The Colorful Pahiyas Festival 2016

My friend Bing and I had long planned our travel to Lucban, Quezon to join in the celebration of the Pahiyas Festival on May 15, 2016. It was my second time.

Bing and I inside one of the houses that features colorful decorations

At 6:30 a.m., Bing and I met at JAM Transit terminal in Buendia, Manila. Before riding the bus, we bought our breakfast in a convenient store inside the terminal. At past 7 a.m., we departed from Manila to Lucena central terminal. The entire trip was filled with laughter while chit-chatting and updating each other about the happenings in our lives.

Before 12 noon, we arrived at Lucena, Quezon. But before we headed to Lucban, we decided to eat in a carinderia and freshened ourselves from the 4 hours travel from Manila.

Our Lunch - Laing and Kaldereta

We waited for almost 30 minutes for the jeep going to Lucban resulting to the long line of people waiting for their turn to ride.

Traffic mode to Lucban

A few kilometers away from the terminal, there was already a build up of traffic. Cars don't really move and when they move it was really slow.

An hour of walk from that arc to Pahiyas Festival

Time is gold. Our motto for that day. Bing and I decided to walk. Yes. You read it right. We walked. We walked for 2 hours just to get to Lucban. It was an adventure indeed! Some group of young people and some oldies also walked their way to Lucban.

We didn't took notice of the time because we were having fun along the way. We took rest and drink water after some kilometers. We even bought fresh Buko juice to be energized. It was tiring but it was all worth it.

Fresh Buko for P20.00 along the way

From Kamay ni Hesus we rode a tricycle to Petron gas station before we walk again to enter the "bayan" where the highlights of Pahiyas was held.

Atlast! Only a few more walk to the Festival 

While walking, we ate the famous and delicious Pancit Hab-Hab and a bottle of Coke. Pancit Lucban or popularly know as Pancit Habhab is made with rice flour. The noodles are fried mixed with vegetables and pork. It is served in a rectangular cut banana leaf as your plate. When eating this pancit, you only make use of your mouth and not with any other utensils.

The famous Pancit Hab-Hab

We then continue with our walking towards the main road where the Pahiyas Festival was being held.

Pahiyas Festival is celebrated by farmers during the Spanish era for a bountiful harvest. It is also celebrated in honor of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers, peasants and laborers. The farmers also believed that this kind of celebration will bring them another fruitful harvest in the coming times.

My Photos infront of the house with colorful, attractive and creative decorations

The name of Pahiyas Festival came from a Filipino word "hiyas" which means jewel and "pahiyas" which means offering and decoration.

Every year, each house or family exerts extra effort in decorating their house with fruits, vegetables, flowers, rice grains or anything that is related to agricultural products. "Kiping" or the colorful leaf-shape rice wafer is one of the best known decorations in Pahiyas. The house with the most colorful, attractive and creative decors will win the competition. The house decorations will be blessed by the priest during the procession which is the highlight of the activities. The image of San Isidro Labrador is featured during the procession.

THE COLORFUL, CREATIVE and ATTRACTIVE DECORATIONS

The streets were literally filled with people from the different parts of the Philippines wanting to witness this colorful and beautiful celebration. Truly, you can see this only in the Philippines.

After taking photos of every house with colorful decorations, Bing and I rested for a few minutes and ate Siopao Bola-Bola for P15.00 and a bottle of Coke. Afterwards I bought one of the famous pasalubong from Lucban, Yema Cake and Broas for my family. I also bought one souvenir shirt for myself.

Bing and I had a hard time finding transportation back to Lucena. So many people were waiting for the Van to arrive that will take them to Manila. The same thing with buses and jeepneys because even up to the late hours, traffic was still building up because many people were still coming in to Lucban while many people too, were going home to Manila.

Mt. Banahaw from a distance

Luckily, we asked a tricycle driver to take us to Lucena. He was carrying with him 4 young passengers. So we had a joy ride with them and eventually became our friends as we all exchanged stories of our lives while traveling back to Lucena. We paid P100.00 each. And from Lucena to buendia we paid P209.00. At 1 am of May 16, I was finally home again.

Regina Rica in Tanay, Rizal

After climbing the mountain of Batolusong, some of the members of our team decided to wash themselves at Daranak Falls. But coming from Mt. Batolusong, we will pass by the shrine of Regina Rica so we headed our way to the hill.

REGINA RICA means Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia and is located at Sampaloc, Tanay in Rizal.  At the center of the hill is the 71-foot iconic statue of of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the child Jesus. This popular pilgrimage site was established in 2009.

REGINA RICA is a place for those people who want to feel and experience the nearness and presence of the Lord in the most sacred way.  The place is basically known for prayers, meditation and most of all for pilgrimage.

The trail to Regina Rica

When we climbed the trail to the hill, my plan was just to take a glance of the huge statue of Mama Mary because I was wearing shorts then and I knew it is not appropriate to come in. But when I was on top and saw the place, I was moved to get inside knowing I will be scolded or will not be permitted to enter. Luckily, I brought with me my white shawl that I used as palda.

Silence should always be observed while within Regina Rica. Since it is a sacred place, the rule is not to wear anything revealing like sandos, sleeveless or shorts.  Every one who is visiting the sacred place should comply or abide by these rules. If ever a person does not know about the dress code, someone from the shrine will give you a palda-like for you to wear as you enter the place.

The view of the chapel from the top

Candle corner for those who have prayer intentions