The irony of weddings is that you cry because you are blissful. And so it was for Mama, my sister and I when we saw my only brother walk down the aisle, grinning from ear to ear. Rarely do you see all ladies of the family crying at the same time.
It was a wonderful event, the bride resplendent in her gown, the groom very much the debonair, and everyone else equally stately in their own attires. It was a day of colors—a motley of dresses, tuxedos and barong tagalongs, of gaiety and tears, and a day when another couple has played out their shared fairy tale.
It was a wonderful event, the bride resplendent in her gown, the groom very much the debonair, and everyone else equally stately in their own attires. It was a day of colors—a motley of dresses, tuxedos and barong tagalongs, of gaiety and tears, and a day when another couple has played out their shared fairy tale.
I couldn’t help but be reminiscent of the time when my sister had her own big day a couple of years ago. She was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen. That seemed like it was only yesterday. And it seems like it was not so long ago either when it was just the three of us, my older sister, brother and me vying against each other for Mama and Daddy’s attention.
Time indeed flies fast. No longer am I the “buridek” epitomizing the spoiled-brat-attitude that seems to come with the title of being the youngest kid in the family. Now both my older siblings are wed, with kids of their own—three toddlers that have taken my place already.
More than the festivities and the display of overwhelming emotions during weddings is the observance of age-old traditions that continue to put me in awe. I’ve been a witness to how those involved adhere to the rites and customs that are being manifested in occasions like these. Despite the rapid societal changes and the proliferation of pop culture, us highlanders always make it a point to incorporate, if not ultimately put into play these traditional habitudes that are essential, hence earnestly observed during these celebrations.
Others deem it impractical and passé to continue practicing such credos as these oftentimes require a lot of effort, not to mention the expenditure of much finances. Sometimes, I can’t help but share the same views but then again, these are what make our highland weddings unique in their own right. Thing is, these are not just ceremonial decorum that are being practiced for the sake of tradition. The quintessence of these age-old rituals embodies the morals and beliefs that our ancestors have long since revered and put into action. The veneration for the solemnities of these formalities show how grounded we still are to our identifying culture.
We are also extravagant (for a lack of a better but more appropriate term) when it comes to weddings (not to mention all the other occasions when we gallantly spend like there’s no tomorrow). We butcher pigs like we would be feeding the whole town, which is what we really do. The definition of a community is embodied in the way we hold these events. The sense of communal sharing and oneness, and the practice of the proverbial ‘bayanihan’ in occasions like these are exemplified. We delve away from exclusivity and the idea of a private occasion (for close friends and relatives only), as we always see to it that the whole community gets to share with the event’s blessedness and jovialities.
I won’t be so sure if most of these traditional customs would still hold true by the time it would be my turn to you know, make Mama and my sister cry. I hope they do. It would be nice sharing a sweet dance with the groom (to mayhap the tune of a Final Fantasy theme, haha!) but it would be a lot nicer boogie-ing with the resounding cadence of our very own bronze gongs.
Time indeed flies fast. No longer am I the “buridek” epitomizing the spoiled-brat-attitude that seems to come with the title of being the youngest kid in the family. Now both my older siblings are wed, with kids of their own—three toddlers that have taken my place already.
More than the festivities and the display of overwhelming emotions during weddings is the observance of age-old traditions that continue to put me in awe. I’ve been a witness to how those involved adhere to the rites and customs that are being manifested in occasions like these. Despite the rapid societal changes and the proliferation of pop culture, us highlanders always make it a point to incorporate, if not ultimately put into play these traditional habitudes that are essential, hence earnestly observed during these celebrations.
Others deem it impractical and passé to continue practicing such credos as these oftentimes require a lot of effort, not to mention the expenditure of much finances. Sometimes, I can’t help but share the same views but then again, these are what make our highland weddings unique in their own right. Thing is, these are not just ceremonial decorum that are being practiced for the sake of tradition. The quintessence of these age-old rituals embodies the morals and beliefs that our ancestors have long since revered and put into action. The veneration for the solemnities of these formalities show how grounded we still are to our identifying culture.
We are also extravagant (for a lack of a better but more appropriate term) when it comes to weddings (not to mention all the other occasions when we gallantly spend like there’s no tomorrow). We butcher pigs like we would be feeding the whole town, which is what we really do. The definition of a community is embodied in the way we hold these events. The sense of communal sharing and oneness, and the practice of the proverbial ‘bayanihan’ in occasions like these are exemplified. We delve away from exclusivity and the idea of a private occasion (for close friends and relatives only), as we always see to it that the whole community gets to share with the event’s blessedness and jovialities.
I won’t be so sure if most of these traditional customs would still hold true by the time it would be my turn to you know, make Mama and my sister cry. I hope they do. It would be nice sharing a sweet dance with the groom (to mayhap the tune of a Final Fantasy theme, haha!) but it would be a lot nicer boogie-ing with the resounding cadence of our very own bronze gongs.