Halo Halo: Keeping Your Cool
DID U KNOW that Japanese migrants introduced Halo Halo in the Philippines during the pre-war years?
Halo Halo was then called Mitsumame which had mongo beans as main ingredients.
Later, it became Kakigori with more mongo, garbanzos and kidney beans.
Supply of shaved ice was not a problem as the Insular Ice And Cold Storage Plant was located at the southern end of Puente Colgante Bridge, which is now known as Quiapo Bridge.
For one (1) cent or isang kusing, u could have a small bowl full of sweet dessert. And Filipinos liked Kakigori.
At this time, life had been good for most Pinoys. It was a time which some historians refer to as "the best of times."
Japanese businessmen enjoyed brisk sales and, as a result, their stores were turned into big refreshment parlors. More kiosks were opened.
But with the crushing defeat of the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II, these Japanese migrants fled the country for fear of retaliation.
Business-minded Pinoys saw an opportunity, took over of what was left by the Japanese and added ingredients like macapuno, sweet banana, ube, langka, gulaman, etc.
The rest is history.
