The Halo-Halo Bistro

By Loi Gillera My recollection of my father to this day is of a middle age man with a perennial smile. Slightly balding on the crown of his head, his hair looks full in front with an unruly lock that dangles like a comma on the center of his forehead. Born in 1910, in a tiny islet called Bantayan north of Cebu province, he was a fisherman since he was a child. He came to Manila with my mother in 1936 to work in the government as a motor pool guard. He stand straight and appears taller than his 5'7" frame. Looking lean he must have weight no more than 150 lbs. A regular "Joe" so to speak. Like all fishermen, my father drinks a lot. Never miss a glass of "Shyok Tong" with lunch. On weekends, along with other Manila boy "Bantayanons", they muster in our house, drink, sing and tell the same war stories over and over again until they are stupor with alcohol where they sit. But my father was the one who taught me the rudiments of arithmetic. It wa...

By Herm Valenzuela I'm glad our e-mails are not always dull; Funny jokes and trivia a-plenty Face book and twitters not worth reading. Each day I booted-up to read I have to mull- Over friends every month of birthday greetings A joyous reminder that we are ageing ! Then listings of friend's obituary- Just reminds me we're on burrowed times. Not to mention different malady- Unhealthy bodies paying fines We shouldn't be alone and solitary; And sing Psalms each tme church bells chimes; Dance to your heart's desire even if no one is looking. To yourself  don't be contrary to these changing times Smell the  lilies in the Spring.while flowers a-blooming Too late when petals wilt and stems are thorny. Then the former beauties of Mapa High Out of a Falcon-blue came out a-listing. They were the ladies that gave us the eye And a certain smile with come a-tither; Wishing you'd come in a while a-courting; Instead was shy and caused a dither. ...

By Loi Gillera There were a number of significant events that took place in the world in 1957. But for the 2,000 strong graduating high school students of the cardinal secondary institution of learning in the Philippines at the time, the commencement ceremony of Mapa High School in the afternoon of 26 March, held in the imposing Rizal Memorial Coleseum was the centerpiece of their adolescent life. A day of festive activities for the young celebrants. A day capped with endearing hugs, kisses, bids of goodbye and promises to keep in touch as one after the other the young friends leave their classmates to start their own personal journey in life. Here is the few of them now that meet again and renewed their camaraderie.