The Leg Killer: UP Asian Center Christmas Party + UP Lantern Parade 2013

- December 18, 2013, Wednesday.

- Just when I thought I wouldn't be dealing with school during my Christmas vacation, the Asian Center held its Christmas party today as a pre-event for the big university-wide lantern parade. The Asian Center asked us to either wear the Asian Center shirt, or wear an Asian costume instead. Of course, I chose the latter. Since everyone thought I'd be wearing something Indian, as always, I wanted to surprise everyone by being non-Indian, but just as flamboyant.

- I rushed to UP from my morning rehearsal, and changed to my Thai costume. I'd like to have this opportunity to thank my friends from Thammasat University, Silpakorn University, and Mahidol University, for serving as my consultants for my costume; I wanted to be authentic, or almost authentic at the very least. I decided to wear something Thai jsut so I'd have a chance to wear my not-authentic-but-just-for-costume's-sake mukut (the crown) that I haven't officially used since I bought it in a local costume store 2011. My Thai friends told me not to wear the mukut since it wasn't authentic, it didn't fit with the costume I wore (and if I did I had to wear another more appropriate costume used for dramas like the khon drama.) Still, I just decided to bring it for the photo ops during the lantern parade; it made my costume fancier, and I just had this lame excuse of me adding a crown to my formal Thai outfit to pretend to be an ancient Thai monarch of some sort. The chain that hung across my shoulder and my belt were both assembled by me. (The chain wasn't something hard to assemble - it's just a chain connected as a loop.)

- After a Jeopardy-like game, I was called to do my secret special number. I also hid my costume in a Japanese yukata to make people initially think that I was going to do something Japanese. I introduced myself and explained some things about my dance while the sound system was being fixed. I did the 4 Regions Dance of Thailand, a medley of dances from each region of Thailand (North, South, Northease/Isaan, Central.)

Denzel, Clio, and Nica as the seated children.

My diguised costume.

My real, "correct" costume.

- While waiting for the lantern to be set off, we took more photos in the Asian Center lawn, and did some karaoke to kill time. It was nice to see teachers and students loosen up to one another and have fun; the Asian Center is a smaller family compared to most institutes, schools, and departments. We also had a "Best Asian Costume" contest, and because the staff had a fear of everyone else backing out if I joined, and because I had a reputation of wearing culturally-inspired attires everyday, they just decided to make me a judge. I told them I'll just judge based on how they explain their costumes, to make the contest more objective and easier to decide on the winner, and most importantly, to know who knew the significance of their costumes.

My apsara pose.

Doing an impromptu pangalay dance.

Our Sarimanok lantern.

With Denzel, my co-South-Asian major.

- We later marched to our lantern's station a long way from the Asian Center. We stood there while waiting for the parade to commence. By that time, we were already tired and thirsty. Our lantern, by the way, was a Sarimanok, or a mythical, magical, and colorful rooster originating from Southern Philippines. Our Sarimanok was gold, and with a glowing orb in front of with.

Ready to leave!!

Our station.

Banner holder!!

My South Asian specialist and the two South Asian majors.

- We went around the oval for two and a half times, with three judging stations, and bumping into friends we knew. Apart from that, I was holding one side of the Asian Center banner, and also acted as a mascot, mostly due to my complete ensemble. (And yes, the towering crown did the trick.) Many kids, families, teenagers, and passers by took photos of and with me. Since I felt honored to be their mascot, I posed like a Thai dancer would, to complete the "Thai" look. My flat shoes gave so much pain to my feet, but I had to wear those shoes because they were the most appropriate one for my costume.

Lol.

Selfieeeee.

Oh hi Zorro!!

Our friend Wayne made it!!

Reporter from ABS-CBN right in front of our lantern,; she interviewed my professor.

- After the parade, I/we limped back to the Asian Center. I changed into my street clothes, rested a bit, and limped with some friends to grab a cab to the train station, and head home. My whole body ached after arriving home, and each time I had to force myself to pee or to stand up for anything else, I'd moan so much and so dramatically, because my muscles/fats were really sore. I (sort of) enjoyed my first lantern parade though. Well, except the too-much-walking-plus-thirst part; heck, I haven't sat down for almost 6 hours, and more than half the time was spent just standing. At least I had a perfectly nice excuse to wear a nice flamboyant costume.