Seventies

Mark WIllis - 1970 Something ()

 As someone who grew up in the 80s, I sometimes find myself shamelessly indulging in nostalgia, in remembrance of quieter, more comprehensible things past. These occasional meanderings are often triggered by the return of an old song, say, or a conversation with an old, resurrected friend, or even just the random dredging of a memory fragment from long ago.

Then the odd, stupid smile involuntarily forms as a trippy free-association thread of thoughts, recollections and even hoary old advertising pitches starts to unravel.

Sure, times are tough. But remember: “Times like these, you need a Juicy.” Wish it were that simple. But, hey, a little nostalgic trivia-laden trip down memory lane could just be the cure for these present-day blues.

This is the Seventies!

Hey Israel! this is for you. Hehehehe, I can’t forget this dude, the “fashionista” of the seventies. Ito ang galante among my uncle’s buddies, kapag nanghingi ako pera dito, binibigyan ako lagi ng 25 to 50 cents nito hehehe.

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I get this e-mail filled with 70s trivia and everything comes back. Go ahead and read it. See how many you can identify — and identify with. Thanks to the anonymous fellow or fellows who dreamed it up. (Hey, I tried to trace it back to the source. But finding the origins of an e-mail can be as hard as following the money trail of a narco-politician through the offshore banking system.)

Ready? Here goes:

You tasted: Fress Gusto, Sunta, RC Cola, Yes Cola, Teem, Mirinda, Darigold Evap, Liberty Condensada, Toddy-O, Choco Vim, Sunkist Orange (in triangular prism packs), Magnolia Chocolait, Sunny Orange, Sunquick, Klim, Jack ‘n Jill Barbecue Curls, Jack ‘n Jill, Shrimp Curls, Honey Pretzels, Plaza Pizza, Big 20, Hamburgers, Pana Pizza, Tweet and Jiggs Candies (by Mr. Krieger), Jojo Candies, Sugus Candies, Serg’s Chocolate, Dubble Bubble, Chewing-a-Bon, kerosene-flavored popcorn along Roxas Blvd., Blenda Margarine, Magnolia Ice Cream Sandwich, Magnolia Popsicles in Orange and Langka flavors.

You can recall the products of the following slogans: “Wow-wow-wow! Boteng umiilaw!” “Basket butas-butas,” “Araw-araw, interes ng interes,” “Mag-beer muna tayo,” “Charlieng Balakubak, excuse me,” “It’s you they’re talking about.”

You’ve been to: Syvel’s, Assandas, Arcegas at Maranaw Arcade, COD (especially for the Christmas display!), Funhouse at Bricktown, Erehwon Bookstore, Alemars Bookstore. Bookmark, Botica Boie, The Pierre (all in a row!), Makati Supermarket (in Makati!), Rizal Theater (with its spacious lobby) with D’Bankers Barbershop and Dulicinea just right across, Magallanes Theater, ABC Theater, Greenhills Theater, Tropical Hut (and its original hamburger).

You visited: The Regent of Manila, Hotel Aurelio, Manila Hilton Christmas carnival (where Dusit Hotel now stands), the original A&W along UN Avenue in Manila, Fiesta Carnival,Villa Pansol, Lido Beach, Italian Village, Café Valenzuela, Bonanza Restaurant and the many steakhouses, the Makati Automat, the Plaza, Jade Garden Restaurant, Luau, Sulo Restaurant (in Makati), Makati Fastfood Center (the first ever), Bulwagang Pilipino Restaurant (in Magallanes), Au Bon Vivant, Salambao Restaurant, the elegant dining room of the old Army & Navy Club, Magnolia Ice Cream Parlor at the old Quad, Mariposa Ice Cream Parlor at Shoppesville, Harrison Plaza (when it was still clean and had the bump cars).

You’ve ridden: the Matorco, Isuzu Gemini, Opel Rekord and Manta, Ford Cortina, Holden Premier, Dune Buggy, Dodge Colt, Ford Fiera, Mitsubishi Celeste, Jiffy Kit, Torana, Minica, Toyota Toyopet, VW Brasilia and Beetle, Renault, Austin Mini, Toyota Land Cruiser (the small one, without aircon), Pinoy, Tamaraw, Harabas, Honda Mini-trail, MRM Taxi, DM, UBL Bus Line, California Bus Line, Mapalad Liner, Love Bus, JD Transit,(lawanit-walled with lawanit windows), an Easy Rider bike, any bike by Patria, motocross bikes, those long pedal go-karts, scooters.

You’ve heard of: Victor Wood, Rudy Genasky, Carmen Ronda, Carmen Pateña, The Reycards, Vic Pasia, Walter Navarro, Sajid Khan, Esperanza Fabon, Novo Bono, Eddie Peregrina, Romano Castelvi, Boy Mondragon, Manny de Leon, Darius Razon, Efren Montes, Ariel con Tina, Eddie Ilarde, Bobby Ledesma and Chiqui Hollmann of “Student Canteen.” Apat na Sikat (can you recall their names?)

Freddie Aguilar, Florante, Mike Hanopol, Sampaguita, Hajji Alejandro, Leah Navarro, Spanish singer Junior, VST & Co., Hotdogs, Cinderella, Boyfriends, Ambivalent Crowd, Music Making Company, The Minstrels, Nonong Pedero, Eddie Mercado (the best English-speaking host), Maria Leonora Teresa, Ora Engkantada, Ginang Milyonarya, Asiong Aksaya.

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Blockbuster movies were: Jaws, Towering Inferno, Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake, Willard (theme song was “Ben”), Carrie, The Exorcist, Love Bug, Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, Saturday Night Fever and Grease, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, Logan’s Run, Battlestar Galactica, Paper Chase, Love Story, Mahogany, Enter The Dragon, Serpico, The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

You’ve worn or carried: Denman brush tucked in your back pants pocket,

Jordache and Sasson jeans, Bata rubber shoes, Botak running shoes, Ace flexible comb, Ace clutchbag, Carrera shades, Ray-Ban Photochromic and Ambermatic shades, tie-dye shirts and pants, double-knit pants, hot pants, gabardine suits, Sergio Valente, Vidal Sassoon, Fiorucci, Ye-ye Vonnel shirts, Nik-Nik, Bang-Bang, Faded Glory, Jazzie, Adidas Vienna, Adidas Rom, Adidas Superstar, Puma Topfit, Tiger Onitsuka, Happy Feet, clogs, wet-look shoes and bags, Candies shoes, Pierre Cardin, Jovan musk oil, Aramis, Drakkar, Paco Rabanne, Yves St. Laurent, Flexible Mongol ball pens, Bic ball pens, puka shell necklaces, platform shoes with bell-bottom pants and wide-buckled belts, mood rings.

Here’s more: Thrilla in Manila, Unctad 5, Miss Universe Pageant, dollar-peso exchange rate was 1:7. “Walang Tindigan” buses charged a flat rate of P1, Love Bus fare was P1.50. DLSU was De La Salle College, Poveda was Teresiana, Adamson campus was St. Theresa’s campus. Petron was Esso. Traffic was nonexistent in Tagaytay. You could hum “Dick and Jane.” You knew all the Bagong Lipunan songs. Virra Mall was the most modern shopping center.

Shell Action Transfer. Quadrophonic stereos. Pelota. Game of the Generals.

GI Joe action figures as tall as Barbie Dolls. Gigantor the Space Age Robot, Voltes 5, Herculoids, Matchbox cars (in metal, not plastic). Eight-track tapes.

PLDT telephone numbers were six digits. Cursillo. Queue Disco, Where Else?, Altitude 49, Delirium (in Greenbelt). Velvet Slum, Coco Banana, Manila Hotel’s Jungle Bar, Stargazer, Romvlvs. Swing, The Hustle, and 12-Step were the “in” dances.

How time flies.