Lucban Local Customs

Like in other provinces of the Philippines, the Filipino custom/tradition of "Bayanihan" is still alive in Lucban. Depending on the context it is being used, "Bayanihan" could mean cooperating with the community, or helping each other carry the load. One of the floats in the Pahiyas Parade depicted this Filipino custom. They chose to have it as theme to emphasize the importance of helping each other for the progress of their agricultural lands.

Long before producing and using eco-friendly products became popular, Lucbanins have already been making, selling and using "Bayongs" or baskets made from woven pandan leaves.

The "bayongs" are used for marketing, though fashionistas have come up with different designs and sizes, and reinvented its use as hand bag or clutch bags, gift bags and utility bags.

From the root word "Piyesta" which means fiesta, namimiyesta means going to the locals' houses to greet them them a Happy Fiesta. Locals usually prepare a feast during fiestas, so their relatives visit them on Pahiyas Festival to greet them and share in their bounty.

Non-relatives who are needy sometimes go house to house to ask for some food. But not only the needy go house to house. Members of the Fiesta Band play music before the houses of locals, and expect to be given some financial reward or some food.

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Angono, Rizal is known for its "Higantes" Festival where giant papier mache figures are paraded in town. However, other towns in the country picked up the idea, and came up with their own version of the "higantes" being paraded. Lucban is not an exception. "Higantes"are customized in the image/likeness of the town officials, usually the mayor and Hermana Mayor, and paraded around the town.

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Lucban folks celebrate their thanksgiving to the town Patron Saint, San Isidro Labrador with a Pahiyas Festival on his feast day. The Pahiyas transforms all the houses in the town into a myriad display of colors shaped into chandelier-like decors hang on the ceiling. With a friendly competitive spirit, locals think of other designs/shapes symbolizing thanksgiving for bountiful harvest.

The main component of the Pahiyas is "kiping", a leaf-shaped sheet made of rice flour. Making long-lasting kiping is a family tradition passed on to generations. Big leaves (usually of coffee or talisay) ar collected by family members, and set aside until ready to use as molds. Rice is soaked for some 2 hours, then stone-ground into a paste. The paste is mixed with salt and food coloring, then applied to each leaf mold, and steamed for half an hour. The leaves are then dried, and the kiping is carefully peeled off.

The process of making kiping, making the design of the pahiyas, and planning the layout of pahiyas on the house is a family endeavor, an excellent bonding experience.

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They call themselves Lucbanin. They are warm, friendly, and with simple life. Most of the people are religious and have been visiting the old church that was built since the 1700s. I have a friend who hails from Lucban and I had the chance to work with him in a drug company in Mandaluyong City for a couple of years. He is a cool person, no doubt about it.

My latest visit in Lucban became memorable not only because of the festival, the food, and the like, but because of the warm reception of a family whom we met for the first time. Their gestures are full of sincerity. The family has a huge house, yet, simple and humble.

If your travelling includes meeting local people, Lucban is the place for you and Lucbanins are the people you have to meet.

People from Lucban are known to be very hospitable. From the photo you can see my good friend "tabachini" and her aunt Rosie. They invited us to join them on their yearly visit for their town fiesta.

All over Lucban, people you barely know invites you into their homes and offer you food and refreshments. It is an unforgettable experience really...so please visit the place during teir town fiesta and enjoy the festivities!

Butterfly decor made of "kiping".

Kiping is the colorful, thin, wafer-like crispies made of rice that you see in every house in Lucban. It is very colorful and the Pahiyas festivities will not be complete without it.

I am amazed to see these beautiful crispies...they are hand-made, looks very delicate and the best part is, you can eat it too!