What is fiesta?

If you are not Filipino and you want to know the meaning of fiesta, the first thing you'd probably do is check the dictionary. Don't. I'm telling you. It's a waste of time.

If I can tell you one thing about fiestas, Filipino fiestas in particular, it's that they are never boring. Never. Looking at some book or some electronic gadget to find its meaning is contradicting its very essence. First of all, fiesta is not looking down on something. It's looking up. You look up and marvel at the clear blue sky, then you tell yourself, “this is going to be a fantastic day”. Your eyes wander to the multi-colored flags hanging on lines tied to poles overhead. You tilt your head skyward to find where the lively beat of the drums, the clang of cymbals and the sound of trumpets are coming from. You lift your nose and follow the aroma of sumptuous food.

That is fiesta. You can never define it in a book. You will know its meaning by using your senses. You will appreciate its beauty by experiencing it.

Filipinos have been celebrating fiesta since time immemorial. It always starts in the church. There will be a mass followed by a procession. During the procession, it's not uncommon to find the participants dancing to the music of the band. Traditional rave, I'd like to call it. People dress up--women in Filipinianas or gowns, men in Barong Tagalog. Everyone high in the spirit of happiness and celebration, thankful for all the blessings they have received or will be receiving in the future. The procession roams through the town, with people watching in amazement on sidewalks, and it always ends back where it began--in the church.

In the town's plaza, traditional Filipino games like palo-sebo (greased bamboo climbing) and karera sa sako (sack race) are played. You can also expect a variety of entertainment, from singing and dancing to the now common, gay beauty pageant. When everyone’s exhausted, then it's time for food and drinks. One of the popular fiesta dishes is Lechon Baboy (roasted pig). And as a country of people with a sweet tooth, cravings for dessert would surely be extinguished by an abundance of sugary treats like bibinka, sapin-sapin, haleya and suman. Although drinking in Philippine fiestas would pale in comparison to October Fest, coolers full of the famous San Miguel Beer would always be available to those who wish to enjoy them. Non-alcoholic beverages would include coconut juice and sago and gulaman (a drink with tapioca and jelly).

When the stomachs are filled, and sugar-levels are back up, it's time for more dancing. Celebration usually starts early in the morning and ends in the wee hours of the night. Of course through time, the music, clothes, games and food have evolved, but the essence remains intact. Fiesta is one of those few times when the poor and the rich in the Philippines come together. The town's politicians, the business men, the farmers and the workers all join in this day of celebration.

If you know any Filipino, you would have already noticed that in a mountainous hay of sorrow, it's easy for them to find a glittering needle of happiness. They always have a reason to be thankful to God. They always have a bit of celebration in their hearts and a spark of excitement in their eyes. All these little bits, and all these little sparks, come together in fiesta.