Where Have I Been in the Last Three Months (part 2 of 2)

After Boracay, I made it a point to stay for a couple of days more in the Queen City of the South, Cebu City, to spend time with my best friend Reynan. Our friendship has withstood time and now that he has moved to the more urban Cebu, we remained as close as ever even with the distance. I missed the guy so much so visiting him meant redoing all the crazy things we did together while he was still in Iligan.

Reynan fetched me in Ayala, then after a cup of tea, we went to his place to freshen up. The night started with a sumptuous dinner followed by coffee time in a posh coffee shop, La Dolce, somewhere in the hills of Cebu City. The coffee shop features furnitures designed by the famous Kenneth Cobonpue and i made sure to really try sitting on one. Also, the al fresco part of the coffee shop boasts of a breathtaking view of the cityscape at night.

Two other friends, the forever young Junleo aka Louie and the fresh Stuart aka Beyoncé Nadal, joined us there. After coffee, the gang brought me to a music-comedy bar where my sides almost split with laughter. The night ended with us partying.

After the fun, you come to realize that the whole point of this partying, of the loud noise and the booze that go with it is the quality time you spend with people you value. Nothing beats the chat and laughter with a long missed friend.

What month follows May? It’s June, of course, and it’s my birth month. I’m not really fond of celebrating my birthday but my good friends in my office made sure I get to celebrate. Hence, the surprise dinner in the new Zoey’s Cafe at Pala-o. Surprises are our friends way of telling us that indeed we matter.

Before June ended, an opportunity to both travel and earn at the same time opened for me. Kapatagan Municipal Councilor Hon Paul Lagura invited me to choreograph their entry for this year’s Sagayan Festival which is part of the annual month-long celebrations to commemorate the founding of Lanao del Norte as a province.

Sagayan is a war dance among the Meranaos in Lanao which is performed during festivities. The dance features masculine movements characterized by the flicking of the head, jumping, and the playful exhibition of the kampilan (sword) and the klung (shield) decorated with sagay shells that make the sound when the shield is flicked. In this dance, men show off their virility and expertise in the art of swordsmanship.

But beyond the choreography, the Sagayan Festival celebrates and preserve the Meranao culture through its efforts to propagate the story of Princess Lawanen and Prince Bantugan from the country’s longest epic The Darangen. All participating municipalities are supposed to interpret the story through dance, drama and music using Meranao motifs.

I would have wanted to say no to Councilor Lagura’s invitation because, although I have been in the dance business for some time already and my undergraduate thesis was about Bantugan, I have never choreographed for a large group before. However, Councilor Lagura’s energy and passion for the arts is just strongly contagious, hence, I wasn’t able to turn him down.

There were also intangible bonuses along the way and I did not regret having accepted the invitation.The Municpality of Kapatagan was represented by Kapatagan National High School headed by their wonderful principal Prof Letty Lagura who was really supportive. Choreographing for KNHS was actually a breeze as they had such amazing dancers all of whom are very eager to learn. Furthermore, KNHS is blessed with more than able teachers and staff, particularly Mrs Fely Secuya, Miss Arna Lagat, Mr Ermer Albano, and Mrs Maria Luisa “Mam Doydoy” Cedeño, who all were very instrumental in the whole creative process. Without them, the team wouldn’t have won the First Prize.

The start of something beautiful

These beautiful pictures were taken by Daryll Tolero and were originally posted in Kapatagan Lanao Del Norte Kahumayan Festival Facebook page.

To watch the full performance, click this link.

My stint with KNHS and my experience in Sagayan festival proved to me two important things:
1) That real talent will always shine through despite intimidating detractions from people who only want to pull an honest artist down; and
2) That real friends will always believe and share your vision no matter what the odds are.

For these two things, I am very thankful to our Almighty.

My team: Leo, Gerard, and Arna

Later in July, Hon Councilor Lagura gave me the honor to sit as one of the judges for this year’s search for Binibining Kapatagan. It was truly an honor to have shared the table with four other wonderful people who are all indubitably leaders in their chosen field.

The pageant had an excellent production value. It showcased the many things that Kapatagan can offer through the festival attire segment where the candidates wore haut couture fashion inspired by Kapatagan’s main agricultural produce – humay or rice.

Also, it is interesting to note that the pageant featured the collections of Iligan City’s fastest rising fashion designer today, Jermaine Nabong. From the fierce cocktail attire to the elegant Philippine terno, Jermaine’s collection exuded with sophistication as the candidates paraded the dresses on stage. Truly, his collection epitomized fashion that is both timeless and impeccably fresh that only a budding master-craftsman like him can produce.

With Jermaine

With the newly crowned Miss Kapatagan 2013, Razielyn

Before July ended, there were two more calendar-worthy events that deserve to be mentioned. First, the 45th MSU-IIT Charter Day celebration where I came in as Medusa. My gratitude goes to Bianca’s Closet by Arceli Tomarong Enerio and Manette Tomarong for providing me the best costume for my character. Bianca’s Closet is the only legitimate costume maker in Iligan City or perhaps in Northern Mindanao and their creations have been featured in many local and international competitions and other events.

HMU by Fletcher Tachado, Costume by Bianca’s Closet, Accessories by moi

And second, the alumni homecoming where I really had serious fun. Kudos to the organizers especially to Mam Chai Encabo, and my three talented and beautiful friends Von, Masoy and JanMell who kept everyone on the edge of their seats because of laughter.

The future of CASS: Boylie, Badz, Masoy, Moi, Von, and Renebel

with Dennis and Yen

Masoy, JanMell, Moi, and Von

Indeed, in life, what matters most is not the destination but the journey. All the trips in the last three months are not only memorable and fun but are rather all part of a preparation for something more important – to teach and inspire change in the hearts and minds of the young. I’m so ready to teach now.

I hope you enjoyed my not-so-long narrative. If you have comments (please be kind) or anything to say, please write them below in the comments section. You may also invite me over to your place should you want me to write about it here in TheAmazingAmado.

Until next trip. 🌺