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Philippines to showcase harvest festival

DUBAI - Encouraged by the success of its participation in the Global Village for two consecutive years, the Philippines is set to showcase its products and services in its traditional pavilion themed Pahiyas, or harvest festival being observed by the natives of Quezon province.

Considered as one of the country's biggest festivals, the Pahiyas is a traditional celebration of thanksgiving for bountiful harvests commemorated in the towns of Lucban, Candelaria, Tayabas, Sariaya, Tiaong and Lucena City in Quezon every May 11-15.

During the Lucban Pahiyas Festival, each household tries to outdo each other in terms of creativity. Farmers show off their best produce of fruits and vegetables. Miniature fruits and vegetables are also strung together in a unique fashion. The most traditional and most attractive décor comes in the form of kipping (traditional decoration) which are strung together in all shapes from arangya (chandelier) to huge flowers. When kipping catches the light of the sun, it turns into cascades of colour.

Lucille Ong, a Philippine Business Council executive officer and in-charge of the Philippine pavilion project, told Khaleej Times yesterday that compared to the previous years, the pavilion promises to be 'bigger and better'. In addition, cultural performances will be staged on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and during the upcoming Eid holidays.

Spread over 850sqm, the Philippine pavilion boasts of 67 stalls offering Philippine handicraft, garments, novelty items, bedcovers and sheets, and household goods, among others.