[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Dinagyang and the fear of missing out’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RHICK VLADIMIR ALBAY
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
FOR THE first time in a long while, I missed the festivities of the Dinagyang weekend because of a bout of stomach flu.
I woke up early on Sunday determined to get ahead of the photographer and blogger crowd for a front-row seat at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, only to feel like my head had been cemented to my bed, with the weight of 10 Dinagyang warriors stomping on their 4-foot riser crushing my skull.
Despite my sickness, I still really wanted to get changed and ready. It wasn’t just the prospect of a full day taking beautiful pictures of tribal-clad dancers and action shots of posturing warriors, what was pushing me to get out of bed despite a splitting headache was the pang of FOMO (to all non-millennials, it means fear of missing out).
FOMO is a syndrome brought on by our generation’s obsession with social media, it’s that feeling of scrolling through your Facebook feed seeing your friends at all these events and parties, meanwhile you are nursing a low fever stuck at home.
Nowadays, social media is an unspoken competition where people can boast and brag about their latest adventures and newest installment-basis buys. Everyone is trying to present the best version of themselves to make their other friends green with envy.
And the Dinagyang weekend is primed for competitive Instagramers and aspiring “online influencers” one and all – who can get the VIP seats, can stunt at the most exclusive parties and take selfies with the most number of celebrities.
My bout of FOMO was salved a little by the signal jamming in the city, so people couldn’t readily post their Dinagyang escapades on social media. But the deluge came after the transmission block was lifted.
I know, I know, millennials can be very petty sometimes.
***
I’m happy to be fulfilling at least one of my resolutions this 2017: to get published more.
This January, my poetry and fiction has been published in two chapbooks/zines. The first in volume two of Kasingkasing Press’ Hiligaynon flash fiction compilation entitled Giti which was first released during the Urban Baylehan at the Atria last week. For those curious, the first and the upcoming third volume of the flash fiction anthology are entitled Mirisi and Mariit, respectively.
The second is in Glucose, an independent Bacolod-based zine published by young and emerging artists from the region. The second issue of Glucose, with the theme “Coming of Age” is set to be launched on Friday, Jan. 27 at the Dojo 8 Co-working space in Bacolod.
I’ll also be participating in Kasingkasing Press’ ZineZoned this coming Feb. 18 at Robinsons Place Iloilo and Book Latte Cafe at Megaworld. Along with other young and rising writers in Iloilo, we’ll be self-publishing zines and booklets of our poetry. Giti et al. will also be available for sale during the event.
Hoping to see you there./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
