Diaspora

Who would want to go in a wedlock scheduled in May 26 2010? No one? First, aside from being untimely, it seems unwise to be somewhere out of town by May 25 knowing it is Daryl’s birthday. Who would want to be elsewhere while one of the beloved friends is having his most special day? No one. Second, May 26 is the final face off between Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze. It is so unwise not to see Mama Sox crashing Lee Dewyze face to face. Who would want to be elsewhere while the battle between Crystal and Lee is televised via satellite. No one. Third, May 27 is the fiesta of all fiestas. I just have to stay in town and attend wherever the celebration is at.

I have plenty of excuses not to attend. If Kuya Jayson is not my cousin, I wouldn’t definitely be there. It was 6am when I woke up. That was Daryls birthday and know I have to make a choice. Quezon or Manila? I just have to greet Daryl a happy birthday via text and facebook , pretending that is enough. I have to escort my Mom in bringing patries for the wedding occasion. The bad thing is I was already prepared by 8am and we left home by 9:30. And the start of damning! I cannot take the fact that we have to travel without promise of comfort to a place which some did not even thought exists. First, it was hot. Second, it was hot. And thirdly to make it worse … guess what? It’s hot! I do not know why I have to endure squeezing in a crowded jeepney vehicle where you need to swivel every time there is a new passenger. These are the moments I have to ask myself why the hell I do not have my own four wheel drive. The travel was terribly a heck. You see, there is a man smoking on one side, a lady so noisy on the other, and the most violent of all is we have to unload the vehicle and cross to the other side then ride ride another one because the bridge is under reconstruction. This is just too much! I really really want to yell and scream to the top of my lungs that it is HOT. The construction is terrible. There are lanes where vehicles cannot pass because there is a sign saying “Sorry for the Inconvenience” yeah right! All a consoling word to hear is… Sorry. Before 12:00 high noon we were already there, in Tita Amparo’s residence just adjacent to Tita Rita’s. We were comforted with the boodle fight style of lunch outside [and some conversations to be exact with how I spent my entire afternoon]. Aside from sleeping, I did what my Ma’am Nikki loves to do—I people watched. A group of men slicing body parts of the swine just like embalmers do. A group of women conversing about the neighbor of the cousin of the classmate of the sister of their other kumare was there also to underscore the crowd. I also watched my nephews and nieces playing around and around and becoming a little bit annoying to some. And my Mom begging for allowances from her elder sisters. Well, you know my Mom. When it is time for my Mom to go I shadowed her until she rode the right jeepney to transport her. I saw her leaving while being uncertain if I can still enjoy outside my comfort zone. So far, that’s what I thought until Ate Violy came by with my two lovely but witty nieces to save the day. The two talkative angels brighten up the afternoon. We talked and talked until it’s dusk. The supper was enjoyable, I do not know for what reason but it is indeed. That’s when I felt it was already a reunion.

I was becoming more relaxed. I do not know if that is because of Kairah and Kim’s presence, or maybe because of the music. There is the undying videoke entertainment which became the apple of the eye of almost everybody. At first, I thought I will never be able to sing in there but after some time we sang and sang one after the other. It was one of the greatest bonding moments I had with Ate Violy. I will never forget that night. Never. Ate Leah also sang some gospel songs. Ate Marilyn joined us very reluctantly. She can sing in tune and I was glad for her. But what really turned me on is when a group of three ladies, singers they are, came by to entertain the mob with their lovely voices. And when I say lovely, those were indeed lovely. As in oh my gosh, where the hell did they came from? Sol Gecain started the show with her soft but clean and smooth rendition of “Very Special Love.” Daisy Cometa ended it with her very crispy but quasi husky version of “If I Sing You A Love Song” and when I heard that, I went wild. The night became a spectacular musical night with family and some friends. Despite the heavy musical grandeur, I still managed to watch the PBB Teen Clash with its highlights. The ignition of Bret, enflamed the night of Filipinos seating before their TV Screens . it was a long night. Daryl and some of our friends celebrated on their own while I did with the family. The people whose blood I am sharing and now I know, we are sharing the passion for music too. I wouldn’t know if I was not there. Forget about the insurmountable experience before I reached the place which never existed in Aristotle’s mind. I was glad I was there. Still uncertain but I know for as long as music is a part of it, I will endure the drama of being away from friends and life I get used to. Provided that music is a part of it, I will stay.


The next morning, I woke up early just to sing. Promise, I did. Though several are already awake. I prepared myself for the matrimony. I know that Kuya Jayson is so excited. This is his day. I am so happy for him. He had not been with me for quite a while. I confess I don’t really know him as a person. But I feel so happy for him. By the way, Kuya Inigo and his family arrived few minutes before 12 midnight. The presence of Hannah and Camille and all the others augmented the joy inside the house.

As everyone prepares, I am already singing with Kuya Inigo. This time, it is our bonding memento. When it is time to go, we were in the jeepney and reached the Air Base by 8am. The wedding finally started by 8:45. it was good. The ambiance was good. Everything seems to be perfect including the weather or maybe because there is airconditioning inside the sanctuary. There I feel very astounded by the fact that we are all there celebrating the love of two important persons. There is a spirit of love and oneness and aesthetics. Man… I love to say that beauty became like oxygen that day. Too many beautiful women not only from our family but from the other clan. And can I say that Mary Ann Acosta simply stood out from among the secondary sponsors.

We had the reception in Banay Banay Eatery. There was plenty of food. There was music. They were there again. The three of them. Actually Daisy was the Master of Ceremony. I enjoyed it. There was a banquet still in the house yard. When we came back, a battalion of food awaited us. That was one memorable day to be celebrated and a series of gunshots proved that. I know it was not only music that amalgamates us. For me there is something more. I can feel it in my heart. I do not want to be around but in there at that moment. It was love. I knew it all along. Love is the identity we all shared. Love is the color that defines us. Love is the music that unites us. Just once more, I raise my glass to Kuya Jayson. Celebrate love!