A BOUNTIFUL
HARVEST
As the month of May ushers in abundance and prosperity of
nature's gifts, different regions in the Philippines delight in
dazzling spectacles of magnanimous proportions. Flamboyant
parades, religious rituals, and gratifying performances illuminate
towns and cities, and locals open their doors to the world in
celebration of the good fortune of the harvest season.
I n Lucban, Quezon, homes are adorned with colorful rice wafers
known as kiping to welcome the annual Pahiyas Festival. The
occasion, which has taken the historic town to new heights as a
cultural heritage site, begins every 15th of May and continues in
the next few days with a series of activities including a horse
racing event, a grand parade featuring performers, oats, and
marching bands, and a procession that honors San Isidro de
Lab
Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
In the Visayas Region, the island of Guimaras comes alive with the
Manggahan Festival, also a celebration of thanksgiving for the
abundant yield of its world-famous produce: sweet and succulent
mangoes.
The event held throughout the month of May is a showcase of
colorful parades, cultural shows, sporting competitions, and
concerts. The highlight is the extraordinary, mango
"eat-all-you-can" contest that promises a remarkable experience
for locals and visitors alike.
The main attraction nationwide is the Santacruzan or Flores de
Mayo, a religious parade that started in the mid-1800s to
commemorate the discovery of the "Holy Cross" of Jesus Christ by
Queen Helena of Constantinople and her son, Constantine the
Great.
The occasion, which also honors the Mother of Christ for blessing
the country with a rich harvest, is marked with oral offerings,
gastronomic gatherings, and attractive pageantries featuring the
town's lasses garbed in dashing gowns.
Journeying around the Philippines in the month of May unleashes
epic tales of thrilling adventures. And stories are made even better
by festivals, which once relished will never be forgotten.