One Great Escapade at Avenida Rizal

By: Danny S. Villanueva

Circa 70's: One beautiful sunny Sunday, Pearl, Dodje and I were aching to get out of the house to bond together, do something different and explore the world, whatever. This was supposed the day designed to do something different… for a change…for this sudden pursuit for joy and excitement ….after a long week of work and schooling (Dodje was still in college). We needed to unwind as an affirmation of our right to self-reward (kuno). A plan was discussed in hushed tones in a jippy and rightly, we jumped to implement it in no time.

That very morning, we told Nanay and Tatay casually that we would go to attend Holy Mass at Sta. Cruz and later to make "pasyal" to Avenida Rizal. Our trusting parents readily agreed. We attended the Holy Mass at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Plaza Goiti, Sta. Cruz. Right after the mass, we took a jeepney to Caloocan's Victory Bus station. After about 2 hours travel time, we found ourselves along Rizal Avenue in Olongapo City, Zambales.

We went to a restaurant and had a quick lunch. Not really familiar to the city of "night life," we strolled around the avenida. At that time, the city was frequented by American sailors because of the presence of the US naval base at Subic. What came to mind were the colorful and exciting memories of the past when Tatay would bring the whole family to Subic and Cubi Point for the Fil-Am fiesta and open-house during July 4 independence celebration. The exhilarating memory of the tour of the biggest US naval base outside the US… the most modern aircraft carrier at that time, the USS Ranger…. its elevator as big as 2 basketball courts…. the German trapeez circus artisten (we saw the same circus earlier in Araneta coliseum)… the Baberuth chocolate bars…..and many other colorful snapshots hovered in my mind. But this place we were in was not the Subic we used to go. We found ourselves outside the base. What we saw were the long lines of cocktail lounges, beer gardens, clubs and bars (not the chocolate but watering holes). And we could not get into the base for one has to have a pass to get inside.

Finally, we decided to shoot kegs at the town's bowling alley. But the 10-pin alley was full. We waited for an alley to be free but ended up watching people played na lang. We enjoyed the hot dog sandwiches while watching the games. After the soft drinks, came this great necessity to go to the toilet. Dodje and I relieved our selves obediently but Ditse, hesitated because of the common knowledge of sexual diseases that abound around the base area (we did not even drink the water; for no bottled water then). No problemo for my dear sister Pearl- for she had that psycho kinetic power (mind over matter) to control her system. At about 3pm we took a Victory bus back to Manila. Once more, we enjoyed the breeze, the chat and the giggling in the bus while viewing the mountains and fields along the way.

We reached Torres Bugallon late in the afternoon satisfied, happy, unruffled and later "relieved" (in the case of Pearl) as if we had just gone to a short leisurely walk along Avenida Rizal. And that was true in a sense, though not really in Manila, but in Olongapo City's Rizal Avenue, hehehe. Moreover, aside from the good fun from such naughty interlude, I loved and cherished the bonding we had as brothers and sister during that short Sunday break. This bonding was more important to the 3 of us. Thank you Jesus for this wonderful time with Pearl and Dodje.

By the way, that early evening, we did tell Tatay and Nanay all about it- that we were actually in Rizal Avenue, Olongapo City. Both of them were amused about our short adventure.

After that escapade, every now and then we enticingly quipped, "Let's go to Avenida!" and then we laughed with gusto. Why not? I was really thinking then, that the next time we would go to Avenida Rizal, it should be in Rizal Avenue, Davao City. Hahahaha!

PS
We praise and thank you Lord for the wonderful time we have as a family for You continue to add years to our life and add life to our years. Amen #DSV