What is it like socializing in the boondocks?

Socializing, or better still, partying doesn’t only happen in high places among the rich and famous or the glitz and glam circle or in the company of debutantes, newly-weds or celebrations for board passers or honor students during graduations.

It’s common as well in the barrios.

What is it like attending a party in the countryside?

I’ve had the privilege of joining merrymakers in recent months in various remote areas of my province in Quezon.

They were all inspiring, sometimes intrepid but solid in their objectives—to unite and rekindle friendship, camaraderie and kinship.

They’re no different from the colorful showbiz functions or social gatherings in the elite or high-end get-togethers that foster symbiotic connections, business or otherwise.

Barangay Banabahin Ibaba—subtitle (highlighted)

I was at a debut bash of an eighteen-year-old male in Barangay Banabahin Ibaba (south).

Here, the Rocero family had adapted the uncommon celebration of a coming-of-age passage of a male debutante—to get to be introduced to society of the peasantry and its structure.

Although Renren is a college student in a TESDA-accredited school in Hondagua so several of his classmates and family friends were around to celebrate with him, the fact that he is being groomed as a bachelor would mean so many good things in the future like easy access to employment.

The party also served as social contacts for all members, generally, of the barangay for all intents and purposes of interdependence.

It was noticeable that country folks have borrowed the fancy trimmings and program flow of a party, a trying hard copycat of modern activities.

Saint Veronica—subtitle (highlighted)

The second party I joined was religious in nature which was a dinner after clan members from a genealogy of various families rooted from one bloodline converged in the house of the host of the image of Saint Veronica which was paraded in the procession on Good Friday.

Again, it strengthened clan ties.

The third party I was invited to was a family reunion on Black Saturday of cousins on the Villasanta side in Barangay Calantipayan.

Again, expect a renewal of acquaintanceship although most of them have been seeing each other regularly except for some members of the host family abroad or in the big city.

It also deepened kindred relationships.

Then I rushed to a beach resort in Agdangan town soon after for another intergenerational family event from my paternal first cousins of the Panosos.

Aside from the usual feasts on food galore, there was dancing and singing by the sea.

In my speech at the Villasanta clan reunion, I reiterated that changes for the better in society starts with the family.

Love among members of a clan is the start of something greater and loftier like looking for good leaders in community and elsewhere.