached the bottom, I would plop on a puddle of water on the grass.
Lolo Roman was born 119 years ago today on 6 October 1888. He and Lola Antonina have left behind what is now known the Angkan ni Roman at Antonina (Clan of Roman and Antonina)… six children, 37 grandchildren, 87 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren, a majority bearing Lolo Roman’s indelible marks of Chinese eyes, fair skin, wavy hair, and height. Unfortunately, I was not able to inherit that last trait.
In our Angkan e-groups, my cousins have been e-mailing vintage pictures of our family. Here’s my contribution…. a vintage picture of the Angkan when Lolo was still alive… before the great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and before I was born even, as I was the youngest of the 37 grandchildren.
That’s about all I remember about Lolo Roman. Maybe, my cousins and siblings who knew Lolo and Lola longer have more stories to tell. So to my cousins and siblings, do you have stories about Lolo and Lola? To all the others, do you remember your grandparents? Tell me about them.
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- Of Lola Antonina, St. Antoninus, Angkan ni Antonina, and all the Antoninas and Antoninos
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- My Evil Big Brothers
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Hehe, love that vintage picture of you on a slide., so… seventies. Even the last B&W picture reminds me of own childhood in the sixties:-D
Sadly, I never knew much about by grandparents on either side, as they lived far away from us. I only got to see my grandparents on mom’s side whenever we go to Bicol, or if they decide to visit us.
As for my lola from my dad’s side, I was already 13 years old when I finally laid my eyes on her, as she was living in China, then Hong Kong, all those years. During her last years however, she stayed with us — until she died of liver ailment.
And my paternal lolo? He died, or rather… was killed, long before I came into this world. I don’t know much about the man but I’m well aware of the interesting facts on the reason behind his death. And I can safely say that the assailant met his end that very day too…
Hmm, isulat ko kaya ito?
Have a great weekend tonette..
What a sweet grandfather! What a big family!
You look so happy with your slide!!!
Lolo bought the slide for you?! I thought it was for all of us!
Anyway nice post! I didn’t know Lolo was GM of PNB, was in the fishing business, etc. But yes my fondest memories are his earlobes
Oh, I think lolo invented the tummy-pinching-”ilan ang baka mo” game!!!
That’s my “painful” memory of him…hehehe.
Wait, you’re the youngest cosuin and yet you know all those facts about lolo!
I also am part of an e-group for relatives on my mom’s side. I should probably do that, too, for relatives on my dad’s side. Which website do you use? We use yahoo groups. I also created a genealogy page once using tribalpages.com. The problem with this is that I had to maintain it all by myself and it can be time consuming.
Never met grandparents on my dad’s side. They both died before i was born. Met grandparents on my mom’s side. Maternal grandmother still wore traditional Igorot skirts while maternal grandfather weaved Igorot baskets and hats.
Hala! the slide was for all of you pala, according to your sister. hehehe
That slide was not just for you!! That was for all of us! I remember his little green wallet. He would make us choose the coins that we wanted. I always took the biggest one.
By the way, Ollie’s right. How do you know about all those fishing boats?
What a wonderful story to tell and what a marvelous experience with your Lolo. I did spend sometime with my grandparents too but unlike Lolo Roman they couldn’t afford to give me slide
..ei somebody here reacted about the slide lol!
Snglguy, yes, that is very interesting to blog about. Your Lolo must be some sort of war hero in a Chinese Dynasty. Wow!
Your grandparents are really from China? Chinese Bicolano ka pala. 
Sidney, our family is huge and still growing. I’m even a grandparent myself now. And we also now have a North American chapter.
I’m writing this because I thought that it would be nice if those who have never met Lolo get to know something about him. 
Sixter and devad55, I was six at that time, el pating was 9, Sixter was 11, devad55 was 15, and the rest were between Sixter and devad 55 . And what do you think you kids between and 11 and 15 would do with a tiny slide? Ha?
If anything, the slide was for me and el pating. Lolo just probably told you guys that it was for all of us. But it was really for me. I was the one who went to the altar to ask the slide from him. So there! Hahaha! 
I guess Lolo and Lolo have ways to shows us that each one is a favorite. Diba Gino also has a story that he is Lola’s favorite?
Ollie, I remember it was your Dad who used to do that “Ilan ang baka mo?”
Ollie, Sixter and devad55, when Uncle Peping was here, he told me lots and lots of stories about our family…. including the skeletons in our family closet.
I wrote them down and videotaped him. I’ve written some of the stuff he said in part so my blog. Still have a lot more to reveal. 
Wil, we also use yahoo groups. Oh, tribalpages, huh? Thanks for the tip. I will check that out. I also want to do a genealogy page, but it’s probably too much work at this time so I just post little stories in my blog for now. Wow, ang galing! Your grandparents are authentic Igorots. That is so interesting. You should blog about that.
That’s what my sisters thought Wil… what would teen-agers do with a slide? That slide was mine.. hehe!
Melai, hehe… inggit lang sila.
But a slide wasn’t all Lolo gave us… he would also bring home little things like those toys you could buy in the sidewalks of UN avenue, pilipit, siopao, ampaw, balot, etc. 
Lolo Roman’s antique hardwood outbox, his fishing co. ash tray cum paper weight, and some of his other desk stuff now sit on my office desk. I use them all the time. Reminds me of him every day.
I don’t have memories of a grandpa. They both died early. I saw pictures of them though and they’re both goodlooking, with delicate features.
But I remember grandmas. I was the fave of one of them … on the maternal side. I was a middle child. My Ate Mila was Daddy’s girl, and our bunso was of course the pet of our Mama. That left me with Lola who must have taken pity on neglected me.
My Lola was a very good cook. She cooked the meanest karekare on earth. (Today my children believe I cook the best karekar eever). She had a magical kawali that could make the most humble vegetable dish shine with flavor. She chose to live with me when we were all married. So my family was the beneficiary of her superb cooking.
She came from humble stock, had a spunk that served her well when she got crippled in her last years, and she never complained even if I was often too tired to talk to her.
Oooh I should write a post about my Lola.
Thanks. Your post about your Lolo made me nostalgic.
The little girl, Toe, on the other hand, made me remember my elder daughter. She was so shy and appeared so maladjusted she would cry on the first day(s) of school up to grade 3. When there are visitors, she would lock herself in her room and even pee there rather than face the strangers. Today, I consider her my best product. She will soon be a doctora who won’t take up nursing to earn dollars. Something tells me she will never be rich but she will be a good doctor.
Napahaba. Sige. Round 9 na ng pacquiao-barrera fight.
Enchanting story about your lolo here. But looking back, don’t you think you should have asked for Disneyland.
Where do you think my dad learned the “Ilan ang baka mo?” game? Hmmm…
Oh, that’s a very nice tribute Toe. Favourite ka nga! Well, I still remember my grandparents on my father side but on my mother’s side, she was orphaned at a young age. Her siblings took care of her.
Beautiful post!
I just took a good look at that slide. Don’t you think it’s too steep? Looks really dangerous!
i can just imagine you and your siblings fighting over touching your lolo’s neck and earlobes
i guess those things are irresistible to kids 
wala akong memories of my lolo sa mother’s side coz he died before i was born. he had two wives, my lola being the second after the first one passed away, so you can just imagine how old he is. he was born 1898 but i tease my mum that he was a katipunero instead of a guerilla during world war 2 hehehe.
Koyang, his fishing company ashtray? Wow, that is so cool! You’re lucky to have that. Take a photo of your desk.
Do you also have his hip bone? 
cute ng picture mo!
sabi ko na nga ba kaya ka favorite kse bunsong apo. hehehe.
shy ka dati? sa kwento mo sobrang shy yun ha. pero i believe you. well, i don’t know you personally pero posible yun. amdalas yung shy nng bata.. madaldal na paglaki. hehehe ;p
hahahaha I laughed at Sixter’s comment and your reply. Sige, pagbigyan natin..sayo talaga yung slide haha
Seriously…yep, you really have a big clan and the great thing is your family is pretty tight. I guess that’s what makes it more amazing.
I also remember my grandfather. He had Alzheimer’s. He used to tell my Aunt (where he lives) that he wants to go to Bacolod because he thinks my Aunt hates him and doesn’t want him there anymore. To avoid “war” my Aunt would say “Yes tay, I will bring you to Bacolod” Then my cousin and I would watch my Aunt transfer Lolo from him rocking chair to another chair and she would go ” Okay Tay..andito na tayo sa bus ha…” and Lolo would say “Okay…I want to stay at Perla’s house”. Perla is another aunt. Then my Aunt would imitate the sound of a bus then after 15 minutes, she will announce “Okay Tay nasa Bacolod na tayo”….then if Lolo wants to go back, my Aunt will repeat the whole thing again hehe crazy but it works for him
I share the same birthday with my Lolo…isn’t that cool
Maybe I am also the favorite granddaughter hehe
Annamanila, haha… you had middle child syndrome pala.
I always say that I’m everyone’s favorite – Dad’s, Mom’s, Lolo’s, Lola’s… all of them… but the truth is… we’re all the same… inaaway ko lang mga kapatid ko. 
In your case, it’s better to be Lola’s favorite diba? Masarap pa yung kare-kare niya. Yes, you should write about your Lola. That would be something she and also her descendants would appreciate.
Yes, your daughter and I were alike. I think I was shy even way past high school. However, I’m not my Mom’s best product… hahaha.
But good for your daughter that she overcame it… and now… wow! She’s going to become a doctor. Good luck to her on her studies! 
Yehey! Philippines won again in boxing!
We watched it too… we’re lucky here… no commercials. 
Abaniko, sobrang obvious na non na favorite ako… hehehe.
Ollie, si Lolo talaga… promotor!
Do you know that he was also called Koyang by his 9 or 10 siblings? He was the eldest. 
Thanks Ipanema.
I enjoyed writing it. Now, your mother’s story as an orphan… that’s probably a story to tell. I remember when I was young, I wanted to be an orphan… hehehe… so many famous fictious characters kc who are orphans… Oliver, Annie, Anne of Green Gables, etc. 
Devad55, wala pang Little Tykes non.
Besides, the steeper it is, the more fun that feeling in your stomach becomes when you slide. 
You see that white chair facing the slide? That’s where Mom or Flory sit to make sure I don’t fall. 
I have a picture of Lolo’s hip bone if you want to see it when we exhumated him!
Carlotta, hehe… my Lolo must have thought… nasisiraan na yata ‘tong mga chikiting na ‘to.
Yes… your lolo would have been too old to be a guerilla during WWII. Mas pwede nga siyang katipunero. 
Thanks Tin-Tin!
It took me quite a long time to overcome my shyness. I spent my entire childhood in the shadows of my siblings. 
Verns, akin yung slide… aren’t I the one with the picture with the slide?
Mwahahahahahaha…. kakatawa Lolo mo!
At yung aunt mo ha… kakaloka siya… nagtunog bus pa! 
Don’t say maybe… CLAIM that you’re the favorite apo… at least that’s what I do. 
Cute, oh, so the hipbone was buried with Lolo? And why was he exhumed?
Cute, Why do you even have a picture of lolo’s hip bone???
This is a nice story
Ang cute mo sa slide hehe. Wow, you have a big family!
I am the oldest and favorite apo (Mom’s side). My siblings and cousins can disagree like they always do but it’s the truth hehehe.
Momoftwo, hehe… I was happy with my slide.
So you’re the favorite also ha! 
Don’t you love their reactions, when we claim that title? 
I was scared of both my lolas too, and much closer to my lolos (bakit ba ang mga lola masusungit?) I’m seeing the same pattern with my kids too, they like their paternal grandad too!
I thought the B&W photo’s a class picture, he he… ang dami nyo ‘no!
your grandpa was a great man
I have great memories of my Mommy and Daddy. I miss them so.
I just love the exchanges between you and your family in the comments section. Haha!
Pining, hehe… pare-pareho mga lola natin.
Yung lola ko nga… nambabaston… not to me though. 
Yes, we’re quite a big family!
Pinayhekmi, you should blog about your Mommy and Daddy then. Are those your grandparents? Naku… my cousins and siblings are all alaskador.
I have Lolo’s letter opener with me. It’s on my desk in the office. It’s made of some animal horn.