Caught up in Dinagyang 2013 Fever - Part 2

It's the day when the main event of Dinagyang 2013 was held. About 10 contesting tribes vied for the coveted title of being the champion for the ati-atihan streetdance category. Just watching it on television amazed me. The choreography, costumes, props, and music were really meticulously done by all the tribes such as their creativity oozed so much to praise the Santo Nino.

After the contest, which I knew was watched by overflowing crowd, my family and I decided to go to the city. The energy, fun, and excitement were bursting so much in the streets of Iloilo. The malls were packed and the roads were like a maze because of the many people that went to and fro.

My cousin got his tribal henna tattoo on his forearm for 100 php.

We just capped the day off slurping sundaes in Jollibee then proceeded to Plazuela where a band was playing as people gathered in tables for some food and booze. The Dinagyang celebration has already been part of Iloilo's culture and every year, it's getting better and better.

Caught up in Dinagyang 2013 Fever - Part 1

Dinagyang fever is on heat! Or maybe, is on fire! And yes, Ilonggos love the crazy merrymaking happening in almost every corner of the city. There are bands everywhere and people swarm the roads, making long walks just to get to where the fun is. Of course, foodfest is always a blast, filling the air with the smoke of delicious inasal and the smell of beer. Oh c'mon, this is Dinagyang! Get out of the house and experience the fun! At least, that's what I did. Here's my simple memory of Dinagyang 2013! Viva Senyor Santo Nino!!!

After watching the awesome fireworks in Sm City, my cousin and I headed to Plazuela. Oh my! It was jam-packed! With this big crowd, I hoped we would be able to find our friends who'd join us with the expected walkathon.

Large crowd in Plazuela

People caught up in Dinagyang craze in Plazuela

Then, we trudged downtown to find out what's new there. As expected, roads were filled with excited people. Thank God, guards were everywhere to ensure safety. Local bands started to play and tables along many food kiosks were now getting occupied by party-goers. We found the booths by SMART and they had all these cool cars with upgraded sound system lined up by the side. The sound really boomed with so much energy. Just fun-tastic!

Beautiful wheels with upgraded sound machines

Who wouldn't be in party-mode if you own this car?

A simple Volks can be turned into something precious as this.

Then, here came the highlight of the night - an adrenaline driven performance by the band Spongecola near SM Delgado. The lead vocalist, Yael Yuzon, wowed the ecstatic crowd with his hyperactive performance. He literally even walked his way to the audience. He climbed up the sound system to come nearer his fans on the left side of the stage, went up the left stairs to pass the footbridge, and was carried by a man on the shoulder just so he could reach the people on the back part. While singing, he was offered beer. I guess he gulped three bottles of it the entire duration of the show.

Yael Yuzon, vocalist of Spongecola,  giving an all-out performance

He goes to the audience with all his might and sings to them with all his heart.

Nice lights to those behind this show

Hope he'll not fall.

crazy crowd sings with Yael

This was January 25, just an appetizer for the main events on the next and the following day, but I already felt the fuel heating up. Thank God I went with my friends. I actually didn't know about these events happening. What I knew was that, once you travel the streets of Iloilo during the Dinagyang celebration, expect bands, late night partying, long walks, fireworks, food, and more food. = )

Newfound Friendship Over Songs and Pizza

Once, I was at a karaoke house/pizza restaurant in Makati together with my uncle. Boy, how he really loved singing. We needed to write about four songs on a piece of paper then give it to the waiter for him to process the songs in the videoke machine. We had to wait for our turn for the microphone since there were still other customers who were passionately singing at the top of their lungs.

When I saw my song of choice appeared on the machine's screen, they handed to me the microphone and so I began singing. I hope my voice wasn't bad since many could hear it. I think the resto was called Pizza Avenue. They really had a good-tasting pizza. You could have the regular one in four slices for Php 110. Not bad since the pie was loaded with ground beef, cheese, and mushrooms.

After I sang, it was my uncle's turn. Of course, he chose Tagalog and Visayan songs which he really belted out with  emotions. Then, a guy from the table in front of us walked his way towards us. He sat on a free chair by our table and started chatting with my uncle. He said that that he was surprised upon hearing my tito singing a Visayan song since he was also a Bisaya. He hailed from Negros and flew here in Manila to work. This guy, in his thirties, also had an awesome singing voice since he could reach very high notes. He could even play with his voice in different tones and style. And he's just friendly.

I realized that in just a short time, you could be friends with someone whom you don't personally know. This is because you can find something similar with this person, may it be culture or religion or just hobbies. My uncle and I went home almost past 12 am and boy, I had a lot of fun singing and munching pizza.

Novena and Lighting a Candle at the National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus

A week ago, three friends and I visited the National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus in J.P. Laurel, Manila. I was actually unsure where we were heading to as we walked past the roads of Mendiola. No worries, I was just following them. All I knew was we were going to attend a mass. Arriving at the place, indeed, it seemed as though a Holy Eucharist was going on.

We went up the choir loft and sat on a bench while the priest was going through his sermon. Afterwhich, I thought he would go on with the usual proceedings but I was surprised when everyone took his/her own booklets. It dawned to me that we were actually participating in a solemn novena to St. Jude Thaddeus.  The priest walked as through the prayers with the booklets as our reference.

Who is St. Jude Thaddeus, you may ask? He is actually one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. In the bible, he is interchangeably called Thaddeus, Jude of James, Judas Thaddeus, or Lebbaeus. The parish's history started  from the evangelization of Chinese in Manila in 1588 under the Dominican Fathers. According to the shrine's website, the church had set up its first rectory through renting a part of the premises of a former hospital (now St. Jude Catholic School) in San, Miguel Manila. By next month, St. Jude Thaddeus became the patron saint as proposed by Father Provincial Herman Kondring, SVD. The site where it is presently located was donated by Archbishop Rufino Santos.

The website said that the weekly novena started in June 1959 and since then, it has been held every Thursday. It has been flocked by devotees such as students, board exam takers, office workers, and other people who pray for petitions especially those who need help for their various problems in life. 

After the novena was finished, we went outside and there at the lobby, people gathered, raising their hands and booklets as the priest sprinkled us with Holy water. Truly, life is useless without our deep faith to the Almighty.

Before we recap our visit, we lighted floating candles located just by the lobby and there we silently offered our prayers to the Father. I realized that many people come here to manifest their faith, which was a part of their sincere interaction with the Lord. 

I thank God for sanctuaries like National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus. In this modern and fast-paced life that we are in right now, it is easy for us to be tempted and get caught in sin. But with a community where we can find refuge to express our faith to God, we can re-assess our lives and put it into the right perspective.

Relax Mode in Batangas

I went to Batangas a month ago with my tito who was visiting a friend who lives there. Since it was my first time traveling to the place, I was a bit excited of what was in stored for me. It was indeed a long ride going there via bus. However, this compensated with the breathtaking greenery that you will see as we bound to this province known for their unique tone of speaking Tagalog.

Getting there, It seemed the place was relaxed since there weren't so many lofty buildings. I also felt the cool air brushing through my body. Maybe, this was due to the mountainous landscape that Batangas had. I could have brought my sweater. Though the house we were visiting was just near the city, it wasn't surrounded by commercial stores and establishments. Rather, as we rode the tricycle going to my tito's friend, I was mesmerized by the pretty view of mountains, trees, and humble villages that welcomed us.

As we arrived at our destination, I felt peace since the home was surrounded with coconut trees. I felt as though all my worries vanished just being in that serene environment. My tito and his friend cooked tinolang manok while my cousin and I roamed around, relaxed under a wooden gazebo with a swing, and took pictures of us amidst the stress-free scenery.

It was a refreshing feeling to be able to just depart from the busy city life and submit yourself to the nature's comforting embrace. Batangas offered this to me which made such trip special and memorable. We just stayed there for one day, however, I learned many lessons from the persons we met. Simply, there were things in life that we wouldn't know unless we interact with people who had these unique real-life experiences   from which we could gain wisdom.

Batangas was a humble town, offering you a mix of rural and urban fun. With its long, winding roads, cool breeze, and awesome people, indeed, it had the peculiar but awesome simplicity that I have not experienced from the other places here in the Philippines.