YOUR FAVORITE HALO-HALO PLACES: Luz The Original Razon’s Halo-Halo

This summer, we asked Youscoopers to name their favorite halo-halo places. We tallied the responses and five establishments—three with headquarters in Pampanga, one in Cavite, and one in Metro Manila—came out on top.

But we weren't content to leave it at that. GMA's own Tonipet Gaba took on the challenge of trying what each of these places has to offer, and now has delivered his verdict.

Presented in no particular order, here is the second of your top five halo-halo places.

Luz The Original Razon’s (Since 1972)
P75/one size
O.G. Road, San Matias, Guagua, Pampanga
(045) 901-0809

They say simplicity is beauty...and the beauty in each glass of Luz The Original Razon’s Halo-Halo lies in its simple ingredients, all nestled snugly inside an ice-capped glass.

Virginia, Severina, Elena and Roger—the Razon siblings of Guagua—never knew in 1972 that they would soon have a great food story to tell and that an even bigger legacy was about to be enjoyed by their present-day next of kin.

What started as a modest halo-halo stand in front of their ancestral home soon became the summer hub of locals and tourists alike, for their version was unlike the rest in terms of ingredients and profile.

Whereas the most popular variety had layer upon layer of sugared fruit tidbits, theirs had only three—sweetened macapuno, sweetened saba and leche flan, though the first series had sweetened kundol, jackfruit and pastillas.

Another thing too: their shaved ice was smooth as snow. No jarring, rock-like ice sediments to mar your molars. Just thaw in your mouth icy-creamy goodness that lazily glides down your throat.

I had the special opportunity to interview Lola Viring (Virginia) and her niece, Luz, 9 years ago for my food show, "Tara! Let’s Eat!" and she regaled me with their humble beginnings, how their business really started and how each and every sibling including herself never married.

She even whispered her heartaches about other people who blatantly went on to use their name and started franchises of their own. Up until her death, she claimed to never have received anything from these franchisees. She had chosen to live with her only trusted niece, Luz Razon-Cabrera, with no royalties received, no Razon restaurant nor residential property of her own.

I immediately became a fan of these strong and resilient ladies. I never forgot them, so imagine my happiness when I found out I was to be reunited with Luz for this assignment. She and her daughter TinTin now own and operate 3, yes, only 3, Luz Razon’s branches.

Her sister-in-law owns Teresita’s of San Fernando and she reassured me that their halo-halo recipe is the same authentic one. According to Luz, their restaurants churn out the only original recipe approved by Lola Viring Razon. They have chosen to stay within the confines of their own city (with some branches in Quezon City and NLEX) and have vowed to amble on, confident that people will always know and remember that they were the ones who started it all and not, despite what other foodies may claim, the pseudo versions that have now sprouted all over the Metro.

Great back story, right? Please keep Lola Viring’s story in mind every time you partake of their bestselling heritage recipe.

What’s inside their halo-halo these days? Still the same trimmed-down basics that I mentioned earlier, instinctively done for a more concentrated taste. It’s still the same semi-thick, silky smooth liquid milk and 2-fruit combo topped with their homemade leche flan.

What makes it taste distinctly different? The secret lies in the macapuno. Lola Viring and Luz actually showed me what goes on with their coconut strands. Why do you think it’s fragrant? I promised never to tell.

Luz’ Halo-Halo is hands down my all-time favorite. Nothing beats the original. And I suggest pairing it with their famous Pansit LugLug. Try their Kaldereta, too. It’s out of this world. No particular sequence in eating it. When you're in this restaurant, it’s like being in my Lola’s Mabalacat home. There are no rules. Just sit back and eat like a true Razon.

If you want to know once and for all which one is the original, do make that trek to Guagua and look for the restaurant that has the name “Luz” on the signage. It is before the town proper and just beside an old gas station. I have provided the contact number for you. Luz and TinTin would be most happy to welcome you.