The Weird Skirts and Farmville

I think this would be my weekly habit for this summer: endless observations of the events that happened during my Sundays wherever fate brings me to. Last week I posted about Easter Sunday (Popcorn, Puto and Camera-Whoring: Is This How We View Holy Week?) and stuff. This week fate brought me to another faith/devotion-related place. For protection purposes, I will not specify any place. Therefore, it will then be named as "The Shrine" in the whole article. So, here it goes.

I stayed over at my Tito's house for the weekend. I know that they always go to church on Sundays but I never thought that this time they would go to this more than 9-hectare piece of what seemed like holy land of The Shrine. I've heard stories that you cannot come in this place wearing shorts or sleeveless tops or any indecent clothing. But I completely forgot about that that I also forgot that I'm wearing khaki short pants (well, it's the only thing I brought with me for my stay at their house). So when we got in, I saw people in weird skirts. I was like, "What are the skirts for?" Even men are wearing them too. And I noticed that most of the people who wore them are people who also wore shorts and pants. When I was receiving communion, people shot deadly looks on me as if I had committed any crime. And then I remembered - Shoots! I was wearing shorts! I heard some of them saying, "Pwede diay mag-shorts? (Translation: Short pants are allowed?)" I hurriedly went to the back where my Tito and his family were. When I arrived where they were I told my cousin, "Natingala sila ngano nakasulod ko nga nag-shorts. Hehe. (Translation: They wondered why I was allowed to get in while I'm wearing shorts. Hehe.)" And my cousin looked around and said, "Hala ka Ate Jha-Jha. (I don't know how to translate this but he's trying to scare me here.)" I tried to ignore what just happened but I was already conscious of my actions for people are already giving me looks of disapproval. After the mass, we went  near this statue and ate our snacks while observing the people lining up. I won't say the reason why they were lining up because it would be very obvious if I say (I'm just trying to protect the place). Anyway, so most of the people lining up are wearing those weird skirts. I still don't get the real reason for wearing it though. But what I do know is that it is weird.

On our way out of the very far-from-civilization place, we passed by a couple of newly cultivated lands. My five year-old cousin Khail was sitting on my lap at that time. While looking out at the fields he suddenly said, "Farmville man ni oh. Nanga-wither na ang plants. (Translation: This is Farmville. The plants are withered already.)" And I can't help but laugh. Imagine a five-year-old kid saying that. You might wonder why he said withered when I said it was newly cultivated. The field looked withered because the farmer mixed, I think, fine lime stones with it. I cannot be sure of the kind but I know its for soil-conditioning purposes. So anyway, I was really laughing so hard and my other cousin Sheane who is a year older than Khail added, "Trees na lang ug animals ang nabilin kay wala na gi-atiman sa tag-iya. (Translation: Plants and animals are the only things left because the owner did not take care of it anymore.)" And he was saying it like he was really sorry for the land. I cannot help but see how new technology influences man even at the young age of five.

You might see me as apathetic when I said what the skirts are for. Of course I know it is to follow a certain dress code. But why do I have to wear it? Ok, I know it's a holy place or whatever you call it, and I know I should respect it but I'll never wear that skirt. I might not be wearing the right clothes but at least I was there and I think I did not make a scene (which would have been done by some). I acted as simple as what I always am and said my prayers. Anyway, the point is, as long as you're not doing something wrong and you practically respected the place for its purpose then there's nothing wrong with that. Another point that I'm trying to make here is the influence of the new technology on man and how widespread it is. [J]