'Pisay' and 'Bear Claw'

Another amusing incident happened to me last Saturday (8/25/07) -- the day when I watched the fim "Pisay (Philippine Science High School)" (See http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2007/08/pisay-movie-website.html).

Earlier that day I visited a friend in a hospital in Quezon City. At the lobby of the hospital, I was surprised to see a Merced Bakeshop outlet. To me and my highschool batchmates (PSHS Class of 1997) Merced Bakehop is equated with the pastry 'bear claw' -- a piece of bread shaped like the claw of a bear and with a brown filling (which seemed to be a mixture of chocolate and mongo). Merced Bakeshop is located near the corner of EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) and Quezon Avenue. Before the existence of flyovers and MRT, Merced bakeshop was just walking distance from Pisay. When we were students in Pisay (some 30 years ago!) we regularly go to Merced Bakeshop to buy 'bear claw.

So, when I saw the Merced Bakeshop outlet at the hospital in Quezon City that I visited last Saturday, I immediately asked the saleslady if the shop sells 'bear claw.' I thought the last time I ate 'bear claw' was when I was still a student of Pisay way back in 1977. I was told that there were three pieces left. I immediately bought all the three pieces of 'bear claw'.

When evening came, I went to The Block in SM North Edsa to see the film Pisay together with some of my batchmates.

Since I did not have merienda in the afternoon of that day and I haven't had dinner, I started eating one of the 'bear claw' pastries that I bought from the Merced outlet while watching the film.

Then came another surprise of the day: During the second act of the movie Pisay [there were four acts: each act representing a shoolyear level experience of the eight main characters (students) in film] 'Matt' (the dormer) and 'Minggoy' (the kid with cancer) climbed the fence near the dormitory to go to a nearby portion of 'Parks and Wildlife'. At the park 'Matt' brought out a 'bear claw' and started eating it while he was having a serious talk with 'Minggoy'. Many people from the audience gave out a hearty laugh [including me who was also eating 'bear claw' like 'Matt' :) ] because they knew that 'bear claw' was associated with Pisay students during that period (1970s to 1980s).

I'm sure that those who did not recognize the connection between 'Pisay' students and 'bear claw' were wondering why some people were laughing when the scene being portrayed in the movie was a serious one :)

Long live 'Pisay' and 'bear claw'!

Cheers,

Raffy

The Pisay '77 Blogger

8/27/07