In a couple of days, I will be heading to Southern Luzon to attend the beautiful Pahiyas Festival. It is a colorful feast in honor of St Isidore the Farmer, the patron saint of farmers, as a thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. Houses along selected streets of Lucban are decorated with agricultural produce. One of the very uniquely Lucban decor of the festival is the kiping, a wafer made of rice, ground, mixed with water and coloring and the paste spread on the leaves of an indigenous plant. These are steamed and cooled. The "cookie" is carefully stripped of the leaf and left to cool. These are then woven to decorate their homes.
The streets where the procession of the image of St. Isidore will pass are the ones usually decorated. The municipal government sponsors a contest for the most beautifully decorated houses. Corporate sponsors gang up on the chance to be a sponsor. The organizers do not invite sponsors. The sponsors beg to be part of the festival. I should know. A friend is a member of the organizing committee.
The main procession, judging and awarding is held on May 15, the feast of the saint. For more traditional pinoy fiesta eye candy. To learn more of the Pahiyas Festival go to http://www.pahiyasfestival.com/home/
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