Dances with Life

My family's New Year ritual is to visit the Virgin of the Rule (Birhen sa Regla) in Opon, Mactan. As kids, my parents would stuff our polka-dotted or striped outfits with coins for us to give alms to the underprivileged lining up in front of the church gates. My first charitable act was to dump a lump sum of coins to the first handicapped person that greeted me. After that, my dad lectured me on the meaning of equality. Assess the number of beggars first, and then distribute the coins for everyone to receive a fair share.

We don't wake up that early anymore as less people queue up to visit the Virgin. Times have changed since then except for the sign that says: KANDELA = P1.00 + SINULOG = SA KALUOY LANG. Instead of giving alms to able-bodied people I buy candles from the ladies who do the sinulog as devotion.

A boy asked his mother to buy him a mini Santo Niño in one of the stalls beside the church. "Inday, fiberglass ni. Lig-on kaayo, maski malabay dili mabuak." That's it, I gotta have one too. I asked thirty bucks from my mom and smugly came home with loot in hand - a miniature of the Birhen sa Regla complete with carry-on pouch and prayer formula.

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I was doing my core-balancing exercises one morning when I remembered my Physical Education class in college where we had to learn Philippine folk dances the whole semester. In a class of more than thirty students, it was a riot. Most of the time, I kept to myself. I didn't know anyone personally and I couldn't care less if they know me or not.

I dreaded those moments where we rolled on hot and dusty concrete floors; as a result, I got skin allergies on my legs. I was bored to death as we didn't have any music to accompany our moves, except for the instructor commanding us what to do. It just doesn't make sense on what kind of folk dance we were doing. One day, I showed up for class and wondered what the commotion was all about. It was College Week and they wanted to showcase every department. What a relief, I thought. Does this mean no class? I was about to be in my usual invisible mode when I heard Madam Coscos on top of her voice, "Llacer! Where do you think you're going? Come over and get dressed."

Before I came to my senses, I was decked in full Filipiniana costume with three glasses of Coke. I got last minute instructions on what the dance was all about and the show began. My eyes caught familiar faces as a bunch of clowns were laughing at me chanting "Hulog! Hulog!" There I was trying not to trip over my gown, steadily balancing those glasses on my arms as the glass on my head started slipping. I held my breath and prayed. My heartbeat was louder than the music being played. Everything seemed to whirl at lightning speed as I danced solo at the lobby of University of San Carlos.

Wait a minute. I thought this was a group dance. Where were my classmates? I demanded to know as I was still in shock after the performance. All I got from my professor was, "Our class needed a representative and you were the only one who's ready because you have a strong core." I didn't know whether to laugh or cry but I got exemptions for the rest of the semester. Life is like a dance. Sometimes, we step to the beat and move to the rhythm. Other times, we are caught off guard in a situation where the spotlight is on us. What steps do we take? Do we have the courage to be our best despite of our uncertainty? The key is not to lose balance in the core of your being.

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Susan told me her funny story as she was in grade school when she joined a dance competition. Having rehearsed her moves for months, she and her coach were confident. As the curtains rose, she did her intro with much gusto. Suddenly, in the middle of her performance, she just went blank! Her mind started racing through whatever steps she can recall but her feet were doing their own thing. Ballet, jazz, tap dance, highlands - you name it! Luckily, she just had her rhythm going.

She was in tears by the time her music ended. This is it! I failed. She just couldn't bear to show her embarrassment to her coach. Amidst her sobbing, she heard her name being called. Susan! Congratulations! You've won third place.

Just when you thought you knew life's dance steps, the beat changes. One step forward, two steps back. Pit Senyor!