IT’S fiesta season apparently, not just for the sake of the celebration or ‘mamista lang,’ but honoring the respective patron saints as Roman Catholic aside from meeting and greeting kins and friends.
But then one who plans to attend fiestas for invitation or not, must think twice. Petroleum products, particularly gasoline and diesel fuel prices, are soaring high without any hint of slowing down. This is a fact as long as the middle east conflict continues.
It’s also worth mentioning that it’s hard to break the adopted tradition of fiesta celebration. Some say that celebrating fiesta lavishly is impractical after which, ‘nagka-utang-utang.’ Except those who really have the money to spend in the name of thanksgiving, or whatever reason.
Others say marking fiesta is a break from the hassle and busy daily grind of life’s ‘kayod.’ It’s a time to engage to keep it alive. But then there’s always an advantage and disadvantage of everything under the sun. And timing is everything as there’s always a reason and season for everything.
Whatever we conceived fiesta celebration to be, it’s given practice provided that we are happy and enjoy it.
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After I decided to attend my family reunion on the side of my father’s grandma about ten days back, I took the ship here in Tagbilaran to Cagayan de Oro (CDO), the highly-urbanized capital of Misamis Oriental.
As the passengers, including me, were allowed to board the ship that sailed almost 12 hours to the destination, the passengers walked about 250 meters, based on my estimate, from the gate of the terminal to the ship.
Of course, it’s somewhat afflicting ordeal for seniors, like me to traverse with bags from the terminal entrance to the ship. But still I keep going ‘kay kaya pa man.’ I saw some seniors I supposed like me, maybe older or younger than me, looked like naglisud jud kay dunay pa silay gi-abaga nga mga karga. Maybe, just maybe, nagdaginot nga di na mo-hire sa kargador.
Aw panington jud pod ang bugan, sa tinuod lang. And the same scenario is happening in CDO. Once the ship anchored at the port, passengers started to walk of about the same distance. Apan, ipalibot pa gyud sa likod sa CDO passengers terminal, which is excruciating.
If I may, maayo unta nga ang PPA mangita sa pamaagi ug maghimo niini nga masayon alang sa mga ‘olds.’ If PPA or the government find a way like providing a motorized buggy to ferry passengers,’ especially the old ones or ‘buntis’ or PWDs for easy access with the luggage. (09284085238/ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
