This is a tribute to my lola: Lena Strait Pareja.

By Jan Pareja / June 20, 2021

At a young age, I attended showbiz events—to think, I wasn’t even a celebrity! She asked the maids to have me and my cousin, Paolo, dressed for an evening out. We weren’t told details, but the excitement was instant knowing we were going somewhere with our lola. It was the late 90’s and I was an overtly conscious teenager. When I realized where she was taking us, I immediately worried about being underdressed for such a prestigious event. She took us to a film awards night—it might’ve been Gawad Urian or FAMAS Awards. My lola walked ahead of us greeting friends and acquaintances as she tried to locate our seats. In the middle of the auditorium, we followed her as she approached a handsome actor looking sleek in a perfectly fitted suit and tie, complemented by a Brad Pitt slicked-back hairstyle. It was Lander Vera-Perez and he welcomed my lola with a kiss on the cheek. We sat down and they chatted while waiting for the event to start.

Lena “Lynn” Strait Pareja, was my lola who made Philippine showbiz a casual environment for me and the rest of the family. Growing up, what I knew about her career was… adequate—I, as a kid, prioritized discovering more about the Power Rangers and Goku. But nonetheless, what I knew of her left a lasting impression on me. I knew about her work for Sampaguita Pictures that flourished into a lasting friendship with Azucena “Mama Nene” Vera-Perez and her children. I also knew she was managing editor for the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (volume 8)—not to mention articles she contributed to various broadsheets and tabloids on significant films and personalities from the golden age of Philippine cinema. I knew of her time at Mowelfund and her career as professor of film studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and Ateneo de Manila University (to name a few). Lastly—and perhaps the most impressive thing I’ve known about my lola—she graduated from UPD with a Ph.D in Philippine Studies.

I never felt intimidated by her achievements. It didn’t even feel as though she set the bar high to challenge her children and grandchildren in achieving far greater feats. Her success in everything she accomplished was celebrated by everyone at home. Her wins were everyone’s pride. Her blessings were shared with the family and with those who approached in need.

In 1994, at the age of 9, I became interested in drawing. My lola helped me improve that skill by taking me to an art summer program held by the CCP. Fast forward to 2009, after living for almost a decade in California, I moved back to Manila. She saw my interest in acting and helped me get in touch with the likes of German Moreno and Lolit Solis—I even had a brief exposure in Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman on GMA 7. Ironically, everyone I knew was asleep when it aired on TV (including myself). She went to the studio with me that day. At first I felt bad for having her wait until we wrapped up, but then I saw her enjoying a fortuitous chat with the perpetually entrancing, Donita Rose.

As an adult, my interest in drawing and acting have significantly diminished as I discovered another facet of art. In 2017, at the age of 32, I became a published author of a young adult fantasy novel. It took me years to build a world filled with magic and develop characters that were troubled yet hopeful. It also took me the same amount of time to realize how much of an impact my lola made on me. She helped me hone different skills I thought would stick. When all the while, what really felt organic was writing—to be like her—to become a writer! Yes, she read my book even though I told her she didn’t have to. And yes, she told me what she thought of it! My lola was savage! She went all out with her comments—mostly praises, but it was the little critiques I truly held onto.

I grew up meeting all sorts of showbiz personalities from actors to directors, and it felt normal. But the one true star I’m thankful for meeting and having in my life was my lola, Lena Strait Pareja. I am indelibly amazed to have a brilliant star for a grandmother. Continue writing in the heavens about your run-ins with past celebrities you fondly worked with here on earth. I promise to look up and read the night skies, smiling at the stars. Thank you for shining your light on me. You live forever in the pages of your books and in my heart!