50’s Diner Delights

Dubbed as the “Summer Capital” of the Philippines, Baguio city has long attracted visitors from all over the country and abroad. The lush pine foliage and cool climate that lured American settlers in the early 18th century still entice tourists today. Remnants of the American occupation are still evident all over the city. One notable tribute to that period is Glenn 50’s Diner.

Retro-themed Glenn 50's Diner Shopfront

Living up to its name, 50’s diner is an American themed restaurant inspired by the Hollywood glamour of the 50’s and 60’s. It was founded in 1994 by Tony Candelaria, a former actor. “It was originally a Chinese restaurant however tourism flailed after the 1990 earthquake. Our sales went down, so we conceptualized a new restaurant, influenced by American culture” Candelaria said.

Located in the heart of Baguio City, on General Luna Road, the blinking red and blue neon 50’s diner sign makes it very easy to spot. Upon entering the diner, it feels as if you are transported to an American ice cream parlor depicted in many Hollywood movies. A few American customers dining lazily in the crowd strengthen the vibe.

A waitress clad in a white and blue-striped navy uniform will greet you as you enter and lead you to one of several red counter-top booths. Adorning the pink walls are various Hollywood memorabilia. The eyes of iconic movie stars like James Dean, Lana Turner, Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn stare down at you as you sit. The posters of Casablanca and Psycho pry your attention away from browsing the menu. While you wait for your order, the famous picture of Marilyn Monroe’s windswept dress will keep you entertained.

Old Hollywood movie posters and promotional material adorning the walls

“We are famous for our grilled steaks and burgers. We have also included several Filipino and Chinese favorites like Lumpia and Tapsilog along the way,” Candelaria said. When you peruse the menu it can be quite surprising that the prices range only from P85-200.

Another surprise will hit you when the food comes. A serving of 50’s special burger with large potato wedges at P85 is almost as big as the serving plate, more than enough for two people to share. “We do burgers the American way, marinated and packaged, ready to fry with large servings,” Candelaria said. The 50’s burger can be quite heavy on the stomach; biting into it you can notice that the patty is pure beef. It would be wise to have someone share to share it with to make room for other dishes.

50's Diner Burger with potato wedges

Another favorite at 50’s is the chicken plate which consists of three servings of chicken with rice or potato wedges. The chicken by itself is quite bland; however the gravy that accompanies it gives it a kick.

“Our primary customers are teenager. We thus try to make special meals for them at prices they can afford,” Candelaria explained as he watched a waitress serve a plate of “Guys on the Hood”. The dish is a hodgepodge of chicken, spaghetti, salad, steamed rice and potatoes and a large helping of garlic bread, all for the price of P130.00

A plate of chicken, spaghetti, garlic bread and steamed vegetables

Candelaria mused about the glory days of 50’s Diner. We used to have roller-skating waitresses here a few years back, but we moved to a smaller location. It’s a pity that we can’t do that now, he said.

If you still have room in your stomach after the main meal, perhaps you can sample their signature desserts. The pancake

6 pancakes stacked on top of one another make up this pancake tower

tower is a feast for the eyes. Six stacked pancakes sandwich banana and mango slices and is glazed with mango and orange sauce. Shredded cheese and a cherry on top complete the sweet confection.

What better way to drown down the extremely sweet and fluffy pancake tower than by ordering one of 50’s ice cream shakes. The sinfully sweet shakes come in vanilla, ube, chocolate and strawberry flavors. “The strawberry shakes are extremely popular when they are in season, we get quality strawberries right here in Baguio,” Candelaria said.

In the next table Paula Chua smiled slightly and stirred her vanilla shake as she reminisced about going to 50’s as a child. “I loved the skating waitresses. It was amusing to watch as they zipped around to deliver food. Whenever I’m here I feel like I’m in the 70’s, the neon lights gives it a very retro feel,” she said.

Candelaria said in return, “We have loyal customers who grew up with us here and we don’t want to lose them. That is why even when prices go up, we try to maintain our large servings and low prices.

In terms of food, 50’s diner will not offer you anything extremely unique. However it gives you great value for your money. The atmosphere alone is an experience in itself. As you eat, Elvis, the Platters and Frank Sinatra will croon you with their love songs while Michael Jackson and the Beatles will have you tapping your feet and wishing that the bright red jukebox in one corner is still working.

Red Buggy outside 50's

As you leave you can notice a red 1960’s buggy in the parking lot with several people crowding it. “That’s an original buggy, we used to place it on top of the 50’s sign, but the new place is too small for that so we have it here in front so customers can take pictures if they wish," Candelaria said.

So the next time you visit Baguio city, you may want to stop by this one of a kind diner. Not only is it easy on the budget, but it gives you a glimpse of the American culture and presence that was once so prevalent in the city not too long ago.

Doggy Day Care

The province of Tarlac is well-known as a cultural heritage site. Visitors flock from all over the country to see its natural beauty and bustling cities. With all the sights and sounds to take in, a unique place for pet lovers is sometimes overlooked. Going deeper in the in-ways of Capas you can find the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), a shelter for stray, sick and rescued cats and dogs.

Upon entering the rather secluded compound you are immediately greeted by dozens of dogs rushing towards you. Their barks meld together in a single shout behind the iron cage surrounding them.

Beside the dog cage you can find a smaller kennel with two cats playing inside. They are polar opposites of one another. One looks healthy and pudgy while the other was quite skinny. Greg Quimpo, the program coordinator of AKF, said that they were both rescued. The bigger cat apparently had its claws removed by its former owners using pliers.

One of the two cats in the cage

Inside AFK’s main house you can see photographs of their pets adorning the walls. One photograph shows dozens of dogs with their front legs strapped behind their backs. “We found them in that condition, they were stacked on top of one another inside a small truck with their muzzles taped,” Greg Quimpo, AFK’s Program Manager, said. “They were heading North when we intercepted them. They were bound for slaughter,” he continued.

Not all the photographs revealed gruesome stories though. On top of a desk you can see a picture of a black and white dog wearing a medal and posing for the camera. According to Quimpo, the dog’s name is Sweet. He was found by the foundation as a puppy bathing in blood from killed dogs in a slaughterhouse. AFK’s founder, Charles Leslie Wartenberg, took a liking to the Sweet and took him to Britain. Sweet will go on to become an award-winning show-dog, and the rest is history.

Behind AKF’s main house you can find a long lane of kennels, each one holding 10-30 dogs. Walking along the lane the dogs can immediately spot you and would rush along the gates. You can also play with some dogs who are free to roam outside the kennels, though they are still quite wary of interacting with strangers.

Abba lounging on the floor

Another dog you can see roaming around is a big, brown boxer named Manny. But don’t let his size fool you. Once you’ve gotten him calm (with a neck rub or two) he can be quite friendly and playful.

Not all of the animals though are well enough to be let out to play with one another. In a small room inside the main house you can find the quarantine area. It is a small room with about ten kennels, each housing an ailing dog, the illnesses they have range from broken limbs to viral infections. A very sick dog at the very last stall could hardly lift up his head and has to be kept under dextrose.

Unfortunately, some animals in the foundations die before they are adopted. At the back of the compound you can find an animal cemetery where the deceased dogs are laid to rest. The cemetery itself looks like a serene garden. You enter under a canopy of flowers and see several sculptures and tombstones covered in wild grass and flowers.

Cross inside the pet cemetery

At first glance the shelter seems quite ordinary. However the stories you can hear about the animals living there give it a unique quality. “One dog was bought in with its puppy. They were put in separate kennels, but the mother starved herself until we bought the puppy back,” Quimpo said.

After a little time in the shelter, it can be surprising to learn and discern the unique personalities of the animals. Some of them are friendly and outgoing, others are ornery.

The center accepts donations and adoption proceedings. So perhaps the next time you come to Tarlac, maybe you could stop by and say hello to the people and animals in the shelter. With their different traits and personalities it is not difficult to find an animal there that you could forge a connection with. Who knows, at the end of the day you may want to make room in your heart (and house) for a furry friend.

Bury Your Worries: Baguio’s Cemetery of Negativism

A floating blanket of white fog obscures fifteen statues guarding their graves and tombstones. Pine needles crunch under your feet as you walk through the rickety stone path along the lawn. You can hear the faint babbling of a waterfall nearby, as well as the humming wings of various birds and insects. It is not often that people come to this small, isolated patch of moist land. You’d find yourself alone more often than not. Baguio city is a melting pot of ghost stories, and from afar, this looks like an abandoned cemetery.It is a cemetery, but not the usual one. People are not buried here, negative thoughts are. Welcome to the cemetery of negativism.

Situated in the heart of Camp John Hay, the cemetery was conceptualized by Major John Hightower, the base’s commanding general in the 80’s. It was built as a symbolic reminder that negative thoughts and attitudes can have undesirable influences in our lives. A quaint white arch serves as your entrance to the cemetery. Under it, a

statue of a bearded man in a white robe holds a tablet which reads “The Lost Cemetery: Negativism is man’s greatest self-imposed affliction, his most limiting factor, his heaviest burden. No more, for here is buried the world’s negativism for all time, those who rest here have died not in vain – but for you a stern reminder, as you leave this hill, be more positive. Treat today like it is your last- though it’s the first of the rest”.

Once inside you can choose to follow a meandering path around the lawn. Every few steps you are greeted with a small tombstone with a catchy or thought-provoking epitaph.

One of the first tombstones you can pass has a small Dalmatian statue on top. Its epitaph reads: Why didn’t I? Lived wondering why, died for no reason.

Beside it a brown mammal lies atop another tombstone thatsays: Letz study it. Delayed birth, step childhood, never reached maturity.

Walk a little further down the path and you will see a scowling bulldog holding his chin and wearing a blue t-shirt. His tombstone reads: Blame mi, will ya?

Updated, 4 Jul 1911, Retired, 5 July 1911. His neighbor, a monkey scratching its head, says: Eye forgot. Born humbly, died sometime.

Not all the graves featured animal statues, though. A grave marker for “Boss won’t lettuce” featured a single yellow rose. It says, A great idea 22 May 1907, wilted, 1 September 1909.

One grave’s guardian has already been destroyed. Only the feet remain of an animal whose ironic epitaph reads: What to or else. Born of intimidation, Lived in resentment, died without glory.

Ricardo Chan has worked as a firefighter for Camp John Hay for thirty-five years. “I sometimes come here, it’s peaceful and quiet,” he says as he sits on one of the wooden benches in the lawn. “American soldiers in the 80’s believed that bad thoughts and feelings could put a damper on their work ethic. So, they held mock funerals of their troubles here,” he continued.

Beside the quirky epitaphs, the ambience of the lawn itself can help you put negative thoughts at rest. While you sit beside the graves you can look at the astonishing view beyond the lawn’s wooden fence. Lush, green mountainside extend for miles; rare for a plateau already dotted with houses. Pine trees stand tall and proud everywhere you turn, in contrast with the deep ravine you can see if you peek down the fence.

The cemetery of negativism is a rare slice of peace and tranquility in a bustling, modern city like Baguio. It is part of Camp John Hay’s historical core, which is open everyday from 8 AM to 5 PM. You need to pay P50 to get in, with a discounted price of P30 for students and senior citizens. You can either take a taxi from the central business district or take a jeepney bound for Loakan to Camp John Hay and walk from there.

So perhaps the next time negative feelings and thoughts become overwhelming, or you’re just looking for a quiet place to unwind, you can stop by the cemetery of negativism and put acidic thoughts to rest.