Pahiyas Festival

On 15 May, the feast of San Isidro Labrador, the patron of farmers, the town of Lucban decorates its houses for the harvest - and the scale of it is what makes Pahiyas the best-known fiesta in Luzon. Facades disappear under hanging vegetables, fruit, grain, woven palm and above all kiping: thin wafers made from rice paste pressed against a leaf, dried and dyed in bright colours, hung in chandelier-like clusters called arangya that catch the light and rattle in the wind. Judges award prizes for the best-dressed houses along the designated route, which changes each year, and a procession of the saint's image passes through in the afternoon. Afterwards the decorations come down and much of the produce is eaten - kiping is fried or grilled and served. Lucban's other contributions are its longganisa and pancit habhab, eaten off a banana leaf without cutlery.

History

Legend says three hunters from Majayjay, lost at the foot of Mount Banahaw, rested under a large lukbán, a pomelo tree, and named the place after it. Lucban holds the Pahiyas Festival every May 15 in honour of San Isidro Labrador, and its former barrio of Dingin became the separate town of Sampaloc in 1892 (Wikipedia, Lucban).

The main sights

• The kiping arangya - clusters of coloured rice wafers on the facades.
• The dressed houses - produce, grain and palm covering whole fronts.
• The procession - San Isidro carried along the route.
• The Lucban food - longganisa and pancit habhab from street stalls.

When to go

15 May, every year. Arrive early - by mid-morning the route is packed and the last transport out fills quickly.

What to expect

It is extremely crowded, hot and slow-moving; the route is walked shoulder to shoulder. Accommodation in Lucban books out - most visitors come as a long day trip. Decorations start coming down by evening.

Nearby

Kamay ni Hesus is minutes away; Tayabas basilica and Mount Banahaw are close.