REMEMBER Mang Danny, the man behind Mang Danny's Ice Cream? The famous ice cream that made thousands queue and wait for hours at Roxas Night Market -- all for a sweet and delicious scoop.
Dionilo dela Torre, popularly known as Mang Danny, passed away on Wednesday early morning, July 8. He was 65.
His wife, Yolly dela Torre, confirmed this to SunStar Davao on Wednesday afternoon. She said Mang Danny died due to complications and prostate cancer.
"He has been in and out of the hospital since January this year," she shared.
Mang Danny was born on May 13, 1955. He has three children: Elena Nieves, Jesenilo dela Torre, and Ma. Fe Salazar.
The Mang Danny's Ice Cream craze
His ice cream owned the spotlight in 2015 after various posts on Facebook and other social media sites saying his ice cream is worth tasting. This made Dabawenyos curious and many waited in line for hours.
People would start to queue as early as 6 p.m. just to have a taste of his famous ice cream. The crowd would burst out in applause as he rolled in his chrome-plated ice cream cart at around 9 p.m.
"Pila na ka dekada nilabay, estudyante pa ko ug dili pa sikay iyang ice cream, suki nako niya. Salamat Mang Danny, usahay sa una kulang ko og piso sa akong bayad pero ginapapalit gihapon ko niya (A decade ago, when I was still a student and his ice cream is still unknown to many, I was already a regular customer. Thank you Mang Danny, sometimes even if my payment lacks a peso, you still let me taste your ice cream)," Maribel Tisio Heramil commented on a Sun Star Davao's Facebook post about Danny's death.
A netizen also reminisced about her experience just to have a scoop or two of Mang Danny's ice cream.
"Niadto jud ko og Davao (City) para lang makipila kay Mang Danny. Nalimot nako unsa to na year (I even went to Davao City just to line for Mang Danny's ice cream. I forgot what year it was)," Digos-based customer Roselle Manayaga Labajo shared.
The legacy lives on
Yolly said their business will continue and will be managed by their son Jesenilo and daughter Elena. Their other daughter, Ma. Fe, is an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
"He really made sure to pass the recipe to his children and I know that he's happy now that our children will be taking over," Yolly said in vernacular.
Now based in Panabo City, Mang Danny Ice Cream has resellers at Roxas Night Market in Davao City, General Santos City, Butuan City, and Digos City.
In a 2015 interview, a much younger Mang Danny shared that he had no secret apart from putting passion and love in making his ice cream.
"I never stopped experimenting and upgrading my ice cream recipe even until now. I learned to love selling ice cream because I used to do it since I was 14 years old and I am bound to keep on improving its taste until no more," the late ice cream man said.
Mang Danny first sold his ice cream in his hometown in Matalam, North Cotabato after being taught by his friends who are also suitors of his sister. He then left his hometown for a greater opportunity in Davao Region.
For those who want to connect to Mang Danny's family, you can reach her wife Yolly through this number: 09107122256.