Pasayahan sa Lucena 2019
The Pasayahan sa Lucena, a mammoth gathering of colors, outlandish costumes and symbolic floats held during the merry month of May, is a sea of frolicking humanity reminiscent of Mardi Gras in Rio de Janeiro (minus the women’s skimpy outfits) of Brazil and New Orleans (Louisiana, USA), but imbued with the Lucenahin’s local culture.
Politicians and their families join in the fun…..
No festival is complete without a marching band ……..
The festival had its beginnings on May 28, 1987. It was conceptualized during the administration of the late human rights lawyer and Lucena Officer-in-Charge Euclides “Ed” A. Abcede (a former congressional fellow at the United States Congress), and former Bureau of Internal Revenue local office chief, Aguinaldo L. Miravalles.
….. and majorettes
Both wanted to correct Lucena City’s image as a haven of the Communist New People’s Army and to promote it as a great tourism and investment haven. Pasayahan is a Tagalog word for “merry-making.”
Initially started as a three-day celebration, the first festival ended on May 30, the feast of St. Ferdinand, Lucena City’s patron saint but, as the years went by, it became a week-long celebration that is usually held during the last week of May.
Judges and emcees at the competition
The main highlight of the Pasayahan is the Grand Parade or Mardi Gras, a parade of huge and colorful floats of the participating companies and organizations, along with street dancing (and marching bands, a Pandong (hat) completion and the gay-friendly Carnival Queen competition.
Parade of Carnival Queens
The usual starting point of the parade is at Pacific Mall Lucena going to SM City Lucena or Perez Park. The best float, best in street dance, and best in costume would be given some awards and cash prizes.
Street Dancing Competition
The parade, starting at 2:00 PM at Quezon National High School, went through M.L Tagarao Street, then turned right on Quezon Avenue and extended until Perez Park, then turned left on Merchan Street (Philippine Tong Ho Institute) and right to Gomez Street going towards SM City Lucena.
The Float Parade, the main event of the festival, featured the floats of the different companies, fast food chains, shops, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, commercial outlets and service organizations.
As always, the themes of the colorful floats were based on any of the three products of the city, all reflecting aspects of local culture – pansit chami (a native delicacy of egg noodles sautéed with soy sauce, pork and vegetables), coconut or tinapa, a smoked fish made from tunsoy (sardine) and galunggong (mackerel scad).
IPI 60th Anniversary Float, the grand prize winner in the Float competition, featured a giant carabao laden with farm produce
Each float, celebrating the products of the company and the entity involved, tried to outdo the others in vying for the approval of the judges.
Manuel L. Enverga University Foundation Float – fourth place
The 60th Anniversary Float of International Pharmaceutical, Inc. (IPI) of Cebu City, makers of Bioderm Soap, with Advertising Manager Angel “Tito” dela Merced with wife Litlit on board, was the grand prize winner.
Raquel Pawnshop Float – second place
M Lhuiller Float – third place
Second went to Racquel Pawnshop, third to M Lhuiller, fourth to Manuel L. Enverga University Foundation and fifth to Nallas Talent and Entertainment; all from Lucena City.
Quesinhayaw Street Dancers – second place
Each participating group (open to all organizations, companies, schools and barangays in Lucena City and each with a minimum of 50 members) in the lively street dancing competition performed to the music of the Pasayahan jingle, their execution and style each exhibiting the flamboyant and flashy carnival look.
SK Dalahican Street Dancers – third place
The Barangay Gulang-Gulang dancers won the grand prize while Quesinhayaw of Quezon National High School was second and SK Dalahican Street Dancers were third.
Candidate No. 1
Candidate No. 2
Candidate No. 3
Candidate No. 4
Candidate No. 5
Transgender women and gay men were afforded stellar participation in the Carnival Queen Competition, an extravagant drag segment that showcase ostentatious and heavy costumes that featured elaborate headgear, capes, brightly-colored feathers, gigantic flowers, fans and masks. Drum majorettes and little drummer boys announced their arrival.
Candidate No. 6
Candidate No. 7
Candidate No. 8
Candidate No. 9
Candidate No. 10
The regal and beautiful “queens,” looking like the real thing, walked confidently along the streets, moving your hips from side to side, in a way that attracts attention, before pausing before the jurors where they were introduced. In spite of the intense summer heat and heavy costumes, they all maintained their poise and smiled bravely.
Candidate No. 11
Candidate No. 12
Candidate No. 13
Candidate No. 14
Candidate No. 15
The less spectacular Pasayahan Pandong Contest featured contingents wearing creative hats. DepEd Lucena won the grand prize while the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP and Barangay Ibabang Iyaw were second and third respectively.
DepEd Lucena
The winning pandong of Barangay Mababang Iyaw
Quezon Provincial Tourism Office: 2/F, Quezon Convention Center, Quezon Capitol Compound, Lucena City 4301. Tel: (042) 373 7510.