D-day + 10

I should have posted this a week ago when the excitement of my first Dinagyang experiemce is still fresh, but laziness took the better of me. The anticipation for Dinagyang 2006 was fever pitch during the last week of January, with every establishment announcing their promos and come-ons. ABS-CBN and GMA brought in all their stars with a gazillion show everywhere you go. Manila's rock bands each had their own mini-concerts each night of the fiesta as everyone and their mother was here and for 3 days, Iloilo was party central.

With a week of festivities already finished, I only got to join the hoopla on the last 2 days of Dinagyang. Along with my co-workers, they accompanied me to the Food Festival on the eve of the Ati-Ati competitions. The streets of the city was closed to traffic as there are several arenas or Judging Areas where the tribes will perform. At the city's main street, the local merchants has set up tables for the revelers to eat, drink and enjoy the parade of rock bands, local and then some. Too bad I had to keep my enjoyment short for the bigger event the following day.

D-day. I almost didn't want to go and watch the Ati-ati competitions live til I saw on the TV Katrina Halili, off I went to the Freedom Grandstand and see for myself. Too bad Katrina just left and I had to contend with the mass of other "non-paying" patrons to try and watch 20 tribes perform their own dance.


This is the closest I got to the Main Judging area. There are other Judging areas scattered all throughout the city and all of the 20 tribes must perform on each of them. This takes a lot of dedication and stamina as each set is almost 10-15 minutes long.


One of the favored tribes, Tribu Silak exiting the Freedom Grandstand.

I only had the energy to watch 5 of the tribes as hunger and standing-watching for over an hour will surely get you tired. I did get to catch all the pretty Ilonggas that was out partying, and I still have to catch Katrina for the SOP show somewhere else.

feel the drummin'....

It's been a very hectic fortnight since my last post here. My workload has tripled since most everyone was on vacation and now everything is being rushed to make up for lost time. I had to report to work even on Sundays just to catch up, not to mention my "other" commitments in Manila. now I'm really screwed. I am not complaining about the work, but being here has totally put my private practice on hold. I now have to deal with my clients online.... or thru correspondence. Looking ahead I hope this situation doesn't gets worse.



There's also an air of excitement around here 'coz in a few days the annual Dinagyang Festival will be held on the 28th and 29th. I may have missed on the Feast of the Sto. Niño in Manila but I'm looking forward to my first Dinagyang. The "opening salvo" of the festivities was yesterday, as the different "tribes" was on parade and to sognal a week-long affair. Also to be celebrated on the same day as the festival is the Lunar New Year which means, more "tikoy" for me. This is the first time in a long while that the 2 events coincided on one day. I'm reserving my energy on these days and see if I pass out due to the excitement.

back to reality...

It's was a different kind of New Year's celebration we had this year. It was only my brother, my Mom and myself ushering in 2006 at home. My married siblings aren't with us this year, I guess I just had to accept the fact that everything does change, and grows old. Much like old times, I watched the evening sky slowly get covered by firewaorks and smoke as 2005 faded, albeit with a second to spare.

Too bad everything had to end. I grudgingly went back to work the day after New Year like everyone else. I just wished I wasn't working so far detached from home 'coz it's difficult when you have some matters to attend to at home. I wasn't able to complete all the tasks I had to accomplish during my stay in Manila. My clearance from my previous complany is still not finished. My other projects, I have to complete here in Molo. And I still have a slight fever carried over from Christmas. Not your ideal start for 2006.

Looking back, I'm quite sure I didn't fulfill any of my resolutions from last year. I'll just have try to do it all again this year. Hopefully, my luck will change.

On the plane ride back, I was a bit early 'coz my flights' check-in counter wasn't open yet. I met an American who's in the same flight as I was and we ended talking to each other until the plane reached Ilo-ilo. He's quite an old fellow who's been around awhile "chasing" these overseas jobs so he can retire with his shrimp farm and sail on his yatch. I didn't say much except react to his stories. One thing I like about this experience's having a complete stranger tell me his life story and not at any point, hesitant to tell it. Another good thing came out of this since he offered to "help" me out as we exchanged contact details.

Hopefully with this, my luck will change soon.