Fiesta
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Celebrating 'fiesta' is probably one of the things I miss most about the Philippines. It's usually the commemoration of the town or barrio's patron saint. It's one of the many influences of the Spaniards to the Philippines. Fiesta is a big thing especially in the province. When I was growing up, October 12 [today] was the big fiesta day. It's the Feast of the Nuestra Senora Del Pilar which is the town's patron saint so it's actually the town's fiesta. Since I lived in the central part of the town [plaza], we were at the heart of the celebration. For the longest time, those who were living in the 'plaza' only celebrated the town fiesta. Our barrio [aka village] didn't celebrate its patron saint's feast day unlike other barrios. Such is no longer the case. From what I heard, the big 'town fiesta' is no longer as big as it was when I was growing up. They still have some kind of a celebration but not ...