Fiesta fun

By Marifi Jara

QUELIMANE, Mozambique–“The Mangatarem town fiesta seems to be more felt than the spirit of the coming Christmas and New Year. At this time of the year, as you pass by the town proper, you will see a lot of carnival rides for children, booths for all sorts of amusements, and betting games for all ages.

I go home to Mangatarem just once a week, but each week, I’ve noticed how the number of people going to the plaza has been multiplying. The rides and games, usually displayed at the main plaza, are now set up at the vacant lot on one side of the street because of the ongoing renovation of the plaza. And our fiesta won’t be until the third week of January.

I actually visited the office of our beloved mayor Teddy Cruz to get his insights about the upcoming fiesta but unfortunately he wasn’t around. His secretary told me that our mayor is busy these days because of his commitments with the upcoming Christmas, New Year and town fiesta.”

This is an excerpt of a piece written by Romualdo Agtalao, a student from Colegio de Dagupan, back in 2008 for the Young Roots column. (www.sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2008/12/16/roots-62/)

This immediately came to mind as the governor urged our mayors last week to observe prudence and stop having extended and lavish fiesta celebrations.

Gov. Espino cited as an example those that last for as many as 10 days — well that is actually being subtle of him if we look at the case of Mangatarem which points to something even preposterously longer, practically two months of building up into the actual fiesta. And Mangatarem does not stand out as an exception, the same habit is true in many other towns.

And all that prelude to the celebration is really pointless, nothing but an opportunity for illegal gambling, which corrupt our innocent and impressionable children, and an excuse to party.

What are fiestas for, anyway?

Originally, based on its roots in the Catholic legacy of our Spanish colonizers, it should be a thanksgiving for the patron saint of the community. In more recent years, our towns and cities have developed festivities that are more based on their local economic and cultural treasures. Either way, whether in observance of religious beliefs or a celebration of indigenous pride, what is important is that we find meaning in our fiestas and undertake activities that are relevant to that.

There is plenty of the hollow type of entertainment, and then there’s soulful fun. Wouldn’t we like our fiestas to be the second kind?

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