Redefining fun nights

HOW does one tag a night that begins with fun—with fun at every juncture—and ends in a way as if all things were done all for fun? Needless to say, it must to be a fun night.

The redundance is intentional because some people can’t have enough of fun. For some, that would mean spending precious moments with families. Others may want it to be an exciting night out with friends. But whoever it is that one wants to spend the night with, there is a kind of fun night that is definitely fit for any requisite.

Whether the mood is up for foreign or local, cultural or modern dance, groovy boys and girls are ready to show off their moves, strutting superb costumes. If one feels more strongly for theater arts, there are plays staged to appease that predilection. Then again, if the need is to fill in some musical longings, there are also live bands worth watching out for.

All these and more happen during “Fun Nights in Lapu-Lapu City.” It is a weekly dinner-show held every Saturday at the Mactan Shrine, from 6 p.m. onward.

Being a brainchild of Mayor Paz Radaza, Fun Nights is the fruit of an effort to find an avenue to showcase the various talents of the youth and, at the same time, discovering an additional attraction for both local and foreign tourists.

“I was toying on the idea that there has to be a place where in tourists can go to be entertained,” the mayor shared. She also considered getting community women, organized as Kababayn-an sa Opon Nagkahiusa sa Kalambuan (Kopka), involved in and benefitted by such undertaking.

Kopka women were given fair opportunity to set up food stalls and sell their fares to the various spectators of the show. With that, as the mayor puts it, “people can look at the show and can also have dinner there.”

Fun Nights commenced on May 19, with a promise of infinite show dates. Since then it has proven its worth as an event filled with different forms of entertainment suitable for all ages to have a good time. Every night is set to hold in store varying surprises so that there is no reason for anyone to complain of boredom. Initially, it started out branded as “Hugyaw,” which literally means a boisterous or a festive noise. It had to be renamed so as to make it easier for foreign tourists to appreciate the essence of the show while keeping in with the Department of Tourism’s campaign “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” as explained by lighting director Andy Berame.

From the start, the local government has also worked hand-in-hand with the Department of Education (DepEd) Lapu-Lapu City Division. According to the artistic and creative event director March Mandal, DepEd has continuously given its support through urging students from the different public schools to prepare fine productions.

“It is also a good chance to develop the sense of competitiveness in the youth,” Mayor Paz added to the list of advantages that this venture is making. She believes that another good thing about it is that it is an encouragement for the youth to bring out the best in them.

So whatever fun means to an individual—be it the opportunity to display, the pleasure of an experience or the gains—it is more probably safe to say that nights can really be more fun while watching the Fun Nights in Lapu-Lapu City.