你如果回家
過來坐坐
花園口
依舊很忙
你同學的書店
依舊在橋邊
橋邊的水溝
依舊是黑黑臭臭
亞洲戲院
不再放電影
馬路上
馬車及集尼車
依舊來來去去
王彬街頭
到王彬街尾
短短
在我心底
却記得
牢牢地
Ongpin
If you come home
Please come
And visit
Binondo plaza
Is still very busy
Your classmate's bookstore
Is still next to the bridge
The estero next to it
Is still dark and stinky
King theater
Has no more movies
On the streets
Kalesa and jeepneys
Still come and go
Front the start
To the end
It is really short
But in my heart
The memory is long
Kalye Ongpin (Tagalog version by Joaquin Sy)
Kung mauuwi ka...
bumisita ka naman.
Kalye Ongpin (Tagalog version by Joaquin Sy)
Kung mauuwi ka...
bumisita ka naman.
Ang Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz
abalang-abala pa rin.
Ang tindahan ng libro ng kaeskuwela
nasa tabing-tulay.
Ang estero sa tabi ng tulay
maitim at mabaho, gaya nang dati.
Ang Asia Theater
di na nagpapalabas ng sine.
Sa kalsada
paroo't parito pa rin
ang mga dyipni't kalesa.
Maikli lang
ang puno't dulo
ng Kalye Ongpin.
Nguni't sa puso ko
mariing
nakatiim.
abalang-abala pa rin.
Ang tindahan ng libro ng kaeskuwela
nasa tabing-tulay.
Ang estero sa tabi ng tulay
maitim at mabaho, gaya nang dati.
Ang Asia Theater
di na nagpapalabas ng sine.
Sa kalsada
paroo't parito pa rin
ang mga dyipni't kalesa.
Maikli lang
ang puno't dulo
ng Kalye Ongpin.
Nguni't sa puso ko
mariing
nakatiim.
When I was growing up, Ongpin is synonymous to Chinatown. Ongpin is the street that runs through the heart of Chinatown.
As one of our regular family activity, we spent many weekend night in Chinatown for food and movies. There were four Chinese theaters at the height of that period. From Chinese sword fight movies, to Bruce Lee to romantic movies, those movies were partly entertainment and partly education. There were Chinese and English subtitles in each film.
Speaking of education, at the height of the Betamax rental period, we would also go there to rent Chinese soap operas. I still remember many of us would crowd the small second floor landing of our apartment, eyes glued to the small colored Sony television. That was another family activity!
As I try to recall Ongpin in my mind, interestingly, it has to do with food! The store which sale sugar cane juice just before Salazar Street, the preserved mango from the store across from it, the soup number 5 from the little store after the bridge before Gandara St, the roasted chicken at corner of Alonzo Street, and the Duck with Misua soup at the corner of Tomas Mapua Street!
Of course other than food, many of my friends live in the area which makes it a place where I went frequently. Claris lived on Nueva Street, Bebe lived on Magdalena Street, Norman on Aguilar Street and Vangie lived on Reina Rejente and Alex lived by Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz.
For many summers, I also spent a lot of time at Liberty Hall owned by Koumintang Party of Republic of China. The summer classes were taught by teachers from Taiwan. I attended Chinese language class and Chinese painting class. In 1977, I joined a group of Overseas youth and went to Taiwan for two weeks. I spent many days there for meeting and program rehearsals.
I have to thank Mr. Co for my Chinese education. He was the husband of my senior high school Chinese class Ms Lee. His office was located at the Liberty Hall. I would stop by his office to pick books and magazines in Mandarin. It was a big help for my written Chinese.
As I try to recall Ongpin in my mind, interestingly, it has to do with food! The store which sale sugar cane juice just before Salazar Street, the preserved mango from the store across from it, the soup number 5 from the little store after the bridge before Gandara St, the roasted chicken at corner of Alonzo Street, and the Duck with Misua soup at the corner of Tomas Mapua Street!
Of course other than food, many of my friends live in the area which makes it a place where I went frequently. Claris lived on Nueva Street, Bebe lived on Magdalena Street, Norman on Aguilar Street and Vangie lived on Reina Rejente and Alex lived by Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz.
For many summers, I also spent a lot of time at Liberty Hall owned by Koumintang Party of Republic of China. The summer classes were taught by teachers from Taiwan. I attended Chinese language class and Chinese painting class. In 1977, I joined a group of Overseas youth and went to Taiwan for two weeks. I spent many days there for meeting and program rehearsals.
I have to thank Mr. Co for my Chinese education. He was the husband of my senior high school Chinese class Ms Lee. His office was located at the Liberty Hall. I would stop by his office to pick books and magazines in Mandarin. It was a big help for my written Chinese.
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