My home town > Olongapo City. For those who do not know, Olongapo has got its name from the phrase Ulo Ng Apo (Head of the Elder) that symbolizes the unity of the people.. Read the legend here.
Taken last March 2007
When I just got into college, I was asked by one of my classmates “tagasaan ka?” I said “Olongapo” with pride. And he said “ah dun sa mga babaeng may sumasayaw?” and he was kinda demonstrating the dance while he said that. Instead of getting upset on how he reacted, I asked him back “ikaw tagasaan ka?” He said “Bocaue“. I thought it was my turn to tease him back, so I said “o di ba mas madaming babaeng sumasayaw sa inyo?” He smiled and said yes.
To some, whenever they hear the word Olongapo, their minds are stuck with its not-so-good past and reputation , on how Americans from the Naval base enjoyed their lives with the comfort women, whose jobs are such – get paid after they get laid.
But I never looked at it that way. There are so many nice things about my hometown.
During Senator Dick Gordon’s time, you’d often hear him say “Bawal Ang Tamad Sa Olongapo” at mas lalong “Bawal Ang Tanga sa Olongapo” which has become the city’s motto. And we had proven this after the disaster – Mt. Pinatubo eruption. We recovered the loss. People united and volunteered themselves to help maintain the cleanliness of the place particularly the Naval base which is known now as SBMA Freeport Zone. I’m proud to say, I was one of those people.
Another thing I’m so proud about my hometown is its (color) uniformity. If you look at the photo above, the jeepney’s color is yellow. Yellow ones are Sta. Rita-Magsaysay route only, Sta. Rita is where I’ve come from by the way. Each place represents different color, like the left photo shown here. If I’m not mistaken, it’s Pagasa route only. Jeepney drivers wear red-collar-blue shirt with their names printed at the back.
The same goes with the tricycles, sidewalk vendor’s cart and stalls. In our place, the tricycle color is blue. While other places have green, orange, etc… I’m not really sure if carts and stalls are also color coded, but the usual colors that I see in Rotonda are in blue colors.
To cut this bragging post short, I’m a proud Gaponian!
Read more about my hometown here.
wow, i’m a proud visitor of your hometown 😀
Tumira din pala kayo sa Gapo?
Until now malinis pa din, buti nga maintained kahit na iba na mayor, sabagay Gordon pa din naman.
Wow! Talaga?
San ka ba ngayon?
Oo nga yang BOSS nalimutan ko hehe!
Ah ok. Dito naman ako sa Bahrain with my husband and daughter. Yang picture na yan kuha nung bakasyon ko nung March.
Sa Sta. Rita kami kabila ng Filtration. Malapit lang din sa WBB, di ba sa may school yun?
Naku sensya na sis di ko ata napansin yun. Last na uwi ko kasi 2003 tas nasundan nitong March nga kaya daming nabago at di ko na napansin, pero daming bagong establishments talaga. Natuwa nga ako sa Olongapo Mall nyahahaha!
Basta ang daming bago, wala na ngang Conti-J eh. Wala na ding Cindy’s… Atbp!
Maganda pa din ngayon, sayang nga di ko nalibot.
Yup, nung March lang yan. Tenk yu hihihi!
As I remember nung umuwi akong last nung 2003 Vercon’s na ang name ng dating Conti-J pero supermarket pa din.
Parang wala akong nakitang tiangge sa tabi ng Mall.
Syempre I remember that, suki kami dun lalo sa Hard Rock. Dami na ding bago eh pero di ko tanda names kasi di naman ako nakagimik nun. 🙁
So glad you’ve found my blog. Daddy was happy to hear from you again!
Hi Chats! Daig mo pa nga ako, I’ve never been to El Kabayo! :p
Thanks! 😉
San sila dun?