quezon | A Journey With Me

Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon

Pahiyas Festival: Teope Legacy

Pahiyas Festival is a yearly festival in honor of San Isidro de Labrador for the good harvest of the town in Lucban, Quezon. Every 15th of May the creativity differs from house to house with colorful kipings, anok, different fruits, vegetables, root crops and rice barn, woven hats and other native products, delicacies and food that originated from Lucban.

The family of Teope is known for creating famous designs for the Pahiyas Festival. The ancestral house of Teope is along Regidor Street and always refers to as Daang Dalahican, a commonplace known by Lucbanin’s. During the early days, Daang Dalahican was a street filled with award-winning payas.

The Teope family always bagged awards every Pahiyas Festival for the years that the route will end up on their street. Even the extended families of Teope who live in other streets also make a beautiful design that also generates awards. The kin also established themselves as creator of kiping. Some of the Lucbanin buys kiping to the different Teope kin who made the kiping their business.

Pahiyas Gallery

Pahiyas 1970’s

Some photos of the old house are also featured in a local Museum with their rice gallery and another one was used as postcard.

Pahiyas 2020 with Payas and Kiping Master – Rolly Teope

How to Make Kiping by Teope

We would like to give our heart felt appreciation to the different TV programs to feature the Teope Family particularly Bert Teope about the “Making of Kiping” and also for the International Rice Research Institute. Credits are due to the Youtube Channels respectively.

For other posts about Lucban, check this out: Lucban Pahiyas Festival, Lucban, Quezon, Kamay ni Hesus

Note: Please check with the Lucban Municipal Tourism Office for the requirements needed to visit the destination. Please contact 0425401279 or email at lucbantourism@yahoo.com.

Lucena City, Quezon

Lucena is the capital city of the province of Quezon and also a highly urbanized city. Lucena is also known as the “Cocopalm City of the South.”

The famous landmark in Lucena is the Saint Ferdinand Cathedral which is the heart of the city. It is also the seat for the Diocese of Lucena. It is a Spanish style church. There are 12 other churches in Lucena and is spread to the different barangays.

The Lucena Perez Park is a park named after the Governor. It is sometimes called Quezon Park since it is in front of the Quezon Provincial Capitol Building. Across the street is the Manuel L. Quezon Monument.

Lucena also has the Quezon Convention Center and the Lucena Grand Terminal.

Famous Landmarks in Tayabas Quezon

Tayabas is officially called the City of Tayabas and it is nestled in some parts of Mount Banahaw. It used to be the capital of the Province of Tayabas (now Aurora and Quezon) and surrounded by the neighboring city and different towns of Quezon – Lucena, Sariaya, Lucban, Pagbilao and Mauban.
The city is known for its heritage houses and historical landmarks.

The famous attraction is the Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel is the largest Catholic Church in the province of Quezon. The church is shaped like the key and the locals refer to it as Susi ng Tayabas.

Near the church is The Casa Comunidad, a centuries-old building. It is a national landmark that has a museum and the municipal library.
Since my ancestors came from Lucban, Quezon and we go there every summer, there is a famous resort along the Tayabas – Lucban road that we often visit. It is called Nawawalang Paraiso. It was the first resort near Lucban and we witnessed how the simple resort turned into the latest Nawawalang Paraiso Resort and Hotel.

One of the famous restaurants is the Original Palaisdaan just a few kilometers away from the resort. And between the resort is another restaurant called the Air Summit Gourmet.

Heritage Houses in Sariaya, Quezon

Sariaya is a town before the capital city of Quezon which is Lucena City. The Sariaya town is considered as the Heritage Town of Quezon and the Art Deco Capital of Southern Luzon. It is famous for its different ancestral houses. The three famous ones are declared Heritage Houses by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The following Heritage houses are The Enrirquez – Gala Mansion, Gala – Rodriguez House along Rizal Street and Don Catalino and Luisa Rodriguez house which is also known as Villa Sariaya.
The Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church is a stone church built along the National Highway.

The town is also famous for its beach resorts in the coastal area of Tayabas Bay. It is separated by the river called Malaking Tubig River with the town of San Juan Batangas. When I was younger, I went to Paraiso Beach Resort in Barangay Guisguis Talon.
Sariaya is also along the boundaries of Mount Banahaw where you can also enjoy trekking activities leading to the peak of the mountain.

Lucban, Quezon

Lucban Quezon is known for the Pahiyas Festival and tourists flock the town to enjoy the festival. Here are the other places to see in Lucban.

San Luis Obispo Parish Church

A baroque design, Lucban Church or San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish Church is a Roman Catholic church under the Diocese of Lucena. The construction of the church begins in 1595 under Father Miguel de Talavera. In 1629, the first church was ruined and the second church was established on its present site but was caught on fire. The third church was rebuilt in 1738 but was partially damaged by a bomb in 1945.

Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel

Since we were kids, Batis Aramin had been around where we go swimming in the cold spring water coming from the Mountain of Banahaw. In the present, it has evolved as a tourist attraction and as accommodation for visitors of Lucban

Kamay ni Hesus

A pilgrimage site which is 15 minutes away from the town of Lucban, for more information please check my older post.

Historical Markers

In 2011, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines unveiled the Km 134 Battle of Piis Memorial Marker. There are other historical artifacts that can be seen in Lucban, like the remnants of the Fuente del Binusuan Stone Marker and Fuente de Bamban.

Rizal Park and Municipal City Hall

It is a small park in front of the Municipal City Hall and the oldest park in Lucban. The Municipal Hall is also an old building. Within the vicinity of Rizal Park is the Patio Rizal Hotel.

Falls

1. Taluyong Falls
2. Mayapis Falls
3. Pilipit Falls
4. Abuhin Falls
5. No Name Falls
6. Puki Falls
7. Asana falls
8. Lanot Falls
9. Hangga Falls

I had been to the different falls in our province but I never knew their names before. Two of the falls were near the land of my ancestors in Barangay Piis. The trekking will start where there is Maapon river. I knew the Maapon river, but I think locals started calling them.

Mount Banahaw

You can also go mountain climbing to Mount Banaha, but please check with the tourism office of Lucban for details. Or to also preserve the mountain, it’s also good to just look at it from afar.

Lucban Pahiyas Festival

Pahiyas Festival is a yearly festival in honor of San Isidro de Labrador for the good harvest of the town in Lucban, Quezon. Every 15^th of May the creativity differs from house to house with colorful kipings, anok, different fruits, vegetables, root crops and rice barn, woven hats and other native products, delicacies and food that originated from Lucban.

Lucbanin (locals of Lucban) prepares for the festival at the start of the year. The municipality gives the route map where the festival will take place. A normal Lucbanin asks “Daan ba sa atin?” This means if Pahiyas would pass by their street.

The household on the street included in the route map will think of their payas (much often used by Lucbanin) or design of the house.

Kiping is a leaf-shaped wafer of flake made of rice. It is molded in a big leaf from “kabal.” The colorful kipings are prepared every day because it takes time for the leaves to dry. The famous ‘arangya’ or chandeliers of different colors, needs a lot of kiping. Arangya, depending on the size can reach the ceiling of the second floor down to the first floor of the house. Or sometimes even up to the third floor of the house. Other decorations can be made using kiping like flowers, orchids, wallpapers, and other artworks. Kiping of different colors are also edible and it is cook by grilling or frying it.

Harvested fruits, vegetables, root crops and rice barns are also used as decorations. Woven hats or bags and other native products will also be seen as an ornament. “Anok” is a miniature dummy of the mannequin of people, usually farmer. The anok are used as decorations accompanied by a miniature of a life-size carabao.

The food during the occasion are kalderetang kalabaw, hardinera, embotido, pansit habhab or pansit lucban, longganisang lucban, kesong puti, kinulob and other food for the visitors. Delicacies are seen at the table like pinais, suman, halayang ube, budin, broas, meringue, puto seko etc.

On the 14^th of May or sometimes earlier, is the start of decorating the front house. Between 11AM to 2PM, the judges start checking the houses. The prizes include Grand Prize, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, Special Awards, Ginintuang Butil, Best Arangya and other consolation awards

One of the highlights of Pahiyas is the “Parikitan.” In the afternoon, tourists wait for the parade of muses and escorts wearing native costumes and accessories, different floats with carabaos, higantes and the procession of San Isidro Labrador. Awards will also be given during this time.

After the mass at the San Luis Church, you can drop by in the Tiangge outside the church and streets near the church where you can buy different products and pasalubong from Lucban.

At night, there’s a competition for the Best in Lights for the Pahiyas Festival at Night. The lights enhance the vibrant decoration during the night.

For other post about Lucban, please check Kamay ni Hesus

Tigbi Waterfalls, San Francisco, Quezon

After San Andres is the last town in the Bondoc Peninsula, a town called San Francisco.

Our boatman also gave us a contact person on the motorbike ride going to San Francisco Tigbi falls. From Alibijaban we went back to the San Andres Port. From there, we went to our boatman’s house in the town proper. We left our bags there before we go to the falls.

Since there were four, we also had four motorbike riders with us, all locals from San Andres town. It was thirty minutes ride, but as we go up to the mountains we stopped at a small store where we had our snacks before heading to the barangay going to the falls.

We reached Barangay Mabunga where we left the motorbikes and we had to trek for 30 more minutes. While trekking the river, we saw locals swimming along the water and some carabao’s enjoying swimming.

You could see the top of the waterfalls before going down to the raging water and to see the picturesque view of the whole stretch of the waterfalls.

Once you go down to the raging waterfalls you will see the whole waterfalls. There were tourists and locals who were also swimming when we arrived.

Our riders were doing cliff diving in the raging waters. After enjoying the water we head back to San Andres. On the way back, the view of Alibijaban Island is seen from the top.

To know more about Quezon Province, check out my other posts: Gumaca, Quezon, Borawan Island Beach, Quezon, Dampalitan Island, Padre Burgos, Quezon, Calauag, Quezon, and Kamay ni Hesus.

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Alibijaban Island, San Andres, Quezon

The 7th Quezon – Bicol trip was in Alibijaban island, located in the municipality of San Andres, Quezon. It is in the southernmost tip of Quezon along the shores of Ragay Gulf.

How to get to Alibijaban Island

My first stop was Calauag, Quezon where I fetched Cam and Emman. John was coming from Manila and we would meet him the following day at the port going to the island. He would travel from Manila bus going to San Andres from Alabang for six hours.
We left a little after lunch the following day, taking a bus from Calauag to Gumaca. From Gumaca we rode a jeep going to Pitogo and we waited for the bus going to San Andres in the bus stop along Padre Burgos – Potatanin Junction. We had our lunch at the bus stop and we waited for about an hour and a half for the bus to arrive, while John was already in San Andres. When the bus arrived, we were seated almost at the back and we were together with the goodies from the back of the bus.

After 3 hours and enjoying the coconut tree view outside, we arrive at the bus stop at past 5 PM where John was waiting. After which we went to the port and availed a boat going to Alibijaban. The tour guide also recommended our camping site.
It was already dark and late and low tide when we reached the island. And because of low tide, we had to walk about 1 kilometer of the shore going to the place where we will stay.

It was a local’s house where they made their front house into camper’s site. They also have a store, bathroom and we can also buy cooked food from them. We talked to them for the boat that would take us to Masbate the following morning.

What to do in Alibijaban Island

We set up our tents, we have 2, one big for three people and the other is for John. There was a family who was also camping on the site and they were kind of noisy the whole night so we slept late. The boat arrived early the following day but we woke up late so we left past 8PM. The boat was a little small, the water was rough going to a boat ride of 2 hours in the first island.

To know more about our Burias Island Masbate Tour you can check the next post. From the boat ride to our Burias Island Trip, we went to enjoy the rest of the other side of Alibijaban Island.

The long stretch of the white sand bar is located at the end of the island. There were a lot of tourists enjoying the island beach front. Some were taking a swim, hanging out, talking to friends, enjoying the view, and playing some sports activities like beach volleyball.

We stayed there for a while until we finally saw the sunset. While the sun is setting we then went back to where our campsite was.
Our campsite is near the mangrove trees. Because it was low tide once again, we had to walk for 1 kilometer from where the boat dropped us. There was a lot of starfish and seagrasses along the shore.

To know more about Quezon Province, check out other posts Gumaca, Quezon, Borawan Island Beach, Quezon, Dampalitan Island, Padre Burgos, Quezon Calauag, Quezon.

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Kamay ni Hesus

My mother’s hometown is in Lucban, Quezon. My memories are filled with so many good things about Lucban especially during Holy Week and the San Isidro de Labrador Festival every 15th of May. One remarkable attraction for Catholic devotees was the construction of Kamay ni Hesus or Hand of Jesus Shrine, only a few kilometers from the town of Lucban.

Kamay ni Hesus

Kamay ni Hesus was built in 2002. It is one of the most visited sacred grounds and a pilgrimage site not just during the Lenten Season but almost every day. People flocked the Shrine to repent, give thanks, pray for healing, to be blessed, hear mass and to visit the different sites. The Shrine includes the Via Dolorosa Grotto, Healing Church, Noah’s Ark, Sea of Galilee, Holy Family Park and the Pastoral Center founded by the Healing Priest, Fr. Joey Faller.
It is one of the top destinations in Lucban and in Quezon Province.

And like me who came from Manila and the rest of the Teope clan in Lucban, we would take time to go to Kamay ni Hesus. I’m not sure how many times we experienced climbing the 305 steps grotto to reach the 50-foot statue of Jesus Christ.

From the top, you could see a breathtaking view of the town nearby.

To know more about Quezon Province, please see other posts Gumaca, Quezon, Borawan Island Beach, Quezon, Dampalitan Island, Padre Burgos, Quezon Calauag, Quezon

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Calauag, Quezon

For my 6th Quezon – Bicol trip, I was able to see the rest of Calauag. I’d been there so many times but I haven’t really looked at the place.

We went to “C” or Calauagenian Plaza of The “C” Lighthouse. It was restructured in the port area, and at the end of the port is a letter C stands for Calauag, for crab festival, or a different C – sea because it’s overlooking the sunset from the horizon.

Festival, Restaurants and the Church of Calauag

The Crab festival or Alimango festival or Katang Festival is celebrated every July. The festival highlight is the Giant Crab or Higanteng Alimango and celebrates the abundance of mud crab in the province. They also have different seafood like halaan or clams and shrimps and different variety of fishes.

We went to Zeny, a restaurant a few kilometers away from the town center and is very famous for serving crabs and shrimps. You need to call beforehand for the cooks to prepare the order. When we arrived during dinner, we were the only customers inside. We went to the nearby Nipa hut while they prepared for our sumptuous meal, chili-garlic crab, buttered shrimp, rice and although it was a little late since they forgot the sinigang…we were able to enjoy our food.
We went to the carnival afterward. After enjoying ourselves in the local carnival, we decided to look for a bar which was called Lamukan, where we drink some beers and sing our heart out in the videoke machine. Then we planned to go to Sta Rita Island, a two hours ride from Calauag to go to the beach.
After our trip to Sta Rita we went to the church called The Parish of St. Peter the Apostle Church. It was founded in 1846 but it was already rebuilt.

We went to eat at Bahay ni Lolo Ompo before heading back to Manila for lunch. There are other restaurants in Calauag because it has been a major stopover of buses going to Bicol and Visayas.

Other places to go to Calauag

1. Pulong Pasig
2. Calapuhan Beach, Sto Angel Beach, Panaghoy Beach and Talingting Beach
3. Sumulong River
4. Milagrosa Cave
5. Quezon Canal

For more information about Quezon Province, please check my posts: Gumaca, Quezon, Borawan Island Beach, Quezon Dampalitan Island, Padre Burgos, Quezon

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