Festival Experience: Pahiyas 2k15

Last May 14 2015, my family and I hauled ourselves 5 hours towards the most southern part of the region Calabarzon. Our trip was long and our destination was beautiful. It is Lucban, Quezon. After arriving at almost midnight, we were welcomed by our gracious hosts at Batis Aramin. It is owned by Gally Valde and his lovely wife, the very first Mutya ng Lucban, Teresita Kleng Valde.

Longanisang Lucban

The very next morning, we were woken up by the smell of a delicious delicacy frying: Longanisang Lucban. The meaty, spice-filled sausages was just what we needed to start the day. The best place to get this is Abcede's Restaurant which is famous for their grilled Longanisa.  

Pancit Habhab

Another must-try delicacy is the Pancit Habhab. They are cooked noodles with vegetables meant to be eaten without any utensils. You get this square of banana leaf with your food and you just go for it! Definitely a mess that's worth it. It has all the fundamental taste profiles of Filipino food, sweet salty, umami and it's sour (just add a bit of vinegar to enhance the flavor).

Making our way to the bayan, we were immediately greeted by colorful houses showcasing the harvest of the year. The Pahiyas Festival celebrates the patron saint of harvest, San Isidro de Labrador. Every May, the people of Lucban decorate their homes with rice, leaves and a plethora of vegetables. This was used as an offering to the patron saint. Here you can see the festive decors.

The festivities continue with a parade of marjorets, a marching band and girls in glamorous and ingenious gowns. These gowns were made from all-natural materials such as wheat and more. The designers give "BIG, BOLD, and BEAUTIFUL" a whole new meaning. Check out their designs below.