Tom Choy
Vancouver, British Columbia

As Neil Diamond would sing it, “ LA’s fine but it ain’t home; New York’s home but it ain’t mine no more.” Vancouver is fine but it’s almost home; Bacood is truly home but it ain’t mine no more.

BACOOD, Sta. Mesa, Manila. When you were young and you can dream to become anyone, or somebody someday. You live here.

Bacood. You used to be my playground. Once upon a time, you were young and full of swagger. You felt indestructible and thought you are forever young. Then you sang, “Once upon a time there was a tavern where we used to raise a glass or two. Remember how we laughed away the hours. And dreamed of all the great things we would do.

Those were the days my friend we thought they’d never end. We’d sing and dance forever and a day. We’d live the life we choose. We’d fight and never lose. For we were young and sure to have our way…” (Mary Hopkin)

ABBA’s Dancing Queen was burning the airwaves then. Our Congressman Gerry Espina found home here too. The Crispa and Toyota PBA teams lorded the league. The big ballers were Jaworski, Fernandez, Co, Guidaben, Cezar and Adornado.

I was lucky to see Crispa’s Johnny Revilla shoot hoops in Ricass basketball court near Bagumbayan. I also spotted Ateneo’s sharpshooter Baby Boy Morales (played for 7 Up). He graced a local league in Magistrado Torres. I played basketball with his cousin Emy.

Ding Mercado, a fellow altar boy would become a crooner for the famous New Minstrels Band. His brother Ernie who played hoops with me also sang for the Minstrels of a different generation. It seemed that all the musical talents found a home in the Mercado family. Henry Mercado, older brother of Ding and Ernie played the keyboard during the masses held at Fatima Church.

Baybs U-Garcia is also another Bacoodista (Born and raised in Bacood with pride) was a popular chanteuse. She sang for various musical ensembles like RA Band, Larry Matias Orchestra, The Extremes Band ’78 and the Shampoo Band. Her hubby Rudy was the lead guitarist of the Dynasouls (the Beatles of the Philippines). He eventually became a member of the Family Birth Control Band together with a Bacood native Rody Delgado.

We asked Baybs who now lives in Australia if their kids are following their footsteps and she quips, “Our son performs for a praise and worship band at our church called Planetshakers.” She continues, “Our daughter also sings and was a member of the church choir. Her SO is very active in the music industry and plays at different gigs interstate and does shows with artists like Tina Arena, Guy Sebastian and other famous artists.”

I saw up close how a great man’s leadership and “passion for Christ” when Fr. Arsenio Bautista built a majestic, handsome and functional church building, the Our Lady of Fatima Church situated in the heart of Bacood, Sta. Mesa , Manila. The church had humble beginnings in a tiny chapel on Lakas Street. Father Bautista would then become Monsignor. You know you are from Bacood because at 6 PM every night at 6 PM the Angelus struck loud.

Growing up, I remember who my crushes were and I knew who had a crush on me. The joy of youth. Yes, it was truly magical to love and be loved. I spent my wonder and wander years here growing into manhood from an electric and reckless boyhood. While there was American graffiti, there was the copycat Bacood dose of graffiti on walls around town. There were also gangs like the ones you saw on Broadway’s Westside Story. But they were harmless. It was just youth exuberance. Nevertheless one just feels blessed to come out of this unforgettable place into the sizzling new world.