The Guinayangan Republic

In the Tagalog region, this tradition of celebration started long time before as devotional Flores de Maria or Mariquit na Bulaclac. The whole month of May ay Inihahandog nang mga Devoto kay Mama Mary.


Flores, from Spanish flores or "flowers," also known as Flores de Mayo, [flowers of May], or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival celebrated in the month of May in honor of the Virgin Mary.

The most colorful event and attraction is the one called Santacruzan for which beautiful young women held as Reyna Elena in many cities, towns and even small villages. May-time festivals are attended by movie and television personalities, participate in the events and are featured as major sagalas and escorts.

Small Kapilya Bayanihan

Kabataan decorating sayawan space

Parlor games

Ubusan ng Beer

In the far flung area in the Philippine, a small community situated in Southern Quezon, we have our own simple way of celebrating this occasion. We called our place Sitio Prinza, a small portion of Barangay Calimpac at the edge of Small River, town of Guinayangan Quezon. Type of livelihood can be considered as below poverty line due to insufficient availability of income generating resources.


Kapilya Bayanihan

However, people in this small Sitio possess very strong ties and almost everybody is inclined to support each other through the spirit of bayanihan, which until this time still exists, especially during the time of the season when we are celebrating Flores de Mayo festivities.We established “Samahan ng Kabataan at Magulang” wherein both are helping each other on the preparation lik

e constructing small Kapilya made of soft woods, bamboo and decorated by fresh flowers and ornamental plants. We don’t deny that our Sitio does not have the capacity to offer beautiful and expensive decorations but in the heart of our people, the spirit and devotion cannot be undermined. Kabataan are assigned for the preparation and decoration of space to be used as dancing floor (sayawan) in the night and children’s parlor games during the day.

I may want to add that the “Samahan ng Kabataan at Magulang” sa Prinza were instrumental for the construction of a small road the residence utilizes nowadays. The road was constructed in the year 2006 through Bayanihan, using manual system “mano-mano” and by the aid of Piko, Pala, Kalaykay and other manually fabricated tools. Later on, when our Barangay officials came to know the activities, they supported the Samahan by putting some gravel on the top of the road. This time, small road is still usable although it became a little bit unpleasant due to the absence of concrete, whenever rain comes; gravel gradually vanishes causing adverse effect on itself.

Bottom line is, one of the greatest characteristics of Filipinos we should not forget is the “Spirit of Bayanihan”.

by: Jethfrenz