Something Phenomenal

Phenomenal: Twenty Seven

Location: Pampanga

May hinahabol kami ni Shane. It's the lantern festival in Pampanga. He learned about it through his cousin noong sinabi niyang dadaan kami dito. I also read the digital flyer somewhere while browsing social media weeks ago. The only problem was we're on the last day.

We left the venue in Bulacan at around four in the afternoon. Then we proceeded to the expressway para pumunta sa Clark, which is where the fest would be held. But we had no idea na malayo pala ito at naligaw kami. It's like held in a wide empty field in the middle of an economic zone, pass an international airport.

There were gates we had to go through and we were rushing because it's already six in the evening and any time the floating of lanterns would start. Matao ang lugar, seriously, even the roads outside the venue was full of people who wanted to watch. Even the cars paused from their drives kaya ang traffic.

Sa wakas nakarating kami sa parking lot. It's probably composed of hundreds and hundreds of cars and Shane basically have to go around the entire lot para makahanap ng space. When we were done, we had to run to the registration kasi magc-close na sila.

"Miss, please dalawang ticket," habol ni Shane na medyo hinihingal habang nakapatong ang kamay sa mesa ng nagbabantay, who's now counting the stubs and money.

I was a bit breathless too, but it was the good kind of breathless. Because I know there's something good waiting for me. Most of the people were already in the field, holding their lanterns at sisindihan na. Pumunta kami ni Shane sa gitna. Binigyan kami sa registration ng dalawang nakatupi pang lantern and a candle.

The candle fire was being pass around. Wala pang nagpapalipad. Hinintay namin na makalapit ito sa'min. Kumuha ako ng blanket sa dala kong bag at inayos ito sa damuhan tulad ng mga nakikita kong nakaupo dito na parang picnic.

"Akin na bag mo," sabi ko kay Shane na inaayos ang lantern.

Kinuha ko ito sa likod niya at pinatong sa blanket. Madami na ang nakasinding lantern at kahit hindi pa lumilipad ang mga ito, the entire field looks already enchanting. Everyone's faces were being illuminated by the orange light from the lantern in the middle of a dark, deserted field.

"Gab." May hawak na marker si Shane. "Want to write?"

Ngumiti ako at excited na nagsulat sa paper lantern, then the little candle light was now on us, and almost every lantern were now lit, ready to float in the clear night sky. Maingat na sinindihan ni Shane ang dalawang lantern and someone was counting from the front stage of the venue.

Three, two, one....

Isa isang lumipad ang mga lantern, mauna sa harapan, then like a wave, every one of us held the lantern above our heads and slowly we let them go.

It was breathtaking to watch, like embers of a fire as though we're sending our lights and messages to the universe above. Nakatingala ako at hindi alam ang gagawin kundi ang magmangha. The people around us gushed, gasped, and some even got teary eyed.

"Ang ganda ganda nila, Shane," sabi ko habang pinagmamasdan ang maliliit na liwanag sa langit. Shane's in front of me, we're just a step away from each other, me with my eyes to the sky, and him watching me with a smile.

And then while the hundreds orange lights float above us, he held me close, wrapped me around his arms, and kissed my forehead. "I'm glad you're happy."

It's twelve in the evening and we're still at the field. There's a live band that plays for the people, most of them sitting on their blankets and pillows, willing to spend the entire night on the field.