Sinigang

JULY 4TH MARKS AMERICA’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE from Britain in 1776. This is perhaps their second most important holiday, next to Thanksgiving so they really celebrate this day with a bang! As early as the 1800s the long traditions of parades, family gathering, barbecue, fireworks, and picnics has become a way to honour America’s birthday. I feel in a way fortunate to be here in Massachusetts- a State regarded by many as the place in US’ history where it all began, because with that, historic Boston has grown to become the country’s premier place to be every July 4th. For 32 years, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular July 4 Concert in the Esplanade, Cambridge has attracted more than 500,000 people each year, with one-third of visitors coming in from all across the nation and I didn’t have to travel!! Its live broadcast on national TV also gets the highest rating as the most viewed July 4 event in America.

This is my second year to attend the free concert and I loved every minute of it! The thing is, it isn’t so much watching the concert itself or the fireworks but the camaraderie you feel among these thousands of people who come together in peace and harmony. The feeling of being totally free in a free nation. They have plenty of reasons to love and to be proud of their country and I am envious of the patriotism these people have.

The concert starts at 8:30 at night but people started coming as early as 9:00am. More than attending the evening concert, it was really a day of get together of friends and family, hanging out in the sun, setting up blankets and foldable chairs, eating pizza and sandwiches, playing cards and frisbee, talking, just enjoying the day. My friend and I arrived around 3:15, with our foldable chairs, ipods and food and drinks. They we’re handing out souvenir programs, flags and liberty hats all courtesy of one major sponsor, Liberty Mutual. All I could think was, "my, you buy these things back home!" What’s amazing about attending national shows such as this, is that it’s free of cluttering and annoying billboards, posters and huge tarpolin displays from sponsors. Even the major sponsor didn’t have anything displayed in the venue. That’s how it should be! In the Philippines, you get a huge crowd like this- boy, the sponsors are all over the place; onstage, on the sides, on the railings, on the barricades, on trees, any place they could get their commercials on. Not to mention constant voice over of ‘thanking’ the sponsors for making the show possible! Jeez, we get the point. You sponsored a show, that’s not going to make me buy your product!

The concert was great as expected! Ayla Brown (who hails from Massachusetts), American Idol’s Top 13th opened the show singing the American anthem "Star Spangled Banner." The Boston Pops Orchestra who has been performing every Independence day concert since 1929 was a total sight and sound spectacle especially watching the young Keith Lockhart, the most popular conductor in the US lead the orchestra! The Orchestra’s popularity has grown dramatically over the last 50 years. In fact initially, they were the only performers during the concert and people from all over come to Boston to see them play every July 4th. Their most popular masterpiece is "Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture." Of recent, because of the concert’s massive appeal, the organizers have invited big names in the music industry to grace the show. Last year, they invited country music stars like Gretchen Wilson but I’m not a country music fan so I had more fun watching the Boston Pops and the fireworks display! This year, whoa! They actually had one of the best rock bands of all time come to perform!! Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were on the show!! It was awesome! The members of the band weren’t originally all from Boston but they decided to create the band and start their career in Boston in the 70’s. To this day, they proudly say that they’re a Boston, Massachusetts band! I’m no rock fan either but Aerosmith is Aerosmith and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry are like the biggest Rock stars of all time. They performed three of their classics- Oscar nominated song "I don’t Want to Miss a Thing," platinum hits "Dream On" and "Walk This Way." It was an awesome performance! The only weird thing about the whole event was having the renowned self-help guru Dr. Phil and his equally popular wife, Robin host the affair. I think they are a great couple but seeing them in juxtaposition with the Aerosmith guys were like watching the Pope (the image of good) and Bin Laden (the face of evil) in one interview. I don’t mean that one is good and the other bad, it’s simply out of place, that’s all. Plain weird.

The pyromusical finale was worth waiting for. The fireworks display that ran for 30 minutes, lit up the Boston night sky with choiced music reverberating throughout the venue. Sheryl Crow’s "Soak Up the Sun," The Jamies’ "Summertime, Summertime," Shaiman’s "American President" (the theme from the movie of the same title), The Boston Pops’ "76 Trombones" and "Liberty Bell March," Neil Diamond’s "America" and James Blunt’s "You’re Beautiful" were among the songs played as the fireworks wowed the huge crowd. What a Night!!

"Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream. The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people." (http://www.usacitylink.com/usa/) Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence as some parts of the world can only dream of it. With all your glory, power and success, Happy 230th Birthday, America!