BalikBayan, Balik Blog, Hala Bira

I'm Back. Na naman, I am resurrected after all the holiday feasting frenzy.I know its a little weird to write about holiday hangovers when the season is breezing to the last days of February. Am I having a delayed reaction? The holidays should have ended right after the Feast of the Three Kings. Not for me.

I went home for the Holidays  a few days before Christmas  to Jaro, Iloilo City ,Philippines and went overdrive with the binging for about a month and half. I am not  lying when  I brag that my bacchanalian overload just ended last February the second with the celebration of the Feast of Nuestra Candeleria de Jaro. It is touted to be one of the biggest Fiesta celebrations in the archipelago. (Maybe after Quiapo?)

The Fiesta sa Jaro is miraculous, festive and chi chi.

It is miraculous because  the mix of the hoi polloi, the well-heeled,the pseudo celebrities, the doubting Thomases make a beeline to the Lady of Candles(the santos(statue) is said to be  gradually growing ) to ask for holy favors in her cathedral. In the gates of the convento, devotees buy her blessed candles with a far reaching reputation for cure alls.

The Candelaria is festive because.... ah... that's self explanatory. San Mig sales people need not explain to the ignorant. In this aspect, I am a devotee.

The glitz and glamor is underscored when daughters of the country's who's who in Pinoy politics and business are happily dressed by famous couturiers to sit as Fiesta Queens. Last year it was the Senate President's Villar comely daughter who got the right to hold and wear the much sought ( an exclusive committee chooses,with political ,manoeuvrings, the lucky lady)scepter and tiara. This year it was a granddaughter of one of the Lopez's of the ABS_CBN and etc. fame who warmed the  glitzy throne.

A week before the Fiesta de Candelaria was the Dinagyang where the Ilonggo's culture, artistry and festive spirit was showcased; not mention the stamina for alcohol consumption. This is actually a ceebration of the Feast of the Santo Nino that has been unofficially challenged to  be the feast of San Miguel. After the world-class performance of the different contesting ati tribes, people take to the streets to dance and well, take it to limit.. ..one more time. Shouts of Hala Bira! fill the air.

I am now in the tail end of my fabulous holiday.I am now in Manila chilling out, remembering the wonderful memories still clear as day even when distilled with the ice cold powers of my fave brew. In a few days I will be flying the Land of the Maple Leaf which is my second home. All of these experiences will become stories that  will tell to the homesick Pinoy friends.

Comments

[ces]

kaya naman pala! good for you Angelo! what a vacation indeed! kainggit!