Fiesta fanfare greatly missed

No fanfare, no banderitas. May 1 is the start of merry month,  fiestas are much more than just a good time. Their absence is deeply felt amid the stress of the pandemic. Photo: Leo Udtohan

Saturday's fiesta was indeed a sad day for candle vendor Mara Valmoria. 

Valmoria, 25, found no reason to celebrate since she is one of the millions who were crippled financially due to the pandemic. 

"Only a few are coming to church to attend masses," she said. 

Selling candles at the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral in Tagbilaran City is the only way to support their hand to mouth. 

Before the pandemic, she went to different towns where fiestas were held for a living. It was the life of the fiesta.

She said she received fiesta invitations from acquaintances where she could eat for free in different houses. 

Fiesta in Bohol is characterized with abundance of food, drink and music.

"And I can bring" bringhouse" too given by the house owners, " she recalled. 

But when pandemic started last year, Valmoria felt the impact- drastic loss of livelihood and invitations. 

For the second time, Tagbilaran closed its borders to all visitors on May 1, in time of the city fiesta celebration. Police were assigned at the borders to check those who traveled to the city. Only those residents, frontliners, workers, businessmen and with emergency cases were allowed to enter. 

Present! (From left to right) Radio personality Edward Guyano, your VRS, actress and performer Scarlet, Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin, fashion icon Maximiel and media assistant Helen Castano have observed social distancing during the feast at Espejo-Araoarao residence in Cogon village, Tagbilaran City. Contributed Photos 

In this province of Bohol where majority is Catholic,  May 1 is city's fiesta in honor of St. Joseph the Worker.  It also starts the merry month of May wherein fiesta is held every day in Bohol.

The travel restriction is to curb the spread of the coronavirus. People from other towns usually come to Tagbilaran to attend fiesta and stroll in malls.

A week before the fiesta, the province lacked the fiesta ambience.

The fanfare was to a certain level silent and somber as it is mostly virtual,  following physical distancing protocols.

The streets and highways were almost empty with less vehicles. Malls - Alturas Mall, Plaza Marcela, Island City Mall and BQ Mall- were closed to prevent people from gathering to keep people immobile at home.

Tagbilaran resident Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin, 51, cancelled the feast  because of the surging COVID-19 cases. 

“I missed those times that friends come to the house for the vesperas dinner. Everything is sad and controlled now," said Gabin, a government employee.

Before, Gabin said that the weekend before May 1, she and her family were supposedly busy for the general cleaning of the house in preparation for the fiesta.

She said they would hire additional people to do the house cleaning, marketing, cooking, serving food and dishwashing, a week before the fiesta or else it's hard to find someone to do the work.

If her house is open to her friends, relatives and even strangers during fiestas, this time it was closed.

She just prepared a small feast for the family as a thanksgiving to St. Joseph the Worker even the ambiance is totally different.

Tagbilaran City has a total 257 active COVID-19 cases, the locality that has the most number of cases in the province. Bohol has 873 active cases and  41 deaths.

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Gardening during a pandemic

Elvie Bongosia's caladium.

Going to the grocery stores and markets to find pots and planters feels like an act of desperation already during this time. Aside from braving the masked lines, flower pots and planters are becoming rare to find.

 

Why? People are turning to gardening as a soothing and family-friendly hobby.  Fruit and vegetable seed sales are skyrocketing.

 

People are also looking for activities to spend their free time. Parents, too, are turning to gardening as an outdoor activity to do together with children stuck at home after schools shut.

 

Helen Castano passed along some vegetable seeds and my initial burst of excitement has turned into dread.

 

Since it was ages ago that I last did gardening in my elementary school, I asked Helen for tips on how to make my garden grow.

 

 "Simple," she said. “Water them every day, put them out in the sun, and talk to them.”

 

 Helen has snake plants and cactus to complement her garden. She said gardeners without yards of soil can plant vegetables and flowers in trash bags, she said.

 

She said "now is a wonderful time to be a home gardener, because you’re home and have time."

 

Elvie C. Bongosia of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - Bohol, a green thumb and advocate of plants, has a pretty all-pink caladium collection.

 

 "You are beautiful no matter what shape you are," she said of her succulent plants.

 

 Maria Fe H. Evasco turns her place into "plantastic."

 

For Miss Tagbilaran 1987 Fiel Angeli E. Araoarao-Gabin, there’s a reason why so many people own indoor plants these days.

 

Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin's coral cactus plant and the water lily painting from visual artist Joey Labrador are a perfect match in the dining room.

Not only do they bring color and beauty to an area, but studies have proven that these ornamental plants instantly improve a person’s physical and mental well-being.

 

 "They are effectively purifying the air and reducing stress through their calming presence," she said.

 

Her indoor plant collection, mostly snake plant varities, are gifts from her friends.

 

"I always believe that there is beauty in simplicity," she said. Her coral cactus plant and the water lily painting from visual artist Joey Labrador are a perfect match in the dining room.

 

Fiel emphasized that simple plants will do, since "gardening is not about expensive plants and pricey pots".

 

On the other hand, Fiel's hubby, Jerome John from Siquijor, is so much into edible urban landscaping everyday, before and after office work.

 

He has "law-oy" corner with Kamunggay (Moringa), Tanglad (Lemongrass), Kangkong, Camote Tops, Alugbati (Spinach) and Sibuyas (Spring Onions).

 

Moreover "Balay Kabilin" is not just a place to enrich our minds, but also to scout for some plants. When we visited Prof. Marianito Jose M. Luspo last week, he was planting some onions on the vacant lot. The "Balay Kabilin" has kamunggay and ornamental plants, too.

 

When his friends visit him at "Balay Kabilin", Sir Luspo expects for the "Great Botanical Raid” to begin.

 

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Fiel at 50: Life is beautiful

Mother. Wife. Beauty Queen. Speaker. Cultural Worker.  Public Servant. Etcetera. Not necessarily in that order.

Does it take a superwoman to excel in those roles?

Not really. All it takes is (Miss Tagbilaran 1987) Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin to pull such a feat.

Fiel Angeli A. Gabin: 'I use "Perla," especially for the face, and instead of eyebrow pencil, uses mascara to define the eyebrows.' Contributed Photo

Bullied by the richer, more "entitled" girls and some schoolmates, saying that their family is "uyamot," but through honest efforts, has proved that there's more to life than money and material wealth.

If she were to live her 50 years all over again, would Fiel do it the same way, with nothing changed?

"I will still be profoundly grateful to God for each day of my life - good times, bad times and all, cherish  moments with my loving family and true friends," she says with conviction. "And continue my advocacy of helping young people hone their potentials through my own simple ways."

On the occasion of her 50th birthday on Monday (February 24, 2020), Fiel has 50 (actually, more!!!) good reasons to celebrate life.

1.Eldest daughter of bank executive Rep Bongoyan Araoarao (who opted to run for Panglao Mayor declining a managerial position, after bring prodded by his father), and Wincie Espejo Araoarao, a dedicated Bohol National High School (BNHS) PE teacher and Bukang Liwayway Dance Troupe founder.

2.Given the name “Fiel Angeli” which means “faithful angel” by her mother.

3.Thankful to maternal grandparents Lolo Aloy and Lola Pining Balatero Espejo, her first “babysitters”, and used to visit paternal grandparents Lolo Tio and Lola Tilde Bongoyan Araoarao on some weekends in Panglao.

4.Lost an 11-month-old sister “Hannah Gay” in April 1973 due to meningitis, although her Mama Wincie still believes to this day that it was a case of medical malpractice.

5.Started dancing at age 3 (“Pearly Shells” and “Tiny Bubbles”), trained by her Mama Wincie and wanted to be a gymnast like her mom, but got so scared.

6.Thankful to her experiences at Holy Spirit School, Bohol National High School, and Divine Word College of Tagbilaran.

7.“Manang Fiel” to Reparato Anthony “Ondoy”, Ann Claire “Bibby”, and Coeli Marie “Chelli”.

8.Since she was young, was always smitten by those who speak English well.

9.Has always considered herself an ugly duckling, but loves seeing beautiful swans and “envied” little girls who were taken as models in fashion shows and chosen as “Reynas” during “Flores” and “Santacruzan”.

10.Loves seeing swimming pools and the beach.

11.Likes avocado “lamaw” with banana, mango, condensed milk, and ice.

12.Rides the tricycle as main mode of transportation everyday since 1976 till now.

13.Imagined since Grade 6 that she will be wedded at the HSS Chapel (and she did!).

14.Has loved Siquijor since 1977, even before she met her husband, Jerome John Jumawan Gabin.

15.Watched the "Sound of Music" almost 20 times.

16.Started admiration for local showbiz personalities in the early 1980s and likes Pops Fernandez, Ruffa Gutierrez, Janella Salvador, and Sue Ramirez; while her favorite Hollywood actors are Christopher Reeve (original “Superman”), Keanu Reeves, and Johnny Depp.

17.As right-brained, hates Math and would rather be left and stay afloat in the middle of the sea or slowly swim ashore than solve a math equation.

18.Started joining beauty pageants at age 13, in the Miss Regional Secondary School Conference at Larena National Vocational College (now SSC) in Larena, Siquijor.

Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin as Miss Tagbilaran 1987.

 

 

 

19.Thankful to her 4 regional secondary school press conferences (RSSPC) all over Central Visayas and 3 national SSPCs covering Luzon (Zambales), Visayas (Iloilo), and Mindanao (Zamboanga del Norte).

20.Won first runner-up in the Miss RSSPC 1985 and second runner-up in the Miss Regional Science Fair and Quiz 1986 in Lapu-lapu City.

21.Cherishes her 2 Miss Talent awards in Miss BNHS Personality 1986 for oration and Miss Tagbilaran 1987 for “Binasuan” dance and believes that talent is to be shared.

22.Jumped from the boulders of the Mag-aso Falls in Antequera with BNHS and DWCT friends in the late 1980s and jumped with friends at the Dauis Bridge at 1:00 a.m. of November 1, 1993.

23.Twenty (20) years after being VP for Public Relations of Sandugo Toastmasters Club, became Bohol Toastmasters Club Charter President in July 2014.

24.Served as president of the Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO) Central Visayas in 2004-2005 and was convention director of the 24th RADIO - Central Visayas Convention in September 2018.

25.Has gone around Bohol, as well as Negros Oriental and Siquijor judging festival street dancing competitions and beauty pageants.

26.Was a victim of cyber bullying through a Facebook post in August 2017.

27.Offers to God through St. Joseph Worker all her sincere, honest efforts and experiences in the first-ever Saulog Tagbilaran street dancing competition in April 2013.

28.Became consultant and judge of Pilar’s “Panubig” Festival and Dauis’ “Panagat” Festival.

29.Took the EAT Danao zipline in 2007 with her Honey Jerome and Siquijor St. Francis of Assisi Apostoles and became “braver”.

30.Uses "Perla," especially for the face, and instead of eyebrow pencil, uses mascara to define the eyebrows.

31.Not experienced having a facial treatment ever and reverted to Kokuryu foundation that she used in her BLDT days.

32.Uses petroleum jelly to style hair and sports the bun hairstyle to avoid “mahangin sa labas” moments.

33.Can wear a P30-dress and a $5-gown and has no qualms about it.

34.“Low maintenance” as she buys “cheap” clothes (Expensive clothes and shoes are gifts from siblings).

35.Is “obsessive-compulsive” (OC) when it comes to folding clothes – by kind and by color.

36.Wished that she had smooth long, legs.

37.Would rather sweat by sweeping the yard (“manilhig”), rather than go to the gym.

38.“Ni-para” and nakasakay sa sakayan” with Cielo and a big bag to catch up with the Balite Lines in the middle of the sea, just to go home to Tagbilaran for Lola Pining’s urgent concern.

39.Considers organizing the Thailand-Philippines Youth Exchange Program (TPYEP) in October 2005 and October 2011 involving Kanlayaneesithammarat School English Program, Holy Spirit School, and Tagbilaran City Science High School among her greatest achievements.

40.Cried and thanked her daughter Cielo – the reason for her first international travel - while the China Southern Airlines took off 1 meter from the NAIA ground in May 2012.

41.Was “stopped” by a Los Angeles Airport security officer for trying to have a photo op near President Obama’s “Welcome to America” sign.

42.Wanted to see Hoover Dam after watching “Superman” in 1980 and fulfilled it in 2012 with her Mama Wincie and Cielo.

43.While in America, had visited California, Texas, Nevada, New York, and Minneapolis and was secretly hoping to have a photo op with a Hollywood Star.

44.Goes for what is “unique” rather than “stereotypes” and abhors corruption in any form.

45.Believes that a swan is a symbol of grace, beauty, and humility, and that something beautiful comes out from nothing by honest efforts and God’s grace.

46.Influenced by admiration for her Mama Wincie, Madame Imelda Marcos, US Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill, beauty queen and original Wonder Woman Lynda Carter, and media executive Charo Santos.

47.Aside from beauty pageantry, campus journalism, culture and arts, alumni associations, and federated parents-teachers associations, now into special children as part of advocacy.

48.As a keeper of memories, she likes having pictures of activities and important occasions.

49.Cherishes simple bonding moments with her husband Jerome, children Aj Wincielou Johanna “Cielo” and JF Regilbert Johnson “Renji”, and Mama Wincie.

50.Firmly believes in God’s power as felt in her life experiences; prays through St. Joseph, Mother Mary, Santo Nino, Padre Pio, St. John Paul, and St. Teresa of Calcutta, and is profoundly grateful to God for the very colorful journey.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.