Four hours of travel from Manila to Lucban is really long and tiring. I was very excited because that was really my first time to visit Lucban for their annual Pahiyas festival. Went there with my friend Bryan and his brother Mark.
It was the middle of May and the weather was really unbearable and unpredictable. Upon arrival in Lucban, we went to mini-restaurant called Chito’s Tapsilogan. We ate Longganisang Lucban with Egg and rice it was also my first time to eat that and it was so good.
I didn’t actually expect that a lot of people really come to Lucban just to see the kipings that the residents hung in their houses’ facade. Or maybe because it was a Tuesday and people found a good reason to go out of town. Well, the people around town made the Pahiyas really a true Filipino fiesta.
“It’s more fun in LUCBAN PAHIYAS 2012”
San Isidro Labrador (St. Isidore, the Laborer) of Lucban, Quezon
Cath, Bryan and Mark
Cath and I
I’ve always wanted to experience going to a fiesta because I know that in Philippine culture, this is one of the events that many Filipinos (and even foreigners) anticipate.
Kneeling carabaos are a common sight to see during Philippines’ festival to celebrate its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. I guess that this is because of the carabaos participation in the harvesting process.
With Cath, Aira, Neil and Mark.
Bryan and I
All I knew about Pahiyas Festival are the colorful houses but I didn’t really know what it’s all about. When I was there, I learned that the Pahiyas Festival is a tribute to San Isidro Labrador (St. Isidore, the Laborer). This is also the time that Lucbanins show their produce by decorating their houses with their own harvested produce. So basically, the whole Pahiyas celebration is a thanksgiving festival for the abundant harvest and hopefully they’ll be blessed for the next year’s harvest. By the way, the Pahiyas Festival happens every May 15.
Not all streets have houses decorated because it will be too expensive for a family to spend decorating their houses for the festival every year. So the local municipality decided that each street will have their chance every other year. As you know, they have a yearly competition for the most beautifully decorated house every year so it’s good that they have more time to prepare.
You will see that the most common thing that they decorate their houses with are kiping, vegetables and other produce that the family has. Kiping is a local delicacy which is made of ground rice flour shaped into cabal leaves which are dipped into color pigments. You can actually eat the Kiping either by grilling or frying it.
The whole Pahiyas festival experience was very tiring (because we had to walk and no vehicles can go inside the festival proper). Even though it was a busy day for us, it was worthwhile. The view of the Mount Banahaw is breathtaking and the temperature there is not very humid. Surprisingly, it felt like I was in Tagaytay. The locals say that it’s the highest part of Quezon that’s why the temperature there is much cooler compared to other places in Quezon.
The experience of going to the Pahiyas Festival is an enjoyable experience. Finally, I can say that I have been to a fiesta!
Rambling Bluff 