UP High School

One who does not learn to look back to where he came from,
                                  will never get to where he is going.                                              

                  -Dr Jose Rizal

In 1978 and 1979 I went to the University of the Philippines High School. School is located in the Diliman section of Quezon City. The Marikina mountains were to the west and the University campus was our playground.

The main road was Katipunan Road, which was an old dusty street. I went back after 31 years and saw how the campus and the outer loop of Quezon City has evolved. Crossing the street to the main University campus was quite easy over 30 years ago, now it is a trek.....Katipunan Road is now a six lane thoroughfare complete with skywalks.

I visited the school on a national holiday (it was a Muslim holiday). The school was quiet and eerie. I remember, we had an overnight sleep over at the school, and I heard about the ghost stories. The Japanese used the grounds for a prisoner of war camp during the war, and the Filipino rebels would hide in the nearby  Marikina Hills.  As I walked through the open air corridors I could once imagine the campus as a prisoner of war. The ghosts are still there, and you can feel the presence. There were some staff in the Principal's office. I asked the administrator about the "ghost stories" she confirmed that they were true! Herminia Malonzo, the administrator  took me for a stroll of the campus and told me some of the new plans for the tired campus. I asked her what ever happened to my prom date "Cherry Domingo". I lost track of Cherry throughout the years, and I wondered how she was doing. To my amazement Ms Malonzo had phoned Cherry and arranged a reunion to see Cherry after 31 years!

Here is a video about UP High School, interesting to watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOYh5BBbtp8&feature=player_embedded

Kalog ko, 'diba? 

Prom at the Ramada Inn, Manila, Feb 1979

Reunion with prom date, Quezon City, November 2010

Images of Manila and Street Scenes

Travel is a caprice in childhood, a passion in youth, a necessity in manhood, and an elegy in old age.

                                              -Dr Jose Rizal

Where ever I go in the world, I like observing street scenes. It's a way to see how people live, work, and interact with each other. I lived in the Philippines in 1978 and 1979. Since that time many things have changed, some things not. Enjoy this photo essay of life on the Calles and by ways of Metro Manila.....

                                                                                                 -GregGorio

Side trip to Tagaytay

I decided to get out of Manila for the day. So I  took a bus to Tagaytay. This popular tourist destination spot is located less than 58 km ( 36 miles) from Manila. However, with brutal and relentless traffic the trip took 2.5 hours!

Tagaytay is located south of Manila in the province of Cavite. The city lies on a ridge which is over 2500 feet (760 meters) above sea level. From the 'ridge' there are incredible views of Taal lake and Taal Volcano. The climate is a bit cooler than Manila, with pleasant breezes. Temps where in the low 80's (27c), but people were wearing long sleeves. Road side vendors also sold locally made scarfs!!! Taal Volcano is surrounded by Taal lake. The area is geographically and visually interesting. There are villas and resorts in the town, and there are also religious monastaries on the side of the mountain.

Fast food and commercialism has invaded the Philippines since I lived there in the 1970's. I was shocked to see that the main road in Tagaytay was dotted with fast food franchises like: Starbucks, McDonald's, et al. The visual landscape had an eerie fast food/hyper commercialism look to it....Ironically, the best view of the volcano from Tagaytay was at a Starbucks! The cost of a latte at Starbucks is more than an average Filipino would spend for food in a day!

I  took a three wheel traysikel ( tricycle rickshaw) ride down the Tagaytay ridge (mountain) . I felt like Colonel Klink siting in the sidecar of the "trike" as the driver drove down the steep 15km drive to the  lake.

From the bottom of the Ridge ( or mountain) you can take boat tours of the lake or tours to Taal Volcano............

Tagaytay is also has some incredible parks and vistas for picnics and horseback riding. I went to "People's Park" and went hiking and horseback riding (I opted for the smaller horse...)

Foods of the Philippines

Eating in the Philippines is a gastronomical experience. Some days I felt like Andrew Zimmern, some days like Anthony Bourdain. Typically when a Filipino greets you he will say "have you eaten yet?". Filipinos love to eat, and they always are sincere and want to share food with you.

 









Breakfast is simple: rice, egg ( can be salted hard boiled egg or over easy), with piece of meat or fish. I don't think guests at the Ogunquit Beach Inn would like this type of breakfast. However, while in the Philippines I do enjoy this type of meal.

Rice is a staple for Filipinos as it is in most Asians countries. Forty percent of the Filipino diet in calories is rice. Rice is consumed at every meal.

Merienda. Merienda is an afternoon meal, usually after school or after a nap. Here I  decided to indulge and have "Maruya". Maruya is a type of  banana fritter. Local plantains ( sabas) are cut length wise and and dipped in a batter then fried. The flour and the banana forms a fritter the size of a human hand. Rolled in sugar and served hot-Ma Sarap (delicious). I went to my favorite street vendor everyday to enjoy these tasty treats!

 


















Another treat is ice cream. Filipinos eat a lot of ice cream. Ice cream vendors sell this on the street in pushcarts. The Filipinos call this "dirty ice cream", because its sold out on the dirt ( hence the road...). Served on a bun, flavors can be avocado, cheese or mango. This is a true ice cream sandwich! Something I consumed almost everyday!

 










Everywhere you go in the Philippines there are street vendors selling food. The variety is amazing. Filipinos eat on the go, often eating little meals. For meals on the run, Filipinos will eat at turo-turo stands. Turo-turo literally means pick-pick, and you would pick your sides that would accompany rice. These meals are relatively cheap.

Typically, supper for Filipinos is rice, with either chicken, pork or seafood. One popular dish is chicken adobo. This dish is cubed chicken  marinated with peppercorns, vinegar and soy sauce. Fish is either fresh or dried. In the Philippines nothing is wasted. You eat virtually the whole fish. Roasted chicken, roasted pork are also popular for dinner. One of my favorite side dishes is  a sour soup called sinigang. This soup  is made with tamarind and may have, shrimp, pork or chicken with vegetables.