Once more, it is the merry month of flowers, the month of fiestas, the month of May. This is usually the time for get-togethers, the much-awaited moment when friends, old and new gather in different places of the country and partake of culinary feasts laid down in mouth-watering and colorful displays. This is another time of joyous revelry, of laughters at the beaches and resorts, and of walks and talks shared among friends and peers.


It has been a tradition in the Philippines that during this month, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, flower offerings are done in most churches. The fiesta celebrations usually last for a day or several days to honor a patron saint of a particular place and to give thanks to God for a bountiful harvest and a fruitful year.



As finances would allow, there are different ways of celebrating the joyous occasion. For some barangays, the people are awakened by the live band marching on the streets of their place, for others there is the roving carnival pitching their pre-fabricated structures on some parts of the town or city. For most residents, the loud music blaring on their components or karaokes are already signal attractions for their visitors that in deed, they are part of the momentous event. There are masses, processions, contests, buntings, and kaleidoscope of colors. There is vehicular and human traffic everywhere.


Today, it is no longer a surprise to find ati-atihan groups, and the itinerant vendors with their chicks, whatchamacallits, and balloons, swooping on a barangay to do business. The city mayor and even the barangay captain's home magnetizes many of them during the meal hours and the celebration continues until the end of the day, when many revelers are already tired, but happy.


The flowers bloom and spread their fragrances, people enjoy their fiestas, and everybody celebrate the merry month of May.


Under all is the land, at the heart of every Pinoy is Pinoyland.