Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love fiestas. I’ve compiled a list of Top 10 Fiestas that every Filipino should experience to get a deeper appreciation of our own culture and traditions.
It wasn’t an easy process since each festival has its own style and unique charm, but I wanted to come up with something to help kickstart your festival journey this 2014. So here’s the 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines.
1. DINAGYANG, ILOILO
DINAGYANG FESTIVAL
What is it? Dinagyang means “Merry Making” and its a celebration held in honor of the Santo Niño
Type of Festival: Religious, Cultural, and a Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: 4th Sunday of January (one week after Sinulog and Ati-Atihan)
Main Highlights:
Ati-Atihan Dance Competition on Sunday (all day starting 9am), and
Kasadyahan Street Dancing on Saturday (all day)
ILOILO’S DINAGYANG: HALA BIRA! VIVA SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO!
A lot of festival enthusiasts believe that Dinagyang is one of the BEST Festivals in the Philippines.
Although the celebration still has that quaint, provincial city-feel, the Ati-Atihan dance productions are among the best I’ve seen in street dance festivals in the Philippines. They are the Grand Champions in the Aliwan Festival (Manila-based competition for all the street dance festivals).
Dinagyang is the best time to go to Iloilo.
2. SINULOG FESTIVAL, CEBU
SINULOG FESTIVAL
What is it? SINULOG is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Niño. The name pertains to the strong current movement of the Cebu River which is re-enacted in the dance.
Type of Festival: Religious, Cultural, Dance Ritual, and a Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: 3rd Sunday of January (Feast Day of Santo Niño)
Main Highlights:
Santo Niño procession on Sunday (all day after the first Sunday Mass)
Sinulog Fluvial Parade on Saturday (Early Morning)
SINULOG FLUVIAL BREAKFAST!
Sinulog in Cebu is the biggest festival in the Philippines, celebrating the feast of the Child Jesus, Santo Niño de Cebú, with a dance ritual to the beat of the drums. Held every third Sunday of January, it is the largest and most attended fiesta in the country with an all-day-long parade and party
One day before the Santo Niño procession, the image of the Child Jesus visits his Mother in Lapu Lapu City via the sea. Early in the morning of Saturday, the Santo Niño returns to Cebu City, reenacting the coming of the Spaniards through a Fluvial Parade on Cebu’s Pahina River.
This is one of my best Sinulog experiences ever, not only because of the parade, but also because of the great fluvial breakfast I got to taste there!
3. ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL, KALIBO, AKLAN
ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL
What is it? ATI-ATIHAN means “to become like Aetas” which is originally a pagan animist festival that the Spaniards adapted in honor of the Sto. Niño
Type of Festival: Religious, Cultural, and a Participative-Type Festival
When is it Held: 3rd Sunday of January (Feast Day of Santo Niño)
Main Highlights:
Ati-Atihan parade on Saturday (after the dawn procession at 4am & devotee’s mass at 5am.)
Feast Day religious celebrations of Señor Santo Niño de Kalibo on Sunday
KALIBO: WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE STO. NIÑO ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL IN KALIBO?
Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan is the mother of all the big Sto. Niño festivals of Sinulog in Cebu and Dinagyang in Iloilo. It’s the biggest fiesta that is “non-commercialized” and stays true to its Filipino Fiesta vibe. It’s a “participative fiesta” where you dance with the performers vs. a “spectator fiesta” where you just watch in the sidelines. They say you have not experienced a Filipino fiesta unless you’ve been to Ati-Atihan.
Ati-Atihan means “to become like Aetas” or in modern terms an “Ati Cosplay“. It was originally a pagan animist festival that the Spaniards adapted in honor of the Sto. Niño celebrated every third sunday of January.
It started when 10 Bornean Datus escaped from the island of Borneo and migrated to the Island of Panay in the 13th century (c.1200 A.D.). They bought the Panay Island plains from the Ati’s who were the original settlers in Maharlika (former name of the Philippines before the Spaniards) with gifts of golden salakot, brass basins, bales of cloth and a very long necklace for the Ati chieftain.
The Aetas celebrated the occasion with eating, dancing, and merry making that became the inspiration of what we now call as the Filipino Fiesta.
4. PAHIYAS FESTIVAL, LUCBAN, QUEZON
PAHIYAS FESTIVAL
What is it? A Harvest Thanksgiving Festival to San Isidro Labrador, the Patron Saint of Farmers
Type of Festival: Religious, Cultural, Harvest Festival and a Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: Every 15th of May
Main Highlights:
Early Morning Procession in honor of San Isidro Labrador
Walking along the procession route, where all the houses are decorated with kiping and their harvest.
PAHIYAS: 8 TIPS FOR AN AWESOME SAN ISIDRO LABRADOR FIESTA!
Pahiyas is one of the most awesome fiestas in the country. It falls on the feast day of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers to show gratitude for a good and abundant harvest. It is celebrated in Lucban (most popular and commercialized), Sariaya, Tayabas and other towns in Quezon.
The Pahiyas Festival is always observed on a fixed date — May 15.
5. CUTUD CRUXIFICIONS, SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA
San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites
What is it? A Holy Week Re-enactment of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ
Type of Festival: Religious, Cultural, and a Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: Every Good Friday 3pm
Main Highlight:
Passion Play culminating with a nailing to a wooden cross of three penitents at 3pm.
CUTUD CRUCIFIXIONS: GOOD FRIDAY TRADITIONS OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA
Spanky once said to us that we need to experience the Cutud Crucifixions before we can be certified as adopted Kapampangans. Our family went to San Fernando, Pampanga on Good Friday to see the 50+-year old solemn tradition of crucifixions in San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga.
6. MASSKARA FESTIVAL, BACOLOD
MASSKARA FESTIVAL
What is it? A Masquerade Party to lift up the spirits of the Bacolod people after the Sugar Crisis in 1980’s. It’s name comes from English word “mass” meaning “multitude of people”, and Spanish word “kara” meaning “face”.
Type of Festival: Festival of Smiles, Modern Festival and a Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: Every Third Weekend of October (or closest weekend to October 19)
Main Highlights:
MassKara Street Dancing Barangay Category on a Sunday
Electric MassKara Dance Parade and Party on Saturday Night
7. PANAGBENGA FESTIVAL, BAGUIO
PANAGBENGA FESTIVAL
What is it? A Flower Festival whose name “Panagbenga” comes from local Kankana-ey term in Cordillera meaning “a season or time for blossoming”
Type of Festival: Flower Festival, Modern Festival and a Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: Last Sunday of February
Main Highlights:
Grand Flower Float Parade along Session Road on Sunday 8am
Grand Street Parade along Session Road on Saturday 8am
BAGUIO’S PANAGBENGA FLOWER FESTIVAL
PANAGBENGA is a local Kankana-ey term in Cordillera, which means “a season for blossoming or a time for blooming“, coined by Ike Picpican, curator of the Saint Louis University Museum in 1997.
It is a month-long celebration in February/March during the business-lean months to attract tourists to the City of Baguio after the holidays and before the peak Summer Season.
It culminates with a Grand Flower Float Parade, held usually on the last Sunday of February.
The Flower festival symbolizes the rise of Baguio from the city’s devastating earthquake disaster.
8. HOT-AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL, CLARK, PAMPANGA
HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL
What is it? A 4-day Hot Air Balloon and Everything that Flies Festival
Type of Festival: Airshow Festival, Modern Festival and a Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: Thursday to Sunday in 2nd or 3rd week of February.
Main Highlights:
Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Flight (Thursday to Sunday)
Hot Air Balloon Fly-In and Evening Glow (Thursday to Sunday)
PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA!
The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is one of the passion festivals in the country that I absolutely enjoy. It celebrates the passion for flying and highlights the love for Hot Air Balloons.
It was started after the US Military left Clark Air Base to boost tourism and the morale of the community around Clarkfield, Pampanga.
9. KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL, DAVAO
KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL
What is it? A Thanksgiving Harvest Festival to celebrate the harvest of Davao’s fruits, flowers, and farm produce
Type of Festival: Flower Festival, Cultural Festival and a Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: 3rd Weekend of August
Main Highlights:
Indak Indak sa Kadalanan Street Dancing on Saturday (8am for the entire day)
Kadayawan Floral Parade on Sunday (8am until the parade last)
KADAYAWAN DAVAO: INDAK INDAK SA KADALANAN (A PHOTO ESSAY)
KADAYAWAN SA DABAW is an annual thanksgiving harvest festival in Davao. It is held every 3rd Weekend of August to celebrate the harvest of Davao’s fruits, flowers, and farm produce.
Its name comes from the Mandaya word “madayaw“, a warm and friendly greeting used to describe something good, beautiful, valuable, superior, or profitable.
If you are planning to go, you must see the street dancing festival showcasing the colorful costumes, traditions, and stories of the different tribes in Davao. This is known as the “Indak Indak sa Kadalanan” and is held on the Saturday of that weekend and lasts from the morning until the afternoon.
10. LIGLIGAN PARUL, SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA
LIGLIGAN PARUL OR GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL
What is it? It’s a Giant Lantern Competition among the different Barangays in San Fernando, Pampanga
Type of Festival: Cultural, Christmas Festival and a Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: Second Saturday of December
Main Highlight:
Giant Lantern Dancing Lights Showdown
GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL – AWESOME LANTERN COMPETITION, ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES!
Another awesome festival is the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando Pampanga, which is locally known as Ligligan Parul. Ivan Henares previously hosted us the first time we attended and even gave us free guest passes in the reserved seating section. Ivan has a very popular post about Pampanga’s pride. He was the chairman of the Giant Lantern Festival in 2003 so he was able to give us all the juicy details about this fiesta. If you haven’t seen this, this is one of those moments where you will be proud of the Filipino’s creativity and hard work.
