The Pahiyas Festival of Lucban, Quezon, is probably one of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines. Lucban, a sleepy town nestled at the foothills of Mt. Banahaw, explodes in a cacophony of colors every May 15 as they celebrate the feast day of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
San Isidro was a Spanish day laborer dedicated to the cause of the poor and the animals; he died on May 15, 1130. Old tradition dictated that the farmers bring their bountiful harvest to the church to be blessed. Later, the parish priest asked them to just stay home and wait for him to go around with the procession and bless their harvest. It levelled up to a friendly competition as to who could come up with the best house decor and display. Today tourists from far and near come to revel in the festive atmosphere and delight in the explosion of color that are part and parcel of Lucban's celebrations, held on the death anniversary of San Isidro.
There's no better occasion for a photo tour than the Pahiyas Festival. Check out photos taken by two vanloads of camera-toting Manila-bred citizens, giddy at the chance to photograph such a colorful festival, in this gallery.
(All photos courtesy of Joy Jesena-Barcelon and used with permission from the photographers.)
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