Where the heart is

Even if it's been more than 30 years since we moved out, my heart still skips a beat whenever I see our old house in Tomas Morato.

(The corner room was my room.)

There's really no place like it.

Oliva la vida

For me, the classic "Oliva" is the sign that it's Palm Sunday.

As kids, growing up in Morato, we had several neighbours with Oliva plants outside their home. Then, when Palm Sunday would come, they'd offer them so that we didn't have to buy palms.

It's such a vivid childhood memory that it's something that always pops up around this time.

While the coconut palms - with their intricate and artful designs - are nice, the simple Oliva has a different charm. 

Maybe because of the fact that from childhood to adulthood, it's part of my life. 

FMM: Pearl Drive

My family - particularly my folks - like watching live bands. Even as kids, they would take us to music joints to watch live bands perform.

Two of the places we’d frequent were just near our house in Morato. First was “Birds of the same feather” in Timog, and the original Shakey’s along West Avenue.

Because of this, we were introduced to different song genres, especially in the 80s.

One of the songs that love bands loved to sing back then was a Leslie Pearl hit from 1982. It was a very easy-listening song with a very relaxing and laid-back melody.

“If the Love fits, Wear it” is one of those ditties that are embedded in my mental playlist. It was memorable the first time I listened to it in the 80s, and it still has that same effect now. 

And that’s what makes it a perfect Friday Magic Madness song.

Childhood memories of the Child Jesus

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Sto. Nino.

My grandparents on both sides were very religious. That's why it was customary to see the Sto. Nino in their houses.

One of my fondest memories of the Sto. Nino is how Lola Dita had an image of the Sto. Ninn de Dormido - or the sleeping Sto. Nino. She had it in the altar of their room and it always caught my eye because it's so different from the image we're used to. 

While the traditional Sto. Nino is smiling, wearing a crown and an elegant robe, carrying a staff and a globe, the Sto. Nino de Dormido is peacefully sleeping. I'd always stare at his serene and smiling face, which would also make me smile.

In the Regalado's ancestral home in Malinao, the room that we'd usually sleep in also had a Sto. Nino which was perched on an altar, up on the wall. It's memorable because it had red, candle-like bulbs that would flicker. And when we'd close the lights to go to sleep, the altar would remain lit. That would be the light that would illuminate the room and would watch over us as we slept.

Two other notable Sto. Nino stories are right here at home, right now.

We have 2 images of the Sto. Nino in our altar, and both are heirlooms of sorts. The 1st one, a Sto. Nino made of either plaster or concrete - is a lot older than me. I think it's been there even before Kuya Marv was born, which makes it at least 60 years old. The 2nd one is at least 40 years old, because I remember it's been there since I was a kid.

It's such a blessing to look back at my childhood, especially when it's in honour of the Child Jesus.

Church of my childhood

Since we're going to have a long shoot tomorrow, I decided to hear anticipated mass today.

From the final costume check, the driver passed through Tomas Morato, and that's when I got the idea of hearing mass at Sacred Heart Church. This church holds so many memories since it's where we would hear mass as kids.

The interior of the church has changed a bit since I was a kid. They now have a fancy retablo - something that wasn't there in my younger years. And like everything in the Morato area, the church also seems smaller now.

Despite the changes, though, everything feels the same the moment I sat on the pew. I was transported back to the days when the whole family would walk from Scout Gandia all the way to Sacred Heart to hear mass in the morning.

Wonderful childhood memories, indeed.

Mass of memories

As the Simbang Gabi season officially starts, I'm reminded of my childhood when this tradition was something we'd excitedly look forward to and be part of.

Back then, we still lived in Scout Gandia, and we'd go to St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Timog. As early as 3:30am, we'd be awake and getting ready for mass. I'd usually go with my cousins, and I remember that it was Harold who would be the most diligent in hearing mass.

One of the highlights of the mass in St. Paul's was the free breakfast. After mass, there would be people waiting outside to hand out hot chocolate, coffee and bread to the parishioners. At one time, they were even giving out Dunkin Donuts.

But no, that wasn't the reason why we'd go to mass every 4:00am.

Now, with the advent of Anticipated Simbang Gabi, I think the 4:00am crowd has lessened. Personally, I've found myself hearing the anticipated version more now. Mainly because we'd often be working overtime and getting up at 4:00am is a challenge.

Whether it's at 8:00pm or 4:00pm, the important thing is that we still get to honor this tradition of Simbang Gabi this Christmas season.

FMM: Last Christmas

As the first week of December comes to a close, I can really feel the spirit of Christmas wafting in the air. It's in the mood of the people, the bright lights around the office building, the crowds inside the mall - they all add up to one thing.

Christmas is here!

And one of my favorite Christmas songs from decades back is this Tagalog ditty from Kuh Ledesma entitled "Nakaraang Pasko."

(video from youtube)

This song reminds me of our Christmases back in Tomas Morato. I was still a young boy then, and we had a cassette tape of this song. I remember how it was Ate Lissa's favorite, and she would play it every so often.

Nothing like "Nakaraang Pasko" to liven up this Christmas season.

FMM: Barbers cut

From out of the blue, I remembered this old Baron Barbers song and it reminded me of those days when I'd spend the weekend just sitting in the living room of our old house in Tomas Morato. It was one of those "chill days" and this was the perfect accompaniment to a day like that.



Thank God it's Friday Magic Madness. With Baron Barbers in the background, I can go back to days like that.