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B Y PETER SOLIS NERY
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Friday, October 20, 2017
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- SPECTACULAR SPECTACle
Proudly Pinoy! 7,107 islands of color, sound, and smiles making the Philippines the undisputed festivals capital of the world. WOW Philippines.
*
A councilor with a receding hairline asked Mercedes, SeñoraLuces, how much do you think it will cost to transform your Bakunawa story into a fully realized festival? We want an extravaganza that will lure in the tourists.
Mr. Councilor, Mercedes answered, it all depends on what you want.
(She really meant, on how much you can afford.)
I commit my full cooperation to the project if it benefits our townspeople.
You don’t have to pay me anything.
*
The councilor explained, Well, we are thinking of a three-day, three-night festival. An extravagant extravaganza, a spectacular spectacle.
He looked up from the memorandum he was holding, The Department of Tourism wants us to create island festivals that celebrate our rich and colorful cultural heritage.
Do you think we can do that?
How about, Mercedes suggested, some street dancing competitions to ensure maximum participation of the villagers?
And a pageant maybe; then, a coronation ceremony on the last night.
There could be dancing and other activities during the day, too.
*
The observers, mostly local businessmen, reacted with approval in unison.
They nodded their heads, clapped their hands. Beautifully choreographed.
Matt smiled proudly.
A pot-bellied councilor interjected, That will be great. We can generate income from the colorful costumes, print souvenir T-shirts, make all kinds of merchandize from lighters to hats and sun visors, to key chains and postcards.
The observers murmured with delight.
*
Mercedes was pleased, I have some ideas for merchandize so we can also have some cottage industries for our unemployed women.
I am very excited about this festival. I only hope we can minimize the boozing and the littering.
The councilor changed his tone, With all due respect, SeñoraLuces, we cannot totally ban alcohol at the festival.
We also cannot control how much one buys.
(Seriously, that’s the point of the festival: to make people spend, create commerce, profits, and industry! But the honorable councilor did not say what he was really thinking.)
*
But if it pleases you, Señora, we will maximize our security and police force during the festival so that drunkards can be checked.
I know you also want to protect our beaches.
We share that concern. We will try our best to keep the festival clean.
Blah-blah-blah.
Yada-yada-yada.
*
Mercedes finished her talk, There are no set rules for this festival. But we are sure of one thing. This is for merrymaking. So the only rule should be: Enjoy oneself, or get off the street.
The observers applauded.
The councilors nodded their heads in approval. Again, their asinine choreography.
Matt smiled to his grandmother, who smiled back at him.
Some kind of love in the midst of a crazy world. (To be continued)PN
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