Garfield is alive!

Their camaraderie is as hot as summer. They fostered their time-tested friendship on the street. Yes, on Garfield Street in an exclusive village in Greenhills. They call themselves the Garfield Gang. Their recent reunion brought together the very best of families sharing the happiest times of their lives.

To those who lived and grew up on Garfield, that concrete road was more than just a street. It was a nurturing community within a community wherein everyone was considered as family. So close knit were they – the Franciscos, Solivens, Narcisos, Dayrits, Sy-Quias, Antonios, Guerreros, Caballeros, Chuas, Caedos and Dees – that anyone’s house was everyone’s house where one could sleep, eat and play.

The simple joys they all shared in the ’70s were reflective of an era unlike today. They didn’t have yet high-tech toys and gadgets such as gameboys, cellphones, laptops, X boxes and mp3 players, yet kids sought each other’s company to keep themselves occupied. Friendship and bonding of the real deep kind was the name of the game.

They played wearing Crayon shoes while the scent of Jovan Musk Oil and Charlie cologne permeated the air. The boys sported long hair and kept little roller brushes in their back pockets. They danced to the tunes of Village People on 45 rpm records and laughed at Three’s Company and Love Boat on TV sets with no remote controls.

My in-laws, Willie and Ophie Soliven, retired Central Bankers who bought their lot on Garfield Street for P90 per square meter in 1969, reminisce how they used to host the jolliest basketball games in their backyard for the Garfield Gang. "I used to beat all the kids because I was the tallest and the fastest back then," Papa Willie says.

Dr. Chiqui Francisco, a retired dental surgeon from across the street, still hears my husband’s sister Carla Soliven’s young soprano voice ringing in his head. He would always hear her sing Tomorrow that he memorized the song as Carla repeatedly practiced for her Repertory performance as she was Lea Salonga’s understudy as Annie.

Dr. Josie Francisco remembers how she earned the sobriquet "Ninang ng Bayan" because she was everybody’s wedding sponsor when the Garfield kids got married.

For Maja and Mike Guerrero, who flew in from San Francisco to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary with family and friends making this reunion a real happy homecoming, they remember how their old Spanish-style home had a huge bell which Maja would bang to summon all seven children – Skeebo, Gina, Vito, Nolet, Trixie, Mario, Martin – when it was meal time. The fun part was the neighbors hearing the bell, too, would all join in for a happy meal. The Guerreros were known for having great food in their home, where everyone was always welcome.

Lovable Baby Antonio remembers the endless dancing, swimming and pelota parties she hosted in their home with her gregarious children Le, Weng, Tang, Relly, Ram, Zari and Jat.

Reunion organizers Tang Antonio-Singson and my hubby Benny Soliven recounted the endless patintero games they all played in those days. To this day, you will find permanent rows of lines on the street that are up to four meters apart. The patinteros used these as their guides, plus there was a line right down the middle of the road which was just perfect for the patoto.

Robbie Francisco, being the youngest and cutest kid on the block, was everyone’s ring bearer. He was very thankful for the very caring household help he grew up with. (For in all Garfield homes, their helpers were also treated like family.)

Ginette Soliven-Reyes warmly recalls how the Garfield Gang was able to help a lot of people through their Lend A Hand Club. Leaders of the group were Dr. Shey-Shey Francisco-Cordero, Angela Narciso, the late Rica Sy-Quia, Dondi Narciso and Dr. Nina Sy-Quia-Sioson. It was heartwarming to hear how they pooled together all the neighborhood talents (of which there were many) to produce programs held at the Franciscos’ house to raise funds for anyone who needed it.

One of the golden voiced performers, Roel Francisco, is now a popular concierge at the Waldorf Towers in New York.

Nina Sioson recollects how protective the Garfield boys were of her late sister Rica that they would watch over and screen her many visiting suitors.

Philip Soliven remembers the time when there was a strong typhoon that knocked out Manila’s electrical power for a whole week. Everyone converged together on Garfield Street to chat and hang out and have a good laugh.

Relly Antonio narrates how, on rainy days, they would go-kart on the street inclines while splashing through the muddy water puddles teeming with tadpoles.

Ton Ton Francisco laughingly reveals a secret of how the Guerreros’ goats broke free, ran into the Franciscos’ garden and feasted on his father’s exotic plants.

Trixie Guerrero and Ton Ton remember how all the neighborhood kids looked forward to Papa Willie’s suitcase of pasalubongs whenever he would come home from frequent trips abroad because he would always bring the latest toys for his children. Thus all their joys were shared! The kids also used to raid his fridge for chocolates and imported goodies.

A favorite Garfield tale is the forbidden love story between Girl-Next-Door Raquel Francisco and Boy-Next-Door Vito Guerrero. The Garfield Gang helped them "escape" thus today they are happily married with two lovely children.

Zari Antonio-Poe, who used to nag Tonton (now an excellent chef) for cooking lessons, is now an excellent homemaker and mother of four.

The day I married Benny 19 years ago, the whole Garfield Gang rejoiced with us, warming my heart through their gift of songs. Our wedding choir was the most beautiful blending of Garfield Gang voices.

Bookie Soliven gleefully remembers going around the village in the vintage 1960 Citroen owned by Edi, Raffy and Francis Dayrit. Bookie adds: "We used to walk on top of the walls to get to each other’s houses." He also vividly recalls the bamboo cannon that produced the loudest sounds during those New Year street celebrations. "We would also always look forward to the very best Chinese fireworks prepared for us by Johann Chua," adds Ting Caedo.

In Benny’s words: "Times were so simple then. We were happy just to be together and do simple things spontaneously. It didn’t have to be a fancy dinner. Piling into our van and going to Dunkin Donuts to have one donut each was for us already quite a treat."

Philip Soliven adds: "In the summer, we would all go to Coney Island to order the biggest dish of ice cream containing all 30 flavors and the whole gang would attack them all together. We also enjoyed playing jolen, combat, two-stick chato, agawan base and hide and seek."

Ram Antonio affirms how old friends such as the ones he grew up with are to this day still the closest to his heart. He wishes that the third- generation Garfield kids would become just as close as they were.

The guys of Garfield were a special breed of talents. Ram and Relly Antonio were much sought after dancing partners of all the girls in those days when DI’s were still unheard of. Manny Narciso, a gifted composer and pianist, could easily melt a girl’s heart with his original compositions. Benny and Philip operated a mobile disco called Media Props which was very popular at parties.

In their next reunion, I heard there will be a patintero tournament as well as a dancing street party to the good old ’70s tunes.

Many may have moved out into their own homes to raise families of their own. Others may be in other countries in pursuit of their destinies. But you can be sure that they have packed up in their hearts and minds the spirit created on Garfield Street paved with golden memories, neighborly love and the strongest bond of friendships that will certainly last a lifetime. Garfield is alive!

(E-mail me at miladayjewels@yahoo.com)