Santa Mesa Heights In The Old Days

Santa Mesa Heights In The Old Days

            My boyhood and teenage days were spent at Santa Mesa Heights in Quezon City. And my memories of Santa Mesa Heights are still vivid. Houses in the late 50s and early 60s were still sparse in that area bounded by A. Bonifacio Street on the west, San Francisco Del Monte Avenue on the north, Santo Domingo on the east and Quezon Boulevard on the south. 

The Welcome Rotunda was a famous landmark then. The street at leftmost of picture is Mayon Street.  Quezon Boulevard is the principal road while the one branching out at right is Espana Extension. (Wordpress.com photo; caption is mine)

The VW Beetle was the most popular car in the 60s.

Most houses in Santa Mesa Heights in the 60s were designed by architect Marcos C. De Guzman.  Houses were sparse in Santa Mesa Heights in the late 50s and early 60s .  The adjoining lots of our house on Mayon St. were still vacant.  We had only two neighbors then, the Cuaderno family and the Clomeras.

           Prominent landmarks or structures then were the Welcome Rotunda at the boundary of Quezon City and Manila, Santo Domingo Church along Quezon Avenue, Lourdes Parish and Lourdes School at the corner of Retiro and Kanlaon St., St. Theresa's College at D. Tuason, Sienna College at San Francisco Del Monte Avenue, and the National Orthopedic Hospital along Banawe St. Most streets were named after mountains: Mayon, Kanlaon, Apo, Sierra Madre, Cordillera, Sicaba, Pao, Banawe, Tabayoc, Cresta, Lungod, Bulusan, Matutum, Halcon, etc.

Santo Domingo Church along Quezon Boulevard.  Sunday masses were scheduled up to 12 noon.

Our Lady of Lourdes Church at the corner of Retiro and Kanlaon St.  It was built by the Capuchin Fathers in 1951. The lot was donated by the Tuason family.  Lourdes Church  is now a National Shrine.

Lourdes School was the only all-male Catholic school in Santa Mesa Heights in the 60s.  The Capuchin Fathers' system of education was considered as the best in those days.  Spanish was a major subject from grade school to high school.  The Capuchin Fathers were originally from Spain.

St. Theresa's College along D. Tuason Street. (Stc history photo)

We were required to wear polo shirts on Sundays.  T-shirts were not allowed on that day.

           Commercial establishments in those days were the Long Life Bakery on Retiro St., Century Grocery owned by a Chinese businessman married to a Filipina, Modern Bakery near Quezon Avenue, a Shell gas station at the corner of Retiro and D. Tuason St, Carbungco Restaurant and Chigez snack house on Mayon St. and Rommel's Billiard Hall near Biak na Bato. The original Little Quiapo owned by the Tanjuakios was at Kitanlad St.

The original Little Quiapo was at the house of the Tanjuakios on Kitanlad Street near Cordillera St.

The famous La Loma Lechon is at the western end of Retiro Street.

Restaurants and corner stores had jukeboxes.  Popular then were the songs of the Beatles.

You simply drop a coin, select a song and listen.  Others listen too.

            Police Precinct Number One was along Mayon St. near the public market.  A few meters away was a satellite office of the Land Transportation Commission which was near Jona's Mami House. Manila Steam Laundry and the Grand Inihaw were close to the Welcome Rotunda. Terminals of the small jeepneys were at both ends of Mayon St.  Actor Fernando Poe, Jr. built a film studio in front of Sienna College.

Quezon City Police patrol car in the 60s (Q.C. Library)

Studio of Fernando Poe, Jr across Sienna College along San Francisco Del Monte Avenue. (Montasco)

Jeepneys then were small.  Only 3 passengers could sit on one side. (google)

            Saturdays were spent riding the bike and venturing to off-limits areas such as Quezon Boulevard, Roxas District, San Francisco Del Monte, Manresa, Dapitan and A. Bonifacio.  Our elders prohibited us and we made sure that no one else would see us pedaling in what was then regarded as danger zones.  To be able to make it in and around these areas was in itself considered a personal triumph and you would want to do it again.

Biking was restricted within the vicinity of one's house. To go beyond this area was a flagrant violation of house rules.

The first Tour of Luzon champion, Antonio Arzala, was a resident of Santa Mesa Heights.  He was a popular figure then in Santa Mesa Heights. Every time he would pass by, kids would shout his name. His house was at Brgy San Jose near San Francisco Del Monte Avenue. (google photo; caption is mine)

           Once, before the break of dawn, I mounted a Bianchi bike, complete with gears and double brakes. At the Filoil gas station, I hooked up with a close friend, Bonjoc Reyes, who was a daring bike rider. Bonjoc was one year older and, as such, he was the leader. In about 15 minutes, we had gone past the Chinese General Hospital and were shifting our gears as we made our uphill climb at Dimasalang Bridge.

The Bianchi bicycle was one of the most popular bikes in those days. (Bianchi photo)

Wearing skullguards was not yet required. (Bianchi photo)

5-time Tour de France champion Jacques Anquetil (left) was the idol of most cycling enthusiasts in the 60s.

            With light now starting to appear in the sky but headlights of vehicles still on, Bonjoc started pumping as we approached the Quiapo Bridge. The lights of the facade of Quiapo Church were not yet switched off.  Similarly, I made my move in what I considered then as a baptism of fire for a 16-yr. old lad. Shifting to 2nd gear, I double pumped. Upon reaching the top of Quezon Bridge, I raised a clenched fist and shouted:  Kayang kaya !!

Quiapo Church in the 60s.

             In 10 minutes, we were traversing Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Blvd). There was no full daylight yet. The neon signs of The Aristocrat and The Bayside could be seen. The barbecue plaza where ice cold beer and grilled pork were served by young ladies was about to close.  The breeze from Manila Bay was blowing cold as we negotiated a lonely road that would take us to the Manila International Airport. We were now in Paranaque, nearing Las Pinas.  

Dewey Boulevard in the 60s.  It is now named Roxas Boulevard.

The Aristocrat along Dewey Boulevard was the most popular restaurant then.

            Without hassle, we made it to a place where there were few houses but plenty of mango trees.  It was later called Merville Park. There we rested, savoring our victory. But here's the rub.  While making the rounds, my bike's front wheel hit the gutter and I took a spill. I sprained my left wrist. Bonjoc applied first aid.  He wrapped my wrist tightly with a handkerchief. Now, how would we make it back to Santa Mesa Heights?

Manila International Airport in Paranaque

            We took the same route.  With an injured left hand, I relied solely on my right hand when applying the brakes. It posed no major problem at all. With a Bianchi bike and a good leader showing the way, biking was easy. We were back at Santa Mesa Heights before noon, with our confidence lifted to a much higher level with that triumphant ride.  And as we parted at the corner of Mayon St. and Lambay (now Sta. Catalina St.), I gave Bonjoc the thumbs up and cautioned him:  " Dehins mo sabihin kahit kanino kung saan tayo pumunta."  He nodded, smiled and made his way to their house at Sierra Madre Street.

- Konted

A get-together of old friends and neighbors.  From left, Rene G., Freddie Reyes, Boy Cuaderno, Ted G., Plenny Cobarrubias, Menggie Cobarrubias and my biking partner, Bonjoc Reyes.

Menggie Cobarrubias reminisces the good old days at Sta Mesa Heights while the Reyes brothers listen.

Hosts Rene G. and Ivy

Plenny Cobarrubias tells an interesting anecdote while Boy Cuaderno listens.  The Cobarrubias used to own the Filipinas Hotel.

Recalling significant events of the 60s and 70s. From left,  Bonjoc Reyes, Menggie Cobarrubias, Rene Gener, Freddie Reyes, Boy Cuaderno and Plenny Cobarrubias.

Fried Shrimps

Buttered Crabs

Fried Chicken with quail eggs

Grilled Pork

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