Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we adhere to the stay-at-home battle cry, have pursued never-been-done activities within their sacred walls, some picked up new hobbies, while others educated themselves with the more hidden wonders of their gadgets. Almost all — in various intensities, one way or another — ventured into the now-or-never act of cleaning and clearing whatever their eyes and hands laid on.
Here are their stories:
• Cory Quirino, television host and lifestyle columnist and a health and wellness guru
“Most items I discovered date back to the ‘70s. One photo stood out. It was a group picture of Asia’s Fashion Czar, Pitoy Moreno’s Retrospective Show at the CCP with Margie Moran-Floirendo, Conchitina Bernardo, Cita Avecilla and Meg Paris. Most importantly was my grandson Sage’s little molar which I kept as his Tooth Fairy. It brought me back in time when I was just learning to be a grandmother.”
• Ingrid Sala Santamaria, foremost concert pianist and a perennial recipient of awards from here and abroad.
“I went through drawers and boxes of documents, albums, endless magazine and newspaper clippings and features. One item jumped at me — it was the program of my Graduation Recital for the degree of Bachelor of Music on Oct. 6, 1957. Today, 63 years later, I could see that this event prepared me securely for my life’s work as a musician.”
• Tirso Cruz III, multi-awarded actor and one of the cast in the ongoing FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano teleserye.
“Something precious we discovered was a black-and-white baby picture of my son TJ. This was sent to us by his ninang, who herself was cleaning up her own home. I recall I took and developed this photo when I dabbled into photography decades ago. It brought back many fond memories of my son and the years that went by while he was growing up. Now, he is in the arms of our Lord and Savior in heaven. Absolutely valuable and sentimental.”
• Rachelle Gerodias, the country’s premier soprano and an Aliw Awards Hall of Fame awardee for Best Female Classical Performer.
“Rummaged through our cabinets in our apartment. And inside the boxes were some pieces from my horse figurine collection. I thought they were lost. One particular item I treasure was a black resin replica of a dam and colt sculpture by National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture Guillermo Tolentino. This was a gift from artist Ramon Orlina, of which the original is at his home in Taal, Batangas.”
• Margie Moran-Floirendo, Miss Universe 1973, who is a peace advocate, an author and chair of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
“This quarantine gave me the time to finally push through with this often-postponed cleanup plan. All alone in my place, I have had great success in disposing most items which I have accumulated and kept through the years. It seemed all-important then. However, I came to a realization that most of these are no longer crucial for the post-quarantine normalcy of the world.”
• Wanggo Gallaga, a film professor at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, scriptwriter for movies such as Sonata (2013) and T’yanak (2014) and co-writer of Open (2019).
“I am a minimalist. I throw away things that are not useful. However, anything of sentimental value is at my home in Bacolod which I haven’t visited in two years — that’s another story.”