I was tickled pink to be interviewed by Sinta & Co on how to plan a multicultural wedding! Read more
Category: Interviews & Features
New flavours on one of North America’s oldest streets
I was overjoyed when, in the middle of a chat about Asian cuisine, the Indonesian waiter at one of my favourite restaurants, Gado-Gado, told me that there was a new Filipino restaurant on rue Notre Dame, just a couple of blocks from where I live. But I have to admit it was a little surreal … Continue reading New flavours on one of North America’s oldest streets
The jet set
Air France was my first real job where I earned my first peso. It was my Uncle Victor, who was also my sponsor at our secret marriage, that got me the job. He recommended me to a friend of his at Philippine Airlines, which was the Manila agent for Air France. I was hired as assistant … Continue reading The jet set
Once they had a secret love
Sorting through some papers after my grandmother died, my mom found her parents' marriage certificate. But there were a few strange details about it. First of all, it had been torn down the middle and then taped back together. And the date of the marriage was November 29, 1952: two years and a day before the … Continue reading Once they had a secret love
Love and an adobo sandwich
It was about the middle of 1951, in my junior year at the Ateneo, that my Visayan girlfriend and I parted ways. We were at a party and just before it ended, she told me that she no longer was my girlfriend. Just like that! Of course I was hurt, since I wasn't expecting it. … Continue reading Love and an adobo sandwich
Post-war: The dancing years
My salad days at the Ateneo really put the war years behind me. I got to wear shoes again, even if my first pair of the shoes after the war were combat boots. Although I wouldn't call it a uniform, our regular wear consisted of khaki pants, long or short, depending on how hot it … Continue reading Post-war: The dancing years
HEY, JOE! Captain Farr…and the end of the war
Back in Manila from Pagsanjan, we stayed with various relatives on both sides of the Family. But the most memorable was when we finally got a place of our own. My Father's friend, Tony Cui, a Cebuano, was able to find us a Quonset hut in San Andres Bukid, near Singalong. It was just that, … Continue reading HEY, JOE! Captain Farr…and the end of the war
Pagsanjan, a.k.a. Little Las Vegas
In Pagsanjan, it was altogether another life-style for the wandering Gomezes from Bicol. It was there that Tita Chita and I grew up as teenagers, and being mestizos, we were quite popular. On moonlight nights, it was customary for us teeners to meet after dinner, buy a bag of salted fried peanuts, and walk around … Continue reading Pagsanjan, a.k.a. Little Las Vegas
Move to Manila
I've been reading my grandfather's stories more closely, looking up place names on Google Maps and searching for images to give me a sense of the spaces and distances involved during his family's numerous moves during the war years. All I can say is that it couldn't have been easy for my great-grandparents, travelling with … Continue reading Move to Manila
Maria Olaguera 