September 10th, 2008 -- Posted in Festivals, Gifts, Philippines, Thanksgiving |
The Philippines “national thanksgiving day” was declared by the late President Marcos on September 21. However, having more than 7,000 islands in the entire archipelago “thanksgiving day” is being celebrated in different places on different dates. Why? Filipino people have many reasons to be thankful: it could be due to a good harvest, founding of their city or a traditional celebration to highlights their native products that give livelihood to the people. A Thanksgiving gift for Filipinos come in a form of native products, something ornamental or even food (delicacies).
A perfect example of one of Philippines’ thanksgiving day is the recently celebrated Bonok-Bonok festival of Surigao City. This is an annual celebration every month of September in honour of the city’s patron saint San Nicolas de Tolentino. It features street parties and traditional ethnic dance rituals. It is a deeply traditional event to ask Gods for good health and thanksgiving too for bountiful harvests.
Thanksgiving is the reason for having many festivals here in the Philippines. Every festival, the city is field with decorations and the streets are jam-packed with local and foreign visitors to watch street dancers, parade, exhibits, and more. Every household is preparing food especially their delicacies that every visitor must try on. Come and visit the Philippines and experience many colorful and merry “thanksgiving days.”
