Especially on summer, the sound of a bell would be heard among the streets in Manila, telling that “Mamang Sorbetero” (Ice Cream man) is peddling around the town to offer his sorbetes.
Sorbetes, as the Filipino ice cream is called, usually sold along the streets in wooden push carts. It is also considered as such because it is usually home-made by the vendors themselves or by small scale entrepreneurs. When compared with the commercially-made ice creams where stricter quality controls were enforced, this ice creams would naturally be cheaper in price. Unlike any other ice desserts made with dairy milk; Sorbetes clamors its unique taste for different flavors of chocolate, cheese, mango, avocado, ube, melon and strawberry, etc... because of the usual cassava flour and coconut milk included in the recipe as well as less milk and more water in the formula.
The History
The term “sorbetes” came from the Spanish word, sorbeter, means to suck, which is as one would have to suck the flavor of the ice cream. Spaniards introduced sorbetes to Filipinos and before, only the “rich” can afford it. As according to Jose Torres’ online article entitled “From Sorbete to Sorbetes: The Ice Cream’s Journey Into Pinoy Food History,” Filipinos were resourceful and creative enough to prepare homemade ice cream by mixing egg yolks and fresh carabao milk and simmer it over low fire until it thickens. Flavors were added during the cooking process and then it was poured over garapiñeras, which are round metal canisters inside a wooden drum with a crank, where ice and rock salt maintains the cold temperature of the sorbetes until ready to be consumed. When the Americans took over the country, ice creams were then commercialized and ice cream brands were more accepted, leaving the homemade Filipino sorbetes out of the competition. However, the sorbetes still thrived during fiestas and vendors peddled it into the streets.
During the late seventies up to the eighties, the song “Mamang Sorbetero” became a popular hit to promote the cultured Filipino ice cream. Sung by Celeste Legaspi, it speaks of an unknown fan asking Mamang Sorbetero of his name and exhibiting excitement among children whenever he would pass by. Nowadays, it would normally be played on educational programs to promote the Filipino dessert and on school programs where little kids would go dancing in Philippine costumes with girls holding their skirts and boys clutching their native hats just like what Mamang Sorbetero would do during the summer season.
Lyrics
Mamang Sorbetero
CELESTE LEGASPI
Mamang Sorbetero, Lyrics and Recording
Mamang Sorbetero (translation: Mister Ice-Cream Man) is a popular Tagalog song in the Philippines. The Filipina singer heard here is Celeste Legazpi.
Mamang sorbetero, anong ngalan mo?
Tinda mong ice cream, gustong-gusto ko
Init ng buhay, pinapawi mo
Sama ng loob, nalilimutan ko
Mamang sorbetero, tayo'y sumayaw
Kalembang mong hawak, muling ikaway
Batang munti, sa 'yo'y naghihintay
Bigyang ligaya ngayong tag-araw
Masdan ang ulap sa himpapawid
Korteng sorbetes sa pisngi ng langit
Mata ng dalaga'y nananaginip
Mayro'ng sikretong nasasaisip
Mainit na labi, nagbabagang mata
Sunog na pag-ibig, parang awa mo na
Mamang sorbetero, o, nasaan ka
Init ng buhay, pawiin mo na...
La la la la la...
Source:
https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/CELESTE-LEGASPI/Mamang-Sorbetero
http://magandafilipino.com/truly-tatak-pinoy-sorbetes-as-one-of-the-filipino-street-food/