Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan

Flores de Mayo is a Catholic festival held in the Philippines in the month of May. It lasts for a month, and is held in honor of the Virgin Mary. The Santacruzan is a parade held on the last day of Flores de Mayo in honor of Reyna Elena. The festivity commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reina Elena) and her son, the newly converted emperor Constantine.

May is considered a flower festival month in honor of the Virgin Mary thus named Flores de Mayo. Children of varying ages and adults as well offer flowers to the Virgin Mary every afternoon. Flores de Mayo starts with gospel reading and sharing. Little children in angelic costumes carry sticks with letters forming AVE MARIA on it. As the offering ends, bread and candies are distributed. The last day of May marks the end of Flores de Mayo. This is highlighted by a Santacruzan Festival.

A Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns and even small villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. It is one of the most colorful May-time festivals in the Philippines that depict the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured as major sagalas and escorts.

After the procession there is a pabitin that serves as a culminating activity for all the children to enjoy. Pabitin is a square trellis where goodies (candies, fruits, etc.) are hung by strings. This trellis in turn is tied to a rope and is suspended on a strong branch or pole. The children gather under the trellis and they jump as high as they can to try to pick the goodies as the trellis gets lowered to them while someone pulls it up and down repeatedly until the goodies are gone.

For the Santacruzan to be more exciting, the chosen Reina Elena is kept a secret until the day of the parade to surprise the people.

It is requested that male members attending the Santacruzan wear Barong Tagalog and the women wear any Filipino costumes, if available.