Twelve years have passed since actress Assunta de Rossi last saw Martano, in the province of Lecce, Italy—her father Luigi Schiavone's hometown, where her parents and two younger sisters still live. At the urging of youngest sister Isabel, Assunta finally decided to see her family for a short but sweet reunion.
"Last year pa talaga nakiusap sa akin si Isabel," Assunta recalls. "Baka puwede raw akong magninang sa kanya sa kumpil. So, parang naisip ko, it's about time. Kasi matanda na rin ang lola ko, e. 'Tapos, matagal ko na ring hindi nakikita at nakakausap 'yong mga relatives ko. As in, usap—wala! Wala kaming communication at all!"
Though she was in Martano for less than two weeks—from June 9 to 19—Assunta says she and her sisters all had fun: "Lahat kami sa pamilya, mga baliw! Pero ang saya! Sobra!"