“When I grow up, I want to become a princess!”
I don’t think there is a single girl on this planet that has not proudly stated or even just thought about this line. I can already picture out a little lass with a plastic tiara on her head, favorite blanket flying behind her, and the most beautiful dress adorning her petite figure as she dances across their living room. Not to mention that huge smile on her face despite the absence of two front teeth. I’m sure the little lady looked even lovelier in her imagination.
This childhood dream might be long forgotten now, but I’m certain it’s still here in our minds, kept safely inside a wooden box hidden among piles of stressful stuff from the real world. We can still achieve this fantasy, though. This time, you won’t just become a princess—you become a queen.
A statement headdress.Large wings. And to top it all off: a gown—a masterpiece, really—made of the finest fabric with the most intricate detail and design. Can you handle wearing such an elegant garment while dancing under the heat of the sun?
Well, a festival queen surely can.
It always amazes me how well festival queens carry themselves in front of an audience. Even back then when I was younger in the Sinulog crowd, I’d find myself stretching and ducking and turning just to watch these stunning ladies dance gracefully in the streets. I also found out that old habits never die. Recently during the Pasigarbosa ACT, I too tiptoed and dipped and dodged other students just to see schoolmates who’ve turned into queens perform in celebration of the school’s 28th birthday.
And all I can say is wow. Just wow. Despite the sun practically burning everyone who was not under a shade, all the girls’ smiles seemed to glow even brighter than the sun itself. The queens’ gowns almost looked weightless as they flew around the quadrangle at ease, their bodies flowing like water as they danced to the beat. One of them also proved that even if we do fall, we should never panic. Simply brush off the dirt from your hands, get up, and flash your biggest smile to everyone! Now that deserves a round of applause. (Go Kaumahan queen!)
Festival queens are living proofs that dreams can turn into reality, and may sometimes even come out better than you expected them to be. So to all the little girls who wish to become a princess, here are some tips: keep smiling, sway those hips, raise those arms a bit more, prep your muscles (because the costume truly is like weights: heavy!), and don’t forget to keep dreaming. You might end up becoming not just a princess, but a fair queen.
-Jenika Gi-An C. Nero
Photos by Jeanille Cogtas
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