Abandoned lot

This property has been neglected since 1965, after the big fire that gutted the whole province. My grandparents built their dream house here, which, according to the old folk in Catarman, was supposed to be the most beautiful structure back then. There were no hollow blocks used at that time so slabs, walls and posts were made of poured cement. 

The house was of the hue close to celadon green, with exterior texture of rough cement and glass mosaic very vogue at that time. The core of the house was a round tower that contained the staircase winding towards the second floor.

Despite the materials, my grandparents' beautiful home did not withstand the ravaging fire 43 years ago. The lot has seen so many stories, despite its state.

A lot of my folks' homeless tenants would set up temporary shacks to live while building their very own. When us kids would visit during summer, we'd play among the ruins. One summer, my brother jumped from the balcony and his foot landed on a huge rusted nail. He had to take anti-tetanus shots for the rest of the vacation. 

The lot has bred its own ecosystem, with beautiful wild tropical plants growing on every possible spot. Mana Nina, our housemaid for the past 30 years is a green thumb and has added orchids, bushes, vines and flowering plants to the foliage. Banana, coconut, avocado and papaya trees were also planted by different people who have moved on, perhaps even to the afterlife.

The property houses the deep well and pump for our water supply, which has become part of my mother's community service, accessible to neighbors who don't have their own pump. My mother also built a garage and a veranda overlooking the lush but sorry state of the lot.