What’s the oldest item you have kept?

Reading Lucy Torres Gomez’s Instagram post showing an old pencil sharpener given by her tita Inday as the oldest thing she owned made me ask this question to other people. Scrolling down the comments that Lucy’s followers shared amused me, especially how varied and nice the answers were. Everyone has a sentimental side to them, and remembering the old things we have kept through the years  never fails to bring back great memories.

Anthony Yupangco, businessman/chef, Tutto Domani

There are other things I have that are much older compared to this, but it’s the rosary which my mom owned, a gift from Dad. I always bring it with me and I am reminded of the many things both my parents did for me.

Penny Daza Tuviera, homemaker

My mom was stingy when it came to buying toys. She used to say they were a waste of money.  The two things she would never deprive us of, she promised, were food and books. She bought me this book in 1982; I was about eight years old.  I read through it voraciously and promised myself I would read it to my kids when I had them. Before I had kids, I was very close to my husband’s nephew and read this book to him every night at bedtime while his mother was studying in the US.  That was some 15 years ago when he was six.  He’s 21 now and still remembers those nights. And now, it’s 2014 and the book is at least 32 years old.  My eight-year-old daughter can’t wrap her head around the idea that I was her age when I first started reading it. It’s still in pristine condition, and I’m planning to make sure I get to read this book to my grandkids, too.

CamSur Rep. Dato Arroyo

Monogrammed gold cuff links from my grandfather, former President Diosdado Macapagal. He gave them to me on the day of my confirmation when I was in the seventh grade. I’m very sentimental and was very close to my grandparents so I keep and treasure every item they give me.

Tracey Paska, blogger, www.tagglednoodle.blogspot.com

The oldest thing I own that is currently with me are my mother’s wedding pearls, which she presented to me just before my own wedding day 20 years ago. They’ve certainly been through a lot. As a toddler, my youngest sister Penelope broke the string while playing with them.

Mama came home to find pearls scattered all over the floor! I wonder if she actually found all of them? Happily, the necklace was repaired and stashed away safely until I received them. Even older is a collection of postcards, greeting cards and letters dating back to the late 1800s to early 1900s that belonged to my husband’s maternal grandmother. After she passed away, they were going to be thrown away. I asked my mother-in-law if I could keep them, and she was so pleased that I would take an interest in saving them. As a lover of history, I couldn’t let them be thrown away. They may not have any historical significance to others, but they were still a record of everyday life in the American Midwest. The cards are tattered but still beautiful, depicting either painted scenes, old photographs or lovely old-fashioned graphics. It’s fascinating to look at them and realize that these pieces of correspondence were the e mail or Twitter of their day, full of personal news or just simple greetings. Right now, they are carefully stored away back in Minnesota. Hopefully one day, I can retrieve them and display them properly.

Dr.  Bernadette J. Madrid, executive director, Child Protection Network

The oldest thing I own is my mother’s engagement ring.  It is a symbol that love is timeless.

Katrina Holigores, network development head, ETC

A horse pin made out of gold that was first given to my mom by her mother and then passed down to me. It’s so delicate and finely made, plus the horse is my favorite animal so I really treasure it. I would also use it as a stock tie pin when I used to compete in equestrian sports as I felt it brought me luck and protection. It may not be the oldest thing I possess but I’m sure it’s pretty old.

Raul Manzano, editor in chief, Metro Society

The oldest things I own are a pair of eight-foot-tall wooden church candelabras that my parents gave me when I moved into my house 30 years ago. The candelabras are over a hundred years old and now sit in my dining room. I cherish these candelabras as they were one of the first antiques my parents bought when they moved into their house 50 years ago.

Brenda Morales, housewife/homemaker

The oldest thing I own would probably be my First Holy Communion rosary. It always brings back memories of high school at Colegio de Sta. Rosa. It reminds me of my childhood days, as well as our principal (Mother Pilar) and the Spanish nuns who always instilled in us Catholic values and discipline. I always bring it with me because it makes me feel safe and protected.

Janet Olivarez, wife of Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez

Way back, I promised myself that I would buy a Sto. Niño when I got my first job in an airline company. When I got my first paycheck I forgot to do it. A few weeks after, I dreamt of a Sto. Niño dancing and smiling at me. So when I got my second paycheck the first thing I did was buy a  small Sto. Niño at Baclaran Church. I always bring my Sto. Niño everywhere I go. That was 28 years ago and I considered Him as my panganay (eldest child).