This post is actually too late for the actual event and too early for the next one....
We wanted to do experience the Pahiyas festival for quite some time and finally, last May 2014 we made it happen!
Pahiyas is a yearly festival set in Lucban, Quezon in
honor of San Isidro, the patron saint of good and abundant
harvest. Pahiyas literally means “to decorate”. This is one of the
most colorful festivals in the Philippines held every 15th of
May. Houses and streets are decorated mostly from colorful kiping as well as assorted
harvest and food fare.
Lucban is a 2 to 2.5 hour drive from where we
live in Laguna, accessed via SLEX and passing by the towns of Los Banos, Bay,
Santa Cruz and turning right to the Pagsanjan-Cavinti road.
Here are few tips to enjoy the Pahiyas Festival:
·
We preferred to come earlier in the day while it
is still relatively cooler. Alternatively, you can also go on a late afternoon
to early evening. Most homes were designed to have colorful lighting in the
evening.
·
It is better to bring your own transportation
but be prepared to park it just off the highway junction.
·
Be prepared to walk at least a kilometer or
more, from the Lucban junction just off the end of the highway going to the
streets where the festivities are held. All modes of transportation are not
allowed anymore inside the town’s main streets. You really have to walk!
·
Consequently, wear light, summer-friendly
clothing, hat/cap, sun protection and comfortable shoes or slippers.
·
If you forgot to bring a summer-y hat, you can
always buy one along the streets of Lucban for a price that is almost a
steal!
·
Don’t expect all the streets of Lucban to be
garbed with colorful decorations. Usually, only a select section will be decked
every year and each street take their turn year on year. If you have no idea
which is the right street to visit, just follow the crowd and you’ll never go
wrong.
·
Take time to appreciate the ‘Pahiyas’ of every
participating household. I interviewed one home maker and I was told it took
them at least one week to decorate. And lots of harvest, patience and
creativity.
·
Some houses have a 2nd floor balcony
that overlooks the street. Ask permission from the home owner to allow you to
have your picture taken from the balcony itself for a better backdrop. Most
home owners will actually oblige. We tried this in at least two houses.
·
I have not tried partaking lunch from a random
house, although I heard this is pretty standard expectation during festivals in
provinces. The nosy me couldn’t help but notice that most home owners do not
necessarily have feast that is open for public. Some houses had videoke but no
food. Net, plan to stop-by somewehere
else for lunch.
·
Don’t forget to try street fare especially the Pancit Habhab. Stir-fried egg noodles
are served on a banana leaf with a dash of vinegar and you have to eat the
pancit straight from the banana leaf without using any fork. Hence the name, habhab. Yep, you get the picture! Habhab-an na!
·
If you are the squeamish kind and need table,
chair, airconditioning, the works, drop by at Buddy’s Restaurant for an equally authentic pancit habhab. Parking
can be a challenge though. And on the day of the festival itself, be prepared
to wait in line.
·
For your pasalubong fare, try the Lucban Longganisa
or Broas (Lady Fingers) by the bucket.
·
Follow the path leading to the Parish church and
town plaza where more festivities abound. They also replicated their version of
the Higantes (Giants) which was made
famous by our very own Angono, Rizal.
Our children are not exposed to town festivals so we took
this opportunity for them to experience the fiestang
Pilipino.
It is truly more fun (and more colorful) in the Philippines!
