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San Roque...from
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It is always a welcome change to spend time with
a different group of people. And as August drew
in a festive mood for Northern Samar, with
fiestas here and there, I was fascinated to be
part of their most special celebrations which I
realized are very different from what several
parties I’ve been to in the city.
And this is how fiestas are, the provincial way:
First off, the parade—adorable little children
in shiny costumes and make-up, students from the
local school playing the xylophone and drums,
and local beauties waving while standing at the
back of a flower-decked truck. You won’t miss
this because the procession is usually
accompanied by a repetitive jingle that is loud
enough for you to hear. Residents go from one
house to the other to feast on what the other
locals have prepared; and sometimes, people from
the other town go visit to where the fiesta is
happening to join in the festivities. Well,
that’s what we did.
Councilor Butch C. Bonsol of Catarman and I went
to the nearby San Roque town for a courtesy call
to Mayor Avalon. We weren’t welcomed by any
formalities, but with loads of food—mostly
seafoods, yum!—kind of like an outdoor party in
the province, like rustic al fresco dining. And
what’s more amusing is how we shared this long
table with total strangers yet still enjoyed
every bite of the lechon baka (roasted calf) and
feel totally comfortable even as we were in our
fingers taking the meat off the sumptuous crabs.
As they say, province people are naturally
friendly and accommodating. And I couldn’t agree
more. |
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Fiestas are always a time for festive merriment.
It’s a once a year event when locals gather at
the town plaza on the eve of the actual feast.With
a backdrop of a hired band or performer, they
let loose and showcase their talents on the
makeshift dance floor. Visitors are usually not
spared from experiencing this unique town
festivity. And so was I.
During the fiesta of Barangay Cawayan in Catarman, the native place of Coun. Bonsol, I
was, like any visitor, paired with a local
official to dance the traditional Visayan
courtship dance curacha. Seeing how adept
Provincial Governor Raul Daza, Board Member Jun
Rosales, Mayor Alita Rosales and Coun. Bonsol
swing it, I knew I was bound to embarrassment
when my name was called. Nonetheless, I
nervously gave the touching-your-shoulders-alternately-as-you-go-around-your-partner
dance a try, if only to amuse the awaiting
public. My two left feet were obviously at a
loss as to what I was doing but it gives me
great satisfaction to know that my five-minute
(which felt like half an hour) claim to fame
with my well-practiced partner
Vice Mayor Christian Uy entertained the
locals.
And not to mention, brought in money for them.
You see, every time a pair dances, people throw
in twenty peso bills on a big red cloth laid on
the dancefloor. “The money goes to the barangay,”
explains Coun. Bonsol when I asked of the
peculiar practice.
And so that’s my experience with fiestas in
Northern Samar. Spent some time dining and
chatting with the locals, was captivated by the
engaging festive parades, learned to take things
at a leisurely pace, caught off guard with
dancing the curacha and the list goes on… In the
end, I know that inasmuch as I have amused the
locals as a visitor, the whole experience has
more so enriched me and made me appreciate life
a little bit more. |
