Filipinos celebrate flower festival
Filipinos celebrate flower festival
Published: 13 May 2006
Celebrations marking the Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May), one of the Philippines’ much-loved festivals, were held yesterday at the Delmon International Hotel.
Flores de Mayo is a Catholic festival introduced to the Philippines by the Spaniards. It is a month-long festival held every May in honour of the Holy Mary.
The last day of the festival is highlighted by a pageant called Santa Cruzan, a colourful procession that honours the finding of the cross in the year 326 AD by Reyna (Queen) Helena, the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great.
Single Filipinas, aged 15 to 25 years, took part in the Santa Cruzan processions at the event, which was organised as part of the
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) anniversary celebration.
Other activities for the day were traditional Filipino games, such as pabitin, palayok, sacko (sack) race and many others.
There were also be food stalls offering various Filipino delicacies.
All proceeds of the event, which was organised by Triskelion International in co-operation with OWWA and the embassy, will go towards Tuloy Aral - a fundraising drive to help poor children in the Philippines finish school.
© Gulf Daily News
