Philippines Festivals and Holidays

SINULOG
every 3rd Sunday of January, Cebu City's super celebration distinguished by its unusual two step forward 1 step backward shuffle, this simulating the Holy child of the shores is a century old tradition observed in this part of the Visayas region. The prayer dance is harmonized to the beat of Pit Senor! Viva Sto. Nino.
DAROSIMULOG
every 3rd week of January in Dumaguete street dancing in colorful costumes by the locals to celebrate the conversion of pagan tribes to Christianity.
ATI-ATIHAN
every 3rd week of January in Kalibo, Aklan the Ati-atihan festival honors the 13th century land deal between 10 migrating Bornean chieftains and the indigenous Ati King Marikudo. It also honors the town patron Sto. Niño. The celebration is highlighted by local covered in black soot and dressed in colorful costumes like the native Aeta dancing on the street to the rhythm and beat of drums while shouting Viva Sto Niño!
DINAGYANG
every 4th week of January in Iloilo City Ilonggos take to the streets in colorful costumes, with bodies covered in black paint in honor of the Holy Sto. Niño.

FEBRUARY
SIBUG-SIBUG FESTIVAL
from February 17-26 in Ipil, Sibugay, Zamboanga Sibug-Sibug Festival is celebrated during their foundation day in the province of Sibugay with colorful ethnic street dancing with rituals illustrating good harvest, wedding and healing rituals. During the festival, it endorses it's number one product which is oyster and known to be the biggest and juiciest and meatiest oyster in the Philippines.
DIA DE ZAMBOANGA
every 26th of February in Zamboanga City a celebration of cultural and religious harmony between Christians and Muslims in this most cosmopolitan of the Philippine cities. Marks the date when Zamboanga became a city.
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF CANDLES
every February 2 Jaro, Iloilo the largest and the most wealthy religious pageantry in Western Visayas.
TINAGBA FESTIVAL
FEBRUARY 11 IRIGA CITY CAMARINES SUR A harvest festival that coincides with the feast day of Our Ladyof Lourdes. Features a parade of colorful and grandiosely-decorated carabao carts.

MARCH
ARRIBADA FESTIVAL
first week of March in Donsol Sorsogon is a celebration welcoming the whale shark season and the blessings this season brings.
ARAW NG DABAW
March 10 - 16, Davao Del Sur. The celebration of Davao's Foundation Day as a Chartered City.
SINIGAYAN
every March 19 Sagas, Negros Occidental named after the native seashell. shell craft art is featured during the festival.
MORIONES
every Easter Sunday in Marinduque come the seven days of Holy Week, the people of the island take part in the age-old ritual 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 conversions of Longuinus, the centurion who stabbed Jesus' side and his subsequent beheading.
HOMONHON LANDING
MARCH 16 SOUTHEASTERN SAMAR A pageant by the seashore re-enacting the discovery of the Philippines by Ferdinand Magellan.
FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES
MARCH 31 LI MASANA ISLAND SOUTHERN LEYTE Features a street pageant by the different municipalities.

APRIL
KALILANG
April 10-15 Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur. The charter anniversary celebration of Muslim culture including songs, dances, crafts and food.
KADAUGAN SA MACTAN
April 27, Cebu City. a reenactment of the battle of Mactan where Magellan's forces are defeated by Lapu-lapu and his warriors, resulting in the death of the Spanish explorer.
CASSAVA
Last week of April, Camotes, Islands, Cebu highlights the many uses of this root crop. Features cooking contests.
BINIRAYAN
late April in San Jose, Antique celebrates the reenactment of the landing of ten Borneo Datus in 13th Century.

MAY
RODEO FILIPINO
May 6 to 9, Masbate City. The highlight of Masbate's livestock week focusing on the importance of cattle raising to the island's economy.
BOLIBONG KINGKING
May 23-24 Loboc Bohol. A music and dance festival of folklore and traditions of Bohol. MANGO FESTIVAL a month long celebration in San Miguel, Guimaras to celebrate a good harvest of their main produce - mangoes, merry making is done every year at the front lawn of the Provincial Capitol Building
TAPUSAN
a month long celebration in Alitagtag, Batangas to honor the Holy Cross.
CARABAO CARROZA RACE
every 3rd day of May in Pavia, Iloilo the race features the fastest water buffalos (carabaos) in the area pulling bamboo carts.
ALINSANGAN BOA-BOA HAN
MAY 1 NABLA CAMARINES SUR A fertility festival of pagan origin.
MAGAYON FESTIVAL
MAY 1-31 MIT MAYON VOLCANO ALBAY Pays tribute to the beauty and power of regal Mayon Volcano.
PINEAPPLE FESTIVAL
MAY 1-31 DAET CAMARINES NORTE in honor of Daet's main crop, the Queen Formosa Pineapple, reputed to be the sweetest variety.
BANG KERO
LAST SUNDAY OF MAY PAGSANJAN, LAGUNA Flotilla of decorated boats (bancas) that also showcase the skills of Pagsanjan boatmen

JUNE
PILI FESTIVAL
June 20-29, Sorsogon. Street Dancing showcases the growth stages of Bicol's indigenous Pili nut.
MUDPACK FESTIVAL
every June 24 in Murcia, Negros Occidental oneness with nature is the underlying theme behind Murcias annual mud moving spectacle.
BUKLOG
from June 1 to 6 in Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte features stationary dancing by native Subanons on three meter structures.
PINTADos FESTIVAL
TACLOBAN CITY Back duringpre-Hispanic years, tattoos denoted courage among the natives of Tacloban. These they symbolize a cultural revival, and are highlighted in a wild, wild fiesta called the Pintados. Town residents decorate themselves with body paint, imitating the warriors of old while dancing to the frantic beat of drums.

JULY
PINTA FLORES
every 1st of July in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental participants with floral-painted bodies dance through the streets.
SANDUGO FESTIVAL
3rd week of July, Tagbilaran City Bohol. The Spanish colonization of the Philippines began with a blood-sealed peace treaty on the shores of Bohol. The historic event is celebrated in Tagbilaran with an all out festivities. This festival features a parade of colorful costumes and street dancing.
KINABAYO FESTIVAL
JULY 25 DAPITAN CITY An exotic and colorful ageant re-enacting the panish-Moorish wars particularly the Battle of Covadonga where the Spanish forces under general Pelagio took their last stand against Saracan They were able to overturn the tide through the miraculous spirit of St James The addtion local color and modernism has made this annual revelry a popular attraction which brings thousands of visitors to the city.

AUGUST
KADAYAWAN SA BADAW
August 20-24, Davao City. This festival assures a weekend full of fun -tribal style. Watch as festivities reach a glorious peak on Saturday Morning when the Kadayawan parade is held featuring colorful ochid laden floats and more than a dozen ethnic groups dancing to the beat of the wooden drums.
KAAD LAW AN HAN SAMAR
AUGUST 11 CATBALOGAN, SAMAR Marks the celebration of Samars provincehood.
LUBI-LUBI
AUGUST 15 CALUBIAN, LEYTE Festivities in Calubian, Leyte, which focus on the various uses of coconut and its by products
BUYOGAN
AUGUST 19 ABUYOG (Bees buyog) depict the origin of the towns name in colorful dances.

SEPTEMBER
BONOK BONOK FESTIVAL & SLOP CAVE ADVENTURE
SEPTEMBER 9 SURIGAO CITY Behind Surigao's culture is its original tribal background. The Surigaonons go back to their roots this month as they celebrate their heritage with a loud, noisy street dancing parade.
PENAFRANCIA VIVA LA VIRGEN
SEPTEMBER 16 NAGA CITY CAMARINES SUR Bicol Region's largest celebration is an annual affair that combines religion with culture and tradition, all in a 9-day fiesta of biblical proportions. Stay until sundown for the stirring climax: the fluvial parade as it makes its way down the river, surrounded by a sea of glowing candles a fitting end to this truly spiritual occasion.
SARA KIKI
SEPTEMBER 18 CALBAYOG CITY SAMAR The Filipino passion for cockfighting is celebrated with dancing and costumes which mimic the movements and appearance of these brave birds.

OCTOBER
MASSKARA FESTIVAL
every 3rd week of October in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, elaborate, colorful and creatively done masks are worn by the locals of the City of Smiles as they dance on the streets to have fun and celebrate.
HERMOSA FESTIVAL
from October 1-12 in Zamboanga City all roads in Mindanao lead to Zamboanga as the City of Flowers celebrates its grand, annual Hermosa Festival, the Vintas, those colorful native sea boats, once again make their appearance in a fast paced race till you drop regatta. there's also wealth of cultural and flower shows art exhibits, and trade fairs. Its an all out celebration of life- Chavacano style.
LANZONES FESTIVAL
3rd week of October, Camiguin. The Lanzones festival in Mambaao is celebrated with weekend street dancing competition parties cultural shows, a parade and beauty pageant and a trade fair of local handicrafts and products. houses are ornamented with lanzones during this festival.
IBALONG
OCTOBER 6-12 LEGAZPI CITY ALBAY The festival depicts Bicol's early history and is named after an early hero of the region
BATTLE OF SURIGAO STRAIT
OCTOBER 25 SURGAO Commemorates the anniversary of the largest naval battle in history which took place during World War II.
LEYTE GULF LANDING
OCTOBER 20 PALO, LETTE Marks the anniversary of the Allied Forces landing on Red Beach and the famous return of General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines

NOVEMBER
PYAGSAWITAN
3RD WEEK MARAGUSAN, COMPOSTELA VALLEY A thanksgiving festival that highlights the province's eco-tourism potential

DECEMBER
SAMBAT MASCARA Y REGATTA FESTIVAL
1st Saturday of December, Loay Bohol. The festival is held in honor of Saint Francis Javier Highlighted by a fluvial parade.