A Scoop of Taft’s Heart: Kuya Danding’s Sorbetes

Beating the “Taft air” is one thing, but beating the Taft heat is quite another challenge. If you’ve ever walked along Taft Avenue, particularly along Agno and Castro Street of DLSU, chances are you’ve seen and bought from the ice cream cart paired with a warm smile. That’s Kuya Rolando, better known to Lasallians and locals in the area as Kuya “Danding,” as seen on his colorful cart, who’s been serving scoops of sorbetes for nearly three decades. 

For 29 years, Kuya Danding has been a familiar face along the streets of Taft, bringing joy to students, faculty, and even passersby with his cold, creamy, sweet treats. His story began when his wife’s father, also a sorbetes vendor in Taft, retired and moved to the province. Since then, Kuya Danding stepped in to build a livelihood for his family and has become an iconic sorbetero along DLSU.

Kuya Danding’s day starts at 3:00 AM. Before he even works as a street vendor, he’s in the kitchen preparing breakfast and packed lunches for his children. “Pagkatapos ko silang asikasuhin, doon pa lang ako maghahanda [ng sorbetes],” (“After I take care of them, that’s when I start preparing [the ice cream].”), he says. Kuya Danding’s goal is to finish preparing everything by 9:00 AM—the cones, buns, and canisters of sorbetes in crowd-favorite flavors like cookies and cream, cheese, avocado, and strawberry.

His cart is always well-stocked on cones thanks to his trusted supplier from Bulacan, a former DLSU student who was once his customer and now supplies nearby 7-Eleven stores. Truly, Kuya Danding is well-loved by his customers as much as he is well-known for his sweet treats. Sometimes, he even works events or gets tapped by a Manila congressman who owns a private ice cream cart. But most days, you’ll find him stationed right here in Taft.

In his earlier years, Kuya Danding often stayed until midnight, or even 2:00 AM, serving students who craved something sweet after a night of drinking and hanging out past school hours. “Kasi dati, hinahanap ako ng mga estudyante,” (“Back then, the students would look for me.”), he recalls. “Kasi may mga inuman ‘yan dati,” (“Because before, a lot of students would be out drinking.”), he added. Back then, he even sold cigarettes to senior high school students who couldn’t buy from convenience stores, as they jokingly requested it to be paired with his ice cream. Even when the buildings of DLSU were still under construction, he says that it never bothered him. If anything, it brought more customers because he was friends with the workers.

Nowadays, he usually packs up around 5:30 or 6:00 PM, but remains present in his usual spot even during holidays or no-class and work days. Although the foot traffic is lighter, he still gets customers by serving student-athletes, faculty, school staff, and condo residents who are always in Taft and know where to find him. 

Over the years, Kuya Danding has become more than just a typical street vendor; he’s a trusted friend in the community. Students have left their bags with him, borrowed change, and even asked to pay “next time” when short on cash. “Babalik din naman ‘yan dito eh, mga namumukhaan ko naman,” (“They’ll come back here anyway, I recognize their faces.”), he says. Some regulars have even encouraged him to register for GCash so they can pay cashless, a request he happily fulfilled. 

For many, Kuya Danding’s sorbetes is more than a Filipino dessert; it serves as a familiar comfort in between classes, work, and daily routines. His story, dedication, and relationship with customers are a testament to the people who keep Taft’s street food culture alive. So the next time you want to feel Taft-proof under the scorching weather, stop by for a chat and a cone or two with Kuya Danding. Because just as his sorbetes seems enough to beat the Taft heat, knowing the people behind these streat delicacies makes every bite just a little sweeter.