One of the vivid memories I had in my hometown when I was young is the structures that served as landmarks. Houses, the welcome statue that says welcome to Hindang, the unpaved highway, and the wooden-made bridges are some of those that still linger in that space of my mind, permanently stored and nostalgic as remembered.
I walked around town proper reminiscing with nostalgia, as memories played back in the corners of my mind. I saw old abandoned houses that got me thinking about how time changes everything. These once vibrant, lively, well-taken care of houses, pictures of it in my mind serves as a memento of grandiosity and richness of the past are now left to crumble.
HOUSE #1
This house on the side of the highway has a special place in my memory. I could vividly remember it since it is the first landmark that registered in my mind when my family moved into my home province which is Leyte after years of living in Cebu. As we rode on a bus, I woke up from my sleep to the sight of this house. I could remember sitting on my father's lap as he told me,
"abot na ta sa ato"
"We are home!"
These words may mean nothing to me back then but as I grow older I could understand what home means. And this house reminds me always of the word home.
It is sad to see this house being abandoned, slowly taken over by nature as grasses start to overgrow and forces of nature slowly defeat its fragile parts.
House #2
Built on the corner of a street this house serves as a landmark on the street leading to the church. I remember going to church every Sunday and this house was always an eye-catcher and head-turner with its size and facade. It has an arc on its facade that would take my childhood self to daydream, imagining myself dressed in fancy clothes as I came out of the door and walk through that arc. Being a child there is no limit to imagination.
This used to be vibrant the last time I saw this. There were nuns assigned to our parish who used to rent this house. When they left, this was also left unattended until new life has taken over and those are the plants and vines that have outgrown the house. On the other side of the house, it is obvious how it withstands time. It has been through the strongest typhoons and yet it is still intact. It amazes me.
HOUSE #3
This old house is still used commercially. There are some business establishments on the first floor. I could still remember this house when it was still a purely residential house. I could see children peep through the window on the second floor while waving their hands to the people or vehicles passing by. This was a beautiful house when a family was living here.
Four years ago this house caught fire due to faulty wirings. Thankfully, the fire was put off fast. The house is still intact with parts evident it went through the fire. But it was left like that and no efforts by the owner to rehabilitate it.
It is not easy to maintain old houses. It would cost a lot and it's impractical especially for the owners who had already built their own lives in the other part of the country or the world. I understand the owners when they chose to abandon these houses which was once their home. There are just certain decisions in life that we need to do though it is not easy. They may have abandon these houses but I know the memories of it will never be forgotten. Just like how I feel everytime I see these houses.