I spent my grade school years in our province then transferred later here in Manila to pursue high school studies.
We used to have this subject Home Economics (for girls) when I was in Grade V and Grade VI. There was a small building separate from the classrooms with a porch, a small sala, dining room, a bedroom, toilet and a kitchen with installed wood stove. That’s where I learned a lot of the practical tips on maintaining a clean house, table setting, the proper use of different plates and utensils and all the accoutrements that goes with housekeeping. I learned to cook rice when I was around seven years old, and I learned further during my grade school years.
We held lectures at the dining room sitting on the table and some chairs while listening to our teacher. she taught us how to do simple embroidery and my first project was a handkerchief, the design was traced on a tracing paper with small holes in it so the blue color of the design would appear at one end of the cloth. Our teacher also taught us simple pattern for a night-gown and embroider the edges of the gown once we finished sewing it. Crocheting is another thing that I learned and we made center table pieces before the school year ended.
What I like best were the times we spent in the kitchen. I learned my first menu there. You might laugh, it was an omelette. Next came fruit preserving and simple task like frying meat and fish.
When I was in high school we also had Home Economics, We were taught how to make bags, decor and other things. I made my first dress during my first year but a part of it was done by mom 🙂 By the way, I bought my first sewing machine when I got married, a manual Singer but the casing was destroyed by the flood back in 2009 so I gave it to one of my cousins. I mend clothes nowadays, those shirts and shorts we use every day that need mending but it’s by hand.
While I was working at Bank of the Phil. Islands, our big boss taught us how to do cross-stitching. I still have four frames hanging as wall decor and several Aida cloth and finished unframed cross-stitch projects. I find it hard now to use Aida and thread a needle. I’ve saved my first Christmas project but the cloth has turned a bit yellowish.
I miss cross-stitching and doing embroidery and crochet but I no longer have a 20/20 vision so I just concentrate on our small garden.
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Dreams And Escapes 
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