Up next in my Philippine Festival Series is (let’s hear it, Quezon!) Pahiyas Festival! I know, I know, I’m ever so slightly embarrassingly late as the celebration happened a month ago, May 15 to be exact. But it would be more shameful if the hometown of my parents and the most kick-ass festival in the country (hmm… yes, I’m biased!) is completely left behind, so let’s forgive and forget how crazy my schedule was and enjoy my humble piece of art…

My photo inspiration. [Source]

[From Wikipedia] “Lucban,Quezon celebrates the Pahiyas Festival every 15 May in honour of the patron saint of farmers, St Isidore the Labourer. This festival showcases a street of houses which are adorned with fruits, vegetables, agricultural products, handicrafts and kiping, a rice-made decoration, which afterwards can be eaten grilled or fried. The houses are judged and the best one is proclaimed the winner. Every year, tourists roam the municipality to witness the decoration of houses.”

Consider this a huge head start for when you’re planning a 3-hour joy ride from Manila to Quezon, Province next year and witness entire houses decorated with kiping (colorful rice wafers) in flesh – where you can also grill and fry the same decors afterwards. ☺ Quezon also has a lot to offer for the artsy-fartsy souls and the gastronomic food enthusiasts: old churches, heritage houses, Kamay ni Hesus, Pancit Habhab, Budin, Longanisa and… up for a challenge? then try our version of Lambanog. See you!

Ansabe?! Feeling bagets lang, te? Back to School talaga? I know, I know and this may sound very insensitive of me, but the heavy rains yesterday made me miss school so much. SO MUCH! Especially college, where I developed a peculiar love-hate relationship with the rain.

I’ll share to you this one scenario: it was hell week and I couldn’t pull off the usual all-nighter due to exhaustion so I decided to just wake up at dawn to finish the remaining chapters before my 8am major exam. 3am – I woke up because of the strong winds and heavy downpours, 4am – I was getting panicky and cramming the last chapter, 5-6am – still raining hard (OMG, I couldn’t concentrate), 7am – (oh no! I’m going to FAI…) *class suspension* Woohoo! Saved by the bell, I felt like I’m the universe’s favorite student that time!

Still can’t help but giggle every time I remember that fateful morning, but anyway onto the haul (just a small one today):

Snoe Star Night Star Bright Night Perfecting Toner (Php249) My current toner is running low and I want to try another brand to find my HG, let’s see if this will get the throne.