BACLARAN FIESTA

Every third Sunday of May is the Feast Day of Santa Rita de Cascia (The Patron of Impossible Causes). She is the patron saint of the town of Baclaran (Baclaran is about five minutes away from the International Airport, here in Metro Manila, Philippines). Before, the town was alive with celebration and parades.

Early in the morning, the statue of the patron saint is brought to Manila Bay and is put in a "karakol" (a small raft, decorated with flowers). Afterwards, the saint is then returned to the parish church for mass. The whole afternoon, all the streets of Baclaran are full of people participating in games, contests, and small staged shows. After the six o' clock mass, the patron saint is put in a float, known here as a "caro", decorated with flowers and paraded around the town.

Afterwards, "serious" contests are staged such as the Baclaran Singing Competition, Miss Baclaran, and even Miss Gay Baclaran are the popular ones to watch. The "Hermana Mayor" is the one who spends for the whole fiesta. Band, decoration, prizes and all. I used to remember, people lined up to become the "Hermana/Hermano" for the year. In fact, years ago, one of the reputed gambling lords of the Philippines was "Hermano".

Now, times are hard. The Saint this time was not put in a karakol. The bay was filled over. A new highway, by the boulevard and the construction of a new mall (the biggest in Asia) was built over the reclamed land. The saint was just paraded around the reclaimed area.

Now, instead of throngs of people lining up the streets waiting for the caro to pass by, only a smattering of people just showed up. There are no games and whatnot in the streets in the afternoon. All the contests at night are gone. We didn't even know if there was a Hermano this year. Instead of the lavish feast my parents and grandparents used to prepare for the whole afternoon, our main dish was Kentucky Fried Chicken.

I don't know if it's progress or the economy. All I know is, my daughters will never experience the fun I had when I was a kid every third Sunday of May.