Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid By Florangel Rosario Braid   Finally, we were able to visit the famed Pastor-Acosta Ancestral House in Batangas City. Last Saturday, a group of us, mostly from the art class of AAP President Fidel Sarmiento, drove out to do a “back to time” outdoor painting at this 127-year-old house. Built in 1883 by Don Alejo Acosta, then a gobernadorcillo, the bahay na bato is now the residence of the fourth generation Pastor-Acosta family – Atty. Tony Acosta and his 8 brothers and sister. It has also become a cultural center in Batangas, visited by dozens of visitors almost daily. A newly built Pastor Park has become a venue for cultural events for local artists. Now nestled within a commercial district, this “turn of the century” ancestral home is still well preserved with its impressive entrada principal, entresuelo, escalera mayor, antesala and main sala, the several cuartos, comedor, balcon interior, oficina, and outside, the azotea y balcon. Tata Medado, Tony’s niece who showed us around said she was born in one of the rooms, all of which have poster beds with beautiful lace work for canopy. These treasures of the past – capiz windows, molave floors, ventanillas, Mongolian antique mirrors, Chinese candelabras, gramophone, chandeliers, and vintage furniture – butaka chairs, and sulihiya lounging chairs – evokes nostalgia in the beholder. Tony Pastor, lawyer and realtor, who has become a favorite visiting artist at Sunshine Place, a senior hub in Makati, had entertained our group several times. At his home, this 89-year old tenor and concert pianist, was in his elements, as he played on his Basendorfen grand piano, and sang for us some of his favorites and ours too – Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Some Enchanted Evening,” Chopin’s I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” “O Sole Mio,” Mozart, Debussy, and some of our kundimans. In Batangas, he said, we also have a Pastor and Pastor, as he called on his younger brother, Pitoy, 84, to join him in a duet. For my art subject, I chose the oficina, and emphasized the antique ceiling, hanging lamps and molave floor. The others chose the azotea y balcon. At lunch, which consisted of typical Batangas dishes, Tony described his usual routine when he is not traveling to Manila for his mini concerts. Like singing every Sunday at the Parish of the Most Holy Trinity, donated by Dona Manuela Quinio Pastor. As he likes to say, “I was born and grew up in Batangas, a small town with a Christian upbringing – serving mass, singing in the church choir with my brothers, with my father as a conductor.” At lunch, we learned more about this remarkable family. It is outstanding, not only for its having generously shared hits cultural treasures with the community and other Filipinos who have come for a “cultural pilgrimage” but for many things as well. Many may not know that several members of this family are outstanding professionals whose accomplishments have been recognized here and abroad. As we had noted earlier, Don Alejo Acosta was a gobernadorcillo and financier of the revolution under General Miguel Malvar. Tony graduated from the UP Conservatory of Music and took up graduate studies in economics at New York University. He was at that time, the 1960’s, a member of the New York Philharmonic Church group under Leonard Bernstein. He continues to practice law up to this time. Another brother is a well-known surgeon and was the doctor who operated on Marilyn Monroe’s gall bladder. Two nieces of Tony – Marian Pastor Roces and Tata Pastor Medado who are sisters – are known leaders in their fields. Marian, artist, art critic, scholar, and writer, had curated several local museums while Tata, is one of the executives of the Asia Pacific College which had pioneered in the training of human resources in information technology and its application. All the Pastor brothers and sisters  are professionals. It is not often that we see such incredible talent and commitment to building the nation’s cultural and intellectual resources in one family. And the country is fortunate to have the Pastors, and I am sure several others who share a similar passion – the search for excellence as well as service to country.   My email, [email protected]