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.
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 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 Saint Ferdinand, Lucena City’s patron saint, but as the years went by, it became a weeklong celebration usually held during the last week of May. 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.
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. The parade, starting at 2 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 toward 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, nongovernment 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).
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.
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.
Transgender women and gay men were afforded stellar participation in the Carnival Queen competition, an extravagant drag segment that showcased ostentatious and heavy costumes with elaborate headgear, capes, brightly colored feathers, gigantic flowers and masks. Drum majorettes and little drummer boys announced their arrival. The regal and beautiful “queens,” looking like the real thing, walked confidently along the streets, moving hips from side to side, in a way that attracted attention, before pausing before the jurors where they were introduced. Notwithstanding the intense summer heat and heavy costumes, they all maintained their poise and smiled bravely.
The less spectacular but still colorful Pasayahan Pandong contest featured contingents wearing creative hats. The Pasayan also featured a photography contest; Longest Noodle Serving; a chami cooking and eating contest; a Singing Lolo and Lola contest; a talent contest; a Flores de Mayo; Battle of the Bands; and the Binibining Pasayahan.