South Distance of Quezon

ARAÑAT BALUARTE FESTIVAL
The Festival
During the 15th of May, Arañat Baluarte is celebrated in Gumaca, Quezon Province. Perhaps no other festival in the Philippines is celebrated as merrily as the granduous feast of San Isidro Labrador. The most boisterous Gumaca’s Arañat Baluarte Festival is named after Isidore the Farmer, a religious Spanish farmer who’s feast was canonized in 1622, the most awaited event during the month of May.
Big creatively adorned bamboo arches called baluarte are set up and ornamented with araña, a chandelier made of bamboo-wood combination from which fruits in season hang along the sides with vegetables, suman, green coconuts, ripe and green bananas, and other prime produce of the Gumaca town’s farm.
Under each baluarte, a patikim, a tradition, is observed before the four ‘o clock procession. Visitors and tourists are offered to taste local delicacies, along servings of lambanog or glass of fresh buko juice.
Along the main streets of the town, the bamboo food arches are erected being complimented by other arches of araña of equal beauty, and pabitin  suspended from the windowsills of the houses along the route of the procession.
Right after the image of San Isidro pass under a baluarte, the arañas and other hanging decors of fruits and vegetables  are cut loose where screaming crowd awaits. Revelers, whether young or old, residents or visitors, bring sacks or huge bags to put their “harvest”.
At two ‘o clock, Pamasyalan sa Gumaca is held, a cultural presentation of greetings and songs performed by the local officials, townspeople, and members of the society clad in colorful 20th century fashion.
Through the lively festival, historical landmarks are promoted such as the centuries-old San Diego de Alcala Cathedral and the 18th century San Diego Fort, the only remaining fortress that were built between 1751-1781, guarding the coastal town against sea pirates’ attack.
The Gumaca festival ends  with a public ball with townspeople all finely dressed in Filipiniana paying homage to San Isidro hoping to bless them with bountiful harvest.
The Scoop
Gumaca, Quezon Province
Founded in 1582, Gumaca is one of the oldest towns in the country. At present, it is the home of about 60,000 settlers living in 59 barangays. The feast of San Isidro is incorporated in Gumaca’s seal, with the Pasinaya, a cultural parade that showcases creative and colorful costumes and dances of the townspeople during the patronal fiesta during November 12, the feast of San Diego de Alcala.
Lakan Bugtali, is the first to be hailed as the ruler of Gumaca, while Lakan Gitingan, being the last. Being located at the mouth of now known as the Pipisik River and at the foot of Sierra Madre Range, Gumaca is the center of local trade and commerce.

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