The Santacruzan

79. From my 4th year at highschool throughout my 3rd year of college, I've regularly participated in our annual parish Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan. Our country adores fiestas, and some even consider this historical/religious/beauty pageant to the be one of the most popular ones. This flower festival is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is usually held in every town or city. The people, girls and escorts, aren't selected for their looks alone, but rather for the qualities they embody. I guess I should consider myself lucky and now a veteran of such affairs. Although I was never chosen as the Reyna Elena during those years, I got to be Reyna de las Estrellas(Queen of Stars, I held a wand), Reyna Fe(Queen of Faith, I held a cross), Reyna de Libertad(Queen of Liberty, I held a torch) and Rosa Mystica(Mystic Rose). I must say that my favorite queen was Rosa Mystica because of the intense red gown and the red rose bouquet. I still remember the sweet smell of flowers that hung over my own bamboo canopy, and on the Church aisle and altar. I wore beautiful gowns, sometimes my sister was one of the flower girls and wore a pretty white dress too. There were times that an escort was required and two boys to hold my canopy and I relied on you and some of my male friends to fit the roles, which they happily obliged. I remember you, wearing a white camisachino with a red scarf around your neck telling me that I looked exquisite.  I also remember how you remarked that one of the friends I invited as a carrier behaved awkwardly in his presence, then we shared a private laugh about it afterwards. After the mass and the long  procession down neighborhood streets, a program and dinner was usually held in the neighborhood covered court. The last santacruzan was special because it was not only held here in our parish, but also at a mall, so more people could participate and appreciate the event. It was fun though I felt a bit embarrassed. But there was nothing else to do than to hold my head up high, float as a I walked, and hope that my high heals wouldn't get stuck at the escalators. There were no canopies nor escorts, however, you were still staring at me like a proud hawk from afar. I'm not sure whether or not your were seething in jealousy at the male eyes who were watching me but it was fun. My heart skipped a beat. That last event wasn't as religious as I hoped it would be though.