ONCE UPON A TIME

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

by Tom Choy

Vancouver, British Columbia

As Neil Diamond would sing it, "LA's fine but it ain't home; NY is home but it ain't mine no more."
Vancouver is fine but it's almost home; Bacood is truly home but it ain't mine no more.

Bacood, Sta Mesa Manila. 

This used to be my playground. Once upon a time you are young and thought that you are indestructible and forever young. Then you sang with fervor "Once upon a time there was a tavern where we used to raise a glass or two. Remember how we laughed away the hours. And dreamed of all the great things we would do.

Those were the days my friend we thought they'd never end We'd sing and dance forever and a day. We'd live the life we choose We'd fight and never lose For we were young and sure to have our way.." (Mary Hopkin)

 ABBA's Dancing Queen was burning the airwaves then. Our Congressman Gerry Espina found home here too. The Crispa and Toyota PBA teams lorded the league. The big ballers were Jaworski, Fernandez, Co, Guidaben, Cezar and Adornado.

I was lucky to see Crispa's Bernie Fabiosa and Johnny Revilla shoot hoops in Ricass basketball court.   I also spotted  Ateneo's Baby Boy Morales(played for  7 Up) grace a local league in Magistrado Torres. 

Ding Mercado, a fellow altar boy would become a crooner of the famous New Minstrels band. His brother Ernie who played basketball with me sang for the Minstrels too of a different generation. It seemed that all the musical talents found a home in the Mercado family. Henry Mercado, older brother of Ding and Ernie played the keyboard during the masses held at the Fatima Church.

Baybs U-Garcia is also another Bacoodista(" Born and raised in Bacood with pride") who was an electric chanteuse. She sang for various singing groups like RA Band, Larry Matias Orchestra, The Extremes Band '78 and the Shampoo Band. Her hubby Rudy was the lead guitarist of the Dynasouls (the Beatles of the Philippines). He eventually became a member of the Family Birth Control together with another Bacood native Rody Delgado. We asked Baybs if the kids are following the parents' footsteps as musicians, she quips, " Our son performs with a praise and worship band at our church called Planetshakers." She continues, " Our daughter also sings and was a member of the church choir. Her hubby is very active in the music industry and plays at different gigs interstate and does shows with artists like Tina Arena, Guy Sebastian and other famous artists."

I saw up close how a great man's leadership and "passion for Christ" Fr. Arsenio Bautista built a majestic, handsome and functional church, the Our Lady of Fatima Church situated in the heart of Bacood. And that used to be a small chapel on Lakas Street. Father Bautista would then become a Monsignor. You knew it was 6 pm when the sound of the Angelus struck.

Growing up, I remember who my crushes were and I knew who had a crush on me. The joy of youth. Oh, where art thou? Oh, is there a real fountain of youth? Yes, it was magical to love and be loved.
I spent my wonder and wander years here growing into manhood from reckless boyhood. There was American graffiti and we had Bacood graffiti and hood gangs.You are only young once. But just  lucky to have come out clean and sizzling into the new world. 

( Tom Choy also writes for ET Manila etonline.net and the Philippine Asian Chronicle atenista888@gmail.com)