GRADE 11 AQUINO

PAHIYAS FESTIVAL

Every famous festival in the Philippines is always colorful, and Pahiyas Festival,
without a doubt, is one of the most colorful and vibrant festivals in the Philippines.
Like most of the Philippine festivals, Pahiyas is held to give thanks for their bountiful
harvest.

The Pahiyas Festival History traces its roots back to the 16th century when it all
started. During that time, it was not like the festival we know today. The farmers
would bring their harvests at the foot of Mt. Banahaw where they offer the goods.
They gathered and held simple celebrations to give thanks to the Anitos for bountiful
harvests. But when the first church was built, the farmers just brought their harvests
there to be blessed by the priest. When they did that, they experienced another
bountiful harvest the following year. So, they made it a tradition to bring their
harvests to the church for the Lord’s blessings. However, the time came that the
church could no longer accommodate the overflowing goods. Because of that, it was
agreed upon that the farmers would display their harvests at their doorsteps, then a
priest would just roam around to bless each house.

In May 1963, the Lucban Festival became the colorful harvest festival we know
today, with people dressed in awesome Pahiyas Festival costumes while parading and
performing a Pahiyas Festival dance on the streets. The Pahiyas Festival month
celebration also includes cultural shows, trade fairs, art exhibits, and various contests
to boost the tourism industry. And it did. More and more locals from neighboring
provinces and even those from other countries are traveling to Lucban to experience
and take lots of Pahiyas Festival pictures.