That Day Before The Fiesta
@SIMPLYD (90722)
Philippines
August 30, 2016 10:49pm CST
The day before the fiesta , is what we call in our dialect as "bisperas " .
I went to our hometown last 30, Monday , since it's fiesta and it;s a national holiday also here in the Philippines in celebration for the National Heroes day.
Since it is the day before the fiesta , there was a civic parade at past 2:00 in the afternoon .
The town was filled with people lined up at the shady side of the road where the parade passed by .
Early on , you can hear the cries of the pigs being butchered in houses who have pigs fattened or bought for the occasion .
One of those houses are ours . 
The caretakers of our lots are the one who butchered the pig .
You can already feel the festive mood of the people .
It is also the day where all houses are busy preparing the meats , like being half cooked so it can easily be made into dishes , the next day .
So that's how it is when it's "bisperas" or the day before the fiesta in our town .
Have you experienced something like this too ?
The caretakers of our lots are the one who butchered the pig .
You can already feel the festive mood of the people .
It is also the day where all houses are busy preparing the meats , like being half cooked so it can easily be made into dishes , the next day .
So that's how it is when it's "bisperas" or the day before the fiesta in our town .
Have you experienced something like this too ?24 people like this
24 responses
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
31 Aug 16
Ah, a pre-celebration! I guess I would most relate this to Christmas Eve. I love getting in that festive mood and doing all the preparations for the actual celebration - brings lots of excitement for the moment!!! Hope you enjoyed all the festivities!
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
Christmas eve is also a happy preparation for the Christmas itself . 
Yes, the preparation itself was so fun with all in one long table helping in wrapping up the spring rolls , making the salad etc . Actually , we were video-d while doing all those talking and laughing and when we watched it , we all laughed out loud at ourselves .
Yes, the preparation itself was so fun with all in one long table helping in wrapping up the spring rolls , making the salad etc . Actually , we were video-d while doing all those talking and laughing and when we watched it , we all laughed out loud at ourselves . 2 people like this
@carexing25 (1818)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
that's what makes it "More Fun in the Philippines".. food and festivals.. hope you enjoyed the celebration
3 people like this
@carexing25 (1818)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
@SIMPLYD great! did you prepare the famous "pork humba"? Lol!
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
@carexing25 No , we didn't have that . But the day before the fiesta , after the pig was butchered we had one of my most favorite dishes , the dinuguan .
Do you like this dish , dinuguan?
3 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
31 Aug 16
No, I've never done any preparation for fiestas over there .. But I know that people get themselves busy with all the food preparations..
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
2 Sep 16
@epiffanie Yes, be sure that when you come over here , you will experience the fiesta of your province .
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
2 Sep 16
@SIMPLYD I would love to experience that too .. 
.. Maybe one day when I am over there during fiesta ..
.. Maybe one day when I am over there during fiesta ..1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76481)
• Germany
31 Aug 16
Yes, I have. I was able to attend our fiesta in our town and the pig of my father was brought in the slaughter house because he knew I couldn't bear the sound of a crying pig. I pitied the pig and I did not eat it's meat. Relatives were happy though as they were able to bring a lot of "bring house" food when they went home.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
Oh that's good then , because at least you have also experienced the bispera .
I don't know why it's always that the pig is brought to the house for the caretakers to butcher them . 
Yes, as always all the helpers have their "bring house" after the fiesta .
I don't know why it's always that the pig is brought to the house for the caretakers to butcher them .
Yes, as always all the helpers have their "bring house" after the fiesta .2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
31 Aug 16
ya got me with the lovely pic 'n how festive all were. 'n then ya mentioned the cries 'f those pigs...apologies, but i nearly hurled 'n tears stream down my face.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (76481)
• Germany
31 Aug 16
I could relate to that myself @crazyhorseladycx
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
Oh i am sorry for that . I also went to the receiving room so as not to hear the cry of the pig being butchered but still it reached my ears and i was also like being pierced . 
That's one of the drum and bugle corps who participated in the parade .
That's one of the drum and bugle corps who participated in the parade .1 person likes this
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
5 Sep 16
Fiestas are really exciting but tiresome also.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
5 Sep 16
Actually , it's very tiring , because of the so much food preparations wherein my sisters and the caretakers , went to sleep past midnight . Then , they woke up early again to cook already the dishes . Then after that , the checking of all the utensils used , after they were washed .
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
too bad we don't feed the public now. we don't also go to other houses. the parades are only in the city proper. "how many pigs did you die? did you die 2 pigs and many chicken? did many people eat your house?"
this is a very common Filipino joke about fiestas and the crooked English a Pinoy can speak.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
1 Sep 16
@SIMPLYD true. well, we can just laugh it off and/or join the crowd
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
@sunrisefan Of course we had that . 
And we even went to my father's friend's house . He is the cousin of my auntie and mother-in-law that's why . We were also given a "bring house " there because we only had dessert there as we were still so full from the foods we ate at our house .
And we even went to my father's friend's house . He is the cousin of my auntie and mother-in-law that's why . We were also given a "bring house " there because we only had dessert there as we were still so full from the foods we ate at our house . 1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
@SIMPLYD Where's the "bring house"? Hahaha!
1 person likes this
@cherigucchi (14879)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
Though I was raised and live here in Manila, I do really love attending fiestas.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
Yes, fiestas are something to always look forward to , whenever we are in the province .
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
1 Sep 16
Oh you will surely love it . There is also a fair and also dancing with live band at the plaza of the town .
Indeed , when there's an occasion the preparation is exciting and fun despite being tiring .
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
31 Aug 16
How fun that you can feel the festivities and the food preparations like that- there is really nothing to compare to that in Canada- as we have parades and celebrations but not on a scale like that where everyone is preparing food, etc.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
Yes, only in the Philippines would you see people always havingfoods for every gathering they have . And when it's fiesta they prepare so much foods. 
