Fiesta
Tomorrow is the start of the three- day Fiesta celebration in my hometown Tiwi in Albay in honor of the town’s Patron Saint, the martyred Saint Lawrence and the Miraculous Our Lady of Salvation, the Patroness of the Diocese of Legaspi. It’s a celebration witnessed and participated upon by various pilgrims from places all over the Bicol region and beyond.
Although I am not that religious anymore and a self- confessed non- practicing Catholic nowadays, I just cannot forget the customs and traditions that have been a part of my growing- up years.
Yes, I still remember my religion class quite well, also being a “Sacristan” when I was a kid helped me a lot in knowing things beyond the four Evangelists. In fact, I still can recite Padre Huestro and Dios Te Salve Maria in a heartbeat.
The Fiesta is usually highlighted by a colorful grand parade through the crowded streets of the town participated by various schools, organizations and local government units and culminating with the traditional exhibitions by the majorettes and drums corps in front of the municipal hall.
I used to participate in this so- called pomp and pageantry Tiwi- style and had my share of funny and amusing anecdotes to last me a lifetime. The funny thing is, I just learned yesterday that my composition is still being used by my high school alma mater in its drum and bugle corps exhibitions. That piece which I accidentally composed while tinkering with the lyre and drums during a lazy afternoon is more than 20 years old now. Ha-ha-ha.
Which brings me to Keisuke's email. He is, by the way, a former Japanese student from Tokyo (now a seasoned JOCV in South America having been posted to Peru and Bolivia for years now) who once stayed with us in Tiwi for a couple of months to immerse in the culture and way of life of the Filipinos and at the same time, study the methods of farming by the locals compared to the Japanese before his graduation back in Japan. But I will talk about him and all the Japanese students who have stayed with us dating back to my childhood in the 70s in a separate post.
Anyway, attached in the email is a short video of the now defunct Coron Festival as the parade of the various portrayals of colorful but historically incorrect characters (but what the heck, let them have their 6+ minutes of fame here) of the Tiwinhons of yore passed by. This was taken in front of our house in 2002, two years before I left town for the United States. Oh yes, my Mom and Madiay (Our selfless Yaya who's been with us since God- knows when) together with another Japanese student, Makiko made a brief cameo in the slide show. I should say, Kei has a sense of humor, too.
I am posting the video here for posterity and nothing else (except of course for the obvious self- indulgence on my part. Got to buy some laugh somehow, you know? ). So, pardon me.
Although I am not that religious anymore and a self- confessed non- practicing Catholic nowadays, I just cannot forget the customs and traditions that have been a part of my growing- up years.
Yes, I still remember my religion class quite well, also being a “Sacristan” when I was a kid helped me a lot in knowing things beyond the four Evangelists. In fact, I still can recite Padre Huestro and Dios Te Salve Maria in a heartbeat.
The Fiesta is usually highlighted by a colorful grand parade through the crowded streets of the town participated by various schools, organizations and local government units and culminating with the traditional exhibitions by the majorettes and drums corps in front of the municipal hall.
I used to participate in this so- called pomp and pageantry Tiwi- style and had my share of funny and amusing anecdotes to last me a lifetime. The funny thing is, I just learned yesterday that my composition is still being used by my high school alma mater in its drum and bugle corps exhibitions. That piece which I accidentally composed while tinkering with the lyre and drums during a lazy afternoon is more than 20 years old now. Ha-ha-ha.
Which brings me to Keisuke's email. He is, by the way, a former Japanese student from Tokyo (now a seasoned JOCV in South America having been posted to Peru and Bolivia for years now) who once stayed with us in Tiwi for a couple of months to immerse in the culture and way of life of the Filipinos and at the same time, study the methods of farming by the locals compared to the Japanese before his graduation back in Japan. But I will talk about him and all the Japanese students who have stayed with us dating back to my childhood in the 70s in a separate post.
Anyway, attached in the email is a short video of the now defunct Coron Festival as the parade of the various portrayals of colorful but historically incorrect characters (but what the heck, let them have their 6+ minutes of fame here) of the Tiwinhons of yore passed by. This was taken in front of our house in 2002, two years before I left town for the United States. Oh yes, my Mom and Madiay (Our selfless Yaya who's been with us since God- knows when) together with another Japanese student, Makiko made a brief cameo in the slide show. I should say, Kei has a sense of humor, too.
I am posting the video here for posterity and nothing else (except of course for the obvious self- indulgence on my part. Got to buy some laugh somehow, you know? ). So, pardon me.
Comments
Just a question. Why has the festival become defunct?
the usual culprit, politics. he-he