Since I was not able to put an entry here last month, I want to add another post this May, especially that we are celebrating Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan. Flores de Mayo is a Catholic festivity in the Philippines, usually in the month of May, that commemorates the graces of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the word itself, people also offer flowers, aside from the prayers to The Mother as a sign of honor and reverence. Santacruzan, on the other hand, is a novena procession that memorializes Queen Helena and Emperor Constantine's mythical search for the santa cruz or holy cross, the true cross that is said to be the cross upon which our savior, Jesus Christ was crucified. Following the tradition that has been happening for 300 years already, a Hermana Mayor or the host chooses beautiful maidens to lead the parade of Santacruzan. The reynas are usually dressed up in Filipiniana while carrying their sagala titles that are based on the Biblical and historical characters. Some cities and provinces around the country celebrate this festival in the fifth month of the year as an ending mark of Flores de Mayo. Both of these events have a strong devotion to the religion and history of the Philippines -- making them two of the most colorful, and most awaited feasts every year. I have been wishing to be part of the sagala when I was a kid. I love seeing pretty ladies, glammed up in big gowns because they look like a fairytale come true. There is just something magical whenever I see girls on fancy dresses, you know. So! I already accepted the fact that I will never try this since our community does not organize events like this. Flores de Mayo has been practiced in our neighborhood, but the Santacruzan? Not so much. Thanks to the mom of my friend who recruited me to be one of the reynas in their barangay, I got to experience Santacruzan -- at least once in my life! OMG, OMG, OMG, I know! I never imagined I would be marching as a queen in my whole life! TBH, I (still) have no confidence in the kind of beauty that I possess. But, I did it! I was a queen for a night as Reyna Emperatriz. My friend, Shine was assigned to be the Reyna Elena, of course. People say that all Elenas should be beautiful inside and out as they are representing the great St. Helena. While I, I was crowned to be Reyna Emperatriz. Also monumentalizing Queen Helena, but more specified as an empress or queen mother. Her son, Constantinople gave this title to her because it shows what kind of woman she is: filled with pure love and full of great wisdom. There are times when there are no Reyna Emperatriz in the sagala because it is just the same with Reyna Elena. Like our version, Elena was treated separately from Emperatriz, but actually, they are just the same and treated as one. I wore this gold, lacey gown three years ago. However, the memories have been living with me every day. I am a queen! I was really moved by this event because I really did not expect to be chosen as a reyna and Emperatriz pa! My heart felt glad that some people saw the beauty in me, saw the potential of a queen in me. Plus, I have had my entire empire who helped me make everything happen! The crown was borrowed from a friend of my sister. The rented gown was chosen by my grandparents. And the arch? It was my parents who created that! As I walk to the streets, I feel proud and happy. Felt like a real queen with face all chinned up, thoughts and prayers held up high, but feet that stayed at the ground. An additional story I want to share: Shine was walking ahead of me. I do not know, too, but they placed me at the back. As far as I know, it was Reyna Elena at the last one? But anyway, and again, these queens are just the same! So... People had been gathered on the sidewalks. We were walking around street by street. Until I saw this old woman, around 75 years old and/or up, frowning and irritated because the crowd was too noisy in front of her house. But I gazed at her and gave her my sweet smile. And guess what? Her face changed and returned a warm smile back at me! AaAaHhh, will never forget that moment!!! 💖 Some things got a little messy along the journey... Aside from me being at the very back of the sagala, the lights attached in my arch went out. No hard feelings with my friend (that she forgot to tell me that they will bring a generator as a source of light on the parade) because this was so long already! 'Cause even if things happened that way, I liked it. I do not want the spotlight. I want to share the light with everybody. So even if I had no lights and was placed at the back like a poor cat, I did not mind because I have had my people with me. I have my mains, my favorite friends, even Dada's fam through Tita Badet and LA who lighted me up -- literally and figuratively, so I still glowed the walk. Qt how my uncle knows the band, so the moment I entered, they played their beat and welcomed me like a real queen! Surreal!!! Also, can I add those people in the neighborhood who complimented me with pure intentions? Aww, right! How can I think of the negative things when I have such moments like these? I enjoyed the moment as a queen for one night. Oks na yun 💖 Will forever be grateful for this once in a lifetime experience! Sharing this because I just want to release my feels during that night. I have no blog pa nun eh. Even if this was three years ago already, thank you Hermana Susan and Shine! And of course, to the queen of all queens, Mama Mary! 💖
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I can still recall that Saturday afternoon when Mama and I bought this mint green dress in Manila. It was tiring going round and round, searching for the perfect graduation dress. I was really not in the mood, in denial, sad, and frustrated during those days because I feel like a failure. However, when I saw my mother's eyes sparkling as I wore this cocktail, I knew this is the one I should wear on that fateful day. That was also the moment when I dropped all the negativities I had in my body as well. Because my Mama is my role model, my strength provider, my support system, so I have tried my best to give her what she deserves. She gives me everything I need in this world and I am very blessed to be her daughter, to belong in this loving family. 💖 I never talked about May 5th of 2016 since today because it created mixed emotions and rollercoaster paths into my life that I am not so sure if I would be happy or sad about it. In all honesty, I do not know if I have moved on a hundred percent already. I have accepted my destiny, yet sometimes, what-ifs get inside my head, of course. Becauuuse, I was supposed to graduate as a Magna Cum Laude. Uh-huh, I was a Magna Cum Laude candidate. God knows I worked so hard, so I can march with flying colors. I just aim for Cum Laude, but He led me to this. I was that excited, thought I was sure about it, but to make the story short, I failed during our last semester. No one in our batch fit the Latin honors because we all got tres in one subject -- making all of us disqualified for the titles. Wanna blame the prof, yet there is nothing I or we could do now. That happened. Scores were already encoded. There is nothing that could help me change that fact. Feels like I just wore this pastel dress yesterday... But look, a thousand days have already gone by! And so I asked myself, how are you? Seriously, how am I? How am I after three years? Yes, it has been three years when I wore this Cinderella-like dress the first time. I can still remember that great day very clearly! That was the day Mama and I went up to the stage together, that was the day I received my diploma on Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a medal for Academic Merit Award, that was the day when I saw my family very very veeeeery proud of me. This dress is indeed symbolic since it witnessed the day full of memories with my special folks. Truly, I will forever remember this lovely clothing because it contributed to one of the best OOTDs I had, especially with the toga on. Been three years since I left Adamson University! There were bittersweet memories, but every moment in those four years is still here with me. Grateful 4evz! Thanky my dear alma mater 💖 Having to wear this minty green cocktail once more, I also remembered Chel Diokno. No joke. Haha! I have been vocal supporting him, Florin Hilbay, Bam Aquino, and Samira Gutoc for the elections because I know that all of them are worth to lead the Senate seats. So, I posted a question on IG and look at the results: I will forever be Cinderella. This will always be my Cinder-Ela dress. But at the same time, it doubled up the purpose. While this cocktail is a reminder that I should be beautiful inside and out, that I should give love to everybody, that I should be humble and hardworking as I reach my dreams, and everything, I also rediscovered that it should be the heart and mind together. With my new life pegs, I got reminded that it is important to think of others, and not just your own goals and visions. Must have principles to stand on, values to believe on, so there will be good influences to pass on, good stories to share on. Never thought this simple dress would make a big impact on my life! It gave my life more meaning, and I, I feel very happy. Really love this dress, ugh! :) |
THE BLOG-GIRLE L A M A N I L A Ela Mones, a Filipina girl,
is a passionate lifestyle blogger who loves to express her unforgettable life experiences and best moments through words, photos, and videos 💖
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