Dancing with Shakira

What time do you wake up on weekends?

Every Saturday and Sunday morning, I wake up at 6:00 a.m. just like I do on my normal weekdays.  Now this is supposedly the perfect time for me to catch up on my sleep because of late night chatting or surfing or whatever.  But I choose to stir up early instead to do aerobics dancing in front of the Bacolod City New Government Center. At 6:30 on these days, a group of active and fun-loving women, calling themselves HATAW, congregate to exercise by dancing. Some of these women are well over their 50’s, but you will be surprised how flexible and graceful they still are. They hire a dance instructor to lead the participants in the dancing, and anybody who in is the vicinity for some fun and exercise can join. In return, those who participate are requested to drop a voluntary contribution of P20 for the DI’s honorarium. Not bad for the tons of sweat I excrete after an hour of chacha, latin/belly dancing, and some hiphop, huh?  

There was a funny incident that happened to me one aerobics day. One regular participant, an older man, approached me to ask if I had dance training. No, I don't have, I quipped. He said that he was looking for a dance partner to participate in a city-wide ballroom dancing contest, and he saw that I can qualify because I have natural talent (blush blush!).  He added that a new category has been introduced; and then he casually asked for my age. When I told him I’m 44, he said, “Oh, you’d be perfect. The new category is for Senior Citizens. We’d surely win!” A few moments of silence...then I smiled. Of course, after murmuring an excuse which I don't remember now, I respectfully declined the invitation. (Grrrr!!!)

Anyway, this weekly aerobics gives me the right amount of adrenalin boost to kickstart my manic Monday. It also gives me a little leeway to indulge (yes, yes, moderately) in some Muji Almonds chocolates, Magnolia Gold Label ice cream, and Ruffles Ridges cheese flavour once in a while. When a friend heard that I’m doing aerobics, he laughed and said ‘Why, that’s so 80’s!’ Maybe so. But I couldn’t care less. I wouldn’t want to miss Shakira every weekend encouraging me to ‘waka waka’ my hips because she croons that my hips never ever lie.