Parade Charade

Is it Fiesta? Why are there parades? Oh, that’s why. You’re walking downtown to buy a cellphone charger somewhere. Then, all of a sudden, colorfully costumed contingents come strutting down the streets. You’re attending mass which is supposed to be solemn. Then, all of a sudden, horns go blaring, drums go banging, and loud speakers go blasting down the streets outside the church. What are they doing marching on a parade under the rain. Yes, the rain is not heavy. But still, you could get sick under that downpour.

I know, this sort of events are held to promote awareness of rights and equality, to celebrate and recognize a sector’s roles in society. I guess the processions serve their purpose. Somehow, they promote awareness. The sector gets recognized because they’re right smack in the middle of the street, disrupting traffic. I guess, people become aware if they bother to turn their heads long enough to read the banners, listen closely to the announcer on the microphone. But for some, they become aware that they have to wait for those row of participants to get down with their route, so the jeepneys could go their franchise trips, so we all could go home and be safe from the rain.

They spent money on these,,, definitely. Of course, they did. They poured time and effort on those flashy costumes, and rehearsing those routines. I guess, watching from the sidewalks can be amusing. Then, what happens after?

Maybe, there could be more productive options to promote awareness and to recognize roles of sectors in society. May I suggest that sectors and organizations consider activities that would lend towards contributing to community service. Maybe, they could gather the street children on the city streets, hold a party for them, with food that are usually served on noche Buena or fiesta in servings more than those in small styro containers. Maybe, they could send in some clowns or mascots. Those kids would be jumping happy. Maybe, they could hold medical missions for senior citizens. Sectors and organizations could distribute vitamins to the lolos and lolas. They could throw in a ballroom dance party for them. They would love that. They could be creative by distributing foodstuffs or whatnot to sidewalk spectators while still having a parade. People would appreciate the simple generosity.

According to literature and research, parades bring the community together (Nditi, 2023). Parades do a very good job in promoting and pushing the local economy (Grames and Vitcenda, 2024). They promote culture and tradition. Perhaps, somehow, parading in the middle of the streets does bring members of a community of a certain sexual orientation or gender identity, or a common profession together. Even supporters and sympathizers of their advocacy even hitch on the spectacle. Along join family, friends, stakeholders, commercial entities, government agencies, non-government organizations. Now, that’s a community. We can’t really deny that.

With regards to local economy, I don’t think the parades push much of it. Do they boost local businesses? I guess, some shops experience increase in sales. I was sitting in this burger stand which received a small crowd of customers who happen to be parade participants seeking nourishment before a presumably tiring trek. Before the parade started, there was a spike in orders of burgers and hotdog sandwiches. Maybe, the same happened with the ukay-ukay shops and street food stands around downtown.

Do they promote culture and tradition? Well, maybe, to some extent, they do. I suppose, music, dance and whatever art we may call the craft of colorful costumes with ornaments are promoted. Although, the performances take influence from foreign forms of art, it could not be denied that the parade performers lace their presentation with local flavor. If you listen closely to the marching bands, they’re actually playing their renditions of local and sometimes contemporary songs. My niece in the US says that they know if a dancer is a Filipino because the body movements are distinctly energetic. Okay, maybe, these parades promote culture and tradition more than the sidewalk spectator would assume.

Okay, maybe, these parades do more than the senses immediately perceive. But, somehow, while stuck in traffic, with marching band banging and blaring, I get the feeling that the resources poured on those costumes could have been offered to directly help for the welfare of the community, especially, the marginalized, our neighbors who lack basic needs - food, health care, even mental health care (if that’s the correct term). Now, that would make these parades more meaningful.

2 Corinthians 8:11: “But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.”