The Legend of Mang Tomas

The Legend of Mang Tomas

            

          Once there lived a medium-built man at a sitio located at the foot of a mountain. His name was Mang Tomas. A virtual unknown, very few people knew him. But through hard work and sheer determination, he gained fame and everybody, throughout the land, was talking about him. He became a legend.

          Mang Tomas was La Loma's first lechonero or pig roaster. He used to sell meat in front of La Loma Cockpit Arena which was just across his house. His business was doing good with sabungeros as his customers.

          Mang Tomas decided to expand and started to roast pigs. And he did the roasting right in front of the cockpit very early in the morning. He would stuff the washed pig with lemon grass and herbs and would place it above a heap of burning coals. 

           His first few lechons turned out to be so good that his good reputation spread far and wide. People began to frequent La Loma to have a taste of the much-talked about Lechon Ni Mang Tomas.

          There is this story that, once, President Ramon Magsaysay visited Mang Tomas' place in La Loma just to savor the succulent native lechon. President Magsaysay dined with his bare hand and dipped the meat generously into the liver sauce which he liked very much. 

            This became the talk of the town. From then on, the President would order roast pigs during special occasions at the Palace.

          With the phenomenal success of Mang Tomas, enterprising individuals followed suit. Mila's Lechon, Ping Ping's, Monchie's, Lito's, Aling Nelia's, Lydia's, etc. are clustered in a place along Retiro St., Calavite St., and A. Bonifacio Avenue. 

           The La Loma Cockpit Arena, where Mang Tomas started, is still operational.  La Loma is now officially called The Lechon Capital of the Philippines.

          Back to the liver sauce which President Magsaysay, together with the native lechon, liked very much. The forced heirs of Mang Tomas sold their rights to the Mang Tomas Sarsa ng Lechon to the heirs of the original owners of Aristocrat Restaurant. Then South East Asia Food Inc. took over. 

           This explains the professional approach to the marketing of the famous bottled sauce. We now see countless bottled sauce at shelves of grocery stores and supermarkets throughout the country bearing the name Mang Tomas Sarsa ng Lechon. Mang Tomas is everywhere.

          Oh, yes, Mang Tomas' surname was De Los Reyes. Tomas De Los Reyes was the man who started it all. He is long gone yet everybody is still talking about him.

- Konted

La Loma's welcome arch at Retiro St., now Amoranto Avenue, in Quezon City.

Another welcome arch near the Quezon City- Manila boundary.

As indicated above the welcome arch, La Loma is situated at the foot of a mountain. Hence, the name Brgy. Paang Bundok. Bundok here is what is now Santa Mesa Heights. Near the arch is the Chinese General Hospital.  If you turn right here on Bonifacio Avenue, you will reach the NLEX tollgate in Balintawak  in 15 minutes without traffic.

The La Loma Cockpit Arena erected in 1902.  It is the oldest cockpit arena in the country. Mang Tomas started roasting pig near the entrance to the cockpit.

The La Loma Cockpit Arena has been rehabilitated. I used to watch cockfights here in the late 60s and early 70s with close friends Digos Reyes and Manny King.who were cockfighting aficionados. We would eat at Mang Tomas' place after watching, win or lose.

Cluster of lechon stalls along Retiro St. There are other stalls along Calavite St. which is parallel to Retiro St.

Mang Tomas' Lechon Stall on Retiro St.

You can buy one whole lechon or you can buy by the kilo.

The southern side of Mang Tomas Lechon stall. I talked to a bystander and this was what he said:  "Bale yung apo na ang nagpapatakbo niyan. Yung mga anak ni Mang Tomas sa building na nakatira. Mayroon na silang malaking building."

Prices at Mang Tomas and at the other stalls start at P3,500. The smallest lechon is good for 20 to 25 persons.

Mila's Lechon has the biggest stall along Retiro St.  

The succulent native lechon of Mila's being chopped.

Roast pigs at Mila's

Says a helper at Mila's stall:  "Bagong litson lang po ang mga ito.  Lagi ko po pinupunasan ang mga ito para naman maging kaakit akit sa mga bumibili."

One last pig being roasted at Mila's roasting place.  "Me buyer na po yan.", says a lechonero.

Lito's Lechon.  The smallest sells for P3,500 and is good for 25 persons.

More roast pigs at Monchie's

Ping Ping's Lechon along A. Bonifacio Avenue.

Lydia's Lechon along Retiro St. (Amoranto Avenue) 

Best-selling liver sauce (alibaba)

President Ramon Magsaysay with then Representative Ferdinand Marcos (flicker)

The Legendary Mang Tomas Delos Reyes (g'gle)

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Johnny Rockets: Let The Good Times Roll

Johnny Rockets:  Let The Good Times Roll

            There is a jukebox. It is a Rock-Ola jukebox.  There are high stools and red booth seats.  The waitresses' attire and hairdo are retro. And the food is classic. Johnny Rockets recreates a setting reminiscent of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Even the neon signs and posters are indicative of a bygone era.  Everything at Johnny Rockets is really old-school. And they are succeeding in drawing in the customers from near and far.  And these customers keep coming back for more, even if it is a little bit pricey.

Johnny Rockets' one of two entrances at Eastwood in Libis, Q.C.

Part of the restaurant crew.  When a group walks in, these vibrant ladies say in unison:  Hi, guys !!!

Clean and spacious dining area

Single pedestal stools and a bar

Red booth seats and checkered floor tiles

Vintage Rock Ola jukebox

Almost all restaurant  employees work  in a place where they can be seen by customers.

They don't work behind covered kitchen or working area. You see them doing their job.

A beverage famous in the 50's and 60's where you mix the ingredients by shaking.

French fried potatoes usually served with the burgers.

             While there is a wide variety of food items offered, diners'  top pick is the hamburger. There is the original Johnny Rockets hamburger.  With lettuce protruding, a thick patty seasoned well and some cheddar cheese and tomatoes added, your appetite is all the more whet.  And as you begin to take a bite, a group of gorgeous waitresses start to dance to the tune of a 50s song:  One, Two, Three O'çlock, Four O'clock rock...Five, Six, Seven O'clock, Eight O'clock rock...Nine, Ten, Eleven Oçlock, Twelve O'çlock rock. ...We're gonna rock around the clock tonight.  It is a Bill Haley song.  You are entertained.  You like what you are seeing and hearing. And it is only later that you realize that the mayo is dripping down your fingers. But it is alright.  You let the good times roll. Even for a brief moment. 

The Original Johnny Rockets Hambuger

Close up shot of the original burger

Burgers or other sandwiches are served with freshly cooked fries.

Catsup is served with a drawn happy face.

My energy drink

When you ask something, waitresses respond quickly.  They have a sense of urgency.

Two restaurant crew members look around to see if service is needed. They do their work with alacrity.

What you see strapped to the waist of the young lady are coin savers or dispensers.  They are for the jukeboxes.

Every 30 minutes, at a given cue, they dance to the tune of a 50s or 60s song.  

These young servers provide wholesome entertainment to Johnny Rockets' customers.

"We're gonna rock around the clock tonight....."

             Johnny Rockets is an American food chain that started in Los Angeles in 1986. It has made its presence felt even in the early years after its establishment and has continued to attract customers all over the world. It is one of the top burger chains worldwide. Johnny Rockets offers not only burgers but other sandwiches as well.  Its club house sandwich and the chili cheesedog are best sellers too.  In Metro Manila, there are Johnny Rockets outlets at The Fort, Eastwood and one in the Timog area.

Framed old photos such as this one adorn the walls of the burger joint.

It takes you back in time.

Malt comes from barley.

Even The Men in Uniform go for Johnny Rockets.  What else do u need for endorsement? 

The hamburgers are Johnny Rockets' best sellers.

A mini-bar

Johnny Rockets, indeed, has that "winning taste".

Johnny Rockets burgers and Coca Cola go together.

              At Johnny Rockets, there is a mini jukebox on top of each table.  You drop a coin and choose a song. It is one peso for a song.  I planned to drop one and began selecting. They are old songs like I Feel Good by James Brown, Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry and La Bamba by Richie Valens. At this juncture, when I was looking for coins, I suddenly remembered:  Mahahatak ang sasakyan ko! I left it by the side of the road near the industrial section of Bagumbayan just to have a burger at Johnny Rockets.  I hurriedly asked for my bill, thanked the manager and passed by the same group of lovely attendants, now dancing to Gloria Jones' Tainted Love:  Once I ran to you...Now I'll run from you...This tainted love you've given...I give you all a boy could give you...Take my tears and that's not nearly all...Oh Tainted love...Tainted love....

- Konted

Mini jukebox on top of each table.  

Johnny Rockets also serves spicy ones.

The Johnny Rockets clock

There are extra tables outside the restaurant at night when diehards troop in.

Johnny Rockets resto is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week..

The view from the Eastwood outlet of Johnny Rockets. From Johnny Rockets, you are facing south. It is across TGIF.

Maximus and Phoenix are JR burger lovers.

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