The month of May is the merriest and the most beautiful month of the year. Filipinos are
celebrating Flores de Mayo. It is the season of
many colorful festivals, with the festival of the
Flores de Mayo, or Santa Cruzan, as the queen
of all fiestas.
This festival has since become part of Filipino
traditions identified with youth, love and romance.
Nine days of prayer (novena) in honor of the
Holy Cross precedes the Flores de Mayo or
Santa Cruzan.
A month-long festival in May ...in honor of the
Roman Catholic's Holy Mary, the Flores de Mayo
is a religious festival.
Many towns celebrate Flores de Mayo with
the community congregation in the afternoon to pray
the rosary, offer flowers to the Virgin Mary, and sharesnacks to the children. Children and adults
wearing their Sunday best, sing, and dance to welcome
the rains that will water the new crops.
The last day of the festival is highlighted by pageant
called the Santa Cruzan where the town's loveliest ladies
are paraded in full sagala, and their pathways strewn with
native flowers.
The town folk choose their pretty young ladies to
represent the various character of the commemoration:
the "Accolades of our Lady ", Each one is dressed
in an exquisite, colorful gowns. Reyna Fe (Faith),
Reina Esperanza (Hope), Reina Caridad (Charity),
Reina Mora (Muslim), Reina Bonderada (Flag),
Reina Justicia (Justice), and etc.,walk with their consorts underhand-carried bamboo arches decked with color themed
native flowers. The male members attending the Santa
Cruzan wear barong tagalog, the woman wear any Filipina
costumes.
As the pageant moves along the streets, devotes
holding it candles follows, and join in the rosary, novena
and songs of praise. Oftentimes, after the evening
mass, the town officials hosts a dinner party for the
celebrations.
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