Month-Long Celebration for Every Juan

Photo taken by: Lois Nicole Baguio

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In January we celebrate New Year; February for Valentine’s Day; reminiscing our loved ones during the month of November and December for Christmas. But do you ever know what occasion during August? Every Juan dela Cruz must know the correct answer. The month of August is the time where Filipinos celebrated its very own traditions, cultures, delicacies and proudly Filipino materials. This is the month that Juan celebrated the heroine acts of our hero's. This is the time where Filipino around the world unites to celebrate the perks of being a Juan dela Cruz.

In our school, celebrating Filipino month is a tradition for the administration, teachers and students. Students can freely join the different contests conducted by Filipino teachers. They can join to what contests they are good at, for example balagtasan. Likhang awit, maunawang pagbasa, balagtasan, talumpatian and basag-lines are examples of contests that urge the students to show their own thoughts and ideas. But the most exciting part in celebrating Filipino month in our school is Pistang Pinoy. Pistang Pinoy is a traditional fiesta conducted evry end of August in every room wherein students can only eat Filipino foods and show their artistic way of decorating their rooms.

Since we are now seniors, our class decided to show simple yet Filipino favorites of all time. We shared Sisig, Chopsuey, Inihaw and Buko Pandan as a desert. The happiest part of celebrating Pistang Pinoy is where you can visit other section rooms and can eat with their food as well as join to their contests. Pistang Pinoy is not only a fiesta but contests for each section to show their cooking capabilities and creative hands to make their section standout.

Celebrating to our neighborhood and to our family is one of the essence of traditional Filipino fiesta. In the Philippines, fiesta can be defined as one of the happiest celebration in a baranggay. As what people say, no "madamot" is allowed during this occasion. The Filipino month is celebrated to remember what the uniqueness of the Philippines amongst other countries. It also celebrated to show the talents of younger generation through contest and to remind that no other countries can defeat the celebration of Filipino month. May this celebration be a guide to us that we are a proud Juan dela Cruz.