Tayabas sets: Mayohan

The rustic town of Tayabas, Quezon sizzles as it celebrates bountiful harvest and flowers in bloom in the long hot summer with the Mayohan sa Tayabas from May 6 to 15.

Mayor Severina Nadres said the festival is a 10-day celebration composed of old and new, traditional and non-traditional activities to recapture the heritage and community life of the town.

The theme of this year’s festivity is "City of Tayabas opens new door, provides wider opportunities" in line with the town’s bid to achieve cityhood in the year 2010.

Activities include trade trainings on business opportunities and basic entrepreneurship, livelihood trainings, an acoustic music night, theater and dance contest, budin plating and budin cake contest, agro-trade fair and, and other socio-civic events.

The 1st Invitational Trail Dirt Bike Racing Competition will also be held to entice bikers explore the scenic countryside of Tayabas.

Not to be missed are the traditional parade of baliskog (welcome arches made up of native materials) and suman (traditional Tagalog rice cake delicacy), as well as the colorful Santacruzan processions.

The highlight of the fiesta is the "Hagisan ng Suman" on May 15 where the crowd jostles to get a suman thrown out of the windows of the houses.

Nadres also pointed out that the fun activity helps foster camaraderie and strengthen the community life among the townsfolk.

The Mayohan is also a thanksgiving for the Feast of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers, for the good harvest and abundance of agricultural produce.

Situated 90 minutes from Manila, the town is host to various historic spots such as the centuries-old Basilica Minore of St. Michael the Archangel, which reputedly has the longest church aisle in the country; the Casa de Comunidad, the town’s museum and cultural center, and Spanish-era bridges and churches, among others.

Located near the foot of Mount Banahaw, Tayabas also boasts of spring resorts and native-themed restaurants ideal for the whole family.