PAHIYAS FESTIVAL 2014 Schedule of Activities, How To Get There, Things To Do and Suggested Itinerary

Are you ready for this year's celebration of Pahiyas Festival? If you love colorful festivals, Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon should be on your bucket list! Held every May 15th, it showcases the town's abundant harvest with a grand display of colorful rice wafers (kiping), fruits, vegetables and handicrafts adorning every house participating in the festival. Considered as one of the grandest thanksgiving festivals in the Philippines, it is a celebration of a bountiful harvest in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the "Patron of Saint of Farmers". Every year, thousands of foreign and local tourists from different parts of the globe flock to Lucban, Quezon to join the annual Pahiyas Festival.

A house along the Pahiyas route

PAHIYAS FESTIVAL 2014 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

It will be a one day event on May 15, 2014 which falls on a Thursday. Save the date and be sure to plan your trip ahead of time.

• Morning Mass at San Isidro Labrador Church
• San Isidro Labrador Procession
• Grand Parade featuring a parade of Carabaos, floats, marching bands and street dancers
• Art and photo exhibit
• Awarding of Best Pahiyas Festival House Design and Decors during the afternoon
• Best Lights Design in the evening
• Fireworks Display and Band Performances

UPDATED SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

May 15, 2014
06:00 AM Holy Mass (Pag-aalay ng Pasasalamat kay San Isidro Labrador) - Roman Catholic Church
07:00 AM San Isidro Labrador Procession - Pahiyas Route
09:00 AM Timpalak Pahiyas - Pahiyas Route
01:00 PM Parikitan, Bikas Gayak at Pancit Habhab - Roman Catholic Church Grounds
02:00 PM Grand Parade
06:00 PM Timpalak Pahiyas Kutitap

May 17, 2014
09:00 AM Timpalak Garbo Pa RIn - Pahiyas Route

May 19, 2014
02:00 PM Awarding of Winners - Rizal Park

San Isidro Labrador Procession

THINGS TO DO IN LUCBAN DURING PAHIYAS 2014

• Join the San Isidro Labrador Procession
• Munch on pancit habhab, grilled kiping, longganisang Lucban, pilipit, buchi and other local delicacies
• Cam whoring at the beautifully decorated houses along the Pahiyas route
• Visit Lucban Cathedral and Kamay ni Hesus Shrine
• Bring home some pasalubong of longganisa, kesong puti and buri hats
• Side Trips to Laguna and other towns of Quezon:
• Kwebang Lampas Beach in Pagbilao, Quezon
• Borawan Beach in Padre Burgos, Quezon
• Dampalitan Beach in Padre Burgos, Quezon
• Majayjay Falls
• Majayjay Church
• Liliw Church
• Shoe and Sandals shopping (Liliw)
• Nagcarlan Church
• Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

Lucban Longganisa

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

• 03:00 AM - Depart from Manila to Lucban Quezon
• 05:30 AM - Arrive in Lucban, Quezon
• 06:00 AM - Attend Mass at Lucban Church
• 07:00 AM - Start of Procession at Lucban
• 08:00 AM- 11:00 AM - Go around the Pahiyas route to take photos
• 11:00 AM - 12:00 NN - Buy some souvenirs and pasalubong
• 12:00 NN - Lunch
• 01:00 PM - Depart for Laguna or other towns in Quezon (Side trips to the towns of Majayjay, Nagcarlan and Liliw or Pagbilao and Padre Burgos)
• 06:00 PM - ETD Laguna/Quezon to Manila
• 09:00 PM - ETA Manila

Pahiyas Festival

HOW TO GET TO LUCBAN, QUEZON

On Public Transportation

Via Manila-Calamba-Lucban
From Manila, take a bus bound for Sta. Cruz and alight at SM Calamba. Enter SM Calamba and look for the passenger van terminal where you can find the vans bound for Lucban.

Via Manila-Lucena-Lucban
From Manila, take a bus bound for Lucena City (Quezon). Several buses have daily trips to Lucena City, their passenger terminals can be found along EDSA-Kamuning in Quezon City, Buendia-Taft, Pasay-EDSA and Araneta Center in Cubao. Upon reaching Lucena Grand Central Terminal, take a Lucban bound jeepney or mini bus. It's just around 45 minute ride from the grand terminal depending on traffic condition. It is advisable to travel early in the morning to avoid heavy traffic congestion leading to the town of Lucban.

Via Manila-Sta. Cruz-Lucban
Take a bus going to Sta Cruz, Laguna, fare is around 120 pesos and travel time is 2 hours. There are bus companies located in Cubao or Buendia-Taft Ave. that ply daily the Manila-Sta. Cruz route. Get-off at Sta. Cruz and take a jeepney bound for Lucban.

On Private Car

Via South Luzon Expressway
Take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and exit at Calamba exit. Pass through the towns of Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, Victoria, Pila, Sta Cruz, Pagsanjan, Cavinti, Luisiana and then to the town of Lucban. It is the first town in Quezon if you take this route.

Enjoy Pahiyas Festival!

For my coverage on Pahiyas Festival 2013, click HERE.

Certainly, Pahiyas Festival 2014 is a must-see Filipino celebration of colors, thanksgiving and abundance you shouldn't miss! Festivals are more fun in the Philippines!