Young Voice
Dagyang ta!
The streets of downtown Iloilo couldn't have been more festive. Drums roared in thumping rhythms while chants echoed in jovial tempos. No one could help but just tap to the beat. Costumes of street dancers flowed with colors while their dancing feet marched; everyone was captivated. Food along the sidewalks led to a yummy bag of peanuts or a mouth watering stick of grilled native chicken. Avenues were closed, intersections were railed and the one-way system were implemented, temporarily forgetting a week of busy traffic and hectic work for two days of fun and festivity. In my case, a brain draining week of midterms just ended, and there's no better way to shove off the remaining jibes due to a 150 item anatomy exam than two words, "dagyang ta."
My green tennis shoes brought me with my classmates to every nook and corner.
We enjoyed our 10-peso worth of Bubbles filling the humid air; we were like pre-schoolers who found delight in blowing and popping floating soap balloons. Everyone needs some time out and be like little kids running around in circles, momentarily forgetting the bills to pay, scholarships to maintain and business proposals to push. Take a deep breath, sigh a little because problems never cease; a truckload of new ones will come barging at your door next week.
They opted for face painting. I never really liked to have one, but still went along. I was amused at how some blobs of poster paint and some twists and flicks of the paintbrush became the next fashion accessory at that very moment.
The whole celebration for the holy child seems so grand and festive but notice the simplicity of the parts that make it whole. Music, dance steps, food, bubbles and poster paint. We see, hear, smell, taste and touch them every day but common as they are, when viewed as full, brings to life the best Tourism Event in the country. You'll never really appreciate a face painting until it's all drawn up and done.
Then, we walked towards a food chain that some of us didn't even know existed. Taking a break from fast foods wouldn't hurt. We had broiled seasoned tangigue and an exceptionally tasty tinolang manok.
Life seems to go that way, you must continue to explore. For new adventures, new people, and new problems until the time comes when you'll finally want to stay put.
Before the day ended, we joined the thousands of people vying for a perfect spot to view the much awaited fireworks display. My eyes were glued to the star-like creations dancing on a stage of dark sky. The field was filled with howls of amusement and awe. Then I thought of the fireworks and how they relate to life.
At first, I said that good things never last. As you see fireworks exploding in the night sky, the glittering glow lures you to reach for it and be captivated with its glimmer but in the end you'll realize it eventually fades in the night sky, leaving gray smog. But, one cannot forget its fountain of ember and glow. My adventure for that day was like the splendor display of fireworks. Although it just lasted for some fourteen hours, a lifetime of realizations and memories will be kept sealed in my treasure chest of experiences.
So, next year? Same time? Same place?
Iloilo, dagyang ta!
(For comments and reactions send an email to reylangarcia@gmail.com or an SMS to 09186363090. View my blog at http://www.theyoungvoice.blogspot.com )