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| It is a nationwide practice for devout Catholic parents to encourage their children to dutifully go to church or to their barangay chapels for the afternoon praying of the Rosary, singing and offering of flowers at the feet of Mama Mary. Such is also the case in Mogpog, Marinduque. |
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Maytime flowers in all colors and scents the Mogpog children offer to the Virgin Mary. Daisies, hibiscus, lilies, birds of paradise, amarillos, camias, orchids, zinnias, roses and others. |
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| Pre-school to elementary school children participated in Mogpog's 'flores'. |
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| But at month's end (like yesterday), the children come in their best clothes for the final celebration with drinks, snacks and gifts, like turning this special day into 'Christmas in May'. |
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| Often the children pray in unison for the rains to come after the long and hot summer season. |
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| Then they each receive gifts directly, by tradition, from the Hermana or Hermano. |
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| Hermano, Cong. Lord Allan Velasco is shown turning over his special gift to a participant in the Alay. |
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| Cong. Velasco's girl, Wen, gifts a young girl with a school bag and school supplies. |
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| More kids line up for their surprise. |
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| 'Give me five' says Cong. Velasco to this kid. |
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| Special gift for the 'flores' children. And voila! Early last night PAGASA, the state weather bureau, officially announced the start of the rainy season after spotting tropical depression named "Ambo" northeast of Samar, the first storm for 2011. Cloudiness and scattered rains expected in the country's western section. |