September 21, 2008

Fiesta Fever

The day started with the pitiful sound of a pig being readied for slaughter and ended with "Alone Again, Naturally" from the Video Singko from across the street. In between were the seemingly endless stream of people weaving in and out of houses, the beer-and-brandy-induced laughter, the neighborly exchange of fiesta fare and, much later, the wobble and shake of those who have had one drink too many.

Today is our tiny village's fiesta, and not even austerity nor the threat of Typhoon Hagupit could get in the way of tradition. Yesterday, there was a parade along our otherwise quiet streets, and the reigning village beauties waved and smiled their way under the scorching midday sun. For nine days, we trooped to the neighborhood chapel for the novena to the Virgin of Penafrancia, in the same way that the more worldly among us trooped to the improvised cockpit right on our block.





I must admit that I am new to this fiesta thing. We did have our share of fiesta fever in the old house, but between moving to Manila and beyond and coming home for good,what the fiesta was for was lost on me. It was only when I moved to this tight-knit, neighborly community four years ago that I realized that the fiesta was for thanksgiving, for celebrating life and all its gifts.

"Alone Again, Naturally" is not really the appropriate finale to this happy, happy day.

9 comments:

Abaniko said...

May perya at ferris wheel din ba tuwing fiesta sa inyo? ;-)

Droomvla said...

Na-miss ko an fiesta. Wah!!! lol Aber, sin-o man ini na beauty queen kay baga an kamamata pa lamang? lol

Mel said...

your post brought me down memory lane. it reminded me of the good old days and where i came from.

Unknown said...

Hope there weren't any trouble amidst those beer and brandy induced laughter. Dito kasi sa Tondo, di buo ang fiesta pag walang suntukan at saksakan, hehe...

Anna said...

Hi Abaniko!

Maliit lang ang subdivision namin kaya di kasya ang perya :P

Anna said...

Hi Marissa! Amo ina an reigning beauty queen ha ha ha. Pag ordinary days, taga-supply katabang didi sa village.

Anna said...

Hi Mel!

Celebrating with the rest of the neighborhood is a grounding, connecting experience. Maugmahon daw!

Anna said...

Hi Rudy!

Awa ng Diyos, wala namang ganun. But there were bulging eyebags the day after kasi inumaga ang videoke he he he

Forever59er said...

It has been a while since I have really celebrated a fiesta. In the community I live in at Pasig, there is a fiesta which comes and goes unheralded except in church. I think the Fiesta for Progress movement -- a campaign to downgrade the celebration of fiestas in terms of show and gastronomics -- succeeded, at least in Metro Manila. Why do I feel a bit sad?

Invite mo naman ako next year?! :)