Fiesta Time! Can You Sing? (Bohol Part 1)

It's 3:00am and I wake up not only to my alarm but to all of my aunties, uncles and cousins scurrying throughout the house to prepare for our trip. The 12-person bus comes to pick us up at 4:00am and off we go, a 3 hour drive to the barge, a 4 hour boat ride and another 4 hour drive to finally reach the Island of Bohol...where my Grandfather was born and raised. Finally, we arrive to Calape, just in time for the Fiesta. Every year, Fiestas are held in every single town in the Philippines. It's a reunion for the people from that town to celebrate the lovely place in which they came from. It doesn't matter where you moved to, whether it be Hong Kong or to a different island within the Philippines, if you're from the Philippines and intend on planning a trip for the year, it will be for the Fiesta. Events begin a couple days prior and buses are completely packed with people, mattresses, suitcases, furniture, and anything necessary to make a spot for themselves in their families already cramped houses.

 Activities include anything from boxing matches with little Pacyaou-esq competitors, discos (older person term meaning parties), concerts or their so-called casino area for the gamblers.

I think it was only my 7th day in and I had already met over 30 family members...could be way over 30, I lost count. If there is one thing that I've noticed here, it is that karaoke has a huge presence in the Philippines and EVERYONE can sing. It's like a whole world of undiscovered talent and no one is afraid to show it. Rich or poor, you can guarantee there will be some kind of karaoke device in the household. The start time of the religiously practiced activity is, well there is no standard time. As the locals will tell you, "It's more fun in the Philippines!" Try 7am, 10pm, or 4am it doesn't matter, the neighbors won't complain and neither will the sleeping family members. It is music to their ears and if you aren't singing, chances are the people in the house across the way will be! "Can you sing?" is one of the main questions I get asked...and again, it makes me think back to the first half of my life I spent performing and singing around the world. No one ever knew where it came from, but now I know!