Pahiyas Festival

Last Saturday, I joined a friend of mine from the office (along with her college friends) in going to their hometown of Lucban, Quezon. Every 15th of May, the people of Lucban celebrates the Feast Day of San Isidro Labrador. San Isidro Labrador is the patron saint of farmers. Since Lucban is a farming community, it is that time of the year that they honor San Isidro for the bountiful harvest that they gathered.

The people of Lucban does this by decorating their houses with the harvest that they reaped or products that they usually sell like handicraft fans and hats. There would be a designated path around town where the procession would move through and the houses along the path are required to decorate their houses. The procession would start and end at the church.

Church of Lucban

The owner generouslly let us enter his house to take this picture

Believe it or not this is not a garden but a man made garden that the owner made just for the Feast Day only to be removed after.

a house owned by a farmer with his harvest decorated on the facade of his house

this one is a handicrafts manufacturer

and this one is both handicrafts manufacturer and farmer

and this one is just too darn rich. (just kidding). this has got to be the most intricate design i've seen.

me, my office buddies, the host, and her friends

Pahiyas at night

It was really a great experience to be there, being a city folk and all. My dad had a province but we rarely go there and got me and my kuya deprived of living and experiencing the provincial life. To me, being there in Lucban, was sort of a dream come true. Most of all, being there gives you the sense of rest and relaxation that you needed. No sights of heavy traffic and tall buildings. All you'll see is this one big mountain called Mt. Banahaw (which is not to be confused with Banaue, which a often do), multitudes of palm trees, rice fields and streams. It's also cold there because Lucban is situated in the foot of Mt. Banahaw. The water is ice cold. Sigh. I want to go back even if it's not Pahiyas.

Bounce!