I was one of those "bumabaili", in Asingan I like "baili" starting it when I was 15 and I ending up my itchy wichy in my early 20's. It was fun, a lot of fun! How about you? Every first week of December I started hearing in the barrios those noisy loud speakers miles away. Either it was Estrada Sound System or Orpia Sound.System..., They were great sound systems in Asingan at that time. They have a good selection of new songs too.. Remember those SP45 and LP33 records?He!he! Noisemakers, weren't they? What amused me in these Christmas balls: before the guys started picking their dance partners, they roamed around like hunters stalking their prey.. "Who would be a good prey tonight?". Naturally, the "targets" would be the pretty and "meaty" ones. He!he! It is so shameful for those ladies left behind just making holes on their seats(para abut iti tugaw). The men lined like thirsty and hungry wolves eyeing the sheeps (the pretty ladies)...
I like Estrada's sound system better than anyone else especially if the the DJs are the young brothers(Roger, Jimmy and Ap-ping). They were good operators and the music they played were so cool.. But when the younger brothers weren't there, either the father(Lakay Marcelo) or the 3 elder brothers worked as a DJ's, they spin Sinatra, Nat king Cole, Johnny Mathis songs, or cha chas,tangos, swings, etc.( those old songs from the 50's and 60's). We hated those songs!!..
Christmas ball is supposed to be for youngsters and teenagers, you know! We wanted new songs, new music like modern and discos!.Even the ladies step back and sometimes don't wanna dance anymore.
My friends and I were busy come December every year..Hey, I was the John Travolta of Asingan at that time, you know.. 70's was the era of discos, salsa and el bimbo whatever you wanna call them! I had lots of fun of dancing.!!Sometimes I visited different barrios in just one night!.. Wow! The John Travolta of Asingan was always busy and popular...Having no transportation, I did not go alone ..One of my friends owned a tricycle and he liked baili too. So, there you go. Those moments still linger in my mind, I miss them so much!.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
----Arsenio Macanas
note: I visited Asingan in 2003, the sound systems have improved a lot! They now have these high powered and huge speakers used by Rock Bands in the US/Canada...My nephew, the son of Teofilo Sampaga operates one set ( it is his side line ) and they are really powerful..He also play the modern sounds like hip-hop, rap, etc..He said that Fr. Gelacio was the one selling some really good accesories which he brought home from the US..It is so sad that he died early this year.He was also knowledgeable in electronics..
----Vic Costes
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