Flores de Mayo (Spanish For "Flowers of May") Is A Catholic and Aglipayan Festival Held in The Philippines in The

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The Pahiyas Festival is celebrated every year on May 15 in Lucban, Quezon. It is in honor of San Isidro Labrador,
the patron saint of farmers in the Philippines. Lucban is situated at the foot of Mount Banahaw. Pahiyas means
"decor" and the May 15th festival showcases a street of houses adorned with fruits, vegetables, agricultural
products, handicrafts and kiping, a decoration made from rice flour, which afterwards can be grilled or fried for
eating. The houses compete to be declared the best decorated. Tourists visit Lucban every year in May to see the
decoration of the houses. There is also a procession for the saint that concludes at the town's beautiful church.
The Obando fiesta is celebrated from May 17-19. Couples who are childless can take this occasion to appeal for
heavenly intercession and dance to please the Virgin of Salambao. San Pascual de Bailon and Sta. Clara. Maidens
and bachelors who want husbands and wives can dance for their mates. Farmers also thank the Virgin for bountiful
harvests.
The Moriones Festival is a folk-religious event held annually during Holy Week on the island of Marinduque,
considered the geographical heart of the Philippines.
The word "Morion" refers to the visor of the helmet that is associated with the armor of Roman soliders. The
word "Moriones" refers to the local inhabitants who dress up in costumes and masks of Roman soldiers during
Biblical times. These costumed locals are farmers and fishermen who engage in the street theater as a form of
penitence.For seven days, from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday, the masked and costumed Moriones march around
town scaring children and making a ruckus in a reenactment of the search for Longinus, the Roman centurion who
pierced the side of the crucified Christ.
In the Bible, Longinus was blind in one eye, but the blood that spurted out of Christ's side reached his eye and fully
restored his sight. The miracle converted Longinus to Christianity, but he was scorned by his fellow centurions who
ended up murdering him. The locals' reenactment of the Biblical story climaxes on Easter Sunday, when Longinus is
beheaded.
The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), concluding on
the third Sunday, in the island and town of Kalibo, Aklan in the Philippines. The name "Ati-Atihan" means "to be
like Aetas" or "make believe Ati's." Aetas were the primary settlers in the islands according to history books. They
too are the earliest settlers of Panay Island where the province of Aklan is situated.
The festival consists of tribal dance, music, accompanied by indigenous costumes and weapons, and parade along
the street. Christians, and non-Christians observe this day with religious processions. It has inspired many other
Philippine Festivals including the Sinulog Festival of Cebu and Dinagyang of Iloilo, both adaptations of the Kalibo
Ati-Atihan Festival.
The Sinulog is an annual cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, and is the
center of the Santo Niño celebration in the Philippines. Other places like Maasin City, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental
and Southern Leyte also have their own version of the festival in honour of the Santo Niño.
The Sinulog commemorates the Filipino people's acceptance of Christianity (specifically, Roman Catholicism), and
their rejection of their former animist beliefs. The first of these conversions happened in 1521 on the island of
Cebu, when Rajah Humabon and his queen Amihan (Humamay) were baptised along with their subjects, becoming
Carlos and Juana of Cebu.
Flores de Mayo (Spanish for "Flowers of May") is a Catholic and Aglipayan festival held in the Philippines in the
month of May. It is one of the May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasts for the entire month.
The Santacruzan is the pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo, held in honour of Helena of Constantinople
(known as Reyna Elena) and Constantine the Great finding the True Cross in Jerusalem. Its observance in May
probably stems from the old Galician date for Roodmas, which was abolished by Pope John XXIII in 1960 in favour
of the present September 14 feast of the Triumph of the Cross.
Dinagyang is Iloilo City’s version of the Ati-Atihan festival widely celebrated not only in Panay Island but also in
other parts of the country. It may not be as ancient as the one in Kalibo in Aklan Province, but is definitely
impressive in choreography and striking in terms of the various attires worn by participating tribes which reflect
the ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry of the Ilonggos.
An Ilonggo term for revelry or merrymaking, Dinagyang was coined in 1977 by Ilonggo writer/broadcaster Pacifico
Sudario to describe the riotous celebration. Prior to this, Dinagyang was labeled “Iloilo Ati-Atihan” to differentiate
it from other Ati-Atihan festivals.
Iloilo Ati-Atihan dates back to the year 1967 when a replica of the image of Señor Santo Niño was first brought
from Cebu by the San Jose Parish in Iloilo City. The image, accompanied by devotees from Cebu, was
enthusiastically received at the Mandurriao Airport by the people of Iloilo.

Flores de Mayo (Spanish For "Flowers of May") Is A Catholic and Aglipayan Festival Held in The Philippines in The

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Flores de Mayo (Spanish For "Flowers of May") Is A Catholic and Aglipayan Festival Held in The Philippines in The

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