Feature: Of ice cream and ice drop

  A typical street ice drop.

The sorbetes cart, a popular street icon in Mambulao during the 60s.

  Tiyang Rosing with young relatives

By PERCY A OSTONAL

THE booming gold and iron ore mining in Mambulao town from the 40s to the late 60s spurred migration to this laid-back fishing community.

The San Mauricio Gold Mines owned and operated by Marsman & Company and the Philippine Iron Mines (PIM) had attracted too many migrant workers and their families from across the Bicol region and the neighboring Tagalong provinces, who saw the potential of the community as a new frontiers for business and other money-making activities.

One of these migrant families were the Evangelistas.

Originating from Southern Tagalog province, the family was no different from any family who looked for a brighter place to grow and settle for good.

Tomas Salcedo Evangelista, the father of Rosenda “T’yang Rosing” Evangelista-Romualdo and her siblings found “that place” in Mambulao.

In the late 40s, the family ventured in general merchandising, jewelry, men’s tailoring shop, ice cream and ice drop making.

“I remember na nagstart ang business naming ito in late 40s pa and it ended up in late 60s, kasi pumanaw na ang aming tatay", recalled T'yang Rosing. (I remember the business started in late 40s and it ended up in late 60s when our father passed away).  

As tribute to the cherished memories that flowed back to our younger years in Mambulao, including that ice cream or ice drop melting away and slithering down our hand, we saw to it that the only brand name we knew should be either "Sanitary" or "Ticman” ice cream. (Both were the same anyhow).  

I learned from T'yang Rosing that his father, for whatever reason that has remained unexplained till these days, was addressed as " Mr Ticman" by all Mabulawenos then .