Filipino Fiestas, Festivals & Holidays
You will notice that most of the celebrations are religious and cultural in nature. As the third largest Catholic country in the world and the only predominantly Christian country in Asia, some of the most important religious days are marked as nationwide holidays in the Philippines. Commemoration of significant historic events as well as remembrance of national heroes are also important to Filipinos, along with showing gratitude for bountiful harvests in land and sea through colourful festivals.
Here’s a list of some of the special days and celebrations in the Philippines:
January
Fireworks and Baby Jesus
New Year’s Day
Like most people around the world, Filipinos celebrate the New Year with a bang! Dazzling fireworks light up the midnight sky. But aside from the cacophony of sounds, Filipinos also observe what some might call strange customs such as wearing clothes with polka dots and shaking coins in the pocket or wallet as soon as the clock strikes 12 midnight. They believe they will attract good fortune for the rest of the year. Children are encouraged to jump so that they will grow taller in the coming year.
Feast of the Black Nazarene
If you had any doubt about how much Filipinos have embraced Christianity, the Feast of the Black Nazarene will remove any uncertainty. Every January 9, millions of Filipinos join a procession featuring a life-sized image of Jesus Christ kneeling and carrying a cross. Unlike most statues depicting Jesus Christ, the Black Nazarene is carved from a dark wood. Many Filipinos believe that it is miraculous and can heal all kinds of illnesses. That’s why despite the hours it takes to finish the procession, millions of devotees continue to attend this event in Quiapo, Manila.
Ati-Atihan, Sinulog and Dinagyang
Three of the major festivals in the Philippines happen in January and they are held in honor of the Santo Nino or the Holy Child Jesus.
The Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan and the Sinulog Festival in Cebu both culminate every third Sunday of January while the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo happens every fourth weekend of January. Both Sinulog and Dinagyang are adapted from the Ati-Atihan Festival, which is considered as the “Mother of All Philippine Festivals”.
The highlights of these festivals are the colorful and flamboyant parade of street dancing contingents from different parts of the country. The dancers attend not just to compete for a prize but to show their devotion to the Santo Nino. Costumes and dancing styles may vary but the underlying theme of the presentations all tell the same story — how they are grateful to the Santo Nino for protecting them from harm.
With the exhilarating energy of the crowd and the irresistible beat of the drums, don’t be surprised to find your hips shaking and your feet shuffling without your knowledge. Oh, and don’t take offense when complete strangers suddenly come up to you and smear your face with some paint. It’s all in good fun.
February
Flowers and Balloons
Panagbenga Festival
In the northern part of Luzon, the mountain city of Baguio celebrates a month-long festival paying tribute to flowers in February to boost tourism in their area. The Panagbenga Festival is marked by a parade of floats decorated with flowers from the Cordillera mountains. Panagbenga is a term that originates from the Kankanaey language, which means “a season of blooming.” There’s also street dancing that’s participated by the indigenous people of the mountain region.
Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
A different kind of “blooming” occurs annually between January and February as hot air balloons color the skies over in Angeles City, Pampanga. From the ashes of the Mount Pinatubo eruption, the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta has risen to become the longest-running sports aviation event in Asia. Locals and tourists around the world gather to watch aerobatic exhibitions, paragliding, skydiving, and many other activities that have helped the province recover from the volcanic eruption.
March
Holy Week and Moriones
Holy Week
The Holy Week is one of the most important religious events in the Philippines. Occurring between March and April, every parish in the country has a number of activities to guide the faithful in the observance of the final period in the life of Jesus Christ. Solemn processions are held, churches conduct masses nearly every hour during these times. Many Catholics would also observe the Seven Churches Visitation on Maundy Thursday.
But perhaps what’s most shocking to foreigners is how some devotees would actually have themselves nailed to a cross on Good Friday to emulate the suffering of Jesus Christ. Re-enactments of Jesus being flogged while carrying the cross are common but only a few, such as devotees in the village of San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga, would take it to the next level.
Moriones Festival
In the island of Marinduque, the Moriones Festival is marked by men and women wearing costumes and masks depicting the biblical Roman soldiers who escorted and flogged Jesus on the way to his crucifixion. The Moriones roam the streets from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday to search for Saint Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye. It is said that Longinus was the one who pierced the side of Jesus a spear. But when the blood and sweat of Christ splattered on his eye, it miraculously healed turning Longinus into a believer.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is a joyous day of celebration in the Philippines. Beginning at dawn of Easter Sunday, some parishes in the provinces would re-enact the imagined first meeting of Jesus and Mary after the resurrection. In Minglanilla, Cebu, the event includes activities for the whole day like the search of a festival queen and street dancing. It is now known as the “Kabanhawan Festival”. Most people would hit the beaches after Easter Sunday mass.
For the much younger population, however, they are more excited with the Easter Egg Hunt, a practice that has been adapted from the Western culture. Shopping malls, hotels and resorts usually host these Easter Egg Hunts.
April
Commemorating Battles
Day of Valor
Every April 9, the Philippines commemorates the fall of Bataan during World War II. Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor is a national memorial day for the brave Filipino and American soldiers who fought against Japanese invaders. Thousands of soldiers and civilians died on the tragic Death March which started from Bataan and ended in Tarlac. The province of Bataan, in particular, has a line-up of activities during this day involving students, youth groups, military, and the citizenry.
Battle of Mactan
Every April 27th, the island of Mactan in Cebu celebrates the victory of Lapu-Lapu over Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. A re-enactment of the fight would take place at the Mactan Shrine and the lead roles would usually go to famous people and local celebrities to draw the crowd. At one time, the role of the fierce warrior-chieftain Lapu-Lapu was brought to life by world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.
May
Mangoes and More
Labor Day
Like many countries worldwide, the Philippines also celebrates Labor Day, which is observed every May 1st. It is a nationwide public holiday.
Flores de Mayo
Little girls dressed in angel costumes and wearing a flower crown on heads are a common sight in churches every Sunday on the month of May. Flores de Mayo, a Spanish term for flowers of May, is a month-long festival in the Philippines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It culminates with the Santacruzan, a religious-historical beauty pageant. Towns, cities and barangays select their most beautiful girls and women to represent various historical-religious figures. Together with their escorts, the ladies in their most elegant gowns walk the streets under arches of flowers.
Pahiyas Festival
A different kind of beauty is celebrated in Lucban, Quezon, which celebrates the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival. Pahiyas is derived from the local word payas which means “to decorate”. The people of Lucban would decorate their houses in all kinds of beautiful fruits, vegetables, grains and produce. Held every May 15, the Pahiyas Festival has become one of the country’s tourist attractions and the town of Lucban has been declared a cultural heritage site.
Manggahan Festival
Mangos, which is considered the national fruit in the Philippines, are grown in many places in the country. But the island province of Guimaras stands out for producing one of the sweetest mangoes in the world. Guimaras has been called the “Mango Capital of the Philippines” so, of course, the province celebrates this with fun-filled Mango Festival every May that lasts for close to two weeks. Among the many activities lined up, Guimaras offers tourists a very sumptuous “mango eat-all-you-can” experience. For a very affordable price, you can eat all the yellow mangoes that you want in 30 minutes. You can also try the green mangos, which are crunchy and sour, served with sauteed shrimp paste.
June
Independence Day
The Philippines celebrates its Independence Day every June 12th. It commemorates the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. It has been observed as a nationwide holiday since 1962. Philippine flags in all sizes are waved in the air as members of the government, military, veterans, student groups, and the general public hold parades in the streets.
Pintados Festival
The Pintados Festival is a religious-cultural festival distinguished by dancers wearing body colorful and luminous paint. In the pre-Spanish period, the inhabitants of the Visayas islands were called Pintados because their bodies are full of tattoos. It is a month-long festival in Tacloban City, Leyte, in honor of the Holy Child Jesus and the painted warriors of long-ago. The Pintados Festival has been merged with the Kasadyaan Festival to make it a region-wide festival in the Eastern Visayas. The month-long festivities culminate with a street dancing competition participated by dance troupes all over the country.
July
Sandugo Festival
No real blood is shed nowadays but the Sandugo Festival is an annual celebration in the island of Bohol to commemorate the friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. Back in 1565, both leaders had signed a peace treaty through a blood compact or sandugo. A blood compact is done by each slicing a line in their arms to draw about two to three drops of blood. The blood is mixed with wine and participants would drink from the cup equally. The island of Bohol comes alive every July as various activities are held every day of the month and highlighted by a holy mass, motorcades, a beauty pageant, and a street dancing competition.
August
Kadayawan sa Dabaw
Every third week of August, the city of Davao in Mindanao celebrates its bountiful harvests and harmony of different cultures. The name of the Kadayawan Festival is derived from “Madayaw,” a warm and friendly greeting in the local dialect that’s used to explain a thing that is valuable, superior, beautiful, good, or profitable. The festival is a showcase of the region’s culture and history. It is marked by a parade of floral floats, a lively street dancing competition, and exhibits that show the bounty of nature. The ancestral Lumad people also play a big part in the festivities and continue to share their culture to foster better understanding of the indigenous people in Mindanao.
September
Tuna Festival
If you love sashimi, then you must go to General Santos City in September. Commonly called GenSan, this city in the province of South Cotabato holds a Tuna Festival every first week of September. The waters surrounding the city is abundant with yellow fin tuna fish, making it the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. They hold a tuna float parade, a triathlon, a dragon boat race, and a grill street where people line up their grills and cook hundreds of kilos of tuna. If you’re lucky, you can eat the grilled tuna for free.
Do You Hear What I Hear?
When you’re visiting shopping malls in the Philippines and you hear Christmas carols playing over the speakers, don’t worry, you’re not having auditory hallucinations. Filipinos start the Christmas countdown on September 1, the start of the “-BER” months. Stores and shops start displaying Christmas trees and ornaments for sale, and people start making a list of gifts to give family, friends and their godchildren.
October
Masks and More
Lanzones Festival
People in the small island of Camiguin have no need for masks as they openly celebrate the Lanzones Festival every third week of October. Home to seven volcanoes, Camiguin also boasts of producing the sweetest lanzones in the country. Lanzones is a tropical fruit that’s smaller than a pingpong ball. They come from a tree and grow in bunches like grapes. It has a pale brown skin which you peel to get to the translucent, sweet wedges of goodness. In the town of Mambajao, which is the capital of Camiguin, the weekend is full of activities like a street dancing competition, cultural shows, a parade, a beauty pageant and trade fairs to showcase the products of the province.
MassKara Festival
Every fourth Sunday of October, Bacolod City in Negros Occidental Masskara hold an annual MassKara Festival. It is a festival conceptualized to bring people out of their sadness. An economic decline and a shipping tragedy in 1980 greatly dampened the people’s morale. The local government wanted to turn their frowns upside down and live up to their name as the “City of Smiles.” The colorful masks that bear huge smiles is a representation of how Bacolod City was able to withstand the challenges and triumphed. The festival has become one of the major tourist attractions in the Philippines enticing tourists to join street dancers gyrating to the rhythm of the music.
Halloween
The younger Filipinos have come to embrace the western observance of the Halloween because it is an excuse to party in costumes. Kids especially love the candy they get from trick or treating in shopping malls and in subdivisions.
November
Remembering the Dead
All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day
All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2 are a big deal in the Philippines as Filipino families troop to the churches and cemeteries to remember the saints and their loved ones who have passed away. Local governments prepare in advance for these religious events because of the traffic that they usually cause. The generally gloomy cemeteries become like a huge picnic and camping area. Aside from offering prayers, families take the opportunity to eat with the departed. Some even stay overnight and sleep in the cemeteries. It is a reunion of the living and the dead.
December
Misa de Gallo
The month of December is really extraordinary in the Philippines. There is an underlying buzz in the air in anticipation of Christmas. The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ officially begins on December 16, which is the start of the nine-day dawn masses called Misa de Gallo or Rooster’s Mass. Many believe that going to mass, which starts as early as four in the morning, for these nine consecutive days will mean that God will grant their wish.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Schools and companies hold Christmas parties all throughout the month. It is often a logistical nightmare trying to fit each other’s schedules. It’s common to get invited to at least two Christmas parties happening at the same time. Schools and churches also have re-enactments of Joseph and Mary searching for a place to stay until they eventually get to a manger in Bethlehem where the baby Jesus was born.
Families often gather on Christmas Eve waiting for the clock to strike midnight to exchange Christmas gifts. Some have a simple exchange while others play the manito-manita game, where days or weeks before each participant draws a paper containing the name of the recipient of their gift. They keep the identity a secret until the time for the big reveal. On Christmas Day, Filipinos visit relatives to pay their respects. The younger ones are usually on the lookout for their “Aguinaldo,” which is money placed in an envelope by their grandparents and godparents.
Foreigners in the Philippines during the Christmas season often marvel at the close-knit family ties and the generosity of Filipinos. People usually adopt a no-family-left-behind mindset regardless of whether they are blood-related or not. Filipinos can’t stand anyone being lonely during Christmas and would often invite foreigners into their homes to celebrate the joyous occasion with them.
Innocents’ Day
Innocents’ Day on December 28 is the Filipinos’ version of April Fool’s Day. Even though the day commemorates a rather gruesome event in the Bible, people spend the day playing pranks on each other. When a victim falls for the practical joke, pranksters would laugh and say: “You are really innocent!”
New Year’s Eve
December 31 is another reason for Filipino families to get together and prepare a feast. On every Filipino table on New Year’s Eve, you will find a collection of round fruits. They believe the round fruits symbolize money and will attract prosperity in the coming year. Filipinos also prepare for the New Year by making sure the containers for staple items like rice, sugar and salt are filled to the brim. They believe that this will dictate that state of your prosperity in the coming year.
* Local Fiestas
Moreover, every town and every barangay (smallest administrative unit) in the Philippines also have their own fiestas, some of them with origins that date back to the Spanish colonial period. To spread Christianity, the Spanish friars then had assigned patron saints to local communities. Filipinos have celebrated them ever since by offering Holy Masses, holding processions, and organizing local contests like cock fighting, beauty pageants and outdoor disco dancing.
Expect to be invited to any of these events, especially fiestas because fiestas equal to food. Inviting strangers to eat the food in their homes comes naturally to Filipinos, who are renowned for their hospitality and generosity. In the rural areas, people happily go from one house to another and eat the food prepared by the hosts.
Here’s a tip: Don’t refuse these invitations. Just go with the flow and party with the locals. You’ll discover exactly why “it’s more fun in the Philippines”.
