Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

I HAVE two left feet, I have always told people that. So being with a group of people on their ballroom dancing day, as well as probably being the only person in the room below forty has made me nervous and yes, a bit out of place. Besides, I was only there to observe and interview, that confirms that I wouldn’t be taking out my dancing shoes anytime soon.

Still, I was amazed about what I saw, though it wasn’t the first time—my mom is one of them. Yes, in the past year I have been with her, I have seen her get all dressed and made up on Thursdays to dance her worries away.

"Every Thursday and every other Sunday ang dancing dito," said Mr. Moring Macalinao, president of the Buri-Buri Filipino American Senior Association of South San Francisco. "Ito din ang pinakamalakas," he added, referring to the 180 plus association members and guests who whiz through the Buri-Buri Social Hall during dance days.

And during those days, you could hardly find an empty space on the dance floor. Mr. Macalinao says the dancing helps a lot of their members not only physically, probably also socially. "Parang sa seniors, exercise na rin ito," he explained and continued, "yung entrance fee na $5 meron pang snacks." Not bad, I thought as I browsed through the crowd of smiling, laughing faces on the tables.

Even our resident celebrity/entertainment columnist, beauty impresario Ferdie Villar can attest to this. "It’s my form of exercise," he said, before he whisked away a partner and starting to display his dancing skills.

Mr. Macalinao explained that before the establishment of the association, members and other seniors would either attend various dance events or parties organized by other organizations or people. "Dati, pasayaw-sayaw lang kami sa mga ini-organized ng LuzViMin (referring to the Luzon Visayas Mindanao Association of Northern California)," he said. Today, their organization hardly misses their ballroom dancing days. More so, members and guests get to meet new friends, or discover old ones they have lost contact with.

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