2013: THE YEAR AHEAD (1st Quarter)

I'M SORRY IF I HAVEN'T BLOGGED IN A WHILE!!!!

I've had technical problems last year with my broadband connection. And then I had problems with my laptop... I still am. This new blog is a long shot but I have resolved to be more diligent with my blogging. After all, I am trying to get my blog site off the ground. I have something to say with this blog and I will continue airing my views and imparting some information to those who quite religiously read my entries.

Skip 2012 retrospectives. It's too late for that now...

2013 proves to be an exciting year! It's the Year of the Water Dragon. And as if the Filipinos have gotten over the Christmas Holidays - NOT! Right on the heels of the Epiphany comes the Traslacion of the holy image of the Black Nazarene. OK, so I'm a raving fanatic, but I've established my own tradition of attending First Friday Masses at Quiapo Church and never ever missing the feast which is celebrated every 9th of January. I managed to attend the healing Mass at six o'clock on the eve of the fiesta. And then, I attended the 5 a.m. Mass the next day. 

This year was slightly better than last year's celebrations. The andas or carriage used for the revered image was outfitted with tires from a forklift to avoid last year's faux pas. To those who are not aware of it, last year the procession made an epic 24-hour journey from Quirino Grandstand back to Quiapo Church because the crush of the devotees and the andas malfunction. The andas had to be changed and the image was bourne aloft by the faithful who steered it in Quiapo's narrow old streets. This year was a lot better due to the changes in both logistics and in execution. 

Alright, the crowd was still unruly... breaking the barriers and rushing into the Quirino Grandstand in the middle of the Eucharistic celebration while the Nicean Creed was being recited. They had to be reminded the Mass was still ongoing and that the procession was still to follow. After that, the men started jostling to get a hold of the ropes. I gasped when the image nearly fell! Thankfully the image passed through our selected spot near the Lagusnilad by 11:30 a.m. That's record speed considering we waited until 4:30 p.m. for the image to pass through last year. An estimated 9 million were in attendance this year.

After the Nazarene, the Feast of the Sto. Nino will be welcomed with much revelry and street dancing especially in Aklan, Cebu, Iloilo, Tondo and Pandacan. The third Sunday of January is the time to soot up (pun intended) for the Ati-Atihan, Sinulog, Dinagyang festivals which recall how the fair-skinned Spanish conquistadores were able to convert the Indios by way of presenting the image of the Sto. Nino or Holy Child to the "dark-skinned" natives. There's still much merry-making to experience for this month.

For February, there are three more celebrations to look forward to:

Valentine's Day - What is it with Filipinos who just have to have dates on the 14th of February? The love month sees the increase in sales in flowers and chocolates and engagement rings. Trust the Pinoy to be sacharinely sweet on the day of hearts. No other country in the world celebrates Valentine's day like we do. If there's ever a good time to press for the RH Bill, it's on this day.

Panagbenga - Consider this the Rose Parade festival of the Philippines. People troop to Baguio City to view floats festooned with fragrant flowers. I love this heady competition of floats sponsored by different networks, enterprises, socio-civic organizations and what-not. It is also attended by showbiz personalities and endorsers and participated in by indigenous communities, school children and politicians as well.

Chinese New Year- Febraury 20th is the celebration for Chinese New Year. Kung Hei Fat Choi, everyone! This year marks the entry of the Water Dragon. Binondo one's again lights up with firecrackers. Feng Shui experts are called in to locate auspicious directions to bring forth good health and prosperity... tikoy, a sticky rice delicacy, is passed around and sampled; and all sorts of lucky charms to enhance luck, wealth, love and health are peddled in Ongpin and Quintin Paredes streets in our historic Chinatown.

Then as March comes along, it is assumed, that employees would have filed their vacation leaves, purchased their airline tickets, swimsuits, suntan lotion and flotation devices, made their reservations and packed their suitcases as they head out to various destinations to observe HOLY WEEK from the 25th to the 29th of the month.

So as I try to take in all of what I have written above, I look forward to another year filled with journeys and adventures,stories that I can share and blog entries worth reading... stay with me... I'll be in Coron next month... By then I hope I can upload great photos with great articles...