BEING THROWN WITH A BALL FOR PICTURES LIKE THESE

(How Lucky Can You Get)

By: Iris P. Concepcion

Not much had been written about the refurbishing done in Luneta. The lighting is now all blue which pretty much sums up why this was accomplished fast and without much talk and publicity.

It has undergone a major landscape surgery. The dancing fountain is a free visual treat for thousands of revelers and sightseers alike. It reminds me so much of the film Forrest Gump with that Bob Dylan scene: that strait toward Capitol Hills.

I am puzzled by the uppermost photo. The one I took had no potholes on them; just disregard the photoshop of the impugned. This is a cool place to be in.

Prior to this, I attended the Concert At The Park titled Forest Murmurs in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Franz Liszt. The semi-verandah like frontage of the venue needs a make-over. The pianists started from an off-key rendition (the background is similar to a gay beauty pageant and it spooked me out) but it soon graduated into a soul-seeping performance on keys. All transcriptions and arrangements were done by Mary Anne Espina and Jonathan Arevalo Coo except for the Don Juan Fantasy which was arranged by Mockwitz.

The emcee, in a prelude to a piece, extolled: "Imagine this played with white and sandy Boracay beach in mind, seeping wine by the shore."

This is titled Consolacion No. 3 and it was dreamy, haunting and musically transcendental. I liked this the best. The next one is The Wild Hunt (Transcendental Etude No. 6). There were a lot of potshots taken for the organizers but it was as usual, a foray into the musically conscious and another slap on misplaced, living theater. I saw a pair kissing as if they were in front of a moviehouse. Kids were munching cracklings and pork rinds and I saw some tourists eyeing them with curiousity.

When the final piece was played (Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6), a cat went on stage, oblivious to the interlude happening on stage.

Upon seeing the Quirino Grandstand with its new "look", I am sure this venue shall be given a material facelift for a cozier accomodation of those keyed-in B flats and majors. I also wish they do not have to sell a lot of junk food there. This was a carry-over remnant of whoever was handling the National Park office in the past. I saw the brands and soon got the drift. Overall though, the place has truly gone cosmo, to say the least. The people were orderly. They brought mats, picnic-like. And when the free viewing of fountains shone, there was awe.

What touched me was a kid whose kite did not fly because of some root. I removed those myself and his toy flew, well, freely. These young ones can explore the wind and the huge playground without them being bumped.

I have, perhaps, briefly interacted with some of these innovators. They sometimes get by without food or drink. They carry their coffee in little plastic popsicle containers. You see now why they have to embrace that kind of lifestyle: there are millions out there who need to be given life's surpluses, even if briefly.

Did I cry? Yes. A little bit. I do that only when I am angry but this time around, it was for glee. Seeing those hundreds of people having leisure as a social benefit for being citizens of the Republic of the Philippines is enough a wring for a tear gland to function.

And to those guys who hit me with a ball? You are just a bunch of pissed off cowards. Believe me, you have never been gayer than this.

(See my post below).