by Rina Marquez


Filipinos have a knack for coming up with the most merry of small town fiestas (usually in honor of a patron saint or a good harvest). The Quezon province is no exception-especially every May 15, when Pahiyas turns the townsfolk playful

Every year, the annual Pahiyas and Agawan festivals in the Quezon Province are held on May 15. The farmers celebrate the Feast Day of San Isidro Labrador on the 15th of May to give thanks for the harvest. In doing so, houses are adorned with fruits, vegetables, and other crops. This is also where big colorful leaves called "kiping" (made out of pounded rice) are hung on the facades of homes.

When people talk about Pahiyas, they usually mention the town of Lucban. But, in reality, three towns in Quezon celebrate this fiesta, namely, Sariaya, Tayabas, and Lucban.

Aside from its beautiful ancestral homes, Sariaya has given a twist to the Pahiyas Festival by turning the Pahiyas into Agawan. At 3 p.m. on the day of the festival, the carosa or float of San Isidro Labrador is brought around the town. As the carosa goes around the town, every house that it passes gets stripped bare and the crops are tossed over to the people on the streets. (This is reminiscent of the traditional Filipino Pabitin at Palayok games at parties, but on a much larger scale.)

Here's a useful tip: Get ready to duck as others tend to get playful! During this time, expect to see flying talong (eggplant), mangoes, upo, and other hiyas or décor that can be hurled.

The energy is intense. To give you a better idea, think of the battle scenes in The Chronicles of Narnia, where thousands of archers shoot their arrows at the same time upon signal. But instead of the arrows going in the same direction, jumble everything in the air and make them go in various directions-and in place of arrows, think fruits and vegetables! The Agawan Festival is something like that-done in true Pinoy style, of course.

On the other hand, Lucban, which is two towns further down, showcases really imaginative harvest designs. Regular homes get a facelift as the streets are turned into a harvest wonderland. Roads are closed and people enjoy the scenery as they walk through the streets showcasing each house vying for the 1st Prize in decor along with local product bazaars. In Lucban, the decors are left on the houses so that people can still go shopping and take pictures even at night (the lights are beautiful as well).

Tayabas, a small town between Sariaya and Lucban, features a majestic Spanish-built church, along with an old house-turned-boutique hotel. There are a lot of native handicrafts that can be found along its highway.

Do you want to witness two festivals, in three towns, in the same province, in one day? Do you want to experience walking through antique masterpieces such as the 1920s Art Deco home made by esteemed architect Andres Luna de San Pedro (son of national artist Juan Luna)? Do you enjoy mouthwatering delicacies? Do you like shopping for flora and fauna and other bazaar goods? Do you want take a unique peek into Southern Tagalog culture?

If your answer to any of the above questions is a resounding "Yes!" then head over to Quezon any day of the year. Trust me, there will always be something to see and explore.