September 30, 2021

Greetings everyone! How is your last day of the month? Tomorrow is another month, another chance to grind more for the goals that we set. This article was supposed to be finished and published last night but I was hooked up on watching the "Squid Game" movie series that is very popular today.

Yesterday, our town was celebrating it's annual commemoration of our Patron Saint Michael the Archangel. But just like the previous year, the Municipal Mayor implemented a localized containment zone to attenuate the spread of the virus. My partner's family is not Catholic so they don't have fiesta. But, his uncle's wife celebrates her birthday on the day of the fiesta so they throw a simple family get together.

Pre-pandemic Town Fiesta Celebration

Before this pandemic started, the town used to have big celebrations during fiesta. You can see many food stalls in the plaza ( which was my favorite ). I remember every afternoon, I used to asked my partner to go to the plaza and buy something to eat. I was pregnant at that time so I was craving different foods. It has many rides which you can enjoy with the company of your friends. Moreover, you can get to hang of many visitors coming from the nearby town watching different programs facilitated by the municipal officials. The favorite part of the young ones who love to dance is the disco. One of the highlights during the town fiesta is the Kaplag Festival. It is much like the Sinulog Festival of Cebu City. But in our place, the participants are only the different schools in the town. You can witnessed and mesmerized the colorful costumes of the different school participants.

Town Fiesta Celebration Amidst The Pandemic

The customary celebration of the town fiesta has changed due to the impact if the pandemic. Many people were affected with the transition. The food stalls, rides, programs and other mass gatherings were prohibited in order to mitigate the risk of possibilities of community transmission. Outsiders or visitors coming from the other places were also not allowed to come because of the implemented lockdowns. The day of the fiesta was a total opposite of the previous years before the pandemic. Now, you can't see people on the street. The town looks like a ghost town especially last year when the people were so afraid of the said virus. Families who were in the other places couldn't come for the reason that the implementation of the containment was very strict. This year, though the lockdown was not as strict as last year, the celebration was still not so extravagant just like before. The streets were still empty and there were no programs held.

Yesterday also, my partner's aunt celebrated her birthday. Thus, we had a family get together. There were different foods served in the table. Karaoke, which is very common in our country especially when celebrating, was also present. The grown-ups and young ones exchanging turned to sing their favorite songs. My daughter was very happy while playing with her cousins. The day was filled with laughter and chitchatting.

CLOSING NOTE

This pandemic changed the way we used to live. The fun of every celebration is being diminished. The things the we used to do are gone. We are being deprived from our freedom. Thus, with all my heart, I pray and hope that this pandemic will end soon. I know all of us already missed our old routines,our old ways of living. Hoping for the betterment to all of us.

Before I end my article, let me utter my apology for not being active yesterday and today. My time was consumed by watching the "Squid Game"series.hihi The movie is so good that I can't wait to finish all the 9 episodes.

On the other hand, I want to express my gratitude for always supporting me. I am always grateful to all of you guys. KAMSAHAMNIDA 🥰

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