Pahiyas Festival

San Isidro Pahiyas Festival is the most awaiting event in Quezon; the most colorful summer festival in the Philippines. This is only one day affair which held every 15th of May. Every year there are thousands of tourist who goes in Lucban to witness the town's natural scenic spots and colorful lifestyles houses. This is also one of the country's tourist attractions. In this event, each households tries to outshine their houses using attractive decors such as Kiping which is made from ground rice, flour, cabal leaves and colored in radiant red, yellow, fuchsia, green and other bright colors, Arangya, huge flowers, or even fruits and vegetables. In this festival they practice a friendly competition and given an incentives for the winning or the most beautiful design in the city. For your information, the word "Payas" or "Pahiyas" literally means agricultural harvest. Walking around the streets of Lucban is very much exciting. You will enjoy shopping spree at Tiangge for native bags, key chains, coin purse, native hats, pahiyas t-shirt and other souvenirs that they offer. You can also visit the San Isidro Church and pray for all the blessings you received every day. To tell you honestly, I fell in love in Lucban, Quezon; the scenery, the friendly people and their traditional Pahiyas Festival.

My office mates, Jars invites us to visit and experience this one of a kind festival in Quezon. Together with Ian, my office mates and Jars friends, we decided to explore the city of Lucban in Quezon. We met at Wendy's Buendia last Saturday around 4am, have our breakfast and start our journey. We waited for almost 1.5 hours for the bus that will drive us from Manila bound to Sta. Cruz. At exactly 6am, we left Manila and arrived at Sta. Cruz around 10am. From Sta. Cruz, we ride in a jeepney that will carry us to Lucban, it took us another 1.5 hours before reaching the city of Lucban. Seeing these beautiful houses makes our heart happy.

Scenery during Pahiyas Festival