Peñafrancia Festival of Naga

Our Lady of Piat

The feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is celebrated every third Sunday of September in Naga City. Bicolanos and pilgrims from different parts of the country flock to Naga City to pay honor to The Virgin of Peñafrancia, the miraculous patroness of the Bicol Region. The festival is a one-week affair which starts with the transfer of the image of “Ina” from her shrine to the centuries old Naga Metropolitan Cathedral where a nine-day novena and prayers are held in her honor. On the last day, the image is returned to her shrine following the Naga River route. The colorful fluvial procession is lit by thousands of candles from devotees in boats escorting the image. When the flatboat reaches its destination, the devotees shout “Viva la Virgen” and the image is carried back in procession to the cathedral.

GenSan's Tuna Festival

The Tuna Festival in General Santos City is an annual week-long festival celebrated during the first week of September highlighting the significant role of the tuna industry in the province as its primary source of income.

The Tuna Festival started as a spontaneous event organized by the city’s tourism association back in 1998. The tourism association staged an event that showcased gastronomical tuna cuisine through culinary competitions and exhibits. From this spontaneous idea came the annual celebration of the Tuna Festival.

Kadayawan sa Dabaw

Kadayawan Festival is a celebration of good harvest that is being celebrated every 3^rd week of August in the city of Davao. It is derived from the mandaya word “kadayawan” which means anything that brings fortune, a celebration of life, thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, wealth of culture, bounties of harvest and serenity of living

It was said that long time ago, Davao’s ethnic tribes residing at the foot of Mt. Apo would converge during a bountiful harvest. This ritual serves as their thanksgiving to the gods especially to Bathala.

the icons of Davao: Philippine Eagle, Mt. Apo, Durian and Waling-Waling

Sandugo Festival

re-enactment of blood compact between
Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

The Sandugo Festival also known as the Blood Compact Commemoration is a month long celebration every July in the city of Bohol to commemorate the Sandugo or the signing of a treaty of friendship between a local Philippine leader Datu Sikatuna with the Spanish king conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. The Sandugo treaty is called a blood compact because the participants each drink a small amount of the other’s blood. This was a traditional way to formalize treaties of friendship in the country. It was the first international treaty of friendship and comity between the Filipinos and the Spaniards.

Many tourists from around the country gather for this special event which involves colorful costumes, loud drum beats, street parades, church services, fireworks, beauty pageants, cockfighting and sport tournaments. The most awaited part of the whole festival is the reenactment of the blood compact which features actors, singers and dancers. This is done to make people remember the origin of the cause of their celebration.

Sambali Festival and Our Lady of Piat

Our Lady of Piat

The Sambali Festival is being held every July 1 and 2 annually in Piat, Cagayan. The said festival is a religious and cultural revival to commemorate the Christianization of the Itawis region of Cagayan. During the 16^th century when the Spaniards set foot in Cagayan, they found out that the Itawis town, particularly Piat was inhabited by an aggressive Kalong sub-ethnic group that originated from the mountains of Kalinga Apayao. The Spaniards tried to convert them to the Catholic faith, but they failed and it led to war. However, the Spaniards did not give up. In 1604, the image of Our Lady of Piat, which was originally known as “Nuestra Senora del Santissimo Rosario” was brought to Cagayan from Macau and made numerous miracles. Because of this, the people of Piat were gradually converted to Christianity.

Pintados Festival

The Pintados Festival is a cultural-religious festivity celebrated annually on the 29^th of June in Tacloban, Leyte. The festival is based on the traditions of the ancient tattooed “pintados” warriors and in honor of Sr. Sto. Niño.

The Pintados Festival recalls the pre-Hispanic history of the native Leytenos and showcases the cultural heritage of the people of Leyte by incorporating native music and dances. The word “pintados” refers to the body tattoos of the native warriors which represented courage and beauty.

When the Spaniards came to Visayas in 1668, they found heavily tattooed men and women whom they called Pintados. In the 17^th century, the friars banned the use of tattoos branding the practice as savage and evil. In 1888, the missionaries from Spain brought the image of the Child Jesus that was known as El Capitan to the island. The Leyte natives were drawn to the story of the Child Jesus and became devotees and worshipers of El Capitan.

Parada ng Lechon

   The Parada ng Lechon is celebrated annually every 24th of June in Balayan, Batangas. This festival commemorates the feast day of St. John the Baptist and is celebrated by a procession of roasted pigs or lechon. 

    During the event, a mass is held at the Immaculate Conception Church. After the mass, the participating lechons are lined up at the church patio, the parade then proceeds after the blessing of the roasted pigs in St. John’s name. In this festival, one can witness a hilarious sight when the roast pigs are dressed according to the theme of participating organizations. Some of the lechons are dressed in wigs, sunglasses, clothes and whatever the decorators want. While the parade passes by the streets, bystanders will drench the participants with water. They are even free to take a piece of lechon while on parade. 

Flores de Mayo

  Filipinos like to celebrate fiestas. In fact they are commemorated all year round most especially during May. May is the merriest month of the year. It is the season of colorful festivals and Flores de Mayo is one such festival. Flores de Mayo is a catholic festival held during the whole month of May in the Philippines. It is celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The name is derived from the Spanish word “flores” which means flowers. It is believed that Flores de Mayo originated back in 1865 from the town of Malolos in Bulacan. During the last days of May, when rain begins to pour after a long period of dry spell, flowers magically bloom. Because of gratitude for the beneficial rains, the people gather the flowers and decorate the church altar. They would also make novenas and floral offerings to the Virgin Mary.

Magayon Festival

Mayon Volcano

     Magayon Festival is an annual festival during the month of May in Albay that relieves the legend of Mayon Volcano. The festival derived its name from Magayon, a bicolano word which means beautiful. The celebration is also held in honor of Nuestra Senora La Porteria, Daraga’s patron saint. The Legend of Mount Mayon that has been the center of the celebration of the Magayon Festival is about the tragic love story of Daragang Magayon, the most beautiful woman in Bicol and a tagalog warrior, Pangaronon. Their tragic love affair was believed to cause the mounting of Mount Mayon.

Obando's Fertility Dance

procession of  the 3 patron saints with
thousands of spectators and participants

     Obando Fertility Dance is an annual 3-day festival celebrated during the month of May in Obando, Bulacan. The Fertility Dance is a Filipino dance ritual. It was then called “Kasilonawan” it was headed by a “katalonan” or the high priestess. This ancient fertility ritual was very important to the early Filipino women because fertility is equal to her worth.

When the Franciscan missionaries arrived in the Philippines, they introduced the saints Sta Clara, San Pascual and Nuestra Senora de Salambao to substitute their traditional pagan gods.

Pahiyas Festival

     Pahiyas Festival is a colorful feast celebrated every 15^th day of May by the people of Lucban Quezon in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. The festival’s name came from the term hiyas (jewel) and pahiyas (precious offering). The feast is an ancient farmer’s harvest celebration that date backs to the 16^th century. It is their way of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.    

kiping adorn the house facade

Carabao Festival

     The Carabao Festival is celebrated on the feast day of San Isidro Labrador, the farmer’s patron saint from May 15 to 16 as a tribute to the water buffaloes or carabaos in the farming towns of San Isidro Nueva Ecija, Pulilan Bulacan and Angono Rizal.

Moriones Festival

  

   Moriones Festival is an annual religious festival held during Holy Week in the Island of Marinduque. Morion means “mask”, a part of the medieval roman armor which covers the face. Moriones on the other hand refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. This week long celebration starts on Holy Monday and culminates on Easter Sunday when the story of Longinus is re-enacted in pantomime.

Pagsanjan's Bangkero Festival

     The Pagsanjan Bangkero Festival is held during the month of March. It is inspired by and dedicated to all bangkeros (boatmen) in Pagsanjan and in honor of the town’s patroness, Our Lady of Guadalupe. These boatmen serve as tour guides whose skills and dexterity demonstrated in maneuvering the boats upstream and against strong currents of water until reaching the scenic view of the breath taking Pagsanjan falls.Local government aims to push the advocacy on environmental protection and promotion of the local tourism through the celebration of the Bangkero Festival

Pagsanjan Falls dubbed as the tourist capital of Laguna

     

The Panagbenga Festival

     The Panagbenga Festival is a month long annual flower festival in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. Panagbenga is a kankaney term for "a season of blooming". It is also known as the Baguio Flower Festival, a tribute to the city's beautiful flowers and a celebration of Baguio's re-establishment. Aside from the economic boosts from tourism, the festival also helped the younger generation of indigenous people to rediscover their culture's old traditions.

     The festival includes floral float parades, street dancing and Cańao, an Igorot dance of thanksgiving that originated from the Cordillera region.

Feast of the Black Nazarene: Is it Faith or Fanaticism?

The Black Nazarene or the Mahal na Itim na Nazareno is a life sized, dark wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying a cross believed to be miraculous by many Filipino Catholics. The statue has been housed at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Manila. Originally with fair complexion, it turned dark after it survived a burning ship on its arrival from Mexico in 1607.

Though the image was burnt, the people decided to preserve and honor it. Since then, miraculous things have been reported. The Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated every 9^th of January. It is considered one of the biggest religious events in the country. Every year thousands of devotees from all walks of life come to Quiapo to take part in the procession as a way of strengthening their faith or fulfilling their “panata”.

Viva Santo Nino!

Sto Nino de Cebu

     The Sto. Niño is a representation of the Child Jesus which literally means “holy child.” Filipinos, being largely Roman Catholics, venerate and are faithful devotees of the Sto. Niño. Many feasts are offered in honor of the Child Jesus and are celebrated every third Sunday of January.

      The devotion to the Sto. Niño is a mark left by the Spaniards when they assumed power over the Philippines. Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in Cebu shores gave birth to what is now an active religious tradition in the Philippines – a wooden image of the Sto. Niño was given as a gift to Hara Amihan (Queen Juana), wife of Rajah Humabon (King Carlos) – the two with their people were later baptized into the Catholic faith.

     Various provinces in the Philippines have their colorful and grandeur fiestas in honor of the Sto Nino. Some of them are listed below:

Pampanga's Best (Giant Lantern Festival)

     The Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul) in San Fernando Pampanga is an annual festival held every December (Saturday before Christmas Eve) showcasing the city’s most famous product – Parol. Every year, different barangays compete for the most elaborate giant lantern. Because of the popularity of the festival, the city has been called the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines”

Simbang Gabi: A Filipino Christmas Tradition

     Simbang Gabi is a nine-day Roman Catholic ritual novena performed in the Philippines which starts from December 16 and ends on December 24. Simbang Gabi, which translates to Evening Mass is usually performed as early as 4 or 5 in the morning. The last day of the Simbang Gabi, which is Christmas Eve, is called Misa de Gallo, which literally means "Rooster's Mass"

Mary the Immaculate

     The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin.

     The proclaimed Roman Catholic dogma states "that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin".Being always free from original sin, she was from the start filled with the sanctifying grace that would normally come with baptism after birth.