Davao halo-halo drives my mom crazy

In all her years, my mom had one feel good food that made her survive the life of a soldier's wife.

HAHAHA. Not.

Anyway, this treat is a mixed concoction of shaved ice, evaporated milk, sweet potato, saba banana, water yam or ube for the native Filipino tongue, topped with ice cream and yes, red beans, green beans, mr bean.

This traditional Filipino treat needs no further introduction, Halo-halo that literally meant, "mix mix" is a treat for your eyes and taste, as well.

The halo-halo established itself through the idea of challenging people. Of course, Pinoys love challenges, we live for that and so halo-halo need no more gimmick.

The challenge: Mix all ingredients thoroughly before digging in. Positively, it is a skill that can only be honed through practice. Mixing all the above mentioned spill-easy goodies without making a complete fool of yourself by fussing over spilled evaporated milk is a challenge only true Pinoys (or people who are just friggin' dexterous and precise) would be up for with no hesitation.

And as one blogger puts it, "it is a skill that must be honed by continuous and regular indulgence".

Yes, during our Davao trip, this one food train located at Matina Square (the nightlife place for yuppies, and illegal minors posing as yuppies but turns into your regular people's park during the day), Aling Foping proudly caters the check-your-own-list of goodies for your mix-mix.

In other words, you are at the liberty to choose only ice and evaporated milk. If you are pretty lame that is. And again, all photos courtesy of Ate Dale. (My cam died on the last day)

Mommy: "You see? I told you, had halo-halo here is zow zikat we had to try it even with the time constraint of impending flight delay"

Matina Square looked like your next door park which turns into a rock and rolling gig pub at night

but when you're with the folks, you had to clean up and go to Matina Square when the sun's still up. Oh well.

Here's the then bride and groom at their best, whilst their aching knees are starting to show. Loling still.

Me: "Mommy, stop convincing me halo halo can save the world"

The checklist

For a hundred bucks (US $2.00) you get to taste their famous eat what you choose halo-halo.

(Special meant ice cream on top) Dad, out of focus, still curing his aching knee (hay, old people HAHA piz)

Yeah, I had to admit though it can not save the world or promote world peace, halo halo can calm you down. And make small talk even better.