Travel Photography Philippines: Pahiyas Festival 2016 in Lucban, Quezon

May 16, 2016  •  Leave a Comment

Quezon is a province of the Philippines in the Calabarzon region of Luzon island. The province was named after Manuel L. Quezon, the second President of the Philippines, and its capital is Lucena City. It located in southeast of Metro Manila and is bordered by the provinces of Rizal to the north, Laguna and Batangas to the west and the provinces of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur to the east. Part of Quezon lies on an isthmus connecting the Bicol Peninsula to the main part of Luzon. 


San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish Church

This old and huge church in Lucban is famous among pilgrims. The Church of St. Louis Bishop of Toulouse underwent a couple of reconstruction over the years.

The church was built in 1593 then was rebuilt in 1629 after its first fall off. A fire caused its second deconstruction and was rebuilt from 1738 to 1743 to what it look like at present. The World War II partially damaged the church and was restored in 1966 by the Historical Commission.

In July 2014 Typhoon Glenda destroyed the roof over the altar, causing flooding inside the church.

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Pahiyas "Decor" Festival

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Some police visibility in the vicinity of Lucban 

One of the country’s biggest, and most colourful harvest festival every May 15th, along with the harvest festivals of the towns of Tayabas, Sariaya, Gumaca and Tiaong. These are the Philippines best known harvest festivals to honor San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. Known as the Pahiyas, the festival is deeply rooted in the traditional celebration of the townsfolk in thanksgiving for bounty harvest.

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Colourful house decors mostly using "kiping"

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ARJ-PAHIYASFESTIVAL-051516-12.jpgARJ-PAHIYASFESTIVAL-051516-12.jpg Trade Fair known as "Tiangge sa Lucban"

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Higantes Parade

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Old and native decors made of rice grains.

Pahiyas means decor and the May 15th festival showcases a street of houses adorned with fruits, vegetables, agricultural products, handicrafts and kiping, a decoration made from rice flour, which afterwards can be grilled or fried for eating. The houses compete to be declared the best decorated. Tourists visit Lucban every year in May to see the decoration of the houses. There is also a procession for the saint that concludes at the town’s beautiful church.

The visual and culinary feast has gained national and international recognition. 

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Some neighbors preparing Lechon Lucban for sale during Pahiyas Festival

ARJ-PAHIYASFESTIVAL-051516-25.jpgARJ-PAHIYASFESTIVAL-051516-25.jpg Local restaurant serving famous Longanisa Lucban and Pansit Habhab

Pancit Lucban better known as Pancit Habhab is the most popular streetfood in Lucban. As the name implies, it is a kind of pancit or noodle dish made with rice flour, stir fried and mixed with vegetables, shrimp and pork and sometimes lechon.

Habhab refers to the manner it is eaten. The noodles is served on a rectangular cut banana leaf which acts as a makeshift plate, then you must eat it using only your mouth {without the use of any utensils}. But before you do that, you must add a sprinkling of cane vinegar.

 
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HOW TO GET TO LUCBAN FROM MANILA
 
Public Transportation
  1. There are several buses serving Lucena City route. A lot of them have terminal stations in Cubao, particularly JAC Liner and Lucena Lines. Make sure that the sign-board says "LUCENA - GRAND TERMINAL". Bus fare is around 200 PHP. Estimated travel time is 3-4 hours.
  2. Upon arriving Lucena Grand Terminal, you need to ride the jeepney to Lucban, Quezon. Fare: 20-30 PHP. Travel Time: 20-30 minutes.
 
Private Vehicle
 
There are several routes that you can use from Manila:
 
Manila - Tayabas - Lucban (Via Sto. Tomas, Batangas)
  1. Use South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
  2. Take Sto. Tomas Exit
  3. You will be passing the towns of Alaminos (Laguna), San Pablo (Laguna), Tiaong (Quezon), Candelaria (Quezon), Sariaya (Quezon).
  4. Upon reaching the junction road, go straight to Tayabas, Quezon using the Tayabas-Sariaya Road.
  5. After getting to Tayabas, follow the Tayabas - Lucban Road.
 
Manila - Tayabas - Lucban (Via Calamba - San Pablo City)
  1. Use South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
  2. Take Calamba Exit.
  3. You will be passing Los Baños (Laguna).
  4. Use Bay - Calauan Highway then Calauan -San Pablo Highway
  5. You will be passing the towns of Tiaong (Quezon), Candelaria (Quezon), Sariaya (Quezon).
  6. Upon reaching the junction road, go straight to Tayabas, Quezon using the Tayabas-Sariaya Road.
  7. After getting to Tayabas, follow the Tayabas - Lucban Road.
 
Manila - Lucban (Via Manila East Road - Also known as The Backdoor)
  1. Take Ortigas Ave.
  2. Upon reaching Cainta (Rizal), take East Bank Road of Manggahan Floodway to Angono (Rizal)
  3. Take Manila East Road upon reaching Angono.
  4. You will be passing Rizal towns of Binangonan, Cardona, Morong, Baras, Tanay, Pililla, then Laguna towns of Siniloan, Pakil, Pagsanjan, Luisiana then Lucban.
  5. Or from Pagsanjan, you can follow the route thru Magdalena - Liliw -  Majayjay then Lucban.
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Once you have reached a town before Lucban, you will see a lot road signs leading to Pahiyas festival. A word of advice though, if you are planning to bring your own vehicle, plan your trip ahead and be there early. Due to the festival activities, vehicles will have trouble getting inside the town. Parking usually stretch 1-2 kilometers from the town proper, so prepare to walk your way inside Lucban proper.
 
© www.arjmunoz.com
 

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