There may be many dinnerware companies and brands out there (just browse through these dizzying collections from Martha Stewart, Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel,) but Corelle holds top spot in my heart.

Growing up, I ate the best meals on Corelle plates. Mama had (and still has) an almost pious devotion to the brand and sent them whenever she could from the US. She believed that only Corelle could withstand the rigorous cross-continental trek in a Balikbayan Box from Los Angeles, CA to Victorias, Negros Occidental. And she was right. Through all those years, we never received a broken plate, cup, saucer or bowl as we unearthed the treasures from those brown boxes. That was good, and not just because nothing was wasted — broken plates were believed to be a sign of ill luck. I don’t know if the superstition is specifically an Illonggo one, but I have strong memories of it growing up. I remember always being somehow relieved whenever there were no broken plates hiding between the Spam and the Betty Crocker Devil’s Food Cake Mix in those boxes!

We ate a lot so we wore those plates out. These days, we still have Corelle in the house, but I have a sentimental attachement to the Corelle pattern of my childhood, Old Town Blue, which is the image above. They don’t manufacture it anymore and whenever I see it in flea markets, it always tugs at my memories like a child at her mother’s apron strings.

The company now makes many new, hip designs and in more modern shapes, too. Whole new sets to fall in love with! My favorites:

Vintage Lace

Whimsical Dots

Kitu

Here’s hoping your plates remain whole — and brimming with good memories.