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| Elizabeth Roda, R.N. Manila Sanitarium and Hospital |
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| Elizabeth and Walter Roeder |
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| Daughters Mary Anne and Helene Beth |
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Maria Panis and Leon Zumel Roda
Children, L-R: Eduardo, Elizabeth, Mercedes
February 12, 1920
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| Maria Panis Roda Standing, L-R: Mercedes, Arturo, Eduardo, Alfonso, Elizabeth |
Video courtesy of Vincent Bangloy
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| Fiel and Fe Poblete, Elizabeth (Ely) and Mary Anne Roeder Bangloy |
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| Mary Ann and Vincent Bangloy, sons Craig and Carl; Helene Beth and Edwin Rao; daughter Edwina (not in picture is son Walter who was on a mission trip to Sudan, Africa) |
My favorite Lola Ely
by Jonathan Coo
When I was growing up, I had a Lola who always fed me my favorite dishes--mechado, lengua, adobo... We were vegetarian at home so I always looked forward to visiting her house at Leland Drive every week. I also looked forward to Christmas because of the many gifts I received from her, Auntie Mary Anne and Auntie Betty. New Year's eve was also spectacular because of the firecrackers and barbecue. She never forgot my birthday and I don't think I had a birthday without a cake from her. I didn't even notice that she left for the US and Canada when I was in high school.
After my graduation from high school, Lola Ceding and Lolo Eling paid for my airfare to visit the US for the first time. Shortly, Lola Ely called from Canada and paid for my trip to Pittsburgh so that we could see each other.
I always remember Lola Ely telling me about our clan's relation to the Edralins and the Marcoses and I think she is one of the reasons why I'm so loyal to President Marcos besides being a scholar at the school First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos founded.
Yes, I have to admit Lola Ely is my favorite Lola. What kid wouldn't love her? She knew how to feed me and she knew what gifts to give me. She didn't spoil me, however (I hope); yet it was as if she always knew what I liked. I always felt that special care from her. Her thoughtfulness and generosity will always be remembered and she will always be a big part of my childhood memories. Lola Ely, I love you.
LOLA ELY, MY ONE AND ONLY
by Cecilia Coo-Cruz
My childhood memories are incomplete without mentioning lola Ely. The first funeral I attended as a child was lolo Wally's, and it is also one of my earliest recollections.
Lola Ely loved to watch the soap "operas" on TV, like Flor de Luna where the lead actress was Janice de Belen. I always loved to go to their house on Leland Dr (Balintawak, Quezon City, Philippines) because it was spacious --big rooms, high ceiling, and big frontyard. It was also there where we celebrated special occasions like birthdays and Christmas. Lola Ely was "my lola" on my mom's side (besides lola Lydia) since I only knew lola Ceding from long distance phone calls and because we only saw her on their brief visits to the Philippines and our brief visits here in California.
Auntie Betty and Auntie Mary Ann were the aunts I knew on my mom's side since it wasn't until I was already 12 that I remember meeting all of my mom's siblings. (Auntie Sylvia and Auntie Annie once visited Baesa where my family lived when I was about a year old.)
The Roeders' house on Leland Dr was large and spacious, but I remember it more for the people who lived there who had big hearts. Thanks to lola Ely. It was a different experience for me since they had bread and different jams for breakfast while at home we usually had rice for breakfast. ( I only understood that when I first came here to CA in 1988 and also learned about cereal). I also remember that Lola Ely gave mom her subscription to the Reader's Digest and that's how I developed my love for reading. Mom also remembers lola Ely for bringing her to the movies when she was in 3rd grade. Lola Ely was different from lola Ceding since she wore make-up and lola Ceding didn't.
It was in the early 80's when lola left for Canada. Lola Ely would always send cards and write at the end "love and kisses." They had a dog named Raffy whom they had to leave behind... Soon, lola had to come home again for the funeral of lolo Ponsing. Then the next time I saw her again was in 1996 when we got to visit her in Pittsburgh, PA at auntie Betty's place. We even roomed together. I don't remember seeing her again since and so I've wanted to visit lola but it wasn't until last month that I received my green card. Now that I have another baby (Timothy Elisha) who's only 2 months old; (the first, Sophia, is 2 1/2 years old), instead of going to the Philippines I've been planning on going to Canada to visit. I already planned to get the passports for my kids next month and be able to head out to Canada sometime soon when it's not too cold there. But now, it's too late.
Lola outlived her older brother (Eduardo), younger sister (Lola Ceding) and a younger brother (Lolo Ponsing). Now, with her gone, there's only her youngest sibling (Lolo Turing) who's still with us. Lola's legacy lives on with her daughters and grandchildren. I may not know my cousins personally but I am sure that just like their lola they are just as warm, caring and generous and that's how I'll always remember lola Ely.
2 comments:
hi cecille..do you still remember me? your penpal some years back, grazielle.
Hello!
My name is Lina. My parents Hans & Mary Spruengli were friends of Walter and Eli Roeder in the Philippines. I have a picture of me and Mary Ann & Helen Beth taken of us in the Philippines. We must have been around 6 or 7 years old.
Would you kindly send them my email address which is lspruengli@aol.com. It would be great to reconnect.
Thank you so much,
Lina
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