“If light is in your heart, you will find your way home.” —Rumi

With light and love in my heart, I feel life! Missing out on almost a year of family and social activities, I am now fully present and attending most of the festivities happening around me, like the Pahiyas Festival in Quezon Province. If I had a favorite fiesta, it would certainly be this colorful Queen Festival of Quezon.

Celebrated every 15th of May in Lucban, Quezon, Pahiyas gives thanks to the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador, for the bountiful harvest. There are cultural performances such as street dancing, parades, dancing higantes, exhibits and various competitions.

 

The main highlight of festivities is the tradition of pahiyas, which means “to decorate.” The townspeople adorn their respective houses with colorful fruits, vegetables and other crops. One of the main ornaments that the people of Lucban put up in houses are arangyas, which are lanterns made from kiping. These kiping are leaf-shaped wafers made from rice. One of the houses that showcased the signature colorful aesthetic of Lucban this year is the house of Buddy and Nova Veluz. The last time that their house was part of the Pahiyas route was seven years ago. Buddy has been planning for months with his team to deck out their home with amazing and colorful décor, as this is his family’s way to give thanks to San Isidro Labrador and to express gratitude for the growth of Buddy’s.

Buddy and Nova, owners of Buddy’s Pancit Lucban, started this Filipino restaurant 39 years ago. Its interiors are inspired by the colorful Pahiyas Festival. As another way of giving thanks to the town and its people, for years Buddy’s has also been supporting the annual festival by giving an award to the grand prize winner—the house with the most vibrant decoration.

 

There is so much more than decorating the houses during the Pahiyas Festival. It is also about enjoying Lucban’s local food such as pancit Lucban (also known as pancit hab-hab that is best eaten directly from a piece of banana leaf, without using any utensils, and with suka), longganisang Lucban and hardinera (Lucban meatloaf).

Buddy’s offers these local delicacies and a wide array of fiesta food. Buddy’s is definitely the place to eat at if you want to have a feel of Pahiyas Festival. Dahil sa Buddy’s, parang laging fiesta!

I was so delighted to finally attend my first Pahiyas Festival on Nova’s gracious invitation. Together with some friends, we enjoyed the street parade, festive marching band, street food and souvenir shopping. More than just the festival, I felt the warmth and hospitality of the people from Quezon and, of course, their love for pancit!

 

20 fragrances

Before heading to Lucban, I attended the unveiling for the House of Chloé latest fragrances. Chloé launched a collection of 20 fragrances. The 20 fragrances have names that express floral, aromatic or woody notes, 20 fragrances that live in harmony, in pairs or in threes, made with natural ingredients.

Each fragrance has its own signature. To bring this collection to life, Chloé invited renowned perfumers to choose their favorite flower plant or the heart of an exclusive fragrance and share the unique story that binds them. At the launch, social media grand dames Small Laude and Pinky Tobiano chose their favorite scents to take home.

 

The new Atelier des Fleurs creations are part of the maison’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact. The fragrances are formulated with 100-percent natural origin fragrance and housed in eco-friendly packaging. They are also fully recyclable and contain a portion of recycled materials. The paper used to craft the box and label is FSC certified, meaning that it is sourced from sustainably managed forests. Lastly, the hot gold-stamping used for the labels has been replaced with more environmentally friendly ink-printing.

Chloé Atelier des Fleurs is exclusively available in Rustan’s Makati.

 

Imaginative embellishments

Rustan’s Makati also is the department store that carries KCurated (visit kcurated.ph), a collection of home décor and accessories with a blend of creativity and craftsmanship. Spearheaded by acclaimed industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue, KCurated presents a captivating assortment of meticulously curated items; from quirky accents to imaginative embellishments, these pieces add a touch of personality and charm to any space they inhabit.

At the heart of KCurated lies the visionary touch of Kenneth himself. With a keen eye for design and a passion for innovation, Kenneth has curated a selection of items that transcend mere functionality.

 

Drawing inspiration from his vast experience and artistic sensibilities, each item is imbued with a unique story and crafted with an exceptional level of skill and precision. From concept to creation, every piece is brought to life with an unparalleled level of skill and precision, ensuring that it not only meets but exceeds the expectations of even the most discerning customers.

While most of their pieces are regularly accessible in store or on their website, a select few are crafted in limited runs and are exclusively available for a limited time only.

With so much clarity, I am wiser and know where to eat and where to shop and where to celebrate life right now!

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