My first gift to KT

June 2006

One time when Tito Arnel and myself were on our way to back to Manila from Baguio City, we stopped by the wood carving shops near the Benguet-La Union border. These are the shops on the left side of the road when going to the mountain city via Marcos Highway.

While checking for presents for our European colleagues (3 of my former subordinates are leaving for Malta then), I saw this small chair carved in a form of a hand. There are versions for adults and for kids; if I remember it right, there are 3 sizes. That gave me an idea to buy one for any of my future kid; I was to get married that year.

So I bought the smallest chair for my future daughter (I didn't a slightest idea that the kid would be a "she"). This reminded me of my late grandfather who gave me a small bamboo chair when I was around 3 or 4 years old. It lasted until college; but I didn't realize how important it was for me when my aunt started looking for old stuff from my lolo.

After barely 1.5 years since then, I have a kid of my own. And now she's starting to use it. She loves to slide from the chair to the floor.

So here I was, trying to do the same with my kid. And when I see this chair, it reminds me of my great time with my late lolo Uning.