Haloha?

With summer ending soon, is it goodbye, halo-halo? In the oppressive heat of our Philippine summer, only the good 'ole halo-halo has brought me relief and joy. Not ice cream, snow cones, or ice drops. It has got to be halo-halo. It doesn't matter where I buy it - Razon's , the office cafeteria, our neighbor, Ice Monster, on the beach, in the mountains, or at ChowKing. Masarap lahat! Especially when you have Carmie, Cynthia, Malou, Tess, and Tina (in alphabetical order) to share the calories with during lunch =) Wish Marlene was with us, too. I have to be honest, though. My favorite thus far is Razon's halo-halo. Enough said. Hindi po ako nagpa-plug ha. Sarap din ng palabok nila. They have stores along Ortigas Avenue and at Market!Market!

In Pagudpud, their halo-halo had macaroni and peanuts; in Boracay, cheese, gabi and fresh mangoes. I will admit I begged off from those ingredients, except mangoes. Among the traditional ingredients, I love ube, leche flan, nata de coco, sago, saba, corn, pinipig and lots of evaporated milk. Being diabetic, I don't add sugar. A lame effort on my part. Bad girl. Tsk tsk tsk.

After discovering the rather unusual ingredients of halo-halo in the provinces, I can say that truly, halo-halo has lived up to its name. Our favorite dessert does, in fact, have a lot to teach about uniqueness, unity, acceptance. So is it goodbye, halo-halo after the summer? Nevaaahhh! Mabuhay ang halo-halo!