25/05/2026
The Banilad May Flower Festival: Where Play Grew Into Tradition
Deep in Sitio Banilad, Barangay Masudsud, Concepcion, Romblon, lies a tale that beats with the very heart of the community – the story of the Banilad May Flower Festival. It’s a story that sparkles with joy and fills locals with immense pride, for it all began not with grand plans or formal meetings, but with a handful of children and a game under the trees.
It was the middle of May 1972 when Charrie Hernandez, then a teenager, gathered her friends and young neighbors for what they thought was just another afternoon of play. Armed with flowers they’d picked themselves, they built a tiny altar around a sturdy tree trunk and began offering blooms as if celebrating Flores de Mayo – a beloved Filipino tradition they’d heard grown-ups talk about. To them, it was all just fun and make-believe.
But when elders Edmundo Fabellon and Segundo Mosquera chanced upon the scene, something magical happened. Instead of shooing the children away or laughing off their little “festival,” their eyes lit up with inspiration. They saw not just a game, but a spark of creativity that could bring their whole neighborhood together. With warm smiles and open arms, they rallied more villagers to join in – and before long, guitars were strumming, ukulele strings were humming, and what started as play transformed into a full-fledged celebration!
To give this growing event its own special mark, Ermigarda Mosquera bestowed upon it a name that would endure for generations: the Banilad May Flower Festival. Soon, a crown was crafted, and every year on May 30, the community gathers for a spectacular coronation – a highlight that makes hearts race with excitement. When Marilou Fabellon was crowned the very first festival queen – a cute yet lovely kiddie queen – cheers echoed through the streets as a new chapter of local history was written. The following year, Salve Figurasin took center stage, adding her own shine to the tradition.
And here’s where the story truly soars – decades later, the festival burns brighter than ever! Where that simple tree altar once stood, a beautiful chapel now rises, dedicated to Our Lady of the Visitation. What started as a child’s game has blossomed into so much more: a celebration that ties families together, strengthens faith, and weaves itself into the very fabric of what it means to be from Banilad.
Today, as flowers bloom and music fills the air each May, the Banilad May Flower Festival stands as a vibrant reminder that the smallest acts of imagination can grow into traditions that define a community for years to come.
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