NOYPS, ARE YOU ONE OF US?

UNEDITED SAMPLE FEATURE ARTICLE
By Ma Inna Paulina Egamino Palana


Everyone is conversant that the Philippines is a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. Corruptions, desolation, mendacity, urbanization, overpopulation, pollution… my Trinidad vegetables! With all this, who can still deem we have the opportunity to be like AMERICA? But, think again, there are still some things that that GOLDEN LAND doesn’t and can we say, cannot have. What are those? See my Negrito friend, Filipinos are KNOWN to have a face with non-fading smile (shocks. I’m flattered). Face that encourages a soldier, gives faith to hopeless, bonds a family through hardships and wealth, and, of course, makes the country one of a kind. Philippines is one of a kind. Agree or agree? I am proud that I am a Filipino and that I belong to a Filipino family.

Why am I proud to be one of them? Let me give you some examples. My Cebu mangoes, where do I start?! My intellectual aptitude is under a nauseated labor once again! Hmm…I know! Lenten season! Ooh… how we journey from Metro Manila to our prefecture in Quezon to see the Prusisyon (though they really cause an awful traffic). Then, how superbly are those Pasyons being sung in every crook of the country. Some in acoustic, some in accapella, and still some still read it really in verses. After a week, we will see that Spectacle of Different Virgin Mary sophisticatedly clad, pushing through sunup to commemorate the Salubong. Actually, here in our diminutive Prefecture of Tayabas, there are men who forfeit their body to be nailed in a cross for the re-enactment of the Passion of Christ.

Next stop, MAYOHAN SA TAYABAS. This is the main event every summer, being celebrated in a certain month that is SO VERY HARD TO GUESS. SWEAR. Ha-ha! Joke time! This occasion is when our family will be all together to see various activities around. Gay contest (hey, never underestimate the beauteous of a gay), beauty pageant (of genuine women), concerts of infamous bands like BAMBOO, Chicosci, Spongecola, etc., Flores de Mayo (the Parade of Women dressed sophisticatedly with their partners), Rigodon de Honor (wherein teenagers wore the national dress while dancing), and the BEST of all, HAGISAN!!!!!!!!!!! Well, its real name is San Isidro Labrador Fiesta of Farmers. I just named it “Hagisan” for all men in town will be in the streets with hats or bags big enough for you to shoot something. I remembered one accident I made way back. One man saw me holding a big pineapple, so he kept yelling at me to throw it to him, but my grandma says no for the statue is still nowhere to be seen. So I followed my grandma. But that man is still shouting at me to throw it to him, and it’s already annoying. I was completely infuriated that without thinking I threw it to him, head shot men! I don’t know how he reacted to that because I hide as quickly as I can beneath the windows. Ha-ha! Since the patron saint of the town is San Isidro, the Patron Saint of Farmers, crops from the farm are being thrown to them POLITELY, like Suman, pineapple, buko, grapes, all sorts of fruits and money (But on what I experienced, HE DESERVES THAT!). They say the more you receive from that event, the more blessing San Isidro will give you. Now I know why that man’s like that. So hyperactive he is.

Now, let’s go a little bit forward to the Christmas season! Well, well,well, here in the Philippines, people celebrates it late. They only start counting how many days till Christmas when the first month with “BER”, which is September, arrives. So late, agree? Well, we can’t change that. But, when December comes, Holly Molly, frowning is a crime. Joke. You see, there is NO reason for you to be sad the whole month! Certain activities will be held in every nook of the country! Example will be the Christmas carols. Abundant little kiddies will sing gracefully in front of your house, sometimes they would even dance for you! What amazes me is that they recycle their instruments. They use tansans, the cover of beers, punch some hole on each then insert it on a wire. They will tie both the ends of the wire and tadah!! A recycled tambourine! Useful and environmental friendly! Another instrument would be the drums. They will use any tin cans, or the milk cans then cover the open side will plastic and place it tightly with rubbers. TADAH! A recycled drum!! Of course, after they sing, you should give them something. Most of the Filipinos give those children a PISO, or two. Another event would be the Misa de Gallo or commonly known as the SIMBANG GABI. Filipinos would attend masses in the evening. I think it starts on the seventh day before Christmas. They said once you attended all the masses, some of your wishes would come true, because Jesus sees your true faith and thankfulness for Him. In the 24th of December, 99% of Filipino families would celebrate the Noche Buena, wherein the whole family will gather in one place and have fun with plenty of foods to eat, and games to play. Christmas day would be the day of exchanging gifts, having fun, love and food [of course!!!

Seven days after Christmas would be the noisiest event of the year, the NEW YEAR! Here, Filipinos would be out on their streets, being crazy as long as they can! Shouting at the top of their lungs! Eating as much as they can! Singing as long as they can! You will be able to see various colorful fireworks up in the sky! In our family, New Year is the time when we will have exchange gifts, family reunions and games. My favorite game would be the Hanapan ng Pera, because the rule is very simple: Find all the money you will see anywhere in the house and it’s yours already. See? So simple! But last year, my celebration for this event was somewhat different. My grandmother died. Well, that’s life.

So, my dear Filipino friends, let’s not loose hope! Be an OPTIMIST! Never give up! Our country can still be what America is right now. All we need to do is to make a dwarf vanish. Joke time! But seriously, Philippines is a world of wonder. Even its people, for without the puppeteer, their will be no puppet show! Am I right or am I right? If only we have a responsible government, the one who will be really true and responsible to its people. But, if they can’t do it, why not we make the first move? If we work hand in hand, imagine what a great wonder Philippines would be. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!