I’m a doll collector. Wanted to be one ever since I was six when my parents (or was it my grandmother?) bought me a very pretty and dainty Filipina porcelain doll wearing the Philippine national costume. Wanted to be one ever since I was six when I played with my cheap but really cute United Nations dolls – they were dolls wearing different national costumes (I wonder what happened to them….). And as it happens, when you grow old, you forget about your childhood dreams. Until something reminds you of them.
I worked in a Japanese company hence it was but natural that we have displays of Japanese dolls in the visitors lounge in the office. Seeing the dolls, there came remembrance. One of my best friends, Dhonna gave me my first doll, an omiyage (present) after her first assignment from Japan. And it went rolling from then on. Whenever I travel, I buy the doll of that country. Friends have been very generous as well with their gifts in that whenever they travel to some countries, they also think of me and my collection and buy me a doll. Most of my collection are in my parents’ home in Davao now. With the exception of this exquisite Belgian porcelain lady which my manager in my previous company thoughtfully asked her brother to buy for me. I had it with me because it was the latest doll that was given to me and I wasn’t able to bring her to Davao before I moved to Japan. Customs check ruined her hair and hat and necklace though. 🙁 Seeing her not in her perfect state just breaks my heart. 🙁 Sorry, she’s surrounded by neighbors who can’t be posted here hence I can only share her bust. 🙂
It was but natural therefore for us to buy dolls during our recent trip to Eastern Europe. I’m having regrets now though that I didn’t buy a porcelain one. Albeit I’m still mighty happy with these new addition to our collection.
Magnet couple dolls we bought in Vienna.
Rustic mother and daughter doll we bought in Cesky Krumlov. Rustic – very Bohemian.
And of course, a marionette that we bought in Prague. It was only during this travel that I learned marionettes originated in Czechoslovakia. It took me a long time to decide which marionette to buy though because most of the original design ones are scary looking and reminds me of witches. Hence I ended up buying this wooden Czech boy.
Friends, hope you remember me during your travels. 🙂
Your future kids are lucky that you have a doll collection to show them. I only have books to show my future kids. I don’t know why I never got fond of dolls. But yours are really beautiful 🙂
Thank you Micah. Kinilig naman ako on the thought of sharing them with our babies. Hehe. Never was fond of barbie though. But books are great to share as well! I’m thankful for my parents for making me aware of the treasure that lies in each book. 🙂
Yes, nakakakilig nga thinking about our soon-to-be babies and the lovely things that we can share with them. I understand you also love books and music. Ang dami mo pamana sa mga anak mo 🙂
Exactly kakakilig talaga Micah! 🙂 hopefully in the future. 😉
Wow, a serious doll collector! You’re the first person I met who is one. Please feature your other dolls when you get the chance, ha? =)
Really? Kilig me. Hehe. I miss my collections na nga, especially those collectibles which were given to me, among of which were the Texan cowboy and cowgirl porcelain dolls that one of my best friends gave me. Yun naman sinira ng customs yung gun kasi It sounds real daw and metal kasi yung gun. 🙁 i cried when they did it. 🙁 All my other dolls are in my parents’ house. When we go back for vacation I’ll definitely take lots of pictures of them kasi I miss them now. 😀
“It sounds real daw and metal kasi yung gun” – you mean the gun works like a real one? You can press it and then may putok talaga? Okey ah, talagang pag collection nga =( Naku nakakainis naman yang Customs!
Yep, you can press it and it makes a sound like the real one, but of course wala laman. And they deliberately broke it just because of that. That was five years ago already. Up to now, I still haven’t gotten over it. Di ko pa din sila napapatawad. Hehe.