Events and Festivals in the Philippines

January

• Feast of the Black Nazarene - Held every ninth of January in Quiapo, Manila. A grand festival honoring the image of the Black Nazarene where devotees flock to the streets on bare feet during its procession.

• Ati-Atihan Festival - Held every January 13 -19 in Kalibo, Aklan. Festival commemorating the infant Sto. Niño where revellers are costumed into the blackened Ati tribe.

• Sinulog Festival - Held every third Sunday of January in Cebu City. Distinguished by signature shuffling dance performed along the streets of the city as they celebrate in honor of the image of the Holy Child, the Sto. Niño.

• Dinagyang Festival - Held every fourth weekend of January in Iloilo City. A major festival also honoring the Sto. Niño where revellers also gather on the streets dressed in Ati warrior outfits.

February

• Hot Air Balloon Festival - Usually held on the second week of February at Clark Field in Angeles City, this annual blimp festival has been running for the last 12 years now, with more attractions added lately.

Igorot Dance

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• Panagbenga Festival - A festival of flowers held at the last week of February on the mountain city of Baguio. Floats filled with flowers grown in this cool city are put into display.

• Pamulinawen Festival is held yearly between February 4 to 10 in the city of Laoag in celebration for their patron saint, Saint William whom was believed to have helped in sparing the city from calamities. Pamulinawen came from the name of a legendary bird that once found in the province.

March

• Parraw Regatta - Held every first Sunday of March in the city of Iloilo. This is highlighted by an exciting race by native outriggers in the strait between the island of Guimaras and Iloilo.

April

• Moriones Festival - Held during the Holy Week which normally fall on the month of April. This is one of the most famous festival in the country held in Boac, Marinduque where locals dressed in Roman warriors reenact the life of Longuinus, the centurion who stabbed Jesus' side.

• Aliwan Festival is the Mother of all Philippine festivals. Held on the last weekend of April. Floats, street dances and grand displays of ethnicity line the stretch of Roxas Boulevard, from the Grandstand at the Rizal Park to the Cultural Center in Pasay City 1pm till close to midnight.

May

Pahiyas Festival decorations

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• Pahiyas Festival - Held on May 15 in the town of Lucban in Quezon province. Homes are beautifully decked with colorful, paper-thin and leaf shaped rice kropeck locally called kiping. This is in celebration of good harvest.

• Flores De Mayo or the Santacruzan - Held all around the Philippines within the festive month of May. It's a parade of a town's beautiful ladies on procession to commemorate St. Helena's search for Christ's cross.

• Obando Fertility Rites - Held May 17-19 in the town of Obando, Bulacan. A three day celebration for their three patron saints. Childless couples dance on the streets in the hope of being granted children.

June

• Parada ng Lechon - Held 24th of June at the town of Balayan in Batangas. Roasted pork on bamboo poles are decorated, dressed, and paraded on the streets while commemorating the feast of St. John the Baptist.

• Pintados Festival - Every June 29th in the city of Tacloban, this wild fiesta centers on the imitating pre-Hispanic tattooed warriors. Reveller join in the celebration in painting their bodies.

July

• Sandugo Festival - Held July 1-2 in Tagbilaran in the island of Bohol. This commemorates blood compact treaty that occured in the beginning of Spanish colonization.

August

• Kadayawan sa Dabaw - Held every third week of August in the city of Davao. This is in celebration for bountiful harvest of fruits and orchids during the season.

September

• Lemlunay (T'boli Tribal Festival) - September 16-18 held in Lake Sebu, South Cotobato. It is an annual authentic T'boli tribal festival that features tribal rituals.

• Feast of Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia - Happening every third Saturday of September in the city of Naga. This is in celebration of its patroness, the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, which is highlighted by a fluvial procession on Bicol River.

October

• Masskara Festival - The biggest annual event in the city of Bacolod happening every third week of October. It is a carnival themed festival featuring masked participants in colorful costumes dancing in the streets.

November

• Higantes Festival - A joyous feast celebration for St. Clements held November 23rd at the town of Angono, Rizal. This features a grand procession of giants, 10 foot puppets made of paper-mache.

December

• Shariff Kabunsuan Festival - Held December 15-19 in the city of Cotobato.The Muslim popultion of the city celebrates the arrival of Islam to the region filled with a lot of fun-filled activities.

• Sisig Festival -This festival is held every year during the month of December in Angeles City in celebration of the popular Pampanga dish, the Sisig.