Description: The Sinulog Festival is distinguished by its unusual two-step-forward-and-one-step-backward shuffling, therefore imitating the Holy Child of the shores. The Sinulog is a century-old tradition observed in the Visayas region. The prayer dance is harmonized to the beat of membranophones and cries of “Pit Senor! Viva Sto. Nino!”
Ati-than Festival
Date of Celebration: 3rd week of January Place of Celebration: Kalibo, Aklan Description: The Ati-Atihan Festival honors the 13th-century land trade between ten migrating Bornean captains and the indigenous Ati King Marikudo. It also honors the town’s patron, the infant Sto. Nino. The constant, rhythmic beating of membranophones captures you, and before you know it, you are on the street, shuffling your feet, shaking your head, waving your hands, and joining thousands of soot-blackened, gaily-costumed revelers in an ancient rite of mindless happiness. A familiar battle cry reaches your ears, and amidst all this confusion, you remember where you are: Kalibo, Aklan. “Viva, Sto. Nino!” The Ati-Atihan celebration is held in many parts of the country.
Kadayawan Festival
Date of Celebration: August 20-24 Place of Celebration: Davao City Description: People in Davao City watch as the celebrations reach a glorious peak on Saturday morning: that’s when the Kadayawan parade is held, featuring colorful, orchid-bedecked floats and more than a dozen “ethnic” groups dancing to the beat of wooden membranophones.
Panagbenga Festival
Date of Celebration: 4th week of February Place of Celebration: Baguio City Description: The Panagbenga Festival is the flower season in the City of Pines, the perfect timing for a full-scale celebration in the streets. The Baguio locals take a break on these days to enjoy the cool climate and the unique culture of the city. Multi-hued costumes are worn, mimicking the various blooms of the upland region (or any of its 11 cultural groups). These are flower beds – masked, of course, as the Panagbenga parade floats.
Feast of the Black Nazarene
Date of Celebration: January 9 Place of Celebration: Quiapo, Manila Description: The Feast of the Black Nazarene is a festival where people go to Quiapo Church, Manila to honor the miraculous wooden black statue of Jesus Christ carried by male devotees during the procession.
Masskara Festival
Date of Celebration: October 14-21 Place of Celebration: Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Description: The Masskara Festival features a street dance competition where people from all walks of life troop to the streets to see colorfully-masked dancers spiraling to the beat of Latin musical beats in a show of command, merriment, coordination, and staying power. Major activities include the Masskara Queen beauty pageant, carnivals, drum and bugle corps competitions, food festivals, sports events, musical concerts, agriculture-trade carnivals, garden shows, and other special events organized ad hoc every year.
Pahiyas sa Quezon Festival
Date of Celebration: May 15 Place of Celebration: Lucban, Quezon Description: During the Pahiyas sa Quezon Festival, each family decorates the facade of their house, each one seeking to surpass another in a friendly competition. A winner is picked every year, and many awards are up for grabs for the family with the most creative and unique decorations.
Pulilan Carabao Festival
Date of Celebration: May 15 Place of Celebration: Pulilan, Bulacan Description: The Pulilan Carabao Festival involves hundreds of work animals, mostly carabaos, led in a parade on the streets of the town every 14th and 15th of May to honor its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. The carabaos are decorated with garlands and shaved for the occasion. They genuflect or kneel in front of the church. Witness the colorful Carabao Festival and the religious activities of the town.
On the 14th of May, farmers all over the town pay tribute to their patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, in glorious Thanksgiving for a year-long big crop. The celebration is manifested by hanging all kinds of fruits, candies, food harvests, and multicolored kipings on bamboo poles. The affairs are highlighted by the kneeling of carabaos in front of the church and the symbolic floats. Every year, a sea of larking humanity comes in droves to witness these showcasing endowments of the carabaos.
Feast of Nuestra Señora Peñafrancia
Date of Celebration: 3rd Saturday of September Place of Celebration: Naga City Description: The Feast of Nuestra Señora Peñafrancia is a celebration in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. Its week-long activities feature the fluvial parade of the patroness, sports fests, beauty pageants, and other cultural exhibitions.
Pinya Festival
Date of Celebration: Calauan, Laguna Place of Celebration: 2nd week of May Description: An annual event that started in 1999, the Pinya Festival aims to promote Pineapple and other agricultural products of Calauan. It features cultural presentations and exhibit performances, mardi gras, street dancing, Pineapple float parade, and Pineapple, and native products decor competition.
Dalit Festival
Date of Celebration: September 29 Place of Celebration: Tangub City, Misamis Occidental Description: The Dalit Festival is Tangubanon’s simple way of saying “Mabuhay and Welcome to Tangub” as they celebrate the feast of Saint Michael, the Archangel every September. Dalit means “offering” that shows the extraordinary way of fostering friendship, integrity, and love of all Tangubanons to their visitors. Rituals and dances that portray the Filipino way of life are some of the assorted activities and presentations.
Dinagyang Festival
Date of Celebration: 4th week of January Place of Celebration: Iloilo City Description: The Dinagyang Festival is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines, held on the 4th Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan. It is held both to honor the Santo Niño and to observe the arrival on Panay of Malay colonists and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis.
Moriones Festival
Date of Celebration: Easter Sunday, held every Holy Week Place of Celebration: Marinduque Description: The island of Marinduque prides itself on being the “Lenten Capital of the Philippines,” and it is easy to understand why. Come the seven days of Holy Week, the people of the island take part in the antique rite of the “Moriones.” Colorful warrior costumes are worn, topped with finely carved masks portraying the violent Roman soldiers of Christ’s time. All these are done to show the story of the conversion of Longuinus, the centurion who stabbed Jesus’ side – and his subsequent decapitation.
Obando Festival
Date of Celebration: May 17-19 Place of Celebration: Obando, Bulacan Description: The Obando Festival is a feast where a group of people performs a dance to the melody of musical instruments made out of bamboo materials. The men, women, and children of Obando, Bulacan, Philippines wear traditional dance costumes to dance on the streets followed by the images of their patron saints San Pascual Baylon (St. Paschal), Santa Clara (St. Clare), and Nuestra Senora de Salambao (Our Lady of Salambao), while singing the song Santa Clara Pinung-Pino.
Tabak Festival
Date of Celebration: Last week of March Place of Celebration: Tabaco City, Albay Description: The festival derived its name from a local word “Tabak,” meaning bolo tie, where the name of the City (Tabaco) was taken from. Its highlight is a street presentation where participants showcase the fable of the City. Numerous other activities are lined up to beat and surpass the previous year’s celebration.
Sandugo Festival
Date of Celebration: Tagbilaran City. BoholTopographic point of Celebration: 3rd Sunday of JulyDescription: The Sandugo Festival commemorates the Treaty of Friendship between Datu Sikatuna. a captain in Bohol. and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. This sixteenth Century peace pact occurred on March 16. 1565 through a blood compact or “Sandiego”.
The Sandugo Festival is held every July. The Tagbilaran City Charter Day on July 1 kicks off the month-long festival with a holy mass. Diana. motorcade and plan sponsored by the City Government of Tagbilaran. Among the major activities during the month is the Miss Bohol Sandugo Beauty Pageant. and the Sandugo Street Dancing Competition which is normally held on the 3rd or 4th Sunday of July. and organized by the Bohol Sandugo Foundation. Inc. ( BSFI ).
Pintados Festival
Date of Celebration: Tacloban CityTopographic point of Celebration: June 29Description: Back during pre-Hispanic old ages. tattoos denoted bravery among the indigenes of Tacloban. These years symbolize a cultural resurgence. and a wild. wild fete called the Pintados. Join the town occupants as they decorate themselves in organic structure pigment. copying the warriors of old while dancing to the frenetic round of membranophones.
Balsa Festival
Date of Celebration: May 18Topographic point of Celebration: Lain. BatangasDescription: The Balsa Festival is that centerpieces the Balsa as a manner of relaxation by the Matabungkay Beach Resort. The jubilation culminated in a race and adorning competition for the Balsa. The festival is spearheaded by the Matabungkay Beach Resort and Hotel and the private sector of Lian. Batangas.
Higantes Festival
Date of Celebration: November 22-23Topographic point of Celebration: Angono RizalDescription: The Higantes Festival is a fete of “gigantic” proportions; this one is highlighted by an expansive emanation having the Gigantes. ten-foot papier-mache marionettes. surrounded by a crowd of drenched. water-fighting revelers. Better convey your pip-squeak gun if you want to fall in the merriment. It is a water-logged event that is certain to go forth you wet n’ wild – and desiring for more.
Sampaguita Festival
Date of Celebration: February 21-22Topographic point of Celebration: San Pedro. LagunaDescription: The Sampaguita Festival features an expansive parade of colorful floats participated by both authorities and the private sector. The high spot of the festival is the Coronation Night of the “Hiyas ng San Pedro”. The festival aims to advance touristry in San Pedro and regenerate the Sampaguita industry in San Pedro. Laguna.
Bangkero Festival
Date of Celebration: 1st week of January Place of Celebration: Pagsanjan, Laguna Description: The Bangkero Festival features exciting events both on water and land, such as the “alarming bankers” (fluvial parade and exhibitions), street dancing, drum and lyre band competition, chorale fest, cultural night, trade carnival, sports events, among others.
Talulot Festival
Date of Celebration: Last Sunday of September Place of Celebration: Villamor Airbase, Pasay City Description: The Talulot Festival is a vibrant and fantastic spectacle of music, dance, and local talents. Close to 2,500 people attend the Pontifical Mass and celebrations every year. In its 5th year, the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines and Magnificat Ventures Corporation partnered with the City of Pasay, Barangay 183, Resorts World Manila, and the Newport City Estate Association. Talulot is named after the Filipino word for petal, in honor of St. Therese of the Child Jesus who is also known as God’s Little Flower. Devotees of Saint Therese believe that she sends a flower or flowers as a sign of granted prayer.
T’nalak Festival
Date of Celebration: July 13-18 Place of Celebration: Koronadal City, South Cotabato Description: The T’nalak Festival is a prestigious annual event highlighting the celebrated talk cloth that symbolizes the culture of South Cotabato. The province is a key player in the meeting of South Cotabato, Sarangani, and General Santos City (Socsargen), one of the country’s fastest-growing development clusters.
The festival is celebrated during the foundation day anniversary of South Cotabato from July 13-18. Apart from the innovative agri-trade exhibition, exciting competitions, sports, and parades, the highlight of this festival is the street dancing competition, featuring an eye-popping show of colors from performers garbed in traditional costumes.
Kaamulan Festival
Date of Celebration: 2nd week of February to March 10 Place of Celebration: Bukidnon Description: Expect the Bukidnon to go tribal from the first to the second week of March, when the streets of Malaybalay take on that familiar fiesta theme. Banners, banderitas, and beer will be standard, as well as the sweet, haunting sound of native music. An early morning pamphlet ritual boots off the celebrations, to be followed by an ethnic food fest, trade carnival, and a lot of native dance.
Aliwan Festival
Date of Celebration: the month of April/May Topographic point of Celebration: Pasay City Description: The Aliwan Festival is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines in Star City Complex in Pasay City, where contingents compete in dance and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant. Organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the cities of Manila and Pasay, the event is dubbed “The Mother of All Fiestas,” with awards totaling P3 million (approximately US$70,000).
Aliwan Fiesta, which began in 2003, aims to showcase the different Filipino cultures and heritage not only to the people in Metro Manila but also to the rest of the world. The contingents, meanwhile, aim to promote their respective regions both economically and tourism-wise. It was originally organized as a visual extravaganza for the Christmas season, but it has since been held during the summer months of either April or May. Aliwan is a Tagalog word for “entertainment” or “amusement.”
Kagay-an Festival
Date of Celebration: August 26-28 Topographic point of Celebration: Cagayan de Oro Description: The Kagay-an Festival is a week-long festival in celebration of Cagayan de Oro’s patron saint Senor San Agustin, held every month of August. “Kagay-an” means river. Highlights of the Kagay-an Festival are the Kahimuan Trade Fair which features the native products of the city and country particularly agriculture products, Miss Kagay-an, the Folkloric Street Dancing Competition which features colorful garbs and cultural dances of the Higaonon folks, Golden Float Parade, Halad sa Lambagohan, PE Rhythmic Dance Competition, Kalo Festival, and Kumbira that started in 1996 by Kagay-anons hotelkeepers and restaurants. A culinary show and exhibit, it has evolved over the years, and it now hosts a culinary competition among students and professionals all over Mindanao.
Penafrancia Festival
Date of Celebration: 3rd Sunday of September Topographic point of Celebration: Bicol Description: The Penafrancia Festival is the Bicol region’s largest celebration, an annual event that combines faith with culture and tradition, stuffing it all in a 9-day feast of biblical proportions.
Lanzones Festival
Date of Celebration: every 3rd week of October Topographic point of Celebration: Camiguin Island Description: The Lanzones Festival in Mambajao Camiguin is celebrated with a weekend street dancing competition and parties, cultural shows, parade, and beauty pageant (enthronement of Mutya sa Buchanan) and trade carnival that features local handicrafts and products. Houses, street poles, and even people are decorated with lanzones during the event.
Puto Latik Festival
Date of Celebration: February 5-6 Topographic point of Celebration: Laguna Description: The Puto Latik features a lot of activities including the Maglalatik Street Dance Competition, the Grand Float Parade, the Miss Binan Coronation Night, a tree-planting activity, and the Binan Trade Fair.
Tuna Festival
Date of Celebration: 4th week of September Topographic point of Celebration: General Santos City Description: The Tuna Festival celebrates the contribution of tuna fish to General Santos City’s economy.
