It’s so freakin’ hot nowadays. So, that’s a good enough reason to have something cold and sweet like a halo-halo, one of the most popular Filipino desserts. (Halo in Tagalog means “mix”, so halo-halo literally means “mix-mix”.)
Yesterday, after running errands in the summer heat, having a halo-halo sounded like a great idea, so I ordered one at one of my favorite Pinoy restaurants, Manam Comfort Filipino. (Their version is called Namnam halo-halo, and namnam in Tagalog means “savor/taste.”) Oh, it’s so refreshing to munch on the shaved ice mixed with creamy evaporated milk, ube ice cream, nata de coco, red and green gulaman, saba, langka, ube halaya, and sweetened mung beans, plus sprinkled with rice crispies. I wish I could have another one soon, but we’ll see!
Anyway, let me share three songs that are perfect to listen to while enjoying a sweet, textured dessert like halo-halo this hot season.
Weezer’s “Island in the Sun”
I’m pretty sure any summer playlist has this classic song from Weezer, and for good reason. It feels so good to listen to the chill melody of “Island in the Sun” all day; it’s just as refreshing as being on the beach, having halo-halo, or doing both. If I were to pick just one halo-halo song out of this list, it would be this one.
Big Mountain’s “Baby, I Love Your Way”
I love both versions of “Baby, I Love Your Way” (the original acoustic by Peter Frampton and the reggae version by Big Mountain). But for this post, I’m sharing Big Mountain’s because it sounds more laidback, and that’s a perfect soundtrack to listen to while taking it easy with a halo-halo this summer.
Coheed and Cambria’s “Peace to the Mountain”
After enjoying that refreshing, sweet halo-halo, my body and my head cooled off (I really don’t like the summer heat), and then I became more settled down and even reflective. I also get that quiet, reflective feeling whenever I hear “Peace to the Mountain”, a song from one of my favorite bands, Coheed and Cambria, so I picked this one to close this short playlist.
Yun lang muna. Happy summer! (Even if the heat’s almost unbearable.)
For more information on Manam Comfort Filipino (notably their branches), please check out their Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Ian Pasicolan 