By VINCE G. LOPEZ
August 21, 2010, 3:42pm
Photo by RUDY LIWANAG
Known for the colorful celebration of the Pahiyas Festival, the province of Quezon is considered as the gateway to Southern Luzon and the Bicol Region. Though only a couple of hours away from the city, the province has been able to retain its unique local charm.
The province is named after Manuel L. Quezon, second President of the Philippines who was born in the town of Baler. The province is one of the biggest provinces in the Southern Tagalog Region. Quezon Province prides itself if its distinctively Tagalog culture and traditions which are reflected in its festivities and leading products.
The province is usually packed with local and foreign tourists on the month of May for the yearly celebration of the Pahiyas Festival. Celebrated on the second week of May in the town of Lucban, the festival is a showcase of the locals’ artistry and ingenuity. The festivity is characterized by colorful leaf-shaped rice wafers also known as kiping to decorate their homes.
Fast facts
Local Dialect: Tagalog
Festival:
Feast of San Isidro Labrador / Pahiyas Festival – In honor of the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador. The people of Lucban celebrate the feast day with a religious procession along the street where the houses are all decorated with native “pahiyas” and other agricultural products.
Must See:
Mt. Banahaw – Located at the western part of the province, the mystical Mt. Banahaw continues to draw hundreds of tourists into this 7,382-foot extinct volcano.
Mt. Banahaw – Located at the western part of the province, the mystical Mt. Banahaw continues to draw hundreds of tourists into this 7,382-foot extinct volcano.
Pagbilao Grande – A group of islands located off the Tayabas Bay area where there are white sand beaches. The said site is also home to the famous Tulay Buhangin where sand dunes connect the islets of Padre Burgos during low tide.
Quezon National Park – The park has an intricate system of caves, waterfalls, springs, creeks, gorges, and ravines against a quaint backdrop of lush greenery. The park is also the site of Pinagbanderahan, the place where Filipino revolutionaries planted the Philippine flag in their fight against the Spanish colonizers.
Balabag Falls – The biggest of the three falls located in Barangay Mapalad in Real. It has about 100 feet of cascading water.
San Diego de Alcala Fortress – Recognized by the National Historical Commission as a national treasure in 1981, the fortress was constructed by the Spaniards under the leadership of Franciscan Father Francisco Coste.
Talisoy Beach – One of the most popular beaches in the province. The beach boasts of clear waters and a wide beach area for its guests.
Bird Island – An island which was once a coral formation, it has also become a sanctuary for endemic birds.
Must do:
Cultural Tour – The province is filled with old Spanish-style houses which make it an ideal destination for a cultural tour.
Must Try:
Must Try:
Pansit Habhab – The local version of pansit eaten without spoon or fork. Aside from an entirely different experience of eating pansit, Quezon’s pansit habhab is not eaten with calamansi but vinegar instead for added flavor.
How to Get There:
There are hourly trips of air conditioned and regular buses going to Lucena in major bus terminals in the metro. The province is only two to three hours away from Manila
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When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
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