They did not fade. Like an indelible ink after voting for national elections, my memories of the old train photos are intact. But I just needed to check and to make sure my mind did not fail me. I was a young boy then looking at my older siblings’ baby albums that were lovingly and beautifully made by my effervescent mother.
I was not sure which baby album it belongs to, you see, I have twelve older siblings so I scanned each album randomly at first, and started with my older sister’s baby album because I had a strong gut feeling that the old photos are in that album. I was correct. Excitement filled the air and more treasure hunting followed.
I started with the eldest and stopped by the third album, my brother’s. My sister’s page has some pictures which are the same with my brother’s page. She has two that are different. Two sepia photos, the first with her smiling ear to ear while my beaming mother looking on and a brother with his back against the camera, while the second photo has my sister again smiling and my mother glancing at her while holding a baby. Then I ended my search by the seventh baby album.
The goldmine I found is in my older brother’s baby album. The creativity is spot on. The photos were pasted on a square background and they have wheels too! I stopped then thought, looked intently and listened to what my heart felt as I examined all the old train photographs.
Captured and frozen in time, I owe you three thousand words as I try to describe each and every single photo on that page. All of them were printed in sepia. The first picture has the caption, “Bicol Express to Naga: November 20, 1963.” It was taken from outside by my father. There are three big glass windows. My mother and siblings are looking out the windows. Trees, plants and a building can be seen in the reflections in the glass windows. And on the side of the railroad car, the words ‘air conditioned’ are displayed.
The second picture has the caption, “You were thrilled by the sights!”, and in it are my mother and six siblings. They occupy two spacious seats which are facing each other while they posed for the camera. They are wearing travel clothes, complete with ties and jackets. The interior has curtains neatly arranged and tucked at the sides. The sun’s rays can be seen gleaming inside the train.
The last picture has a caption, “You enjoyed the trip!”, my family is seen taking a meal. There is a nice table with food on plates, cutlery, cups and others. It seems like a feast on wheels.
They were heading to the new frontier. A brief explanation reads: Bicol Express to Naga City... from Sierra Madre, Quezon City we moved to our new home in an apartment at Sampaguita Street, City Heights Subdivision. All our belongings were shipped free to Naga by the Philippine Constabulary. Your Papa is ‘inactive’ and we will really start a ‘civilian way of life.’
It has always been real to me, but when I hear the old folks talk about it with nostalgia, I knew that when I rode the train in the recent past, it had lost its glory days.
However, my fascination with trains was ingrained in my mind especially during childhood. We had toy trains of all sorts but the grand gift we received during one Yuletide Season was an electric toy train that had a nice oval track set and even made a siren.
Fast forward to my early twenties, I was studying in Pasig City. And it was during that time that the Metro Rail Transit on EDSA started its operations. In fact, the very first day it ran its course I was able to ride the train. The inaugural ride was free. I had a field day and I knew then as I know now that it was a momentous event.
My father was still alive back then and while seated inside the family car I saw him taking a look while the MRT ran on its tracks. He was visiting and came all the way from Naga City. I was already a specialist when it came to riding the MRT. I knew every stop and every detail needed to ride the train smoothly. Simply put, I knew it like the back of my hand so when my father said, “Jim, I would like to ride the MRT”, I was ready.
It was a spectacular ride. We arrived at the first station, the North Avenue Station, and I guided him towards the first car. We took the train during off-hours so my father was able to take a seat. I noticed my father looking out the window and soaking in the urban landscape; the parks, the skyscrapers, the avenues, the people, the other sights and sounds of Mega Manila.
We reached the last stop and headed home. It took approximately more than an hour. It was fast, went up, went down and even went through a tunnel. Generally, it was a superb and comfortable experience. He was exhilarated.
The MRT during that time was very much like the commuter trains that I took when I toured the capital city of Malaysia. It was touristic in itself because I had a semi bird’s-eye view as the tracks are elevated. I have fond memories of that garden city as seen in their trains.
In Zurich, I took the tram which is one of their modes of public transport. The tracks are on the roads. It ran a slower pace and has wide-panel windows for unobstructed panoramic views. Taking the tram is an excellent way of sightseeing. The schedules of the estimated time of arrival of the tram were on the dot, you could even see a countdown on a screen.
Deutsche Bahn was the train rail transport we took from Zurich going to Frankfurt, Germany. Probably, this was how the Bicol Express was like during its heyday. I can only dream. But it will certainly not fade away. No Sir, I will keep the faith and be steadfast because as a Bicolano, may I speak for every Bicolano that we are oragon. The trains will run fast into a modern, progressive and bright future. We have no tunnels here so the light shines radiantly for the hope and love of a great comeback story about the iconic Bicol Express.
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