Today I am certain... that summer is undeniably in the Philippines! With the temperature progressively increasing by the day; my household and I have started using the electric fans and the AC interchangeably non-stop. Similarly I no longer see my grandmother with her shawl draped over her shoulders while complaining of how chilly the weather was though the sun was brightly shining.
When I was younger, I welcomed summer with much enthusiasm and excitement. It was an opportunity for me to earn without dishing out a single centavo. I displayed my enterprising skills when I was in elementary and I shamelessly sold Indian mangoes and makopas to our neighbors that were freshly picked from my grandmother's garden. And my basketful of fresh produce sold like hot cakes!
I also remembered selling ice candies with miniature pearls (sago) that were a best seller amongst my playmates. I informed them that the water we used was purified and also shared that we handled every piece hygienically. Consequently, a knock at our door every single minute was heard and reservations were made too for the following day. Oh, and the sight of my tin can filled with coins was enough to make me smile!
It was during summertime when my friends and I concocted bubbles out of gumamela flowers, powdered soap, blowers from kamias stem and found ourselves going over our neighbor's fences for more gumamela flowers! Then we would climb the roof to gleefully blow the concoction away while giggling and laughing at the sight of it.
Photos from Indif.com, Gilbert Rondilla, Michael Yater, Girl blowing bubbles
Ahh... pleasant memories... and I am certain that like me, you had fond remembrances of your summer too!
Photos from Indif.com, Gilbert Rondilla, Michael Yater, Girl blowing bubbles
i love ice candies. and bubbles. and having my sun tan. i love swimming in the summer.
ReplyDeleteWell, Farida, this old grandmother wants it to be warm here, too. But I don't begrudge you a minute of sunshine.
ReplyDeleteSummer's always happy, especially for children :)
ReplyDeleteLovely photos!
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to have wonderful, childhood memories of summer days ;-)
Yes I have fond memories of summer! Maganda kasi ang summer diyan sa atin. We also made bubbles from ground gumamela leaves. Hayz. Those were the days.
ReplyDeleteYan din topic ko e. Summer na din kasi dito.
mangoes, makopa, iced candy, and bubbles! All figures in my childhood memories too. Although panay hingi lang ata ako? hehe :) Summer is definitely here. Can't wait to hit the pools or beaches!
ReplyDeleteI can just hear your giggles from your child hood...what a creative little money maker you were...You would be so much fun to have had as a friend. :)
ReplyDeletegreat story, it's not easy to sell stuff and you have the skill! Nice photos too!
ReplyDeleteOh, the life of a kid during summer was really cool! I remember the gumamela for bubbles, we'd use the stalk of papaya as our blower! :))
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteA different way of life, then and now, and very different from that in England. The home grown fruits and organic ice candies must have been satisfying to gather or make for your friends and neighbours. Thank you for
ReplyDeletesharing.
I enjoyed reading your post. It reminds me of what I love in the Philippines. Ice candy is the best! for hot summer afternoon.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of summer, we just made ice candy the other day. For sale and personal consumption, hehe...
ReplyDeleteMommy Maye
Summer is already fast approaching. Like mommy maye said, we are already selling ice candy at home. I wa the first one to buy. Hopefully a good buena mano. hehehe
ReplyDeleteLove reading your post!! such fond childhood memories
ReplyDeleteI have the same memories Ms. Farida we certainly born in the same era.. hehehe
ReplyDeleteYummy ice candies and fresh fruit. I wish I could let my kids enjoy them as well. Just hoping our colds and cough will go away soon since summer is really here.
ReplyDeleteI remember making bubbles using gumamela flowers! My kids never experienced that because may ready made na na benta! I love summer! When we were kids, my parents send us to San Fernando, La Union (since we didnt have yaya anymore when I turned eight) every summer to live with my maternal grandparents and cousins. We also do a one week stay at Santiago, Ilocos Sur (where my dad is from naman). That was where I learned to swim naman. they have the most beautiful white sand beach cove over there...
ReplyDeleteWe also make ice candies and there are times our freezer would be filled with those. But we don't sell...hahaha it's just so my sister and I have something to munch on and quell the heat during summer. My favorite is the one with melon strips and milk. Yum!
ReplyDeleteOoohhhh, the makopa... we call it TAMBIS just at our backyard! And we love ice candies, too!... but I haven't tried the ones with sago pearls....
ReplyDeleteAwww, I miss making bubbles from gumamela! We used to do that too when we were kids! We would use papaya stalk to blow the bubbles, happy memories! I remember when I was a little girl, my lola would make ice candies and sell it too. Then I would help her make some but I would end up with an ice candy that's not firmly knotted. Haha! Once it's frozen, I would also be the first one to get my share from our freezer! :-)
ReplyDeleteChildhood memories of summer are wonderful and I always look forward to swimming at our Grandpa's house. I have always preferred hot summer to the muddy rainy days.
ReplyDeletei also do that when i was young especially the ice candy part.. hehehe XD extra money for vacation.. hehe
ReplyDeleteexquisite post, these happenings you've shared reminds me of my summer days/vacation too...i also vended ice candies, chocolates, candies and other tsitsirya, hahaha para may pera ako pag summer
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear that! Going home soon and I badly want, need and love sunshine. Sana walang rain fall muna, please! :) Oh, and how I miss making and eating ice candies on summer!
ReplyDeleteOo nga ang init na ngayon! The weather is specially weird in Davao kasi mainit sa umaga tapos biglang uulan sa hapon. Pero mas mabuti na to kesa bumagyo ulit.
ReplyDeletePopsicles!!!!! When I saw that pic I knew it was really the end of the cold weather!!! Sarap mag reminisce noh! I did the same thing with the gumamela with friends in our village! Good times... Sad lang that kids nowadays don't get to experience playing in the streets..
ReplyDeleteGreat memories of Summer... It's good for kids to do things to earn some money. It trains them for being able to earn a living when they are older. Bet those mangoes were TASTY... Yum...
ReplyDeleteWe are still having winter here.. In fact, we had some snow last night.... Guess Spring is still not ready to put in an appearance.
Hugs,
Betsy
It's getting hot in here as well. We'll be turning off the AC. Cuddling time with the kids at night, yehey!
ReplyDeleteOh by the way, I miss seeing those Ice Candies in person. We don't have that here too in the Middle East. Unless someone is selling some in schools.
ReplyDeleteSuch sweet memories. They reminded me of the time one of our little neighbor girls came to my house with an arm full of wild flowers, wanting to sell them to me. The funny thing was, I had seen her earlier picking them out of "my" woods.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed summer time. But we have yet to start using the aircon. The kids must have adjusted to Philippine weather now so they are able to sleep pa rin at night. Chance for us to save some money on bills still.
ReplyDeleteIt is really hot now.. we too have been using the aircon to keep cool.
ReplyDeleteIndeed summer is just around the corner, I shall hire someone to clean our AC for I know the little one will be requesting to on it at night...
ReplyDeletei would presume we grew around the same period. we have similar memories. :) those were the days, long before technology changed everything... *sigh*
ReplyDeleteOoh how i love summer in the Philippines! It reminds me of vacations with my cousins and we'd play under the sun until we are pawisan and madungis. Probably one of the best moments of my life.
ReplyDeleteSummer is really here indeed! :)I wan to go swimming naaaa :)
ReplyDeletewe used to sell ice candy also. During that time, it costs P1 only, but now, some buko salad flavored iced candies are around P5
ReplyDeleteSummer na! Mapupuno na nman ang boracay!hihi..
ReplyDeleteI love summer! Lots of family gatherings here and there! Bonding time with my kiddos as well.
ReplyDeleteAng init na nga sobra! And it will get hotter I'm sure. Fun time for the kids though, swimming, outing, ice candy...
ReplyDeleteDonde yo vivo el verano es de muy altas temperaturas; falta poco para gozar del otoño cosa que esperamos con ansiedad porque los calores nos tiene muy agobiados; lo que no quiere decir que cada estación tenga su propio encanto.
ReplyDeleteGracias por visitarme y con tu permiso seguiré tu blog. Un abrazo
love reading this, i also flashback my summer when i was a kid haha
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing your wonderful memories of your summer days
Oh, I love ice candies!!! My favorite snacks ever hahaha
ReplyDeleteAhh, those where the days. Happy memories, we, children of the 90's share. hehe
ReplyDelete