A few more fans and ferns and all is done.

“Everyone in the household, relatives and friends come out to do and assist in the preparations for the big day.” I do admire the community spirit of the Lucbanins and this is best displayed in the run up to the Pahiyas festival. Everyone in the household as well as relatives and friends come out and do the preparations as well as assist others. During this time, what remains is just the mounting of the decor and doing finishing touches.

The kiping on the other hand has been prepared weeks ahead. They just have to ensure that these are constantly dry as these become soft once the weather goes wet. In past festivals, rain sometimes marred the rather festive mood, dampening and wilting the kipings.

One of the saints honored during the Pahiyas festival.

One of the three carozzas is being prepared, Sta. Maria Torribia dela Cabeza, the wife of San Isidro Labrador. After this is decorated with farm produce, these will be brought out during the procession around the town’s narrow streets.

Kiping flowers for decorating.

Everywhere, everyone is busy making the decorations. A bouquet of kiping flowers there, a pile of talong (eggplant) and tomatoes here ready to be strung, strips of bamboo being formed into a half sphere or red bell peppers being clustered together to form a red garland.

Human effigies made from straw.

Effigies galore! Materials used ranges from rice stalks, straw or papier mache. These are formed into farmers, women or farm animals. One was even made from wood where visitors can mount and have their photos taken.

House’s facade being worked for the big day ahead.

As the day goes on, house facades take on more color. From bare wood it now dons rich organic accessories and stuff. In a way, it is being dressed for the big party and friendly competition for the best decoration. From a simple front, it is transformed into one festival showcase.

Kiping flowers hung to dry inside the sala.

If it is wet, then expect the kiping flowers to droop. When I took these photos, the weather wasn’t really that good with drizzles and showers happening the past few days. Despite these setbacks, the Lucbanins persevere and pray.

This lady patiently laboring to finish her decor.

Preparations are no mean feat. Its quite laborious and time consuming. Cut here and there. Glue this and that. String the vegetables, tie the gingers…

Its double time to decorate for the festival.

One thing that I would want to know but haven’t asked yet is, how much does all the preparations cost?

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger and freelance photographer based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has writtten for CNN Go and his photograph will be published in the May 2010 issue of the National Geographic Magazine.

To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.