OLONGAPO: A POTPOURRI OF CUISINE

Source:www.gdhs.org)
I got this old pic in the 80's at the site of George Dewey High School mentioning of Olongapo wasn't only a place of clubs, bars, discos, and sex workers but also fine dinings around the city itself.
This pic was featured in the GDHS newspaper a school intended for Americans who were living in the Base at that time.Of course, it was contributed by GDHS students news journalist.
Olongapo was then considered as the sin city because of its prostitutions and American G.I.Joes seeking for pleasure when they had their cruisers docked in the Subic, but thanks to this newspaper for saving Olongapo from the shameful mockering of prejudice and shallow minds.




MAGSAYSAY: MORE THAN JUST A STREET
Way back then, Magsaysay was the famous street in Olongapo because its the center of entertainment and the bridge that connects the main gate of Subic Naval Base and the main city Olongapo.If you are a nocturnal fellows and wants to have the best nightlife in the Philippines, Magsaysay was the little Las Vegas back then...clubs, discos for old and for young, bars you name it and Magsaysay had it.
My family were able to survive the pangs of poverty because most of my kins income were coming from the nightly pleasure(don't get me wrong of this term) of Magsaysay. Magsaysay Ave.as we called it now for it was the center and the source of Olongaponians bread and butter.It was fun & lively then comparing it today,the streets were filled beautiful workers and snowied with Americans.
I had a lot of sweet memories in Magsaysay where I used to hang out at my brother's work watching the latest videos while sipping coke.
Across Magsaysay is a long boulevard facing Subic Naval Base, which is a volunteers park now was among of my fave places in Olongapo.I just usually found myself staring at that Base filled with dreams and hopes that one day soon,I could live and be a part of the Americans.That's how so simple my happiness way back then,to be in Subic Naval Base which was already an America for me.Nostalgic as it may seems but my heart is still flashing back the good old memories.

THE FRAGRANCE OF MEMORY

It lessen the difficulty of life when you are at home, though Cavite has been a home for me since 1996 still there's no place like to be in Olongapo.
"Home is where your heart is" - that's an old adage declares the truth never changes. When I'm home, I always have the reason to recall my youthful innocence days. Landmarks that are left reminds me about what is being forgotten. It helps to reduce the occurrence that causes sadness or missingness of puerility.
Admittedly, uprooting a nostalgia clears the oblivion of the past. The road to every memories is faded by endurance of time, but no matter how vague it was the trails of contemporaneous reflecting the old photographs of what is on the past. You bury them in oblivion but it will resuscitate continuously.
You can't escape the gayety of your teeny booper days when it specially gives you the shower of happiness.
Every drop of it satisfies the unsatisfying content of my longings. Recollecting the pictures of the good old days is my only simple joys that needs to be fed by counting every smiles and laughter I had made back in the past.That's exactly the fragrance of memory.
I really love doing it because you can't see it at all, for tomorrow is another day, unless you'll look back.

Olongapo market way back in the 80's.

Magsaysay ave. way back then

A WEEK IN OLONGAPO

One day I decided to quit. I quit my job, my relationship and my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. “God”, I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”


His answer surprised me. “Look around! Do you see the fern and the bamboo?” “Yes”, I replied.


He continued, “When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.”


“In the third and fourth year, there was nothing from the bamboo seed but again I would not quit. Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.”


“I know that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots but I will never quit on you. Don’t compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come and you will rise high.”


“How high should I rise?” I asked. “How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked me in return.


“As high as it can?” I questioned. “Yes!” He said, “Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”

– Unknown

Life is getting harder everyday as I can see it. My staying in Cavite is always routinize by the same schedule and same errands. As a standby and jobless,time has been so fast that as if my world is getting smaller.
I received text from my first cousin in Olongapo asking me to come home just to attend the birthday of her second baby which at first I was hesitant because of the financial conditions I have had.
Telling her about my status, she sent me a fare just to come home...well,since I have nothing to do in Cavite I packed my things right away and drove home. Boarded on a bus way down to region 3, my face was painted with happiness and sadness as well asking myself what would I do next when I get back to Cavite?
Do I still have the chance and a so called- bright future ahead of me? I can't help but shed tears and asked God.
Knowing that life is filled with uncertainties,I checked my mails at our High School website when I arrived in Zambales..I was catching up all of the comments and two mails from a friend back in high school.
Touring the entire site checking what's the new update and new batch member who just accidentally found our site was the second thing I did with so much missingess in my heart. A dear 4th year classmate of mine who just posted his blog about Never stop quitting had stricken my heart with awe,spiritually.
I just found out that many from my high school batch mates have experiencing the same fate as mine..but they never thought of quitting though at times they thought of it but still the spirit of bravery have pushed them to fight the hurdles in life.
The message above was the note being posted by my friend at his blog which a good awakening for me,perhaps.
I thank God for giving me so much friends who just continue praying and giving me pieces of advise which I think it serves as my propeller the reason why I'm still here in this world.

OLONGAPO'S 42ND CITYHOOD ANNIVERSARY

last friday June 27,2008-Olongapo city celebrated its 42nd cityhood Anniversary.I didn't know that Gapo(as we called it for short) had gone so far in the state of being independent,self-governing from Zambales and the controlling unit of Americans.
The historic journey of the city from a small fishing villages in Subic to one of the most awarded highly urbanized cities in the Phils. brings Olongapo a marked of changed.
Olongapo is a small multifarious city or having great regional diversity.Flocks from different walks of life,distinct dialects to language that evidently makes the city progressive.Through the effort of the late Mayor Richard Gordon Sr.,Olongapo had set free and open its wings to soar high.
From a conspicously glaring criticism to a monicker Sin city to Scene city,from the ashes of Mt.Pinatubo and the teary dramatic pullout of US Bases,Olongapo had fought on and managed to hold on to the ground firmly as it is.
It survives from the test of time,still Gapo competes the rigid race of the world.I can't wait any longer to see my home and be a part of its success and survival.....
Mabuhay Olongapo............