When my eBay account became active over the past weeks, my trips to the courier became frequent. I usually ship everything after work. When I started having evening classes, I had no chance to reach the nearest courier before closing time. I sacrifice a little time from my lunch break to rush in Escolta. 

A few days ago, time was on my side. I had the chance to walk in a slower pace and become more observant with the activities and people around. I finished the entire stretch of Escolta and was about to enter McDonald's near Sta. Cruz Church to have lunch. Before crossing the street, I noticed a stall selling vintage items. Most are stamps, old coins and bills. But what really caught my attention was the pile of old and dusty postcards. It felt like I found a treasure box in the middle of a busy, rugged and not the safest street in Manila.

I conditioned myself, I will not buy. The seller told me that each piece costs Php 20. Fine, still expensive. But soon after, the seller was offering each piece at Php 15. I thought then, I would just buy two pieces. My decision changed when I saw a postcard as old as 1947. Hooray, treasure!!! I knew it would not cost Php 15. When I inquired, the seller was offering it at Php 150. Woah! It was way out of my budget, I still have to buy lunch. But for those who know me, it's easy to predict what happened. True enough, a person becomes more shopaholic when hungry. I learned this from a TV documentary and apparently, it applies to me. :D

I purchased other postcards but since I have poor E.Q., I never bothered to wait. I immediately sent the other postcards to my friends. The only card left on me was the most expensive, the one that almost took my lunch money.

I tried to research the real owner of the postcard. Based on the few online articles I read, the Villonco belongs to one of the prominent families in Malabon. The family even owns this famous ancestral home. My information about the Villonco family is very limited. Anyone knows more about the family, specifically Dr. and Mrs. Cenon Villonco? The postcard unfortunately does not provide any detail about the sender. But for someone who has a friend or relative from Baltimore in 1947, it only proves that the family belongs to the affluent sector of the society. At that time when there is no internet, meeting and gaining friends abroad requires physical presence or having the means to afford those expensive trips. 


The card has an added surprise. It's a pop out card :)




Truth to be told, I still don't know what to do with this postcard. I'm not even sure if the price of Php 150 was a great deal. Part of me wants to resell or give this to a friend. While I'm still undecided, I will keep this postcard for myself. :)