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Quezon is famous for...
Pahiyas Festival
Celebrated every May 11 to 15, the Pahiyas Festival coincides with the feast of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. The people of Lucban, Quezon celebrate San Isidro’s feast day in all flamboyance with varied festivities all over town, topped by a religious procession along the streets. The houses are all decorated with native “pahiyas” (décor) called “kiping,” leaf-shaped and multi-colored rice paste wafers. Also thrown in are “suman” (sticky rice), “puto” (rice cakes), fruits and vegetables, rice grains and rice stalks, beautiful and rare flowers and ferns, native lanterns, even “lechon” (roast pig) – all adding to the thousand colors of Pahiyas.
Mt. Banahaw
This 7,382-foot extinct volcano is famous for its mystical attributes. Unique religious rites are held here during Holy Week by pilgrims who believe that Christ walked on this mountain. There are approximately 66 to 68 registered religious sects whose members hold rituals on the mountain on Holy Week. The mountain is also a favorite site of amulet hunters. Mt. Banahaw is located at the western part of Quezon.
St. Michael the Archangel Minor Basilica
One of the oldest churches in the province, it was first built in 1585 and repaired in 1590 using nipa and palm. In 1600, they used bricks to enhance the site. The church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1743 and later rebuilt and made bigger in 1856. It is located in Tayabas, Quezon.
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Bird Island
It was a coral formation, which became an island. The island is now a sanctuary for the birds that fly over the main island of Polillo and its neighboring areas. Every afternoon, groups of birds gather in the sky and head towards the island to spend the night there. Bird Island is located in Polillo Island, Quezon.
Puting Buhangin Beach
Situated in the Pagbilao Grande area, this pure white sand beach, with crystal-clear and calm water, is a favorite place in Pagbilao during the summer months. The white sand beach is about 70 meters long and 10 meters wide. A small cave is found at one end of the beach. Putting Buhangin is located at Pagbilao Grande, Pagbilao, Quezon.
Quezon National Park
With an area of about 9,830,765 hectares, the park has an intricate system of caves, waterfalls, springs, creeks, gorges, and ravines set against a quaint backdrop of lush greenery. The park teems with flora and fauna, from butterflies to birds and monkeys tugging along their young while crossing the street. The trees are so tall and huge that they make the zigzag road darker than it should be. The park is also the site of Pinagbanderahan, where the Filipino Revolutionaries planted the Philippine flag in their fight against the Spanish colonizers. Quezon National Park encompasses the western municipalities of Atimonan, Pagbilao, and Padre Burgos. It can be reached by walking for about one hour from the road to the top of a ridge.
Zigzag Road
Also referred to as Bitukang Manoko or Eme Road, Zigzag Road can be found in the middle of the Quezon National Park. Its curves are so tight, and the road so steep, that vehicles have to literally inch their way up. Along the roadsides are the lush vegetation of the Quezon National Park.
Atimonan Rockclimbing
This abandoned rock quarry 165km south of Manila is easy to get to, and offers a variety of routes, some suitable for beginners, others quite difficult. The rock limestone, with a mixture of pocket holds, vertical cracks, and overhangs. There are six established routes, ranging from 10 to 40m in height, with difficulty ratings from 5.8 to 5.11. Large areas of rock, including some of the highest points, remain unexplored and the potential for new routes is excellent. The Tayabas Mountaineers, based in Lucena, climb here regularly, and will often accompany guest climbers without charge.
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