𝗢𝗺𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗬𝘂𝘀𝗶

The term “Nepo Baby” has taken on a notorious connotation in recent social media postings. It is used, somewhat derogatorily, to refer to individuals whose careers significantly benefit from their parents’ or relatives’ connections, the implication being that their privilege gives them a leg up over equally competent colleagues or contemporaries.

Essentially, this term encapsulates the essence of nepotism within specific spheres of influence. However, well before this term gained prominence, the word “Nepo” was already well-known within our community.

The term “Nepo,” for a lot of us, was largely tied to the esteemed Nepomuceno family. The Nepomuceno family legacy is prominently associated with notable figures like Don Juan and Teresa Nepomuceno, who, among others, contributed significantly to the establishment of Holy Angel University, the real estate development of Villa Teresa, and the operations of Angeles Electric and Ice Plant. Yet, for many, “Nepo” is more closely linked with “Nepo Mart,” a then renowned 1970s era PX goods shopping complex in Angeles City that served as a bustling hub for U.S. imported products traded among U.S. Air Force personnel and local traders. From my recollections as a boy, it was also a vibrant locale marked by a thriving U.S. dollar exchange business, often visited by “Binondo Central Bankers” to buy all GI dollars that have exchange hands.

It was within the Nepo Mart enclave that my father, lovingly known as Tatang Romy Yusi, or Mr. Yusi as many may respectfully refer to him, established the permanent office of Royal Security Agency, Inc. (Royal) on the Mezzanine Floor of Nepo 1 in 1974.

Just below his office lay the corner cafeteria owned by the late Tatang Jack Concepcion, who I believe was the complex manager at the time. Next to this cafeteria was an imported dry goods and shoe store operated by Mr. Lacsamana. At the other end of Nepo 1 was the beloved “Chicken House,” famous for its succulent burgers and homestyle pork chicharrón, affectionately dubbed “pitichan.” There was no San Mig Light yet, only the classic Pale Pilsen to accompany the delectable pulutan.

It was at the Nepo driving range, which faced the Angeles Electric building, where I first experienced the joy of swinging a seven-iron, attempting to mimic Tatang Romy as he practiced. I vividly remember his determination to improve his swing before hitting the prestigious Paradise Golf Course of Apung Quitong Nepomuceno, lest he incur the criticism of consistently slicing the ball out to the boundary line of Porac town.

Nepo Mart was also my mother’s go-to destination for her meat purchases, particularly for tocino and “pindang,” which were prepared and cured right before our eyes. The unforgettable halo-halo and kakanin or “kalame” offerings inside Nepo 1 were always a delightful treat during my afternoon visits to my father’s office. After school, I would often walk or ride my bicycle to join him, yet sometimes I would find myself spending time at my maternal grandparents’ house in Villa Teresa, merely a short stroll away from Royal’s office.

As Fundador brandy started gaining traction among local drinkers, one of Tatang Romy’s friends garnered the nickname “bulubok,” humorously attributed to his alleged penchant for concocting and selling fake brandy to the less discerning clientele.

My memories of those times also include visits to the BPI Bank located in BPI Arcade to fund my kiddie account, an old genteel building previously home to Taiping Restaurant, which was once then known as ComTrust Bank.

It was at Nepo Mart that many kids my age in elementary and high school would eagerly plead with their parents to buy them branded basketball and running shoes—brands like Adidas and Puma. I don’t recall Nike being among the most coveted brands at that time.

When the Betamax era arrived, I have vivid memories of walking from the Royal office to my good friend Jack Uy’s video rental store on Plaridel Street especially during the Holy Week to rent the movies Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, Spartacus, Jesus Christ Super Star, and the like. Jack’s store was just a short, straight walk down the road from Nepo Mart. It was here that the business acumen of the Uy brothers—Jack, Allan, and the now quasi-public figure Dennis—was honed to perfection.

Adjacent to the Nepo Mart along Sto. Rosario Road is “Mr. Frosty,” a place also renowned for serving some of the best halo-halo and ice cream.

Indeed, being an Angeleno, the daily aspects of my childhood and teenage life revolved not only around Villa Angela, where my family lived, but also around the already bustling Nepo Complex. As a young law student in the late ’80s, and later as a lawyer in the ’90s, I would purchase chocolate gifts for my then-girlfriend from the stores at Nepo Mart during my weekly visits to her house. Of course, I always remembered to bring tocino for her elderly maid aunties.

When Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, Nepo Mart was left devastated. The Royal office thus relocated to the much sturdier BPI Nepo Arcade. This corner office once housed a financing company owned by Tatang Romy’s old friend, the late Remy Nepomuceno.

Since then, so much has changed. Now, Nepo Mart has evolved into a super mixed-used commercial complex, bustling with malls, office buildings and offices, food and restaurant hub, and the soon-to-be completed Rockwell at Nepo Center.

In revisiting these cherished memories, I embrace my identity as a “Nepo Baby.” In a way, I was privileged to live through that unforgettable experience.