Fiesta Series - Pahiyas of LUCBAN, QUEZON

The Pahiyas Festival of Lucban, Quezon holds the record for being the biggest and most colorful harvest festival in the Philippines. This tradition undoubtedly to be the most photographed of the festivals that it graced the pages of  popular travel books and magazines everywhere since.

The Pahiyas Festival is celebrated in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, peasants and laborers. Held every 15th of May, this centuries-old festival transforms the small town of Lucban from ordinary to exquisite sight. It takes a long time to prepare for the festival and a short period to celebrate. One of the much anticipated sights to see is the colorful decoration of houses made from different fruits, vegetables, and kiping, a leaf-shaped wafer created from rice paste in brilliant colors. Each household tries to outdo each other in friendly competition as they vie for honor of recognizing their creativity. The locals say, the procedure in making the kiping is a secret and only the chosen ones will be entrusted to make it.

As Pahiyas Festival visitors enjoy the displays of multicolored kiping, newly harvested fruits and vegetables, and native products that adorn houses of Lucban, Quezon, they are unaware that the tradition behind the colorful visual harvest festival is dying. Younger Lucbanin seem uninterested to continue the tradition of making kiping, the indigenous arangya (kiping chandeliers) and other homegrown products that have long been used as decorative items during the festival. Most young Lucbanin would rather spend time with their friends, surf the internet and interact through social media platforms If this continues, the tradition may soon end and the Pahiyas Festival will never be the same again.

My heartfelt appreciation to my travel buddy, the All-Time Mutya ng Lucban, Tess Nanez, for hosting my trip and for being a not-so-quiet ambassadress of the cool, clean, and quiet town of Lucban, Quezon.

National Cultural Treasure Series - MINOR BASILICA OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, Tayabas, Quezon

The Minor Basilica of St. Michael The Archangel in Tayabas, Quezon is known as the longest Spanish Colonial church with the longest aisle in the entire Philippines measuring 103 meters or 338 feet long. The church is the largest in the province of Quezon and the 2nd biggest in the Philippines, and one of the oldest religious structures. It is built in the shape of a key. Locals often refer to the church as Susi ng Tayabas or the "Key of Tayabas" because of its floor plan designed after the shape of a key. The church has earned the reputation of being one of the most beautiful churches in the country.

The Church of St. Michael The Archangel was declared by the National Historical Institute as a National Historical Landmark in 1978.  The National Museum of the Philippines declared Tayabas Basilica as a National Cultural Treasure on July 31, 2001 along with 25 churches in the Philippines.

The church's 103-meter (338-foot) aisle also has the longest nave among Spanish colonial era churches in the Philippines.

The church underwent a series of rebuilding and renovations since it was built more than 400 years ago. The Franciscan Missionaries had the first church built in 1585 using indigenous materials like bamboo, anahaw and nipa. It was rebuilt in 1590 by Saint Juan Bautista. And again rebuilt in 1600 using bricks. Ravaged by an earthquake in 1743, the church was repaired and enlarged in 1856 to include a transept and cupola. An 18th century clock that chimed every 30 minutes was installed on the side of the belfry, said to be the only one of its kind in the Philippines.

CAGBALETE ISLAND - Beaching On A Rainy Season

I am not, and will never be a beach person. Ask me to go to the beach any summer and I will certainly think a thousand times first before I say yes. But without any hesitation I miraculously agreed to go with a friend when he invited me to visit one of the less frequented vacation spot in the country - the Cagbelete Island - on a rainy season.

Being off the beaten track, we had to exert quite an amount of effort before we finally reached the island. To get there, it's a four-hour ride to Lucena from Manila plus another hour non-aircon bus ride to Mauban, Quezon. Next, an hour or less boat ride from Mauban Port to reach Sabang Port in Cagbalete plus a 20-minute trail hike to the remote and naturally beautiful Villa Cleofas Resort.

Beaching in Cagbalete on a rainy season was truly a unique experience - exactly my definition of a perfect getaway from the hassles of busy city life. The island was like our own piece of paradise, gifted with fine, powder-white sand, peaceful and quiet except for the relaxing sound of the waves - definitely a perfect place for nature lovers like me.