When I was younger, our old folks used to tell us that every fiesta celebration would be an affair in honor of our patron saint. It was more of a celebration of thanksgiving – to thank the Lord Almighty for His many blessings upon us, through the intercession of our patron saint.
A fiesta was associated with our Christian belief, with our faith in God. In our case, we used to refer our own as Fiesta ni Apo San Agustin, the patron saint of Paoay. Some others regarded a fiesta was a much-awaited merrymaking event for the ordinary folks, especially the barriotics like us.
I heard stories about the sarzuela at the plaza, which they said that it used to be a regular feature of every fiesta. But I also witnessed those musical extravaganzas performed by those known Paoay musikeros, like the famous Amy Galinato Band and some others. Especially when I was the KB chairman, I was actively involved also in the preparation of our own booth for the agri-trade fair -- another feature of the celebration which required all barangays to showcase their own products.
A fiesta was associated with our Christian belief, with our faith in God. In our case, we used to refer our own as Fiesta ni Apo San Agustin, the patron saint of Paoay. Some others regarded a fiesta was a much-awaited merrymaking event for the ordinary folks, especially the barriotics like us.
I heard stories about the sarzuela at the plaza, which they said that it used to be a regular feature of every fiesta. But I also witnessed those musical extravaganzas performed by those known Paoay musikeros, like the famous Amy Galinato Band and some others. Especially when I was the KB chairman, I was actively involved also in the preparation of our own booth for the agri-trade fair -- another feature of the celebration which required all barangays to showcase their own products.
A fiesta was to make the residents happy, courtesy of the local government. It was thus the basic responsibility of local officials to conceptualize and provide wholesome entertainment for their constituents. A fiesta should be a welcome respite from the past year-long toil of routine activities or works, especially for the ordinary folks like us, the farmers, the fisherfolks, and the daily wage earners. While a fiesta was undeniably a cooperative undertaking among the barangays and certain organizations, the barangayfolks were not much burdened and bothered by money contributions to defray celebrations expenses.
Fiesta nowadays
Nowadays, seemingly a fiesta is already an affair in honor of political patrons! The religiosity is eclipsed by those political charades, especially by those trapos and epals. For some hosts, a fiesta is being prepared to impress and please their special politico-guests, hoping that the latter return the favor not only in the form of funds to finance a project, but also political endorsement and support for the upcoming election. So, the special guests must be chosen based on those considerations.
Some fiestas now could be described as "election campaign: the introductory phase." They are somewhat catered to please the political gods of certain key local officials, not their constituents.
Especially if it is an election year, it is interesting to note the parts of the program of activities as well as the personalities involved. The focus of people's attention is not the prepared features of the celebration, not those members of the royal court if it would be a coronation program; instead, they are the posturing politicos and election candidates.
At times, even if it is not officially indicated in the program, those politicos and favored election candidates are also instantly "programmed" to extend or say their greetings to the audience. But they are not really fiesta greetings coming from the heart zone; they are enumerations of election promises. If a favored politico or candidate be introduced or presented, the introducer must see to it that he uses superlative descriptions to praise him or her, full of adjectives. As one barangay kagawad had confided to me during one fiesta: “Anyway the presence of politicos are parts of our fiesta’s entertainment portion.” Possible, because some are being applauded, upon request. But they are being treated with the most sumptuous foods and drinks available, charged from the proceeds of the "popularity contests.”
Especially if it is an election year, it is interesting to note the parts of the program of activities as well as the personalities involved. The focus of people's attention is not the prepared features of the celebration, not those members of the royal court if it would be a coronation program; instead, they are the posturing politicos and election candidates.
At times, even if it is not officially indicated in the program, those politicos and favored election candidates are also instantly "programmed" to extend or say their greetings to the audience. But they are not really fiesta greetings coming from the heart zone; they are enumerations of election promises. If a favored politico or candidate be introduced or presented, the introducer must see to it that he uses superlative descriptions to praise him or her, full of adjectives. As one barangay kagawad had confided to me during one fiesta: “Anyway the presence of politicos are parts of our fiesta’s entertainment portion.” Possible, because some are being applauded, upon request. But they are being treated with the most sumptuous foods and drinks available, charged from the proceeds of the "popularity contests.”
Especially if election year, one can see the obvious kabastosan of some people managing a fiesta. Even if the fiesta is supposedly a local government's or community's official affair, the politics of the local chief executive or head of the community largely determine who would participate in certain activities or, at times, who would be invited.
Even the seating arrangements at the celebration hall, often based on politics. So, some fiestas are seemingly not anymore intended for the ordinary folks to enjoy, not anymore a venue for happy family bonding, not anymore a rendezvous of relatives, a reunion for friends.
Even the seating arrangements at the celebration hall, often based on politics. So, some fiestas are seemingly not anymore intended for the ordinary folks to enjoy, not anymore a venue for happy family bonding, not anymore a rendezvous of relatives, a reunion for friends.
Festivals
In addition to annual fiesta, most towns or cities have now their own so-called festivals, which are principally conceptualized and developed to attract tourists and visitors. Tourism is definitely good for the economy.
But I observe that a festival has also its own dynamics: During its formative years, we invite representatives of some institutions, like the Department of Tourism, the National Commission on the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), etc, to enlist their support -- technical, funding, marketing, promotion. Of course, we invite individuals or officials who are regarded as “institutions” in the tourism industry. Then we need the media – print, TV and radio – to spread the news around the globe. We do these in our desire to make our own festival gain prominence and popularity. The objective: To attract tourists, more tourists, because tourism is a sure-fire engine to propel our economy.
To hold a festival, especially nowadays, is costly. Ask an honest community official and they will complain as to the costs used even just in the preparation alone, money or otherwise. I must say that our own guling-guling festival is not an exception. Others are complaining because of the amount of money being shelled out, yearly, substantially compromising the more important items in their budgets. Why? Simply because the focus is not anymore of preserving and perpetuating the heritage, its authenticity; it is about the monetary prize!
In order to sustain initial gains, we have to enlist the support of more community people, the non-governmental organizations and civil society. Then we invite foreign-based kababayans to come and participate. Then we organize or revitalize local tourism council which is supposedly tasked to adopt plans and programs, and to institutionalize the specific tourism-oriented activities and projects. The objectives: (1) to promote and establish the festival as own unique identity and brand; and (2) to sustain the influx of tourists, consistently and regularly.
But lo and behold! As soon as the festival has become famous, here comes the “opportunists!” Instead of inviting and enlisting the continuous support and presence of the people from those institutions and organizations, they are now replaced by political figures. The festival will now be converted into a playground for traditional politicians. So soon, at the festival, will be used for more political endorsements and presentation of candidates. Our streets are peppered with their colorful tarpaulins bearing their pictures and not-so-sincere greetings. The airwaves will be full of media sound bytes of attention-hungry political wannabes.
By engaging in those cheap and vulgar political gimmicks, they think that they have done something good to promote the festival; they think they are doing something good to enrich our cultural heritage. These EPALS, or KUPALs, as reported in the newspapers, radio, TV and in social networking sites, have infested major festivals around the country.
Worse, some groups or organizations which, at some points, were the active partners during the festival formative years and development processes, have lost their enthusiasms. But the others have allowed themselves to be used, instead of maintaining their organization as politics-neutral. So, eventually, even just the simple internal issues which are basic inside the organization, like legitimate sectoral representation or term-limits (overstaying) in the council, have to be conveniently ignored and abused. Thus, expectedly, in those succeeding planning sessions, those who will be invited are determined on the basis of their politics, not on the substance of what they can share.
No wonder that much later, real issues like authenticity and aesthetic character of the cultural heritage or of the product, which are the usual and real subject or foundation of a festival, would soon become non-issues. Soon, the festival is not anymore a people-unifying affair. Soon we lose our markets – the tourists. Tourists visit a place to experience something that evokes emotional connections. Real tourists hate politics, Philippine style. Real tourists are looking for the real, genuine and authentic events, not those fancy ones.
Post-celebration news
I had also experiences, though only a few, of those known festivals in the country, plus, of course, our own and in the other towns of the province. I had real memorable and gratifying experiences. Everybody has his or her own experiences and post-celebration stories to tell about festivals.
But nowadays, because of the infections caused by politics, seemingly the focus of discussions of some people immediately following the affairs are: the politician-guests who attended; what they said in their speeches; who were the candidates they endorsed. Truly, be it fiesta or festival, both are now top favorite grounds for political charades. I remember that there was even a news report recently that even the President did this in one of his supposed visit to a major festival in the country.
Circus
I remember that a circus was then a basic feature of our fiestas. As one author had said, a circus is fun because it’s a band of performer, human and non-human, meant to entertain the viewing public. Their arrival is trumpeted high and low, all over the place. It being an entertainment, it makes us, the paying audience, escape from the drudgery and misery of everyday life. In the circus, we find sorts of performances.
Truly, a circus is amazing. Now, substitute the word circus with the phrase “Philippine or local politics.” Is this not similarly truly amazing?
In the festival, there are EPALs and KUPALs who, as they arrive, are trumpeted, high and low, all over the town. As their paying audience, we need to spend funds and prepare for their arrival. Some arrive as a band of performers: the others doing their own antics like comedians, cracking corny jokes; some arrive like a lead contrabida of an action-packed movie, surrounded by posturing bodyguards; others arrive donning colorful dresses with matching jewelries; while some with well-groomed hairdo, and others are cleanly shaven kalbo.
But there are also the supporting casts of the live circus doing their tricks in the sidelines: There are those who, like pseudo-Robin Hood, distributing money, crispy P20, P50 bills, an ostentatious display of family wealth. Up in the stage are array of personalities, some are trying to squeeze themselves against each others just be to be seen, smiling, ready to be flashed live on TV even just for a moment, or to be mentioned by a radio field reporter annotating the celebration activities. The others are busy to be photographed for Facebook or Twitter accounts; while their minions are busy distributing fans (abaniko) with their names printed thereon.
Questions: Where are the real tourists, local and foreign, who are supposedly bring some goodwill?
IRONIES OF REALITY OR REALITY OF IRONIES?
