Philippine Festivals

Image from philnews.ph

Festivals in the Philippines commonly called “fiestas” are celebrated every year in different parts of the country. It is a tradition dating back to the Spanish era and is closely associated with religion and culture. For the predominantly Roman Catholic population, it is a way of the people to give thanks to their patron saint for a bountiful harvest and good health the past year and for a more prosperous year ahead.

 Here is a guide of the most popular festivals celebrated in the Philippines.

January

The Feast of the Black Nazarene, Quiapo, Manila

It commemorates the translation of the image of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo church in the year 1789. The celebration is held every 9^th of January and is marked by a long procession that usually lasts up to almost 24 hours.

          

                                 Photo by express.co.uk

Sinulog Festival, Cebu City

It honors the patron saint of Cebu, the Santo Nino and is celebrated every third Sunday of the month. It is considered to be the most popular festival in the Philippines attracting 1 to 2 million people every year. The highlight of the celebration is the grand street parade where participants are dressed in bright and colorful costumes and dancing gracefully to the rhythm of drums and trumpets.

                                Photo by inquirer.net

Ati Atihan Festival, Kalibo, Aklan

It is celebrated every 3^rd week of January and also in honor of the Santo Nino and the Atis or the Aetas, the aborigines who first settled in Panay island and other parts of the Philippines. The festival consists of energetic tribal dance and music accompanied by participants wearing indigenous costumes and weapons. It has inspired other Philippine festivals such as the Sinulog and Dinagyang Festival.

         Photo by choosephilippines.com

Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City, Iloilo

Celebrated every 4^th Sunday of January both in honor of the Santo Nino and celebrate the arrival of settlers from Borneo.

photo by choosephilippines.com

February

Panagbenga Festival, Baguio City

Festival of the Flower festival is a month long celebration and the culminating activity happening on the 4^th week of February. The main attraction is the grand parade of colorful floats covered with different types of flowers.

March

Moriones Festival, Boal , Marinduque

A Lenten season rites held in the province of Marinduque which starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday.  The festival is characterized by participants wearing Morion helmets and costumes to depict the Roman soldiers in search for Longinus, a Roman centurion who pierced the side of Jesus Christ on the cross and the blood that spurted out came in contact with his blind eye and completely restoring his sight and this miracle converted Longinus to Christianity. The climax of the reenactment is when Longinus is caught and beheaded.

 photo from choosephilippines.com

May

Pahiyas Festival, Lucban, Quezon

The Pahiyas Festival is celebrated every 15^th of May in honor of Saint Isidore the Labourer (San Isidro Labrador). The festival showcases a street of houses adorned with fruits, vegetables, handicrafts and rice made decoration called kiping. After the proclamation of the winner of the best house décor, the ornaments can be eaten by the town people and visitors.

photo from pahiyasfestival.com

June

Parada ng Lechon (Parade of roasted pigs) Balayan, Batangas

This festival commemorate the feast day of Saint John the Baptist on June 24. The main highlight of the occasion is when the roasted pigs are dressed up depending on the theme and paraded on the street. After the parade is over, people can have a piece of the lechons and since it is St. John the Baptist’s feast day, expect to be doused with water along the way.

photo from primer.com.ph

July

Sandugo Festival, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

The Sandugo festival commemorates the blood compact or “sandugo” between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in the year 1565. The highlights of the month long celebration is the Miss Bohol Sandugo Beauty Pageant and the Sandugo street dancing competition.

photo from choosephilippines.com

August

Kadayawan Festival, Davao City

Held every 3^rd week of August, the Kadayawan festival is a thanksgiving feast for nature, wealth, health and bounties of harvest. The street parade called Indak-Indak is a must-see show during the festival with participants in colorful costumes and props and dancing to the beat of ethnic inspired music.

photo from sunstar.com.ph

October

Zamboanga La Hermosa Festival, Zamboanga City

The festival is held on October 12 in honor of Our Lady of Pillar (Nuestra Senora del Pillar). It is one of the oldest festivals in the Philippines. The festival also features numerous activities like street dancing competition, pageants, musical concerts, trade fairs and the much awaited Regatta De Zamboanga, a race of famous vintas.

photo from choosephilippines.com

Masskara Festival, Bacolod City

Masskara came from the word mass (a multitude of people) and Spanish word cara (face) and forming Masskara(multitude of faces). The first Masskara festival was held in 1980 during a period of crisis and tragedy. It was organized to pull the people out of a gloomy atmosphere after the crisis and to show that despite of all the negativity, Bacolod will survive and triumph.

photo from choosephilippines.com

November

Higantes Festival, Angono, Rizal

This annual festival is held every 23^rd of November in honor of San Clemente (patron saint of fishermen).  The main highlight of the festival is the procession where male devotees carry the statue of the patron saint followed by devotees dressed in colorful costumes or fishermen clothes and carrying materials used in fishing. The parade is also marked by giant paper mache effigies called higantes.

photo from  primer.com.ph

Aside from its natural resources and amazing sceneries, the Philippines is also rich in culture and tradition. There are many more festivals celebrated in every region of the country that is worth going to after all “It’s more fun in the Philippines”.

Until my next trip, tips and advice, see you on Tara...Let's Go!