While the town snores in slumber there is a group of people who breaks the silence of night with their nightly practice for the Dinagyang. As weeks closed in and more preparations have been made for the festival, I can't help but feel excited. For the local people, it's not a big deal anymore, never mind if this meant an economic burst for the days to come because of the influx of guests, foreigners and balik-bayans. Economy aside, I anticipated D'Day. And when it did.. Well... Here's my 2 cents worth of it (or should I say a thousand peso worth) because apparently for me to enjoy the whole spectacle of the Dinagyang parade I had to purchase a ticket that would sit me on a single mono-block chair amidst a crowd of hundreds under an improvised tin shaft. And for me to make sure I get to sit, I have to be 2 hours early, slither my way through the crowded city and find a vacant mono-block for my ass. Do I sound bitter?
Of course I am! With all the bitterness inside of me, I stood in the streets with the mass of people who patiently stood under the blinding heat, covered in shawls and hats. Umbrellas were not encouraged because it blocked people's view and it was too much of hassle to trudge along the crowd. So there we sat on the baking pavement, awaiting for the tribes to show case their dance.
