Romance in Baguio (conclusion)

THE 50s. In the US, a time of “guys and dolls” in iconic fashion. The guys had pomade in their hair and wore leather jackets. The “dolls” (no longer politically correct, that), wore bouffant hairdos and various versions of the famous shirtwaist dress, petticoated and all. Both sexes favored tightly fitted jeans (en parlance, “baston na maong”) as well as leather moccasins. Think “Grease” and you.ve got the look.

Many all over the world took to said look, the Philippines included. My parents, in college in Diliman in the 50s, have scrapbooks where they all look like they stepped right out of aforementioned movie. It was also in the 50s that the parents of grade school classmate Kevin Engle’s parents arrived from the US and married in Manila. They honeymooned for about a month in Baguio, according to Kevin, in the Trinidad valley area where the Nazarene compound was. Later, in 1967, they moved up to Baguio with their four children, and stayed in Baguio until 1975. In Baguio, two more of their children were born.

Kevin’s father was in mission broadcast work in San Juan, Binangonan, Taytay, Pililia, and other places in the Philippines. When the family moved to Baguio in 1967, he and his wife founded Navy Base Bible Chapel, in, of course, Navy Base; the Balanags became early members. And while Kevin’s father’s mission broadcasts were beamed internationally, they were also broadcast on Baguio’s own DZBS, a radio station of my youth. The youth of children who grew up in Baguio in the 60s, 70s, 80s. Where has that gone?

Ah, we sigh, and where is THAT Baguio? As does Edward Misch, who was born in Baguio. When he last visited in 2009, he found that the names of restaurants he and his wife used to frequent when they were younger and still courting have changed. Though Burnham Lake, where they used to date after her classes, is still there.

Beckoning romance, even now.