Life and Culture- Halo-Halo Special

By: Tita Nene

Halo-Halo which means “mix mix” is the traditional iced dessert of the Philippines. It is made with layers of sweetened red beans and native delicacies topped by shaved ice and milk. A more elaborate version called halo-halo special has extra toppings of leche flan, pinipig and scoop of ice cream.

There are many variations of the halo-halo. At some establishments, bowls of every imaginable ingredients are laid out for people to pick and choose. Some regions include fresh fruits like shredded buko, rockmelon, nata de coco or macapuno. In my search for some more information about the halo-halo, I came across a very interesting information about the origin of halo-halo. Here is an excerpt from the book “Memories of Philippine Kitchen” written by Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan

According to the Bicolanos, the halo-halo started from the simple mongo con hielo (boiled mung beans, milk sugar and shaved ice), sold by Japanese –owned soda shops in Naga, Camarines Sur. During World War II, these soda fountains took on a sinister role, as Danny Gerona recounts in his book Naga: The Birth and rebirth of a City .

Almost five years before the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the province of Camarines Sur registered a substantial number of Japanese residents. There were about eight retail stores owned by Japanese, most of it, if not all of these were in Naga. Among the more prominent Japanese establishments in Naga were the Filipino Bazar and K Mori refreshment parlor, which served the most desired cold drink of mongo con hielo.

The residents of Naga and their Bicolano customers had no idea about the mission of these Japanese merchants until the Japanese Army arrived in Naga. To the residents’ surprise most of these Japanese merchants put on their military uniforms and turned out to be high ranking officers in the Japanese Imperial Army.

Reference:

Besa, Amy and Dorotan Romy. Memories of Philippine kitchens : stories and recipes from far and near. New York, Tabori & Chang, 2006.

  

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