It is no doubt that thanksgiving celebrations in the Philippines are always in its grandest. In fact, Filipinos even go beyond ‘colorful and creative’ and a best example would be the use of bountiful offerings as decorations during the fiesta.
Regarded as one of the country’s cleanest and most peaceful places, the town of Lucban in Quezon province transforms into a highlight destination among locals and tourists as it celebrates the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival. The harvest festival is an annual thanksgiving fiesta in honor of San Isidro de Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. Lucban, a tourist town and cultural heritage site, celebrates life in colors and flavors every 15th of May, truly, one of the most colorful harvest festival in the country.
Hiyas, in Filipino, is defined as “jewel” or an ornament. And decorating houses with various agricultural harvests is the heart of the festival. Just like the popular gingerbread house or the candy house in Hansel and Gretel, the fiesta (also known as San Isidro Pahiyas Festival) have gained distinct popularity among locals and tourists as well. Fruits and vegetables; rice grains, and other products such as handcrafted fans, hats and placemats which are made from native elements, decorate the houses that line the streets. Among the highlight decors is the kiping—brightly-colored rice wafers shaped like leaves are made into different decorations, and are given as free treats to the crowd.
The fascinating and impressive decors draw a lot of people as well as the festival’s activities. After the procession of San Isidro, the grand parade features carabaos, colorful floats, live bands and street dancing. Every year the route of the parade changes so that other houses can showcase their decorations. Locals believe that homes graced by image of the patron saint during procession are bound to be blessed in abundance.
It is a fact that Filipinos are generally food lovers, and the abundant celebration of food makes every fiesta in the Philippines definitely irresistible. Pancit Lucban (pancit habhab) is among the favorite specialties in this town. It is a dish made of rice flour noodles mixed with vegetables chunks of liver, pork and shrimp, and dressed with cane vinegar served in a banana leaf – and consumed without the use of utensils. Yes you read it right! The strong taste of garlic, together with spices, salt, sugar and vinegar make Lucban longganisa (local sausage) another famous native delicacy of the town. And of course, no Philippine festival is complete without lechong baboy (roasted suckling pig)!
Aside from the grand display of harvests, the Tiyangge sa Lucban exhibits a variety of local products. This agro-industrial fair is also a way to promote tourism in Lucban and boost its economic development.
The celebration of Pahiyas Festival, and other religious festivities, is among the interesting ways in which Filipinos continue to bring the Philippine culture and history to life.
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