May is more than just a "Month of Flowers" for a number of children lined up before the Sacred Heart Parish in Tacloban.

Through this Catholic ritual, children as young as four years old learn the value of prayer.

With "santan" or bougainvilleas in their hands and rosaries around their necks, the children join in praying the rosary at the church, led by teenagers or elders from the church's youth organization every afternoon in celebration of "Flores de Mayo", a tradition of offering flowers and prayers to the Virgin Mary.

"I know how to pray 'Our Father' (The Lord's Prayer), 'Hail Mary', and 'Glory be' (or Gloria Patri)," said Justin, 9. He said that he does not mind carrying flowers, especially since he offers them to Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

For 11-year-old Ronalyn, meanwhile, who has been offering flowers since the she was 4 years old, said she still feels the same joy every time. "Even if it's just a simple flower, I feel happy to give it to Mama Mary. And from praying, I always receive blessings from God," she said.

"Flores de Mayo", introduced to the country by the Spaniards, are month-long celebrations usually preceded by a nine-day novena honoring the Holy Cross.

In many regions, the highlight of the "Flores de Mayo" is the "Santacruzan" or Festival of the Cross, which is a procession and beauty pageant ("sagala") where young men and women dress up in elegant costumes to portray several Biblical characters. The "Santacruzan" dramatizes how St. Helena (locally called "Santa Elena"), mother of Constantine the Great, found the Holy Cross where Jesus was nailed.