liwas

For every significant event, there's always The Day Before, which is called "Bisperas" in Visayan, there's The Day Itself, which we can call "Mismo!" for effect, and then there's The Day After, which is called "Liwas," a deep Visayan word you only hear from old(er) people. ;-)

When it comes to fiestas, Liwas is the time when the leftover lechon is made into paksiw, and dukot is scraped from the bottom of the pot and hands are dipped deep into the ice coolers in hopes of finding one last remaining bottle of Coke. This is also the time when the hundred plates and silverware are put back in storage, together with the kawa and triple Xtra Large Kalderos, to hibernate till next year's fiesta comes around again.

Liwas is also the time when the womenfolk gather around the table, wiping dry the Pyrex bowls and serving platters, quietly lamenting their rickety knees and knuckles, correctly diagnosing as due to that second serving of irresistible humba. Meanwhile, the menfolk are barely able to get up from bed, or from wherever they had fallen from their tagay sessions the night before.

Liwas is an afterglow time, when avowals like "Man, what a sadya time we had" or "Day, your mango float was a big hit" or "I think I'll swear off meat for a month" are made. Liwas, therefore, is an integral part of any special occasion. Without it, the celebration is not complete.

Today is actually also another liwas day for me. Remember yesterday's dozen cupcakes? They were inspired by Obama's gift to Joe Biden on the occasion of the latter's 66th birthday. So who turned one year old yesterday? This weblog! Hurray!