NOONG ARAW... PART 2

NOONG ARAW... PART 2

Your favorite past time then was reading comics like Pilipino Komiks, Espesyal Komiks, Hiwaga Klasiks, Kenkoy Komiks. Kung medyo class ka naman binabasa mo mga Classics Illustrated (sometimes we get our book report from these comic books instead of reading the assigned novel) o kaya ay Tiktik. Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics from the US were also available at magazine stands.

(At huwag kalimutan ang Liwayway, Bulaklak, at ang movie magazine na Kislap. Sa Liwayway yata nagsimula sa akin ang lahat.)

ShoeMart started in Carriedo (the first SM was named Shoe World) followed by the 2nd ShoeMart beside Ideal Theater and then SM Echague with a revolving restaurant at the top floor.

(Ang alam ko lang Shoe Mart ay ang malapit sa opisina namin, nasa Carriedo. Pag ang binili mong sapatos noon ay halos beinte pesos, mahal na iyon. At ang taas ng takong. Ang tulis ng korte. Deadly weapon talaga. Nakakabili rin kami ng limang piso na flat shoes na ang tibay at maganda!)

Safari Club beside Manila Zoo at the height of the 'Twist' craze, Dance-O-Rama with Pete Roa & Baby O'Brien every 5 PM on Channel 5. If you wanted an earlier teeny bopper show, you watched Eddie Mercado in DJ Dancetime on Channel 11. Siyempre naman pag Friday, Nite Owl Dance Party hosted by Lito Gorospe, featuring the Celtics. Another delight to watch was 9-Teeners hosted by Jose Mari Chan, Rom Azanza and Tito Osias (all Ateneans) on Channel 9. Sampaguita was first seen as a cage dancer at 9 Teeners. Her real name is Tessie Alfonso. She got married to Nilo Santos of the Jungle Cats. Jeanne Young also hosted another teeny bopper show called The Insiders which guested the more popular combos at that time.

(Wala yatang tv sa dorm noong una, kalaunan na lamang nagkaroon at sa loob pa ng kuwarto ng matron namin.)

Siyempre sikat pa rin ang Student Canteen pag tanghali followed by Darigold Jamboree, hosted by Leila Benitez with Eddie Ilarde and Pepe Pimentel and Bobby Ledesma. Sa primetime naman nandoon ang The Big Show nila Cris de Vera, Oscar Obligacion at Sylvia La Torre. Then it evolved into Oras ng Ligaya when it migrated to ABS-CBN.. Remember Uncle Bob's Lucky 7 Club.. Who would forget Buhay Artista starring Dolphy and Panchito and a take off of a popular radio program Sebya Mahal Kita, Tang Tarang Tang with Pugo and Bentot on the lead.

(Lady Dean, iyan ang tawag namin sa matron ng aming dorm, mula sa tawag kay Leila Benitez noon. Na ang paboritong kanta ay “I don't know why, I love you like I do, I don't know why, I just do... I don't know why, you thrill me like you do, I don't know why, you just do. You never seem to want my romancing, the only time you hold me is when we're dancing...)

Sa radio naman siyempre ang Kapitan Kidlat, Kwentong Kutsero, Gabi ng Lagim, Salamat Po Doctor, Lola Basyang and of course Kahapon Lamang and Tia Dely's program which followed. Konti pa lang may TV set noon kaya sikat ka sa kalye niyo pag mayroon ka ng television at minsan SRO pa nga pag basketball (Yco, Ysmael, Utex, 7-UP)

(Sa radio, laging music lamang ang istasyon namin. Bawal ang drama. Pero, siempre, si Manang namin ay nakikinig kay Kuya Germs at Inday Badiday. Dahil diehard fan siya ni Guy at Pip.)

Now anyone who missed those days can't really claim they've seen and tasted the best. Every generation has its own set of 'Aces'. Do you recall when: You tasted Darigold Evap, Liberty Condensada, Sunkist Orange (in tetra packs), Magnolia Chocolait, Klim (the word 'milk' spelled backwards), Big 20 Hamburgers, Foot-long hotdog, Nectar choconut, Tweet & Jiggs Candies (by Mr. Krieger), Tootsie Roll, Serg' s Chocolate, kerosene-flavored popcorn and kropeck along Dewey Blvd, dirty ice cream, Magnolia Ice Cream sandwich, Selecta ice cream (now Arce Dairy) and their fre sh carabao's milk, Magnolia popsicles in orange, chocolate and tutti frutti, langka flavors, Sison Ice Drop in monggo, and buko flavors, Milky Way's buko sherbet, Acme Supermarket' s sundaes and Coney Island's 32 flavors?

(Tanda ko pa, pinakain ako ng kapatid ko, kasama girlfriend niya, sa Selecta, na nasa kanto yata ng Lepanto at Azcarraga. Nang tanungin ako kung anong ice cream ang order ko, ang sinabi ko ay Magnolia, e, Selecta lang ang tinda nila noon. Ashamed... Pero, footlong hotdog? Uy, Brown Derby 'yan sa may Morayta. May kwento yata akong iyon ang venue. Serg's chocolate? Sorry, pero ang kilala kong chocolate noon ay Van Houten, na dala sa akin ng isang dumadalaw!)

You went to: Arcegas at the Maranaw Arcade, Funhouse at Bricktown, Aguinaldo , Erehwon Bookstore, Alemars Bookstore, Bookmark, Botica Boie, Makati Supermarket D'Bankers Barbershop and Leila's Coffee Shop, Tropical Hut along Estrada, Acme Supermarket, Cherry Supermarket (now Foodarama), The Regent of Manila, Hotel Mabuhay, Manila Hilton, Christmas carnival (at Lawton in front of Letran College), Villa Pansol and Lido Beach, Aroma Beach and Jale Beach?

(Ja-Le Beach? Di ba UE Beach ito? Kasi, lahat yata ng outing ng mga taga-UE ay sa Ja-Le Beach. Kaya wala na kami sa UE, iyong barkada namin ay dito pa rin nagpupunta. Alemar's? Malapit sa Rizal Theatre sa Makati? Parang may munting cafe pa ito sa dakong likod na tagpuan at miryendahan ng nagkikitang magnobyo, mag-asawa, o magkaibigan. Arcega's? May branch din ito sa Marikina, kaya dito namin binili ang fire engine na regalo ni Santa Claus sa aming mga anak nang maliit pa sila, na hirap na hirap kaming itago sa likod ng kotse. Manila Hilton? Sa basement nito ay may restaurant, madilim, smorgasborg. Bagong uso noon. At kumain kaming minsan rito, para huwag namang maging ignorante sa lakad ng mundo.)

Rizal what? 'Who would be crazy to build a cinema in the middle of nowhere?' It turned out to be the best theater in the city of Makati then (at the same site now occupied by Shangri-La Hotel).

(Miss namin ang pagkawala nito.)

We ate at: The original A&W along UN Avenue in Manila, Aristocrat's Flying Saucer (across Malate Church), Bonanza Restaurant, Little Quiapo, Country Bake Shop, Selecta Restaurant, Taza de Oro, New Europe, Madrid , Cucina Italiana, La Cibeles at A. Mabini, Luau, The Makati Automat, Sulo Restaurant ( Makati ), Bulakena, Casa Marcos, Au Bon Vivant, Salambao Restaurant, Dairy Queen, Di Mark's Pizza in Cubao, the elegant dining room of the old Army & Navy Club.

(Bonanza sa may highway, di ba? Ang natatandaan ko rito ay mga kaiskwela sa high school na nanggaling sa San Fernando, Pampanga at nagkayayaaan na dumaan rito para makakain ng roast calf. Hintay kami nang hintay sa isang inaasahang magbabayad na huli na nang dumating, kasi ay bumangga pala ang kotse sa gilid ng aqueduct sa Candaba, buti hindi nahulog, kundi, walang magbabayad sa kinain namin. Alam ko ang Bulakena, nasa Harrison pa man ito, kasi nagpupunta kami roon, kamag-anak namin ang may-ari at doon nakatira ang mga kapatid kong nag-aaral sa PWU.)

Botica Boie in Escolta, Alba's in Florida St. , Malate, Brown Derby and their signature foot-long hotdog came with its special, extra tarty mustard sauce and a hot, crispy bun.. We used to park at their drive-in bays after we were exhausted from all-night partying but with enough energy to gobble down sausages and soft drinks.

(Bihira akong mapunta sa Escolta.)

The Plaza was the favorite venue for all formal school and social functions. Every Friday night the Plaza became an instant disco-teque called 'POW'. Food was not a big factor so long as cozy couples could have their special table for two.

(Hindi ako natuntong rito. Ang plasa na alam ko ay nasa Malolos. Iyong ang tawag namin sa palengke. Plasa. Punta ka sa plasa, bumili ka ng halabusin na malabansi. O aligasin para sa paksiw. At saka ang mga prom namin at graduation ball noon ay hindi sa hotel. Doon sa Glorietta sa may provincial capitol, na ang tumutugtog ay hindi sina Payawal, kung si Jule's & His Orchestra. Mga kaiskwela, natatandaan pa ba ninyo?)

You shopped at: Bergs, Soriente Santos, Assanda's, Oceanic Commercial (where you bought original watches and jewelries), Syvel's, Walk-Over in Escolta, Good Earth Emporium, 15c and Up, Manila COD, Avesco at Avenida Rizal, Rustan's San Marcelino, Aguinaldo's in Cubao.

(May kilala ako na kapag naregaluhan ay takbo na agad sa tindahan kung saan ito binili para siguro malaman kung magkano, lalo at manliligaw niya ang nagbigay. Tunay namang galante ang regalo, Oceanic ba naman. Ito ang kanyang piniling makaisang-palad. Okey naman sila. Sa simula. Iyong mga kasunod na kabanata ay hindi ko na alam!)

The original Rustan's was the garage of the Tantoco's residential house which was eventually converted into a dazzling shop filled with eclectic things and collectibles.

(Mainam ring mamili sa Rustan's. Mayroon din nito sa Cubao kalaunan. Dito ka nakabibili ng magagandang blouse, na mahal nga, ngunit sulit naman sa tibay, at classic ang style. Kaya sawa ka na ay hindi mo pa rin maiwanan, nanghihinayang ka, kaya ginagamit pa rin.)

You would want your wardrobes (pang-porma) tailor-made. So you went to RM Manlapat, Toppers, Fifth Avenue, Estacio's, Sleek's (owned by Eddie Ilarde) or D'Sharp (owned by Dolphy) for your Continental style pants and shirt-jack (Marcos loved this style) or the sleeve shirt. If you wanted a groovy denim pants, you would buy the finest denim material at Divisoria and brought it to Gulapa's. Levi's was not a by-word then.

(A, ang mga amerkana namin ay sa isang sastre sa Pasay ginagawa.)

For school uniforms, we would love to wear our khaki pants from the famous RTW shop called Macomber in Quiapo. Or, our parents would just buy us a pair of Sabur or Savalbarro khakis. When it came to footwear, siyempre mas maganda pasadya especially when you want a good Chuka Boots, Spanish Boots or Beatles Boots. You went to Glenmore or Camara shoe makers. Pag casual naman siyempre US Keds, pero kung medyo low budget lang e puwede na rin ang US Kids. For sports shoes you would want a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor, and if you were on a low budget you bought Custombuilt or Edwardson. But if you wanted to float on water (as the advertisement claimed) you wore Marcelo Rubber Shoes black! Yan ang sinusuot ni Kenkoy.

(Gregg shoes! Diyan ako lumaki, at diyan ko rin pinalaki ang aking mga anak! Iyong moccasins ng Gregg na sapatos ko sa high school, napaka-massive ang hitsura. Kaya minsan, kasama ko ang isang kaiskwela na umakyat ng hagdan papuntang second floor ng aming school building, lagot! Nakagalitan kami. Paano ba naman, nasa ilalim ng hagdanan ang opisina ng school newspaper at nagkataong naroon ang aming teacher na adviser ng staff. E, dumadagundong daw ang bagsak ng aming mga paa. Sabihin mo'y kami ng aking kasama ay! kapwa kamag-anak ng nasabing teacher)

Blockbuster movies were: The Ten Commandments, Shane, High Noon, King and I, South Paci fic, Horrors of Dracula, Gunfight at OK Corral, Psycho, House on Haunted Hill, Magnificent Seven, The Alamo, Spartacus, West Side Story, Ben Hur, Longest Day, Madame X, Guns of Navarone, King of Kings, El Cid, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Birds, Elvis' movies like Love Me Tender, Loving You, Jailhouse Rock, King Creole, Blue Hawaii , GI Blues, and the Beatles' Hard Days Night, Help, Yellow Submarine, The Graduate, Romeo and Juliet and of course the ever popular The Sound of Music.

(Elvis Movies? Napanood ko yatang lahat iyan. Sa Love Me Tender nagsimula ang pagiging paborito ko sa kanya. Isang kasama ko sa dorm naman ang naiinis nang panoorin ang West Side Story. Kinikilig na raw siya dahil maghahalikan ang mga bida, e, bigla na lamang bubunghalit ng kanta! Tawa lang namin nang ikwento ito. Wala sa listahan sa itaas ang mga naging paborito ko ring pelikula, ang Irma La Douce kung saan ko nagustuhan si Shirley Maclaine, at ang Stalag 17, isang war story.)

You had your hair styled or permed by: Nomer's, Lita Rio, Grace Lagman, Dick & Lucy, and Kayumanggi. That was the time of Aqua Net stiff, foot-high beehives, French twist and Kiss Me liquid eyeliners and Pretty Quik instant facial blotters.

(Sa dorm, kapag panahon ng mga Acquaintance o Valentine Party, bising-bisi ang parlor sa tapat namin, sa itaas ng Cunanan's School Supplies. Dito nagpapa-manicure at paayos ng buhok ang mga may pambayad. Ang wala ay nagse-set na lang ng buhok na binasa ng beer, pincurls o rollers, saka i-ti-tiss para magkaroon ng body, sunod ay aayusin ng ala Jackie Kennedy na flyaway. Tapos ay magsusuot ng mga balloon skirts na susun-suson ang petticoat sa ilalim.)

You sang: Dont Be Cruel and Hound Dog by Elvis, April Love by Pat Boone, Fool's Paradise by Buddy Holly, Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby by Jo Ann Campbell, Devoted to You by the Everly Brothers, Someday by Ricky Nelson, One More Chance by Teddy Randazzo, Calendar Girl by Neil Sedaka, Puppy Love by Paul Anka, Young Ones by Cliff Richard, Walk Dont Run by The Ventures, Apache by the Shadows, A Hard Days Night, All My Lovin, Yesterday, Hey Jude by the Beatles, World Without Love by Peter and Gordon, Cherish by the Association, Because by Dave Clark Five, Distant Shores by Chad and Jeremy.

(Right! Usung-uso noon ang mga songhits. At sa dorm, kapag walang ginagawa, nagkulumpong ang dormitoryana sa ibabaw ng isang kama at sama-samang kumakanta. Minsan nga, ang nakahumalingan ay mga kanta ni Cely Bautista, Hinahanap Kita, Irog Ako ay Mahalin, at ang awit na Mga Bakas ng Lumipas.)

Saved your whole month's allowance of P50.00 to watch the Beatles perform live at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in 1966 (July 4).

(Alam ko lang, nagkaroon ng isyu ang Beatles noon.)

It was hip to listen to: Bingo Lacson, Lito Gorospe, Bong Lapira, Eddie Mercado, Jack Henson, Art Galindez of DZMB and Jo San Diego (past midnight) of DZMT, Sonia Basa, Ronnie Quintos, Naldy Castro of DZWS, Harry Gasser, Joe Cantada and Jose Mari Velez of DZHP; the singing sensations from Ateneo de Manila, RJ and the Riots, The Loonilarks, Jose Mari Chan and the Twofus ( Ronnie Henares and Jojit Paredes) and dance to live combo music garbed in cocktail dresses and dark suits.

(DZHP at si Jose Mari Velez! Nakahingi pa ako sa kanila ng isang booklet ng mga awit na ang kumakanta ay si Mitch Miller. Down by the Olde Millstream... On Top of Old Smokey... Jeepers Creepers... )

DZMT was affiliated with the Manila Times and was one of two radio stations operating after 12 midnight... The other station was DZHP whose program was taped. Jo San Diego of DZMT went on live (she with the velvety bedroom voice. She could still be heard today at DWBR every Sunday afternoons).

(May kaibigan ako na kauna-unahan yatang nagkaroon ng transistor radio sa dorm. Gabi-gabi, nakikinig siya sa isang music program na ang theme song ay High and Mighty. Mga light classics ang tugtog.)

And danced at: Manila Hotel's Jungle Bar, Stargazer, Bayside Night Club (with live music by the Carding Cruz band), the Nile , D'Flame, Rino's, Wells Fargo, Nautilus, Hi-Ball and Bulakena. Or, maybe rode a Motorco with your date and went around Dewey Boulevard . When you got hungry you would drop by the Barbecue Plaza . You tried your luck at the Pula-Puti joint in Russell Street.

(Jungle Bar sa Manila Hotel, napunta kami ritong magkakaklase sa high school. Noon pa lamang nagsisimulang mabuo ang core group na siyang uugit at hanggang ngayon ay umaagapay sa mga nagiging miyembro ng Pamunuan ng aming Klase. Buhay pa noon ang aming Valedictorian na siyang pasimuno na madala kami roon.)

Do you remember when: Malate streets were named after US States ( Pennsylvania , Tennessee , California , Colorado, Carolina, etc.); Paranaque , San Juan, Makati , Pasig , Las Pinas, Taguig, Pateros and Muntinlupa were municipalities of Rizal province; DLSU was De La Salle College, Poveda was Institucion Teresiana, Adamson University was the original St. Theresa's campus in San Marcelino, Robinsons Mall was the Assumption Convent campus, Petron was Esso, Villamor Air Base was then known as Nichols Air Base, bancas were aplenty in the Baclaran side of Dewey Blvd.. (now Roxas Blvd. ) and traffic was non-existent in Tagaytay.

(At kasama ang Marikina sa Rizal! At ang kompanyang una kong pinasukan ay nasa Pennsylvania. At ang Recto ngayon ay Azcarraga noon.)

PLDT telephone numbers were five digits and you used your index finger to dial a number one at a time.

(3-76-39! Telepono ba ito ng aming dorm o ng aming opisina?)

Sikat ka sa barkada kung may 'syota' kang 'Colegiala' (Assumption, STC, St. Scho, Maryknoll, Holy Spirit, St. Paul 's, St. Joseph's , Sienna, PWU, Sta. Isabel at La Consolacion) . Siyempre hindi rin naman papahuli ang mga coeds natin from UP, UST, UE and FEU. As proof, you should be wearing her high school ring in your pinkie finger.

(Or wearing your boyfriend's college ring! And letting him wear yours.)

If you remember all these things, you're history in great company and I dare say.................. HAPPY TO BE !!! : )

TO VI M. WHO SENT ME THIS, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!! AND THANKS ALSO TO THE ONE WHO SENT THIS TO YOU!!!