Pahiyas Festival is one of the most brilliant and colorful festival in the Philippines. It is held in Lucan, Quezon and people of Lucban looks forward to a grand festival each year. This celebration is done in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of the farmers and good harvest. See Pahiyas Festival pictures.
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Pahiyas Festival 2015
The Pahiyas Festival will be celebrated on May 15, 2015. This falls on a Friday. Be sure to come on the day itself as the Pahiyas festival is a one-day event only. The Pahiyas Festival is always celebrated on May 15.
Pahiyas Festival
The route of the procession changes every year to give a chance to other residents to participate in the festival, decorate their houses and get a chance to win cash prizes. This year’s (2015) procession will pass through Regidor Street
If you wish to join a day tour to Lucban and experience the Pahiyas Festival, there are some travel agencies who organize a trip to the Lucban Festival. This way, you shall be more comfortable on your trip and get a chance to meet a few friends on the way. For more details, please check this site.
Highlights Pahiyas Festival
This festival is done in honor of San Isidro Labrador. This is considered as one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines as the residents of Lucban put a lot of effort in decorating their homes with fruits, vegetables, kiping and other handicrafts. You should never miss this festival as it is a one day event and be sure to come early so can make the most out of the Pahiyas Festival.
Pahiyas 2014 events and highlights
- Early morning mass at San Isidro Labrador Church
- Art and Photo Exhibit
- Grand Parade – Featuring street dancers, marching bands, higantes (giants) and kalabaw parade (carabao parade)
- Awarding of the most colorful and best decorated house in the afternoon
- Best Lights design in the evening
- Fireworks Display and Band Performance
About Pahiyas Festival
What is Pahiyas?
The word Pahiyas means “to decor” as the Pahiyas festival is the time where the people of Lucban decorate their houses.
What is Pahiyas Festival?
Pahiyas Festival is celebrated as an honor to San Isidro Labrador. Every year, a parade of the image of San Isidro is done through a street of house which is fully decorated with fruits, vegetables, kiping (rice wafer) and other handicrafts. They believe that the houses along the procession path will be blessed for the coming year. The Pahiyas Festival is always celebrated on May 15 every year, whether it falls on a weekday or a weekend.
Pahiyas Festival is celebrated as a way of showcasing and thanksgiving for their abundant harvest. At the end of the day, they shall announce the winners of the best decorated houses of that year’s festival. It is a one day event so be sure to come on the day itself or you will miss all the fun of it.
Who is San Isidro Labrador?
San Isidro Labrador or St. Isidore the Labourer is the patron saint of farmers.
Pahiyas Festival – Main Attractions
Decorated Houses
Here, you will see a few streets filled with colorful and impressive display of houses decorated with fruits, vegetables and kiping (rice wafer) and other handicrafts. These houses are judged based on their magnificent display and the best one will be proclaimed as the winner.
Although not all the residents of Lucban are required to join the Pahiyas Festival, most of its residents are looking forward to this event and are willing to take the time and shed a few bucks in order to decorate their houses and be hailed as the winner.
Pancit Hab hab
Pancit is a term for noodles in Filipino cuisine, while hab hab means to eat voraciously. Before leaving Lucban, you should never miss out on trying their Pancit Hab hab. It’s a tradition for visitors to get the Pancit Hab hab experience as your Lucban adventure will never be complete without it.
Pancit Habhab is Lucban’s version of pancit served on banana leaves. You eat it directly from the leaves without using a fork or your hands. I know it’s strange, but this will be an experience you will never get anywhere else and an addition to your memorable experiences while you travel.
History pahiyas festiva
According to a few recorded sources, the Feast of San Isidro Labrador was first celebrated by the natives of Lucban during the early Christianization. This celebration was done as a way of giving thanks to the anitos or pagan gods for their bountiful harvest. The natives believed that by celebrating this feast every year, they will be assured of having another bountiful harvest for the coming year.
For a more in-depth history of Pahiyas Festival, please visit this link:
Interesting Information
Each year, the processions’ route is purposely changed. This is done in order to give chance to other residents to participate in the event and decorate their houses with fruits, vegetables and kiping.
The event starts with a mass at San Isidro Church and a procession along the houses included in this year’s festival. A lot of activities are also scheduled during the day like, carabao parade, band parade and fireworks display at night.
Pahiyas Festival 2015
The Pahiyas Festival will be celebrated on May 15, 2016. This falls on a Sunday.
The Pahiyas Festival is always celebrated on May 15th.
Recommendations
Come early: If you wish to join the morning procession, it is best come early as the roads leading to the Pahiyas Festival are closed before the event starts. So, if you plan to bring a car, you will have to walk for a few miles or ride a tricycle to bring you there.
Try the kiping: The kiping (rice wafer), which is the main product used in decorating the houses is edible. If you wish to try the kiping, some residents sell fried kiping during the event.
Take pictures: If you wish to have your photos taken on one of the magnificent houses, you can ask permission from the owner. You can enter their houses and have your picture taken with the finest decorations.
Useful Information
Location: Lucban, Quezon
How to get Pahiyas Festival
Via bus
From Manila, take a bus ride going to Lucena. Buses going to Lucena have schedules on a daily basis. Just go to the different bus terminals along Pasay-EDSA, Buendia-Taft and Araneta, Cubao to check on their schedule. When you reach Lucena Grand Terminal, you will ride a mini bus or a jeepney going to Lucban. This trip is around 45 minutes from Lucena Grand Terminal.
Date: May 15, 2014 (Thursday). This is an annual event and is celebrated for one day only. The event usually starts with the procession in the morning and lasts for the whole day.
Fee: None