Planning a trip? Those who love to travel know the essence of all travel is about you and your enjoyment. Travelers know that the destination is a major part of planning a trip, experiencing and delving deeper into unfamiliar places, people and culture are paramount.

Expand your horizons and set your sight to the Philippines, an off the beaten path travel site! An undiscovered paradise made of thousands of islands and white sand beaches all around! A tiny dot in the map of the world, and yet a haven for travelers, backpackers, retirees and even passersby.

It offers awesome tourist attractions, magnificent beaches, hot spring resorts, colorful festivals, hundreds of scenic spots and world-class hotels and facilities. Not to mention the tropical climate, the affordable prices as well as the friendly and hospitable, English-speaking people! You will be glad you came, and we’re sure, you WILL come back for more FUN in the Philippines!

 

 

SANTACRUZAN & FLORES DE MAYO

 

Photo from: http://www.iloilo.net.ph/events/

 

Ilonggos love to celebrate festivals and fiestas. During the summer months, May is consider as the merriest and most beautiful month of the year. May signifies colorful festivals and Flores de Mayo. Living in a predominant Catholic society, Ilonggos always celebrates the event as praises to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Along with the colorful event is the religious – historical beauty pageant called “Santacruzan”. Santacruzan is celebrated in many cities in the Philippines. It depicts how Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the great find the Holy Cross. The Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome. The end of the journey was acknowledged by having a joyful celebration for thanksgiving.

Santacruzan are being participated by the beautiful town belles. The selection of the stars are based on their embodiment of traditional feminine qualities. The Festivity is a week –long street pageant honoring beautiful Philippine maidens and their escorts walking under the hand – carried bamboo arc decorated with colorful flowers. Read More: http://www.iloilo.net.ph/events/santacruzan-festival-flores-de-mayo/

 

Photo from:  http://ellebienoplas.blogspot.com/2016/05/santacruzan-iloilo-city-2015.html

 

Flores de Mayo (Spanish for “flowers of May”) is a festival held in the Philippines in the month of May. It is one of the May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasts for the entire month.

The Santacruzan (from the Spanish santa cruz, “holy cross”) is the ritual pageant held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo. It honors the finding of the True Cross by Helena of Constantinople (known as Reyna Elena) and Constantine the Great. Its connection with May stems from the old May 3 date of Roodmas, which Pope John XXIII abolished in 1960 in favor of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14.    Read More:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flores_de_Mayo

 

Photo from:  https://www.lightmilestravel.com/?q=content/local-festival-and-events

 

ILOILO CITY’S historic Calle Real became the venue of an awesome fashion and cultural spectacle as sagalas of the much-awaited Santacruzan Ciudad de Iloilo sashayed in the downtown area recently.

 

Leading the lovely sagalas and their escorts is 2016 Reyna Elena and reigning Miss Dinagyang Patricia Caro and her Constantino, Rafael Lazaruz Zulueta-Salazar.

 

This religious festivity in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary every merry month of May saw the sagalas dress up to the nines by Iloilo’s talented fashion designers.

 

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Have a Taste of Iloilo’s Culinary Specialties

Where is Iloilo and How to Get There

Discover Interesting Places in Iloilo

Join the Vibrant and Exciting Festivals of Iloilo

Have a Feast of Good Foods in Iloilo

Discover the Amazing Beaches of Iloilo

Enjoy a Lot of Fun Times in Iloilo

Iloilo Photo Gallery

Iloilo Video Collection