Someone Stole my Royal Albert

It was love at first sight. Exactly 20 years ago.

I was in Cologne, Germany attending the International Furniture and Accessories Fair when I saw the most beautiful plates I have ever seen (at that time). They were set up on the dining table manufactured by Singaporean Tony Lin’s export company. He and his wife bought the Royal Albert china dinner set from London and hand-carried them to Singapore. They use it as props.

From Germany, I traveled to London and visited the Philippine Embassy. I met with Ambassador Jesus Tambunting and did a short interview for my tele-magazine show The Export Connection.

From the embassy, our then Defense Attache accompanied me to a big department store nearby to buy my very own Royal Albert. They did not have the complete set and had to special order. The dinner set was delivered to my hotel after two days.

From then on, I started collecting this Country Roses pattern little by little until I have a complete service for 10 people. I have stopped buying since 10 years ago because I was happy with what I have. Until two years ago when Lotis Key came to visit our house and saw my pattern. She said she has a service for 8 which she’s been keeping for several years and would like to sell them. Edmund and I bought the set. Lotis shipped them from Minnesota where they’re based to my sister in Hayward, and my sister shipped them to Manila.

My china cabinet was already quite full before Lotis group came. patong-patong na sila at siksik na siksik yung cabinet ko.
Two days ago, I noticed that the cabinet looked quite maluwag. Since my mind is always occupied with other things, I forgot about it na, until tonight. I opened the cabinet and was saddened to discover that many items are gone missing.
The thief is a pro, she took two pieces of each item and some other stuff, I couldn’t even remember all my items.

I couldn’t help but shed two tablespoons of tears. I feel so sad and angry. Those pieces were expensive. I still remember every time I would go to Covent Garden in London, there’s a small novelty store that sells this things. I would stay there for almost an hour touching, holding and mentally computing the prices. I would pick up two or 3 pieces. Unti-unti kong binili at inipon yung collection ko.

The cost of the items stolen are approximately US$2,500 and I have no intention to buy that pattern again. There’s no replacement, they are no longer available. I have lost 25 pieces. My pieces are all original, they are all made in England. The ones from Lotis are vintage, at least 60 years old. The Royal Albert pieces sold now are made in Thailand and Sri Lanka. The pattern has become popular, there are many similar patterns from other Asian countries.

I don’t know what to do, we have a lot of stuff and it’s difficult to remember every single thing that we have.
If I put a lock in all our cabinets and cupboards, sampung kilong susi ang dala-dala ko araw-araw. We might as well lock our whole house.

Thief! I could only think of Cherry, maybe not, but who could that be? Whoever that thief is, she’s smart and definitely a pro.
I don’t want to say bad things but I really feel very sad. What a way to cap my already stressful day.