Philippines: Pahiyas Festival

Every year, on May 15, the town of Lucban in the Quezon province of Philippines, observes the Pahiyas Festival, dedicated to the patron saint of farmers and labourers, San Isidro Labrador. On the day of this harvest festival, houses are decorated with fruits, vegetables, rice stalks, rice grains, flowers and other agricultural produce. The harvests are displayed in front of the house so that the parish priest can bless them as he passes by during the procession. Residents make colourful, leaf-shaped rice wafers called kiping; the dyed kiping are usually sewn together to form a wreath and these wreaths are arranged into a two- or three-layer chandelier, called aranya, which are hung on the windows. A procession featuring the image of the saint and his wife goes around the town. The day concludes with feasting. When in Lucban, do not miss the town’s delicious specialties: the Pancit Habhab and the Longganisang Lucban. The Pancit Habhab is noodle made from rice flour and is sold on the streets on a piece of banana leaf. The Longganisang Lucban is a local sausage made of ground pork, paprika, oregano extract, salt, pepper and garlic. www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com