REMEMBERING NATY CRAME ROGERS AND HER TRAVELS
She was a natural-born storyteller, soft-spoken, yet her voice would boom when emphasizing a detail
It was two decades ago when I first met Naty Crame Rogers, granddaughter of General Rafael Crame of Camp Crame fame and the widow of fighter pilot Colonel Joe Rogers, for an interview as the star of my erstwhile travel column.
Being graciously welcomed to her quaint, feel-good, quiet residence, it quickly dawned on me her inner charms had been internalized by her home in one way or another, as if time had stopped in her property of heirloom furniture and antique wares, to include precious doilies, to name a few.
She majestically sat on her regal armchair — make that a throne reserved for Empress Dowagers — as we engaged in animated conversation. Even at 78 years old then (she recently died at age 98), she still possessed much of
her beauty of years gone by and absolutely all the charm she once must have had.
We hit it off quite well. She was a natural-born storyteller, softspoken, yet her voice would boom when she wanted to emphasize a detail, as her multitude of genuinely theatrical facial expressions punctuated by fluid gestures drew me deeper into her own world.
She was simply so enchanting and fascinating.
Allow me to share some of her experiences in the world of travel, as she best remembered and as I recalled them:
Flight attendant
She was so thrilled to be chosen out of 600 aspirants, based on beauty and brains, as one of the
first six flight attendants for Philippine Airlines (PAL).
The year was 1946 — 75 years ago — where every touchdown was a celebration. Cityfolk were eager to see the travelers — not to mention the dashing pilots and the pretty attendants — as well as seeing a plane on the ground. It was a refreshing sight compared to the gloom and doom of the recentlyended World War II.
First trip abroad
They departed from Nielsen Airport — which is now in the heart of Makati — en route to Hong Kong. It was a rocky, turbulent flight, to say the least, for they wore threeinch heels — no flats allowed during those early days — with no place to rest. She has never forgotten the moment the aircraft came just a bit too close to the mountains at the hazardous Kai Tak Airport.
Crossing the Pacific Ocean
Contrary to what is now an easy 12-hour flight, it took them three long days to traverse Manila to San Francisco. She relived the moments the pilots would call it a day, as night flights then were not allowed. They would initially land on Kwajalein Island, then to Honolulu, before the final hop to the US mainland. At these overnight stopovers, the passengers, cockpit and cabin crew would all dine in a communal mess hall and rest in quarters at specially-designed hangars.
Airport time-killers
People-watching gave her inner pleasure, as she imagined and conjured stories on the various individuals observed during pre-departure and layovers.
Must-do activities in foreign shores
Without fail, writing letters and sending postcards ranked high on her priority list, for she loved to share her experiences with her loved ones.
Favorites
It remained the same through the years. Favorite city was Paris, while the Garden of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto was truly the unforgettable park. The Grand Canyon in Arizona was a wonderment. The Louvre and the Mona Lisa were the artistic choices in the special corners of her heart.
Dream event
She would have loved to be a part of the Passion Play in Oberamargau in Germany, which only happens once every 10 years.
Dislikes
Preparing for the trip itself — the plans, the stress and everything that comes with it — was what she disliked most. But coming home was always a welcome feel for her. However, all in all, the trip — no matter with whom or where to — was truly worth it, in every aspect!