The Kiping of Pahiyas

We all love colorful fiestas and festivals. Nothing is more vibrant than a town that celebrates thanksgiving for their patrons and ancestors, especially the way Filipinos do it.

Week long celebrations and different decorations are all over the town and houses to express gratitude and happiness.

One of the popular festivals in the country is the Pahiyas Festival of Quezon. A celebration for a bountiful harvest dedicated to San Isidro de Labrador, Pahiyas is one of the fiestas Filipinos look forward to.

What makes this fiesta so playful and exciting is the use of unique decorations only the people from Quezon do. Aside from decorating their houses with harvests and local products, Quezonians also made use of a rice wafer called KIPING. Made out of ground rice, water, sugar and colored with food colorants, kiping is an edible leaf-like wafer used into making largearanyas (chandeliers) and can also be formed into flowers, charms and other forms of embellishments.

To make your own kiping, make sure to prepare the basic ingredient such as: Ground Rice, Food Color, Sugar and Water.

For molding: Make use of leaves that are thick, has beautiful veins and can endure the heat of the steam. Kabal and Banana leaf are commonly used.

Coat one side of the leaf with the mix of the ingredients and steam for 3-4 minutes.

Air dry (usually takes an hour) after steaming and take the kiping off the used leaf.

Once dried out, the kiping can be grilled or deep fried depending on your preference. After cooking, it can now be used for decoration and the yummy task of eating it!

It is best to dip the fried kiping in sugar and the grilled one in vinegar. Enjoy! =)

To get there:

By Bus/public transportation

From Manila, take the Lucena, Quezon bound bus.

Regular commercial buses ply the three-hour Manila-Lucena route. Bus terminals are located along EDSA-Kamuning in Quezon City, Araneta Center in Cubao, Buendia-Taft Avenues and EDSA in Pasay City.

On Private Car

via South Luzon Expressway

From Manila, take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and take the Calamba exit. Pass through the towns of Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, Victoria, Pila, Sta Cruz, Pagsanjan, Cavinti, Luisiana and then to the Province of Quezon.