Of flowers and cabbages.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Photos by Mandy Navasero

A RELIGIOUS event honoring the Virgin Mary, the Flores de Mayo has become a showcase of traditional Filipino fashion sometimes to the point that the religious dimension is glossed over, trivialized or altogether forgotten. Sometimes it becomes a mere parade of pretty young Filipinas, beauty queens and celebrities, who don elaborately beaded and sequined ternos and gowns-a catwalk event rather than a religious procession. Do these women ever bother to offer flowers to Our Lady? Or perhaps they seek to upstage the Blessed Mother so that they move heaven and earth to become unearthly …