Festivals

Luzon
1. Baguio’s Panagbenga Festival - Location: Baguio City Philippines

Panagbenga Festival, which translates to the Blooming Flowers Festival, is a yearly flower event that
takes place in Baguio City, bringing together locals and tourists from all over the world.

The use of the word Panagbenga is reflective of the blend of cultural influences from Malaysia and other
South East Asian countries. The word translates to ‘the season of bloom’. The popular festival is
scheduled for February and is held to celebrate the abundance of flowers in the city.

This has meaning for the locals, especially those who survived the Luzon quake back in 1990, since the
festival was first orchestrated as a way for the locals to recover from the devastating event. For a whole
month, Baguio City and its streets come alive with spectacular rhythmic dances, pulsating songs and
colorful floral arrangements that will interest any avid flower-lovers.

2. Giant Lantern Festival - Location: San Fernando City Philippines

The festival celebrates the Christmas spirit by making different large and giant lanterns designed with
different color and lights. During the event period, you’d see the City sparkling with rainbow colors
during the night. Over the years, the festival was marked with the inclusion of disco lights and further
enhanced by the elaborate designs of the Giant Lanterns. One may wonder what all the fuss is about
lights and lanterns, but the truth of the matter is that light is significant for local Filipinos as it symbolizes
unwavering hope. Today, the festival is home to innovative designs that display creativity and are infused
with originality.

The first Giant Lantern Festival was to honor the current Philippine President, Manuel L. Quezon. That is
because, during that time, President Quezon converted and opened the famous Mount Arayat National
Park that paved the way to tourism in the City which helped the locals prosper.

3. Marinduque’s Moriones Festival - Location: Island of Marinduque, Philippines

Its origin emerged from the story of Christ’s crucifixion. A Roman soldier, Longinus, who was blind in one
eye, pierced the side of Jesus on the cross. The blood that spurted out of Christ’s side touched his blind
eye and fully restored his sight. Receiving such a wonderful miracle made Longinus convert himself into
Christianity.

The festival is given life by the colorful Roman warrior costumes, painted masks and helmets, and
brightly colored tunics. Various islands that comprise Marinduque becomes one gigantic stage for this
festival. Although the moriones festival is considered a celebration, Marinduque still honors the Lenten
season through the traditional way. A pabasa or the reading of Christ’s passion in verse is still entailed.

One of the highlights of this festival is the Via Crucis. A re-enactment of the suffering of Christ on his way
to the calvary. Men inflict suffering upon themselves by whipping their backs, carrying a wooden cross
and sometimes even crucifixion. They see this act as their form of atonement for their sins. The
Moriones festival is a way to bring back people closer to god. An event that shouldn’t be missed; set off
to the island of Marinduque and join tourists, natives and locals in the Lenten season to honor God and
to enjoy the festivities after a week of humbleness.

Visayas
1. Cebu’s Sinulog Festival - Location: Cebu City Philippines

Sinulog is held in celebration of one of the country’s most famous historic relics: the Santo Niño de Cebú.
This was the statue of the baby Jesus that was handed to the Rajah Humabon of Cebu by the Portuguese
explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. This was one of the most important events in the religious history
of the Philippines as it paved the way to the birth of Christianity in the country.

At the moment of receiving the holy image, it was said that Queen Juana, the main consort of Rajah
Humabon, danced with joy holding this image of the child Jesus. The other natives followed her example,
and this event was regarded as the first Sinulog dance. The same event was used as the basis for most
Sinulog dances. he Sinulog dance steps are also believed to originate from Baladhay, Rajah Humabon's
adviser. When Baladhay got sick, Humabon ordered his tribe to bring Baladhay into a room where the
Santo Niño was enthroned. After a few days, Baladhay was heard shouting and was found dancing by the
native tribe. Baladhay was asked as to why was he was shouting and dancing. He pointed at the image of
the holy Jesus and explained that baby Jesus was tickling him. In turn, Baladhay danced with the little
child and explained that he was dancing the movements of the river. To this day, the two-steps forward,
the one-step backward movement is still used by Santo Niño devotees who believe that it was the Santo
Niño's choice to have Baladhay dance.

2. Bacolod’s MassKara Festival - Location: Bacolod City Philippines

Bacolod City holds its Charter Day on the 19th of October every year. Coinciding with its Charter Day is
the MassKara Festival, a week-long activity that is currently dubbed as the Festival of Smile, a take on
Bacolod’s own monicker as the City of Smiles.

Unlike other festivals in the Visayas, however, the MassKara is not religious or tribal in nature. Instead,
the Festival ironically traces its roots on tragedy. The festival was first held in 1980, at a time when sugar
cane and sugar prices plummeted and the livelihood of Bacolenos suffered. It was also during that year
that a terrible maritime tragedy left more than 700 Negrenses dead when the Don Juan and the tanker
Tacloban City collided with each other and sank.
To eclipse the tragedy and the sorrow, Bacolod held its first MassKara Festival. The term MassKara was
coined by Ely Santiago, meaning many faces. It also became the festival’s trademark: smiling masks worn
by the participants.

3. Kalibo’s Ati-Atihan Festival - Location: Kalibo, Aklan Philippines

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus),
concluding on the third Sunday, in the island and town of Kalibo, Aklan in thePhilippines.

Ati-atihan means “to be like aetas”or “make believe ati’s.” Aetas were the primary settlers in the islands
according to history books. They too are the earliest settlers of Panay Island where the province of Aklan
is.[1]

The festival consists of tribal dance, music, accompanied by indigenous costumes and weapons, and
parade along the street. Christians, and non-Christians observe this day with religious processions. It is
the mother of all Philippine Festivals because Sinulog Festival of Cebu and Dinagyang of Iloilo are
adaptations of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival.

Aklan plays host to the annual Ati-atihan festival, coinciding with the third Sunday of January. Like the
Sinulog Festival of Cebu, the Ati-atihan celebrates the many miracles of the Child Jesus or Santo Nino.

The festival is probably more well-known for the black paint that most participants put on their bodies.
The black paint that covers the whole body contrasts starkly with the colorful costumes and ornaments.

4. Dinagyang Festival - Location: Ilo-ilo City Philippines

The Dinagyang Festival still venerates the Child Jesus, but also commemorates the conversion of Filipino
tribes to Christianity.

Today’s Dinagyang Festival is much anticipated with several events serving as highlights, including the
search for Iloilo’s prettiest ladies in the Miss Dinagyang pageant, the Atis street dancing, and the
Kasadyahan street dancing. Like the Sinulog and Ati-atihan, prayers, drum beats and colorful costumes
litter the streets of Iloilo for the Dinagyang.The Dinagyang is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City,
Philippines held on the fourth Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog In Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in
Aklan. It is held both to honor the Santo Niño and to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and
the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis.

Mindanao
1. Bukidnon’s Kaamulan Festival - Location: Malaybalay, Bukidnon

“Kaamulan” is from the Binukid word “amul” which means “to gather”. It is a gathering of Bukidnon
tribespeople for a purpose. It can mean a datuship ritual, a wedding ceremony, a thanksgiving festival
during harvest time, a peace pact, or all of these put together.
As an ethnic festival, the Kaamulan celebrates the customs and traditions of the seven tribal groups that
originally inhabited the Bukidnon region, namely, the Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo,
Matigsalug, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon. Several tribal folks representing these seven hill tribes of
Bukidnon gather in unity with the local dwellers in town, wearing their intricately woven costumes
studded with trinkets, anklets, earrings, necklaces, leglets, headdresses and amulets. They dance
together, chant, perform ancient rituals, and compete in indigenous sports.

Each activity is a meaningful ceremony that reflects the richness and diversity of the Bukidnon culture.
Integrated into the festival are activities designed to fuse the different sectors in the provincial
community as a whole. The events which have been institutionalized over the years of celebrating the
Kaamulan include the Civic Parade; the much-awaited Street-dancing Competition with contingents
coming from the respective municipalities and cities of the province; the Laga Ta Bukidnon where
beautiful ladies from within the province vie for the title; programs reminiscent of the historic
beginnings of Bukidnon and its tribal oral traditions; and, the Ethnic Dance Clinic.

2. Zamboanga’s Hermosa Festival - Location: Zamboanga' City, Philippines

Looking back from the past, under the rule of King Philip IV of Spain, the metropolis was successfully
established where the city’s devotion to the Virgin rose after many stories of glorious miracles
happened. A formidable fort was built in the year 1635 to secure the place against the Moro warriors.
Later on in 1734, the Marian image arrived in the fort as the forepart of the main entrance. After the
conversion of the place to a shrine for the immaculate Lady, it was then renamed to Real Fuerza de
Nuestra Seňora La Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza. With the word “Hermosa” denoting as beautiful, it
remarkably depicts the rich and beautiful culture of the place.

The great segment which you should not miss at La Hermosa Festival is the boat sailing competition
which is commonly known as Regatta De Zamboanga. It is also the appreciable showcase of colorful and
eye-catching designs of their traditional Banca, vinta. Through an exciting race and beautiful displays of
the best vinta, the spirit of sportsmanship and creativity is nurtured within the hearts of Zambaguenos.
It will also be succeeded by the popular competition of the crowd, the Wow Sardinas. It is where a
seafood boodle fight is held taking pride and honor as the Sardine Capital of the Philippines. As the
Zamboanga City supplies over 90% of all sardines in the country, it acknowledges and cherishes its
plentiful sea bounty.

3. Davao’s Kadayawan Festival - Location: Davao City, Davao del Sur Philippines

The festival’s name is derived from the Mandaya word “madayaw,” meaning treasured or valuable, as the
locals use this time to give thanks for the season’s bountiful harvest. Back in the day, the ethnic tribes of
Davao would come together to celebrate abundant crops, performing rituals that paid tribute to the
nature gods.

They used to display fruits, vegetables, flowers, rice, and corn grains on their mats and at the front of
their houses as a sign of respect for the great year they’ve had. They used to sing and dance as well,
much like what they do today. Back then, the name of the festival was called Apo Duwaling, after three
natural wonders you can find the region: Mt. Apo, Durian, and Waling-waling.

It was in 1988 when City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte renamed the festival as “Kadayawan sa Dabaw” to
celebrate the bountiful harvest of Davao’s flowers, fruits and other produce as well as the wealth of the
city’s cultures. To this day, the festival continues to honor the city’s richness and diverse artistic, cultural
and historical heritage in a grand celebration of thanksgiving for all of Davao City’s blessings.