For Days of Auld Lang Syne

We remember. We aspire to relive it. We miss that one community affair we had prior to the critical years of insurgency in our town. The authorities had to parry the popular demand then as threats of raids becomes prevalent. They said that Masquerade Ball on the 31st of December had to be done away with for fear that insurgent elements might use it against them. And we didn't reacted. We took that declaration on face value. For the peace of Balete, we used to say, "Let it be. Oh, let it be".

But despite the EDSA and the outstanding peace and order situation, no one venture of restaging the custom. Older people forgets. The young has no recollection of it. But we remember. We aspire to relive it. We miss the fun and excitement at the artistry of Baleten-ons as they turned themselves into living, fleeting human canvas. Baleten-ons might be Kalampai as some bitter souls perceive them, but they have a great sense of humor and are gifted with the capacity of making fun at themselves just for the fun of it. Just when they don themselves with weird or satirical costumes come the Masquerade Ball. Take for instance Jose Bang-aw and the XXL underwear he wore or Domingo in his Bondying regalia.

So the plan is to relaunch the Ball this 31st. Not at the Community Hall though. It is a gone by structure. What we have now is the Civic Center. So off we see each other there to say goodbye to the preceding year and together welcome 2011. To refresh the mind of the old; to echo it to the young and for us to get over with our fixation of it. The message is simple: For all that has been, THANKS; to all that shall be, YES!