Merry Month of May

New Orleans has the Mardi Gras, Rio de Janeiro the Carnaval, Venice the Masquerade in the Carnival and Pamplona the Bull Run in the Fiesta de San Fermin. The Philippines has a year long program of festivals in the main island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao but none more frequent than in summer, when the Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan, a couple of the most anticipated festivals are held.

Flores de Mayo, literally translated as Flowers of May, is a festival that was introduced by Spanish friars back in 1854 as a celebration of the Virgin Mary. It is known as the "Queen of Filipino Festivals" as it is celebrated nationwide and the festival's main highlight is the Santacruzan, which commemorates Queen Helena's pursuit for the Holy Cross, along with her son emperor Constantine.

The Santacruzan is a formal procession that occurs during the Flores de Mayo taking its characters from figures throughout history and religion, although it has now come to be known as a showcase of beautiful women. The parade features the town's loveliest ladies taking on roles such as Reyna Esperanza (symbolizing the virtue of hope), Veronica (the woman who wiped the face of Jesus), and the grandest finale Reyna Elena, or Queen Helena.

The annual Baguio flower festival every February, also known as Panagbenga, is also a popular tourist attraction due to its vibrant decorations and the lively locals. This year, the City Government of Baguio has chosen the theme "The Environment and Community in Harmony." The main attraction of the Panagbenga is the Flower Float Festival where various local organizations decorate their floats with colorful and vivid floral arrangements.

Fiestas in the Philippines carry the distinct mark of the Filipino spirit: celebrating through the good times and the bad. Fiestas express our love for food, family, and fun, while ultimately staying true to our historical and religious roots. According to Alfredo Roces, author of Culture Shock, "Fiesta time tells the Filipino where he came from and who he is. The Filipino organism comes alive, fed by rituals and the coming together of the kin."

Sources:
http://www.tourism.gov.ph
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cynthia/festivals/flores_de_mayo_at_santacruzan.htm
http://festivalsinthephilippines.com