HARANA vs CHOCOLATES and ROSES

Years ago, “harana” was used to ask a person, especially females, for their hand through singing.
HARANA is a romantic expression of love through music.
A young man, usually with his friends, visits a young woman’s house at night and serenades her with songs that express his affection. The young lady may respond with a song and the singing may go on until both parties reach an understanding.
Don’t call me unlucky if my friend RK tells you I’m a probinsyano. My name is Nathaniel Barabas, but my freinds call me Boboy, and I think I like the name. True, in all my 40 years I have mostly stayed in my probinsya (my work as a farmer demeands my being here). But every now and then, when chance and need arise, Iget to see the city, a good 25 or so kilometers away from my place. But I don’t stay there for a long time. City life with its congested traffic, smog, and many things sort of suffocate me. And so when I’m done with my business in the city, I usually head back home.
Here in my place I enjoy life at its best-fresh and clean air, and vegetables, fruits, and fish. Have you tasted my native chicken adobo? Don’t eat it without the sweet-smelling dinorado. Don’t you know dinorado? Then come to my probinsya and partake of this favored fare under the playful innocent gaze of our beautiful women. The women in my place are simple, sincere, demure, and dedicated to their family and work. Perhaps after our evening meal you can whoop it up with my friends and me and harana one of the beautiful ladies nearby. (But please be forewarned: my friends don’t usually want me to tag along because they say I’m too defies age.) Oh, yes, this is one heart-rending activity you cityfolk don’t get to enjoy. Harana is mainly associated with probinsya. I know of city people, gentlemen and ladies, who come to the probinsya to witness and enjoy harana. Just like my auntie Heidi many years ago.
Auntie Heidi was fair-skinned and beautiful, and many a lovesick swain in my place wanted to get acquainted with her. One night, after eating our meal and the old folks were in the sala telling stories, reminiscing the good old days, we heard a guitar strumming a beautiful song. There was no electricity then, so all well quiet. Everybody stopped talking. The music went on and soon a baritone voice rent the air. “ Lovely bloom of the sampaguita. . .”
My grandfather ordered for a petromax to be placed in the middle of our balcony.And soon we recognized the faces of three gentlemen. They were blushing but they continued singing. I was excited. After their song, grandfather asked them to come up. They hesitated and decided to sing one more song.
“ O Ilaw sa gabing madilim, larawan mo, Neneng.”
Ihad to suppress my laughter because “Neneng” was pronounced “ Nining.” But they went on their number, unmindful of their pronounciation.
Grandfather persuaded them to come up and they did. But they were still blushing. Auntie Heide was all smiles at them, but they couldn’t seem to look at her. And they couldn’t seem to think of something to talk about. But grandfather came to the rescue. He asked me to sing along with them, and everybody blurted out, “ Yes, yes!” I didn’t sing but I kept smiling. Pretty soon one of the men who was near me patted my head and said, “ Boboy is very cute and handsome and-“
Oh, there, I saw RK winking and raising her eyebrow at you. Don’t believe her, I’m telling the truth. It really happened to me. She’s just envious because nobody is serenading her. Ok let’s go, my friends are waiting for us. But prepare some songs; you’ll be our harana star tonight.
Nowadays, is it commonly used? Maybe not. Today, men are used to buy chocolates and roses to express their love. But what if people today are using the “harana” method?