PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS
Before COVID-19 occured in the Philippines, we Filipinos loved celebrating festivals or fiesta. Filipinos are considered one of the happiest people in the world. In the Philippines, we celebrate countless fiestas, festivals, and holidays all year-long. We like to find ways to make an occasion extraordinary than the usual way other people would celebrate it.
Festivals and fiestas are full of life. The gorgeous, colorful and elaborately designed costumes that symbolize unity and Saints, a parade of floats or gigantic paper mache people roaming around the area, along with an energetic group of performers, live music, delicious food, and beautiful decorations such as flowers, fruits, or vegetables hanged outside houses, these make our festivals or fiestas unique. But not all of these things make our festivals and fiestas extraordinary. What we often forget is what makes our festivals and fiestas astonishing, these are the bonds and the humble people that would welcome you. The smiles of the people, laughter heard outside, and the cheering is another reason why our festivals and fiestas are amusing. COVID-19 made people sad and miss these marvelous celebrations.
I remember when my father used to tell me about his experience when he went for a business trip to Cebu City. He and his co-workers had a meeting there and they were able to pass by the Sinulog Festival during their trip. Also, there was a parade for Sto. Niño which included colorful costumes worn by the performers, a loud and lively band playing dynamic sounds, delicious lechon, and a great feast.
As for me, I haven’t experienced a festival nor a fiesta yet. I wasn’t able to see the parade of musicians, gigantic floats, relics of the Saints, and the group of performers. I would eat inside with my family since there is food during fiestas to enjoy the day. I still remember my grandma calling us to go to another house to eat the food that she prepared for the fiesta. The dishes that she prepared for us were pancit, paella, chicken, barbeque, biko, and fruit salad. It didn’t bother me that I didn’t see the parade because I am happy that I am with family and enjoying our mini fiesta indoors. After the pandemic, I hope to visit once a fiesta or festival with my family without any restrictions. I hope to once again, see the colorful streets that people worked hard together in coordinating, decorating and choreographing along with the crowd’s smiles and cheers in the uplifting energy fiestas and festivals bring.
Philippine festivals and fiestas are the pride and joy of Filipinos. Celebrating it portrays honor and respect to the Saints we believe in. These may be all about honoring them but, the moments that we won't be able to forget during festivals or fiestas are the bonds with the people we love. Our friends and family that lived far away from us were able to be reunited without any danger from getting the virus. The pandemic may postpone the celebrations for this year, yet, we all hope and pray that we would be able to celebrate these as this pandemic ends once and for all. We would return to normal, back to the things that we usually do without any restrictions and danger. Also, we may enjoy the festivals and fiestas to the fullest and, nothing would stop us from not letting us enjoy this moment of happiness.
By: Narisha Neviele T. Tandas