The Vibrant Pahiyas Festival Street Dance: A Celebration of Culture and Faith
Every May 15, the charming town of Lucban, Quezon, bursts into a kaleidoscope of colors, music, and movement for the Pahiyas Festival, a grand celebration
Candelaria, Quezon
Candle Festival of Candelaria
A Marian Tribute to Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria
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- Candelaria, Quezon
The Candle Festival of Candelaria 2026 is a vivid tapestry of faith, devotion, and community celebration. Beginning with Holy Mass, the streets come alive during the procession with candles and floats honoring Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. The evening unfolds with a Gala Presentation, where children, youth, and adult participants showcase creativity, faith, and performance, each vying for titles like Best Mama Mary, Best Performer, Best in Costume, and Festival Spirit Award. The festival concludes with a grand fireworks display, leaving an unforgettable impression of devotion, culture, and Quezon pride.
Explore the Philippines through my lens as we venture into Candle Festival of Candelaria with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll guide you on an interactive tour, revealing the behind-the-scenes of capturing the shots shared here. Let’s dive into this visual journey together and uncover the wonders through my lens!
Let’s explore the PHILIPPINES through my lens as we journey on a photo slideshow to Candle Festival of Candelaria. Join me in this visual adventure and discover the wonders captured through my lens! Check out the shared slideshow here.
Check out the video for more highlights. See what I’ve captured through my lens with Point of View (POV) photography. Using a body cam, I’ll take you on an interactive tour, showing you behind-the-scenes moments of capturing the shots shared here.
Check out the video below for additional features. Explore what I’ve captured through my lens in this cinematic slideshow.
Gala Presentation
The Candle Festival of Candelaria, Quezon stood out with its much-anticipated Gala Presentation, bringing together participants from different generations in a shared tribute to Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. Divided into three categories—Kids, Youth, and Adults—the event showed how devotion to Mama Mary is passed on, expressed, and reimagined across ages.
In the Kids Category, young performers from Masin Elementary School, Pahinga Norte Elementary School, Candelaria Elementary School – Main, The Lady Mediatrix Institute, Inc., Candelaria Elementary School – 1 & 2, and Masalukot I Elementary School filled the stage with innocence, energy, and heartfelt devotion. Their performances were playful yet sincere, showing that faith can be joyful and expressive even at a young age. The Lady Mediatrix Institute, Inc. was recognized with Best Mama Mary for its thoughtful and graceful portrayal, while Pahinga Norte Elementary School earned both Best Performer and Best in Costume, impressing judges with strong choreography and well-crafted attire. Masalukot I Elementary School received the Festival Spirit Award, honoring the group’s enthusiasm, unity, and genuine love for the celebration.
The Youth Category brought a more dynamic and expressive tone, with performances from Grabsum School Inc., Tayabas Western Academy, and The Lady Mediatrix Institute, Inc. This category highlighted how tradition continues to evolve, blending street-dance elements, tighter formations, and emotional storytelling with devotional themes. Grabsum School Inc. stood out with its powerful portrayal of Mama Mary, earning Best Mama Mary, while The Lady Mediatrix Institute, Inc. dominated the category by winning Best Performer, Best in Costume, and the Festival Spirit Award, reflecting both technical skill and deep engagement with the festival’s meaning.
In the Adult Category, the performances carried a different kind of weight—rooted in experience, community leadership, and shared history. Participants included the Candelaria East District Teachers, Candelaria West District Teachers, Ministry of Gifts, MSK Masalukot II Kawan ni San Mateo, and Philippine Ghum Paste Incorporated. Their presentations leaned into symbolism, discipline, and collective storytelling, reminding the audience that devotion is sustained by long-standing commitment. Philippine Ghum Paste Incorporated emerged as a major awardee, taking home Best Mama Mary, Best Performer, and the Festival Spirit Award, while Candelaria West District Teachers won Best in Costume for their detailed and dignified attire. Overall, the Gala Presentation was more than a competition. It became a communal offering where each group—regardless of age or award—contributed to a larger narrative of faith, creativity, and shared identity, reinforcing why the Candle Festival of Candelaria, Quezon remains a deeply lived tradition for the entire town.
MAMA MARY PORTRAYAL
At the heart of the Candle Festival of Candelaria, Quezon is a profound devotion to Mama Mary, expressed most powerfully through the Mama Mary Portrayal—a tradition that sets the festival apart from many others. While Marian images are common in religious celebrations, this kind of full-town procession, moving through the entire poblacion of Candelaria, is something only a few festivals practice. What makes it especially striking is the discipline and restraint of the portrayal: the image of Mama Mary does not move, mimicking the stillness of a statue. There are no exaggerated gestures or shifting expressions—only calm, composed presence, allowing reverence to take center stage.
Each portrayal is carefully prepared, from the serene facial expression to the complete vestments and crowns. Many of the images are adorned with metal repoussé vestments—intricately crafted metallic garments traditionally used for Marian icons—paired with ornate coronas and radiant resplendors that frame the figure with symbolic light. These details are not merely decorative; they echo long-standing Catholic iconography, reinforcing Mama Mary’s dignity and sacred role. The karosa, either carried or pulled by a group of devoted men, follows behind the street dancers, creating a visual rhythm between movement and stillness, celebration and prayer.
As night falls, the experience becomes even more unforgettable. Lit by candles and soft lights, the karosas begin to glow, reflecting off the metallic vestments and crowns. Spectators line the streets of Candelaria, Quezon in quiet awe, many pausing mid-conversation as the image passes by. Honestly, there’s a shared feeling in those moments—as if the crowd isn’t just watching a performance, but witnessing a living presence. For some, it feels like seeing a lifelike vision of the Mother herself, calm and radiant amid the festivities.
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Kandelawan Village: A Festival of Light and Devotion
Kandelawan Village is one of the most visually captivating and culturally meaningful features of the Candle Festival of Candelaria, Quezon, serving as a festival village where devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria is expressed through creativity, light, and communal storytelling. During the festival, each barangay sets up its own booth or display near the San Pedro Bautista Parish Church and other public areas, transforming the surroundings into a lively village of art and illumination. These exhibits combine traditional religious symbols, artistic interpretations of candle motifs, and visual narratives that reflect both local heritage and the spiritual significance of Candlemas. As the village comes alive, visitors and residents alike stroll through the displays, experiencing the festival not only as a street procession or performance but also as a collective expression of faith and identity, highlighting the town’s cultural richness and unity.
What makes Kandelawan particularly special is how it reinforces the theme of light—not merely as decoration, but as a symbolic centerpiece of the festival’s meaning. The name itself evokes the essence of candles and illumination, echoing the festival’s spiritual focus on Christ as the Light of the World and Mama Mary as the bearer of light. In the glowing evening ambiance, the village becomes a space where art, faith, and devotion intersect: lanterns, decorative lights, and creative installations cast a warm radiance that invites quiet reflection and communal engagement. In this way, Kandelawan Village transforms the traditional religious observance into a lived, immersive experience, allowing the community to share their devotion and creativity with both visitors and one another in a meaningful, memorable way.
As the procession winds its way through the streets, the Arko ng Pananampalataya transforms into a living, breathing part of the festival. Lit by candles and soft lights at night, the arches glow warmly, casting a serene and almost magical ambiance over the route. Walking beneath them feels like stepping into a sacred passage, connecting the physical journey through town with a deeper, personal reflection of faith and devotion. For many, it’s a moment to pause, bow their heads, or quietly offer a prayer—an intimate experience amid the festive energy. The arches don’t just mark the path of the procession; they become a reminder that the Candle Festival of Candelaria, Quezon is as much about inner light and devotion as it is about colorful performances and street celebrations.
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