WELCOME to Pahiyas Festival, also known as the Lucban San Isidro Pahiyas Festival, the annual harvest celebration held in honor of the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador. Pahiyas is a cultural tradition every month of May that transforms the towns of Quezon, Philippines, into rainbow-colored spectacles. The place bursts with every color imaginable as hundreds of homes and buildings are decorated with all kinds of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and other produce often in grand one-of-a-kind designs. Kiping (thin leaf-shaped wafers made from rice paper) and longganisa (Filipino sausage), considered ornamental during the festival, also decorate the houses and buildings. A significant cash prize goes to the most ornately decorated house or building.
But beyond the beautiful decorations of houses, the highlight of the festival is the ‘Kalas’ procession, where people grab as much produce as they can from the decorated houses. It may appear mischievous, but it’s one of the most anticipated parts of the festivals for both visitors and locals alike. Then a grand parade is held in the afternoon, with marching bands, giant papier-mâché puppets, and people dressed up in their most colorful garb. Entertaining competitions, cultural performances, dances, exhibits, and fiestas are held throughout the festivities.
You won’t get hungry when joining the Pahiyas as locals often open their homes to visitors to to have a taste of Quezon’s specialty of pancit habhab (rice flour noodles stir fried with vegetables and meat), or Lucban pilpit (a sticky, sweet treat made with rice flour and squash and dipped in caramelized sugar). There are also vendors that line the streets selling all kinds of delicacies and food parcels — plus souvenirs of native hats, bags, key chains, and many more. So if you want to experience all this, be sure to book a hotel well in advance.
