The Dress that Lives On

 70+ Years & Still Going

Preserving cultural traditions to pass on to the next generations is important.  Both of my parents were born and raised in the Philippines.  However, their bloodlines are mixed with other cultures.  I want to do a DNA test to find out more.

Made in the 1940s

My grandmother created a traditional mestiza dress as a high school project final, which she told me was also worn at her graduation.  This beautiful dress is still intact and well-preserved.  Several women have had the opportunity to wear this beautiful dress over the years.  It was passed down to my mother, and being her only daughter, I was allowed to keep it.

No Daughters, So Who Gets The Dress?

I have FOUR beautiful sons, so I was not able to pass it to any of them.  My cousin is the youngest granddaughter, and she's the same age as my oldest son. My nieces followed in the next two years, so they're all really close.  They each had an opportunity to wear the dress, strictly for pictures because there was no event for them to use it.  

These four young women are the closest I'll ever have to daughters, so when we finally got the last one to try it on, I talked to them about the dress.  They decided who would have the dress.  The youngest of them all, Jonessa.

Tradition Continues

Jonessa humbly accepted the dress, but because her family was in the military, she asked if I could keep it safe until she was ready to get it.  Of course, so I still have it .  Although, it is no longer mine.  This was one of the hardest decisions I had to make, but I'm glad I wasn't alone in deciding.  And if you're wondering which is me . . . my real name is Rosary.

Will you share my photo?