So, this post has two points. One is to show that I'm keeping up with my cheap thrills/humor series. The other is to explain that I found a baptismal certificate* circa 1930's of some random Juan dela Cruz in a thrift shop at Cubao Expo, which is an artists' haven and site of weekend flea markets.
A few hours ago, Princess and I were having dinner consisting of penne alla puttanesca, penne alla salciccia and pizza ai gamberi at Bellini's when we decided to explore thrift shops in the area. I did not object at all since I'm actually on a lookout for bestseller novels.
We started rummaging haphazardly on a corner full of vintage books, postcards and handwritten letters, and I gasped in disbelief at my laughable luck. Two questions loomed large. First of all, why would someone (or the next of kin perhaps) sell his own baptismal certificate? Secondly, was the baptized child (Unless the child chose to be celibate or whatever, I bet the child has his own set of grandchildren today.) aware that the initial proof of his Christianity is being laughed at after 75 years? I never got to see any of my elders' valuable documents, so please indulge me whilst I share this ancient paper that made us laugh hysterically.
We started rummaging haphazardly on a corner full of vintage books, postcards and handwritten letters, and I gasped in disbelief at my laughable luck. Two questions loomed large. First of all, why would someone (or the next of kin perhaps) sell his own baptismal certificate? Secondly, was the baptized child (Unless the child chose to be celibate or whatever, I bet the child has his own set of grandchildren today.) aware that the initial proof of his Christianity is being laughed at after 75 years? I never got to see any of my elders' valuable documents, so please indulge me whilst I share this ancient paper that made us laugh hysterically.
I couldn't think of any hypo names, so I replaced the original details with something Pinoy showbiz-y. As expected, the yellowish baptismal certificate (heading: Parroquia del Espiritu Santo, Manila) comes in two languages.
Spanish version:
"El 19 de Mayo 2007 fue bautizad solemnemente o con Agua de Socorro James Aquino Yap Jr.
Nacid el dia 19 de Abril de 2007 en Ciudad de Makati, hij de James Carlos Yap (nombre del padre), natural de Ciudad de Escalante, Provincia de Negros Occidental y de Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino (nombre de la madre), natural de Ciudad de Quezon, casados a la casa de Eugenio "Boy" Abunda, Jr. y vecinos de Ortigas, Ciudad de Pasig.
Abuelos Paternos: Carlos y Annie Yap
Abuelos Maternos: Benigno Jr. y Corazon Aquino
Padrino: Deo Endrinal
Madrina: Lucy Torres-Gomez vecin de Manila.
Persona que dio los nombres: Joshua Aquino
Ministro de Bautismo: _____"
Filipino version:
"Sa ika 19 ng Mayo 2007 ay nabinyagan sa Simbahan o nabuhusan sa bahay si James Aquino Yap Jr.
Ipinanganak sa ika 19 ng Abril ng 2007 sa Lungsod ng Makati, anak ni James Carlos Yap (ngalan ng ama), taga Lungsod ng Escalante, Lalawigan ng Negros Occidental at ni Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino (ngalan ng ina), taga Lungsod Quezon, casal sa bahay ni Eugenio "Boy" Abunda, Jr. at naninirahan sa Ortigas, Lungsod ng Pasig.
Mga nuno sa ama: Carlos at Annie Yap
Mga nuno sa ina: Benigno Jr. at Corazon Aquino
Inaama: Deo Endrinal
Iniina: Lucy Torres-Gomez at naninirahan sa Manila.
Ang nagpasulat: Joshua Aquino
Ang nagbinyag: _______"
Google yielded negative results as to the priest's name. So there. Nabuhusan sa bahay?! The thrift shop owner even joined us in laughing.
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