May 15
Festivals honoring San Isidro Labrador
Numerous towns in the country pay tribute to the patron saint of farmers on his feast day.
The most famous celebration of San Isidro Labrador is the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon province.
The agricultural town, which is listed by the Department of Tourism as a must-see destination every May, gives thanks to the bountiful harvest.
The festival is known for rice-based decorations painted in various colors called “kiping.”
The town of Pulilan in Bulacan province also has a festival in honor of San Isidro Labrador known as the Kneeling Carabao Festival.
Colorful floats are pulled by carabaos during the street parade. One of the event highlights is the kneeling of carabaos before a church.
Other municipalities that celebrate the feast day of their patron saint are Angono in Rizal province, Labrador in Pangasinan province, Dinalungan in Aurora province, San Fernando in Cebu province, and Mogpog town in Marinduque province.
The city of Malaybalay in Bukidnon province also honors San Isidro Labrador.
May 17 to 19
Fertility dance
Married women who could not bear children perform dance rituals in the town of Obando in Bulacan province.
Participants dance around three different saints depending on their cause and devotion — Sta. Clara (for those who want a daughter), San Pascual Baylon (for those who want a son) and Our Lady of Salambao (for good harvest of fishermen.)
Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research
Sources: Inquirer Archives, DOT, nuevavizcaya.gov.ph, gov.ph, tpb.gov.ph, pangasinan.gov.ph