“Kasangga Mo Ang Langit” features one of the quaint bars found in the heart of Malate, the Hobbit House. Inspired by the book Lord of the Rings, this restaurant was created for the little people and embodies their hopes and dreams.
In a society that belittles and discriminates against people of short stature, where the only jobs available would either be in the movies or carnivals, the restaurant carries with it the hope and promise of a better future. Instead of being laughed at and made fun of, the bar gave them opportunities to exercise skills. It gave them dignity.
Jim Turner was an American Peace Corps Volunteer from Iowa. He set up the first Hobbit house December in 1973 along Mabini, Malate. He created this to give the little people an opportunity to work and earn a living. He lived in the Philippines for 51 years and before he died, he turned over the ownership and control of Hobbit House to its workforce.
According to Pidoy Fetalino, one of the pioneers who has worked in the bar for 43 years, Hobbit House of the 70s was very different compared to the time it moved to M.H. del Pilar in 2005. It had a homier feel plus the place was bigger at that time. There were more tourists in Ermita. From cashier, he worked his way up after Jim put him through college to study business management. He became the manager for 20 years and retired soon after.
He hopes that the place survives for another generation.
“Ang advice ko sa kanila, ituloy lang ang Hobbit House dahil ang gusto ko, umabot pa ng 3rd generation. Kasi ako ang 1st generation. Gusto ko umabot pa sa 3rd generation.”
FOOD AND FOLK SONGS
The Hobbit House serves 200 different types of beer and cider drinks from Spain and Australia on top of the regular menu. They carry folk music and can proudly say that the place gave the folk music legend, Freddie Aguilar, his first break in the music industry.
Pidoy admits that it is still the little people that draws the crowd, aside from good food and variety of drinks.
HOBBIT HOUSE IN BORACAY
The Lonely Planet lists the Hobbit House as one of the tourist places one can visit in the Philippines. In 2006 it opened its first branch in Boracay and franchising opportunities.
I remember that it was my boss, Fred Elizalde who headed Manila Broadcasting Co, who introduced me to Jim Turner. I remembered Jim because he treated little people with respect and gave them opportunities ‘normal’ people would have. I was a witness to the love and compassion that made Hobbit House to what it is now.
