Philippines’ Festivals
On this special page of my blog will features the different wonderful and spectacular festivals in the Philippines grouped in a month-to-month basis. Various celebrations that shows the cultures, beliefs and hopes of the Filipino people.
Philippines is home to multi-ethnic people - a varied blend of races, beliefs and customs borne from centuries of foreign influence. We are a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, American, Arab and much more. Despite this diverse background, we have managed to produce an identity of our own. We call ourselves “Filipinos“.
We are a fun-loving and gentle people. Our traditions are deeply-rooted, and it shows in the way we do things. This is, perhaps, most easily seen in the hundreds of events that fill our annual cultural calendar.
STO. NIÑO FESTIVAL
> January / Nationwide
> A grand procession of over two hundred well-dressed images of the Child Jesus.
BULAKLAKAN FESTIVAL
> January 1 / Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila
> Annual procession, parade of flowers and costumes.
FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS
> January 2 / Gasan, Marinduque
> A feast honoring the three kings who are visiting houses around the Poblacion of Gasan.
ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL
> January 3- January 16 / Kalibo, Aklan
> Scene of a yearly celebration in honor of Sto. Nino held every third week of January, popularly known worldwide as Ati-Atihan. So called because Aklanons, domestic and foreign tourists, wipe soot on their faces and done ethnic paraphernalia and masquerade around town as Negritos and make merry and dance in the streets to the beat of ambulant ethnic troubadours.
BAILES DE LUCES
> January 5 / La Castellana, Negros Occicental
> The town’s celebration of Charter Day and a befitting culmination of the Christmas season, the festival is conceptualized as a festival of hope and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for all the blessings received in the year that was and hope for a prosperous new year. Its unique feature is the use of lights or “luces” as props and adornment and its nocturnal festivities and streetdancing.
LINGAYEN GULF LANDING ANNIVERSARY
> January 9 / Lingayen, Pangasinan
> Lingayen, Pangasinan (6 hours from Manila by land) Commemoration of the liberation of Pangasinan from the Japanese invasion led by Gen. Douglas McArthur on Jan. 9, 1945.
FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE
> January 9 / Quiapo, Manila
> An intense, day-long festival highlighted by a mammoth procession through the streets.
BINIRAY FESTIVAL (Fluvial procession)
> January 9 / Romblon
> Sto. Niño-inspired revelry and fluvial procession.
10th COCONUT FESTIVAL AND FAIR
> January 10- January 13 / San Pablo City, Laguna
> A grand mardi-gras celebration which pays homage to Laguna Province’’s most ubiquitous crop.
ARAW NG KORONADAL
> January 10 / Koronadal
> Translated literally, it means “Day of Koronadal” and indeed it is. Hinugyaw Festival, dubbed as the “Festival of Festivals”, is a celebration of the different cultures that has dwelled on the fertile valley of Koronadal for many years now.
