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Sunday, January 11, 2009
Tayabas Famous Lambanog
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![](http://www.otopphilippines.gov.ph/images/spacer.gif)
Product Description |
Lambanog is a coconut liquor obtained by distilling naturally fermented coconut sap from the unopened flower of the coconut tree and the end result is a strong and potent drink consolidated into a 40% and 45% alcohol/vol. |
Product Lines |
Processed Food under the Beverage subsector :Plain and flavored lambanog (bubble gum, cinnamon, coffee, blueberry, strawberry etc.) |
Product History |
In 1928, the parents of Dona Josefita Alandy of Tayabas, Quezon pioneered the establishment of a lambanog distillery as a family enterprise. This entrepreneurial initiative was handed down to the next generation. Lambanog then became commonly known in Tayabas as "Alak Fita" of the Alandy family. The family enterprise became profitable. And today, Joselito Mallari, the grand son of Dona Josefita manages the distillery known as Mallari Distillery. |
Tayabas CAsa Comunidad
Casa Comunidad
The town’s old tribunal is a famous landmark in Tayabas. First built by Gobernadorcillo Francisco Lopez in 1776 with makeshift materials, it was made into a grand edifice in 1831 by then Gobernadorcillo Don Diego Enriquez. The structure was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1978.
It was in this tribunal where Apolonio de la Cruz known as Hermano Pule was sentence to death by firing squad in 1841 for leading the first major revolt in the country, based on religious freedom. Hermano Pule founded the brotherhood Cofradia de San Jose that excluded the Spanish as members. Spanish religious authorities condemned the brotherhood for heresy.
The tribunal houses some function rooms, a library and a museum. Interesting displays in the museum are the old blocks stone shaped for a specific function like the stone press and crosses.
The stone press was used to flatten pandan to make banig. The grass is laid on the curved stone bed and flattened with repeated motion of the stone press. Another is a high-relief stone crosses used a “pwesto” for prayers during Santacruzan.
Tayabas Palaisdaan
![](http://www.proudlyfilipina.com/files/publisher/palaisdaan3.jpg)
Palaisdaan, Tayabas
If your Hungry from the trip jsu go at Palaisdaan for lunch. This is locatedbetween Lucban and the town proper of Tayabas. The restaurant serves native cuisine with the special touch of Quezon, the gata (coconut milksauce), in some of its popular dishes.
We enter the restaurant through an arch where a veil of pink-tasseled vines cascade down to almost eye-level.
Golden Memories of Graceland in Tayabas
Graceland
![](http://www.proudlyfilipina.com/files/publisher/GECCboatwharfb.jpg)
Take a trip back to Quezon with me as I go down memory lane to a piece of Eden where my parents birthday. I am reminded about it at this time because they were married the day after New Year.
When we were scouting for a venue for the golden event, we checked out this resort right outside the town of Tayabas. It was my first time to visit. And it was love at first sight.
I was enchanted by Graceland Estates and Country Club the moment we passed through their imposing gates.
Tayabas feast day of San Isidro Labrador
![Pahiyas Festival 2007](http://www.clickthecity.com/img2/articles/CTC-1656-image5.jpg)
I left tayabas with some photographer friends at 3 a.m. Early you say? I was told that by 6 a.m. the roads were closed and it would be difficult to enter the town since people really come in droves to witness the Pahiyas, one of the more famous festivals in the country. If you are familiar with Discovery Channel's The Travelers, it was the festival they featured when the Philippines was in focus.
We arrived in Lucban shortly before 6 a.m. and finding parking was already a big challenge! The streets were so narrow and you had vehicles parked on both sides. Finally we found a parking space and from there we took a walk to the Lucban Church where Mass was about to begin. Although Lucban is known for the San Isidro fiesta, the church is actually dedicated to San Luis Obispo.
Pahiyas is a thanksgiving festival for a good harvest, where residents of Lucban dress up their homes with produce, flowers and plants, hats, and brightly-colored kiping or rice paste wafers shaped like leaves. Pahiyas actually means "decor" which is an apt term for the imaginative house decorations created for the festival.
![Pahiyas Festival 2007](http://www.clickthecity.com/img2/articles/CTC-1656-image4.jpg)
After the Mass, at 7 a.m., the procession begins and the images of San Isidro Labrador and his wife, Santa Maria Torribia de la Cabeza, are brought around the decorated homes, accompanied by a marching band, to assure farmers of more bountiful harvests in the coming seasons.
Lucban is also known for its longganiza and weaving trade. That's why it is famous for hats. And I bought a lot of them! I like wearing the haciendero hat which Lucban is known for when I'm in formal or semi-formal attire and I know that I'll be out in the sun for quite a while.
After walking around Lucban for several hours, we then visited Sariaya. The architectural heritage of this town was previously unknown to me until I saw it. It was nothing but astounding! The houses were a result of the coconut boom during the First World War when coconut oil was a sought after commodity in the global market. As a result, Sariaya became a very prosperous town. And this is evident in the art deco houses that dot the area around its town plaza.
The local celebration in Sariaya is called Agawan. And just like Lucban, the houses are adorned with fruits and vegetables, rice stalks, hats, fans and brooms, sans the kiping. The festival is a way for the townsfolk to share their blessings. During the procession of the image of San Isidro, the agawan begins as the items used to decorate the house are thrown to the crowd on the street.
As one friend describes it, the agawan or in Sariayahin terms, the halbutan encapsulates the true spirit of giving and sharing of San Isidro de Labrador. As crazy and wacky as the La Tomatina of Bunol, Spain, it is the most expressive and expressed form of hospitality anywhere, aptly termed as a happy pandemonium! After partaking of Sariaya's sumptuous food, you can have your fill of a wonderful, sweaty and exciting “take home” experience that will last you a lifetime, as in fruits, veggies, money, bread, etc. being literally thrown at your feet while those gently swaying bountiful bamboo trees called bagakays are allowed to fall on the ensuing grabfest at the same time, as soon as the Poong San Isidro has blessed it, captured on camera and videos for posterity.
It was now off to Tayabas after that "refreshing" stop under the hot summer sun. And we arrived just in the nick of time since the procession was about to start!
Cheers were heard from the plaza as the image of San Isidro Labrador was brought out, carried by devotees in this all-male procession. I would consider it a much smaller yet livelier version of the Quiapo procession. What makes this procession a unique part of the Mayohan sa Tayabas, the Tayabasin celebration of the feast of San Isidro, is the hagisan ng suman. As the image passes a house, suman is thrown by its dwellers. Devotees then rush to catch the falling suman which drops from the sky like rain. It is believed that the more suman one catches, the bigger the harvest for the coming season. So expect to be shoved when the suman starts to fall, as I was shoved while taking photos! Try to stay away from the suman if you don't want to get pushed.
Tayabas Church Minor Basilica de SAn Miguel Archangel
This the church in tayabas if you want to visit.
Noticeable are gardens and grottos surrounding the church. The old stone wall fence called the quince-quince is still visible. The venerated image of San Isidro Labrador is enshrined here and it feast popularly known as the Pahiyas is celebrated every 15th of May.
Minor Basilica de San Miguel Archangel
A National Cultural Treasure, Minor Basilica de San Miguel Archangel in Tayabas is one of the best preserved and most exquisitely decorated church in the province.
![tayabas-facade.jpg](http://traveleronfoot.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/tayabas-facade.jpg)
The 103-meter long basilica is touted as the longest Spanish colonial church in the country. It was first built by the Franciscans in 1585 hence, one of the oldest colonial structures. Repaired followed in 1590 lead by San Pedro Bautista then it was changed to brick in 1600. it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1743 and later rebuilt and enlarged in 1856 by adding a transept and a cupola.
![tayabas-interior.jpg](http://traveleronfoot.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/tayabas-interior.jpg)
Contained in its bell tower is an eighteenth century clock (it is said to be the only one of its kind in the country) that chimes every thirty minutes. It was into a Minor Basilica in 1988. The interior, a good example of Neo-Classical style, has an antique organ, seven altars done in the Neo-Classical style.The adjacent convent was used as a Japanese garrison during the World War II.
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