The Opera Populaire

Was going to go to my parents' office yesterday when I switched e TV channel over to Discovery Channel, which was documenting abt the death of the Romanov family, the last Tzar of Russia. I have always been very interested in Russian history, especially abt the Romanov family. I read some books on their geneology and of course, the mystery of Princess Ananastasia, which, as all know, was hotly debated whether she was really dead or not.

The Discovery Channel showed scientists attempting to solve e mystery with modern techno like DNA checking. I have oso always been fascinated by the things that DNA can tell u. They managed to reveal that the bodies dumped in a forest in Russia indeed belonged to the Romanov family, except for 2 which have yet to be identified. It was long thot that the 2 missing bodies belonged to Ananstasia and the tzarevich Alexei. But skull matching techno managed to prove that Ananstasia's remains were among the found ones, while it was really another princess, Maria's body who was missing along with Alexei's. I was rapt watching how the scientists measured certain distances between the features of the skull found and compared them to photos of the actual people, magnified.

Felt great pity for the Romanovs, who was tortured before they were killed. Apparently, 1st they were shot. The women had sewn diamonds onto their corsets and the effect of the bullets were to prolong their agony by not killing them immediately. Their valuables were stolen, as well as their clothes. Then, their bodies were made unidentifiable by having acid poured on. Then they were burned. And later, their bodies were burned, but apparently they refused to burn. Lastly, they were buried tog in something like a mass grave. May God have pity on their souls.

Of course, all of us know that many gals came forward and claimed that they were Anastasia. The most famous one was Anna Anderson, who managed to convince some of the royal families linked to the Romanovs that she was Anastasia. I plan to read her book "I am Anastasia", but I already know she was a fake. The DNA tests proved that she was a Polish factory worker. Besides, when I looked at her facial features, she just couldn't pass off as the Grand Duchess, tho certainly there were some resemblance. Anastasia had beautiful features, delicate and the sort that will neva fade away even in old age. Anna Anderson's features were too coarse, even if she claimed that she was mangled by her torturers. One large mouth that was a gash in her face, while Anastasia had a beautiful, pert little mouth. A pair of eyes that din resemble Anastasia's pretty ones in the least.

This was the subject of the cartoon "Anastasia", which came out in 1997. I loved the motion pict so much that I bought the soundtrack and its music kept ringing in my ears. Heh, I oso have its VCD. Even tho the cartoon couldn't compare to Disney ones, I still like its story line and the music. Just imagine, maybe if Anastasia had been still alive, maybe this would be her story. Sigh, I just feel sorry for her, killed when she was at e age when she should be learning the ropes of the protocol, enjoying life. I just thot that if I were a prince back then, I would want to marry her, if for nothing then for her beauty at least hahaha.

Meanwhile, rest in peace, dearest Romanov family.

PS: JUst for fun, my JC classmate, Kelvin Tey and I tried to make ppl's names into "Russian". Kelvin got a masterpiece, named "Kelvinakov Teykovich". Now I would like to mangle our Hon class guys' names, just for fun oso.

Boi Boi: Christonovich Tanakov
Kevin: Kevinakov Khootin
Derrick: Derrickylich Leekopov

Hahahah...it's not as fantastic as Kevlinakov Teykovich, but hahahah just for a lark. teeheehee.