Culture of merry-making

By Al Mendoza

I MISSED the fiesta in Binmaley Feb. 1-2 and I hope Mayor Sammy Rosario will forgive me. You see, he had warmly, sincerely, invited me to attend the festivities on Friday, Feb. 1. As usual, work in Manila was the culprit.

I will make it up to you later, Mayor.

Meanwhile, please continue doing good, beautiful, things in your town.

I can see that you’ve been going great guns. Your renovated town hall is beautiful, indeed. Your river is practically cleared of illegal fish pens. Your roads are literally litter-free.

Keep up the good work, Sammy.

And did I hear it right, that you will soon start building the most modern coliseum in Pangasinan?

Go for it and once completed, I will move heaven and earth to help bring a Philippine Basketball Association game to your coliseum.

I’ve done it many times in Dagupan and Urdaneta.  I see no reason why I can’t do it in Binmaley, as well.

So, keep punchin’, Sammy. A working, well-meaning mayor like you will always draw the support of the people. As the Good Book says, the servant of the people is the true leader of the people.

And while we are at it, let me also take this opportunity to congratulate our mayor in Mangatarem, Teddy Cruz, for having   splendidly staged our town fiesta Jan. 26-27.

You might not believe it, but Teddy held eight consecutive nights as ballroom dancing nights at the town auditorium from Jan. 20-27, complete with orchestras like Don Podring, Juanitez and Santiago Brothers almost every night. Each night had different sponsors – from educators to barangay captains, from senior citizens to balikbayans.

I think no other town in Pangasinan – or even in the entire archipelago – does that.

Merry-making has been a culture, a tradition even, in   my hometown that even a minor event can transform into a major occasion overnight.

The 40th wedding anniversary of Pino and Ancing Tengasantos on Jan. 25 was one good example, drawing almost the entire town to partake of the food served for the occasion.

Dolly Gurion, my classmate from Grade 1 to Fourth Year high school, came home from San Francisco and hosted a sumptuous lunch that included the exotic ur-ormot for her chums from the good, ole days at her mansion by the Romulo Highway.

Ofelia Pasiliao, whom I’ve never seen for ages, arrived with her hubby, Ben. She sang her favorite, “Paper Roses,” during the karaoke session to   the   delight of everybody.

There is something in the Filipino, indeed, that every time there’s a gathering, singing seems to be a natural part of it.

Dave Vela, who came with his vivacious wife, Lenny, sang “Act Naturally,” Greg Arellano “El Mondo” and Romy Artatez “Green, Green Grass of Home.”

But Fidel Evangelista, a shy kid in the olden days, brought the house down with his “Bed of Roses” piece that saw Tante Jazmin, Conrado Vegilla, Fred Baloto, Donato Flores, Eloisa Fernandez, Sol F. Juvida and Mayor Teddy Cruz cheering endlessly.

For his gargantuan feat, Fidel received a gallon of Carlos Rossi from Dolly G.

Truly, every Filipino can sing that’s why our own kind is at par with even the world’s best – if not better.

(Readers may reach columnist at also147@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments