Gessa Melnon Sanoria

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BU Hataw Reflection Paper

BU hataw is one of Bicol University’s annual tradition that has been put on hold in the
past 2 years due to the pandemic. Students from 1st year and 2nd year are the yearly participants
of this said event. Dressed in athletic or the PE attire, all participants must groove to the beat
and dance their energy out.
Being a part of BU hataw is such an experience, both fun and tiring. There are days that
practices are very much energy-consuming and learning the dance steps is a must in a short
period of time. Cramming is what I could call it, perhaps. We had to learn the dance in 3 PE
meetings only (if I remembered it correctly). There’s this feeling of wanting to not join anymore
since it was taking a big chunk of my energy and I do get breathing problems from time to time
due to physical activities but I’ve loved dancing ever since so, not joining should be kicked out
from the set of options.
Once or twice of the practice days we had, I find it fulfilling. Looking at the 1 liter water
bottle of yours being completely empty in just a few hours seems satisfying. Having your hand
towel drenched in sweat seems like a ‘yuck’ to most but it’s great to have proof that you exerted
effort and became part of something big, a part of BU’s tradition.
During the general rehearsal, it was bad. I felt like we were being punished, being under
the heat of the sun for a couple of hours and doing the dance over and over again seems pretty
exhausting, well it was. Having to feel your sweat trickling down your forehead to your neck was
disturbing but looking at how much we all fit together, dance together as BUenos is so much
fulfilling.
Then the day of the BU hataw came. It was disappointing to be stuck in the parade, the
event didn’t follow the schedule that should be followed. We had to dance very late than the
schedule but the moment that we ran towards the field and opened our arms to clap our hands,
it was something. It felt like we won something especially when all the party popper
simultaneously released confetti in the air. I felt included or should I say we. There’s something
that hits different when your school sees you as a part of it, as something to be proud of. We get
to enjoy, we get to forget how transitioning from high school to college is hard, how being back
to face-to-face in the new normal after being used to online and modular learning was quite
shocking.
Then the fireworks exploded. We were supposed to do the exit but everyone became
rooted to the spot. We all looked up and stared in awe as we take in that we did it. It’s done and
that we did a great job. It felt like magic. Though tiring, it was something that I’d always look
back to and we get to experience it next year again. It’s making me excited and the anticipation
is killing me for what’s yet to come in the next year’s BU hataw.