Summers of Youth.

We grew up in Sta. Ana, Manila and in Mabini, Mandaluyong. The two locales were separated by the Lambingan Bridge, at the crossroad of Old Panaderos.

The Old Lambingan Bridge had two staircases, one leading down to the Barangay Blue Water, and the other one, leading down to A. Martinez and on to J. P. Rizal in Mandaluyong.

                                                    Photo of the new Lambingan Bridge.

The Old Lambingan that I remember was clean, so was the water undeneath,  that of the Pasig River. There were water lilies then, and "cascos," small, industrial boats that ferry cargo to Philippine Match and Atlantic Gulf and Pacific, both located in the interiors of Punta.

Just across from our old house, we could see the vegetable farm on the other side of the river, owned by a Chinese. Further to the left, we could view the high concrete wall of what we were told was the residene of the Thai consul.

Punta was a quaint part of Santa Ana, Manila. It is sandwiched by two river, Pasig River and San Juan River.  If you take a jeepney ride to the midsection called Kalahi, you could actually board a banca and crossover to Pandacan. That's what we did going to a faith healer, which my Aunt insisted on doing whenever I exhibited any ailment that would probably needed seeing a doctor, or if there was nothing wrong with me, she'd say I needed a check up to straighten up my "tantrums."

                                                                                             Banca Tawiran /Station of Today.

Sick or not, I remember these banca rides to Pandacan as amusing.  First, the bancas then, were clean and relatively safe.  It's much like boarding those tourist boats in Boracay or Catanduanes.  Second, the water was clean and you could only smell saltiness.  Third, the "bangkeros," were all friendly.

Riding the banca, I always touched the water; I'd dip my hand and let it go against the current.  Once we reached the other shore, me and my sis Jo, would walk side by side our Aunt, or sometimes, our Mother or another sister, and pick up "sigays," and "kabibe."  We'd keep these shells in our pockets, while the elders carried bottles of water and coconut oil, items which were blessed by the faith healer, and served as medicines.

The faith healer's house was adorned with wooden bancas; the faith healer used to be a fisherman, that's why he chose that part of Pandacan near the river, and when he moved house, he chose to go to Angono, near the Montalban river.

May was always the month for going to Antipolo.  If we went with my aunt and uncle, we'd take a bus to Antipolo, or if it was my father we'd be going with, the family would cram in his green Pontiac.  After hearing mass at the famed Our Lady of Buenviaje shrine, we'd trek to Hinulugang Taktak for a picnic lunch, and sometimes go to the nearby Villa Lolita for a swim at the pool.

                                     Our Lady of Good Voyage Chuch in Antipolo and its famous suman below.

Back home, we'd open our loot from Antipolo - suman sa ibos, kalamay, kasoy, and those wooden karetelas and palayok for sis Jo.

One time, our father took us to Tagaytay but the only memory I had of this was a photo showing the four-year old me on top of the hood of the Pontiac. Another time, he took us all to Baguio without checking on the condition of his Opel, and apart from the fun, we had to occasionally dismount and push the car on the hilly roads of Baguio.

May was also the time we went to the town fiesta in our hometown of Nueva Ecija.  It was also the month we spent most on joining neighborhood "lutrinas."

Holy Week and Easter were always summer months, so we'd be spent time reading the "pasyon," and more time in Nueva Ecija.

Summertime was also the time when we got to play "bingo" after lunch and got away with the required "siesta," drank "melon juice," by the bucket, ate watermelon until "sawa, enjoyed ripe mangoes as if there was no tomorrow, munched on "singkamas" dipped in bagoong and patis, ate siniguelas until our lips hurt, and slept late at night because there were no homework to do.
                                                                                                                         Above, Tagaytay

Some of the movies which played during my summer youth which I remember watching were Viva Las Vegas, Kissing Cousins, The Pink Panther, James Coburn movies with my aunt and uncle, and the Mga Batang movie-series, with my sis Jo and cousin Cel. I was the cry baby they used so my parents could allow them to go to Quiapo even if it was New Year's Day.

                                 Rosemary Sonora and Dindo Fernando were a popular Filipino love team in the mid-60's.

                                                                           Viva Las Vegas starred Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret

If we, siblings would be complete and gather for a reunion, we'd always be reminiscing on the good 'ol days of growing up and wonder how ten family members could fit in a green Pontiac, or a blue Opel Kadet, or a Jeep.