1.

Sinulog Festival Cebu City Philippines

The Sinulog festival is one of the grandest, most distinguished and most colorful
festivals in the Philippines. The major festival is held each year on the third Sunday of
January in Cebu City to honor the Santo Niño, or the child Jesus, who used to be the
patron saint of the whole province of Cebu (since in the Catholic faith Jesus is not a
saint, but God). It is fundamentally a dance ritual which remembers the Filipino
people's pagan past and their recognition of Christianity.

The festival features some the country's most colorful displays of ceremony and
pageantry: participants clothe in bright-colored costumes dance to the rhythm of
drums and native gongs. The streets are generally lined with vendors and pedestrians
all wanting to witness the street-dancing. Smaller versions of the festival are also held
in different parts of the province, also to celebrate and honor the Santo Niño. There is
also a Sinulog sa Kabataan, which is performed by the youths of Cebu a week before
the Grand Parade.

Recently, the cultural event has been commercialized as a tourist attraction and
instead of traditional street-dancing from locals, Sinulog also came to mean a contest
highlighting groups from various parts of the country. The Sinulog Contest is
traditionally held in the Cebu City Sports Complex, where most of Cebu's major
provincial events are held.

The Festival

The celebration traditionally lasts for nine days, ending on the ninth day when the
Sinulog Grand Parade reveals. The day before the parade, the Fluvial Procession, a
water-parade, held at dawn from the Mandaue City wharf to Cebu City wharf with the
Santo Niño carried on a pump boat decorated with hundreds of flowers and candles.
The procession ends at the Basilica where a re-enactment of the Christianizing of Cebu
follows. In the afternoon, a more formal procession takes place along the major streets
of the city, which last for hours due to large crowd participating in the religious event.

On the feast day, at the Basilica, a Pontifical Mass is held, given by the Cardinal with
the assistance of several bishops of Cebu. The majority of the city’s population and
devotees would flock to the Basilica to attend the mass before heading out to the
streets to watch the Parade.

Background

'Sinulog' comes from the Cebuano adverb sulog which is "like water current
movement," which proficiently describes the forward-backward movement of the
Sinulog dance. Traditionally, the dance consists of two steps forward and one step
backward, done to the sound of the drums. The dance is classified into Sinulog-base,
Free-Interpretation, and recently a Latin Category, which most people have argued
that it had nothing to do with Sinulog tradition. Candle vendors at the Basilica continue
to perform the traditional version of the dance when lighting a candle for the
customer, usually accompanied by songs in the native language.

History of Sinulog

Pre-Spanish and the First Wave of Spaniards

Historians have renowned that before the first Spaniards came to Cebu, the Sinulog
was already danced by the natives in respect of their wooden god called anitos. Then,
on April 7, 1521, the Portuguese navigator, Fernando de Magallanes arrived and
planted the cross on the shores of Cebu, claiming the territory in the name of the King
of Spain. He then offered the image of the child Jesus, the Santo Niño, as baptismal
gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Cebu's Rajah Humabon. Hara Amihan was later named,
Queen Juana in honor of Juana, Carlos I's mother. Along with the rulers of the island,
some 800 natives were also baptized to the Christian faith.

This event is often used as foundation for most Sinulog dances, which presents the
coming of the Spaniards and the presentation of the Santo Niño to the Queen. A
famous theme among Sinulog dances is Queen Juana holding the Santo Niño in her
arms and using it to bless her people who are often worried by sickness caused by
demons and other evil spirits.

The Coming of Legazpi

After Magellan met his death on April 27, 1521 on the shores of Mactan (ruled by
Muslim Rajah Lapu-Lapu), the bits and pieces of his men returned to Spain. However,
it took 44 years before the Spaniards accomplished some measure of success in
colonizing the islands and finally the whole Philippines.

The explorer, Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in Cebu on April 28, 1565 and destroyed
the village ruled by Rajah Tupas. In one of the huts of the burning village, one of
Legazpi's soldiers named Juan Camus found a wooden box containing the image of the
Santo Niño lying in the middle of several native statue. Historians later said that during
the 44 years between the coming of Magellan and Legazpi, the natives of Cebu
continued to dance the Sinulog but no longer to worship their anitos but to show their
worship to the Santo Niño.

The Augustinian friars that accompanied Legazpi in his expedition proclaimed the
statue miraculous and built a church on the site where it was found. Th e church was
called San Agustin Church but was later renamed to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.

Letter to the King

After Juan Camus found the Santo Niño in the burning village, Legazpi was said to
have included the event in his report, entitled "Relation of Voyage to the Philippine
Islands." It went as follows:
"… Your Excellency should know that on that day when we entered this village (Cebu),
one of the soldiers went into a large and well-built house of an indio where he found
an image of the Child Jesus (whose most holy name I pray may be universally
worshipped). This was kept in its cradle, all covered with gold, just as if it were
brought from Spain: and only the little cross, which is generally placed upon the globe
in his hands, was lacking. The image was well kept in that house, and many flowers
were found before it, and no one knows for what object or purpose. The soldier bowed
down before it with all reverence and wonder, and brought the image to the place
where the other soldiers were. I pray to the Holy Name of his image, which we found
here, to help us and to grant us victory, in order that these lost people who are
unaware of the precious and rich treasure, which was in their custody, may come to a
knowledge of Him."

The Present
Since 1521, loyalty to the Santo Niño has grown and has taken root in Filipino popular
holiness, particularly in the Visayas; pilgrims from different parts of Cebu and the rest
of the Philippines make their yearly journey to the Basilica to take part in the
procession and fiesta. Starting in 1980, the Cebu City government organized the
Sinulog Mardi Gras and eventually gave incentives to dance groups.

It was David S. Odilao, Jr., then Regional Director of the Ministry of Sports and Youth
Development (MYSD), who organized the first ever Sinulog Parade. The year was 1980
and Odilao gathered a group of students, dressed them up in moro-moro costumes
and taught them the Sinulog to the beating of the drums.

The idea caught and thus, under the direction of the Cebu City Mayor Florentino S.
Solon with the help of several influential Cebuanos, Odilao turned over the Sinulog
project to the Cebu City Historical Committee under Kagawad Jesus B. Garcia, Jr.. It
was the task of the Committee to conceptualize the Sinulog festival and make it into a
yearly event from then on.
In 1981 the following year, the concept of the Sinulog Parade was actualized, involving
practically every sector in the Cebuano community. Marking its difference from another
popular festival, the Ati-Atihan in Aklan, the Sinulog focuses not on the ritual itself but
on the historical aspects of the dance, which, as it has been said, represents the link
between the country's pagan past and Christian present.

Sinulog Coat of Arms

The committee (Cebu City Historical Committee), which was responsible for the
conceptualization of the Sinulog as a provincial event, decided to accept a logo for the
Sinulog to identify it as an institutionalized yearly event. They turned to the coat of
arms of the Santo Niño which consisted of a two-headed hawk that was the mark of
the ruling House of Habsburg in Europe. The symbol stand for the twin purpose of the
Habsburg dynasty as "Champion of Catholicism and Defender of the Faith." At the time
when Spain sent expeditions to the Philippines, they were under the Habsburg
dynasty.
The Sinulog committee then included the two-headed eagle to a native warrior's shield.
The native shield is thought to symbolize the country's struggle to colonization while
the Santo Niño's coat of arms printed on its face represented the country's recognition
of Christianity.

2. Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City, Philippines

The Dinagyang Festival is celebrated every fourth weekend of January tohonor the
Christianization of the natives and to respectthe Holy Child Jesus. On this day, streets
of Iloilo Citywill once again come alive as the Ilonggos celebrate theannual festivity. It
is a very colorful parade coupledwith a dramatization in honor of the patron Saint
Sto.Niño as the object of performs offerings andprayers amidst the cracking of drums
and shouts of "VivaSeñor Santo Niño." The thundering of "HalaBira" by the tribe
members makes the celebration a livelyone. It is also a very popular tagline used by
Ilonggosto express their warm participation during the"Dinagyang" celebration. A
tribute in honor ofSeñor Sto. Niño whom Ilonggos believe wasvery miraculous in times
of famine and drought.

Dinagyang is an annual event, when the whole town rejoices,shouting their pride of
being an Ilonggo and telling theirculture. It is a wonderful looking back to the past. It
is notjust a celebration, it is a religious evangelization. Goingback to Iloilo is more like
a past fulfilled and a lookingforward for future celebrations. It is our culture. The
Aetaculture. That's why it is painting the townblack.

dinagyang festival dinagyang celebration The Birth and Evolution ofDinagyang

The root word is dagyang. In Ilonggo, it means to make happy.Dinagyang is the

present progressive word of the Ilonggo word,meaning making merry or merry-
making. A religious and culturalactivity, it is a celebration of Ilonggos whose bodies
arepainted with black in effect to imitate the black, small andslender Negritos who are
the aborigines of Panay. The warriorsare dressed in fashionable and colorful Aeta
costumes and danceartistically and rhythmically with complicated formations alongwith
the loud thrashing and sound of drums.

Before, Dinagyang was called Ati-atihan like that of theKalibo festivity. History tells that
it started when a replicaof the image of Señor Sto. Niño was brought tothe San Jose
Parish Church in Iloilo from Cebu. The people ofIloilo honored the coming of the image
and then becamedevotees. Until they made the day of the Image's arrival as hisfeast
day which falls on the 4th Sunday of January. Since 1968,it was already considered a
yearly celebration, culminated by anine-day Novena, an Ati-ati contest and a fluvial
procession onthe last day.

Recognized now to theannual, socio-cultural-religious festival of Iloilo City,the word

Dinagyang was made up by an old-timer, Ilonggowriter and radio broadcaster, the late
Pacifico SumagpaoSudario, and first used to name the festival when it waslaunched in
1977, to make it unique from other Ati-atihancelebrations.

Iloilo City'sDinagyang has its early beginnings in 1968, when a modelof the image of
Sr. Santo Ni¤o was brought fromCebu City to the San Jose Parish Church by Fr.
SuplicioEbderes, OSA with a delegation of Cofradia del Sto.Niño, Cebu members. The
image and party wereenthusiastically welcomed at Iloilo City by then parishpriest of
San Jose Church, Fr. Ambrosio Galindez, OSA,then Mayor Renerio Ticao, and the
devotees of the Sto.Niño in Iloilo City. The image was brought to SanJose Parish
Church and preserved there up to this time,where a novena in His honor is held every
Friday. Theclimax of the nine-day novena was the FluvialProcession.

In the early morninglight of dawn, the respected Santo Niño image isborne on a
decorative banca in a fluvial procession,starting from the mouth of the Iloilo River at
Fort SanPedro, winding all the way to the Iloilo ProvincialCapitol which stands on the
bank of the IloiloRiver.

If the festival hadto be developed into a major tourist attraction, it wouldbe so big in
magnitude and the Confradia thought that itcould no longer cope with the demands of
a touristcome-on. The year 1976 also brought another feature ofthe festival. Street
celebrations and audienceparticipation were introduced and encouraged.

At that point, theSanto Niño is met by the Hermano-Hermana Mayordevotees, and Ati-
atihan tribes. With the SantoNiño leading, the foot procession starts, passingthrough
the main streets of the city and ending up at SanJose Church, where a high mass is
then celebrated. Asyears went by, the celebration continued to behighlighted by a
mass at San Jose Parish at the break ofthe dawn; by a "Kasadyahan" which is the
opening event ofthe celebration, also a merrymaking but is a dramatizeddance
presentation about the Aeta's survival, the landingof the 10 Bornean Datus in Panay
and the colonization;and by dances and more merry making which have become
atourist attraction.

As more and more tribes from the barangays, schools and nearbytowns and provinces
participate, the contest became morecompetitive in terms of costumes, choreography
and sounds. Thetribes compete for the following Special Awards: Best inDiscipline,
Best in Costume, Best in Performance, Best in Musicand Best in Choreography. These
are aside from the major awardsfor the champion, first runner-up, second runner-up,
thirdrunner-up and fourth runner-up. Participating tribes learn todesign artistically and
with originality in making use ofIlonggo native materials like dried anahaw leaves, buri
orcoconut palm leaves and husks and other barks of Philippinetrees. Choreography
was studied and practices were kept secret.Sounds were seen as an authentic medium
that keeps the tribesgoing in uniform.

They also include a brief dramatization of how Christianitywas brought to Panay and
the arrival of the 10 Bornean Datustelling about the exchange of the Aetas of their
land for theBorneans' Golden Salakot (native hat) and a long pearl necklacewhich is
also parallel with the Kasadyahan celebration. Duringthe celebration, people participate
with the Kasadyahan. Somedressed in Aeta costumes, some paint their faces with
blackpaint, some put on colored artificial tattoos and wear otherAeta ornaments. At
night, there is public dancing on selectedareas.

3. Panagbenga Festival
The Panagbenga Festival is held yearly during the month of February. The celebrations
are held for over a month and peak periods are the weekends. The Panagbenga
Festival showcases the many floral floats and native dances. The fragrant smells that
could be presently teasing olfactory senses are probably less from the now-dried
flowers from Valentine's Day than air floating all the way from Baguio City. At this time
of year, the City of Pines is almost surely in flower fury over Panagbenga festival, the
city's biggest festival.

Panagbenga is a kankanaey term for "a season of blooming." It is also known as the
Baguio Flower Festival, a homage to the beautiful flowers the city is famous for as well
as a celebration of Baguio's re-establishment. Since February 1995, it has been held to
help Baguio forget the 1990 earthquake that distressed much of the city.
Panagbenga festival will have spectators enjoying a multiple floral and float parades
over two days. The Baguio Flower Festival Association (BFFA) will have a street dancing
parade and band exhibition. The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation (BFFF), meanwhile,
will hold a parade. So where should spectators be stationed to not miss any of the float
and floral parades? Session Road and Burnham Park. A search for the Mr. and Ms.
Baguio Flower Festival, FM Panagbenga Pop Fiesta, Skateboard competition and Dolls of
Japan exhibit were added to the BFFA calendar. The festival is supported by
constituents of La Trinidad, La Union, Pangasinan, Marinduque and Masbate.

Often a Cañao is an undertaken to kick-off & celebrate the occasion. A Cañao is a dance
that also is regularly performed at special occasions such as fiestas. In this two-person
dance, the men hang blankets usually woven with an indigenous pattern or design-over
each shoulder. The woman wraps a single similar blanket around her. The man leads
her and dances in a circle with a hop-skip tempo to the beat of sticks and gongs. The
dance must continue until the viewers decide to honor the dancers twice with a shout
of "Ooo wag, hoy! hoy!" Once this has happened, the dancers can stop. It is an honor
to be invited to join the dance, and elders and other respected members of the
community are expected to join in at every occasion.

4. Ati-Atihan
The name Ati-Atihan means "make-believe Atis. " It has been known as the wildest
among Philippine fiestas. The Ati-Atihan is a festival in honour of the Santo Niño. During
the last three days of this week-long festival (fiesta), a parade is characteristic. A
colourful happening with celebrants who paint their faces in many different ways and
who are dressed in the most outstanding costumes.
The Ati-Atihan festival is named after the Ati, the indigenious natives of the island
before the arrival of the Malay in the 10th century and the Spanish in the 16th century.
The festival is held on the third week of January every year on the second Sunday after
Epiphany in Kalibo in the Aklan province on the island of Panay. The festival is to rejoice
the arrival or gift of the Santo Niño by Magellan to the native Queen of Cebu in 1521
and is manifested by hyperactive merriment on the streets . The dancing on the
rhythms of the drums makes this festival very similar to the Mardi Gras celebration in
Rio in Brazil.
ATI-ATIHAN is one of the greatest, most colorful and fun festivals. It's nickname, "The
Filipino Mardis Gras" and takes place the 3rd weekend in January every year in Kalibo,
Aklan, Panay Island,
Philippines. Iloilo and many other smaller towns on Panay Island also party the festivals
during the weekends from mid January to early February so if you miss the Kalibo
festival you could still experience fun elsewhere. The informality of the festival is what
makes it so terrific and allows everyone to participate, dance, beat on a drum or just
take photos while in the middle of the tribal groups. The groups include all age groups -
another wonderful aspect of the festival. Some of the most creative costumes distinct to
the tribal themes are displayed by a few of the local gays. The festival includes every
local group in Aklan with a unique tribal tradition, various civic or commercial
organizations and individuals that create new costumes every year.

The key activity of the festival and one of the main reasons tourists gather to the island
is the native dance competitions pitched to rhythmic and mesmerizing drumbeats that
run nonstop for several days. Competitors rehearsed for weeks before the festival and
dress in very colorful costumes, wearing masks and headdresses, and paint their bodies
with black ash to turn up like the native Ati. Dancing troupes, some numbering 40 or 50
children or teenagers, dance for local prestige and cash prizes.
Hotels and resorts for miles around are reserved solid months in advance, but many
houses near the festival have spare rooms that families let out. While there is much
drinking and revelry there is a noticeable police presence that is there to safeguard
foreigners and tourists. The other attraction is Boracay beach is less than an hour away
so many tourists and visitors view the festival and then visit Boracay for a complete and
well-rounded vacation.

The origin
The museum on the town square is worth a visit to learn more about the origin of Ati
Atihan. In the thirteenth century, long before the Spaniards came to the Philippines,
light-skinned settlers from the island of Borneo (Kalimantan) in Indonesia arrived on
Panay. The local people of Panay, the Ati (negritos), a small and dark (black) kinky-
haired people, sold them a small piece of land and permitted them to settle down in the
lowlands. The Atis themselves, lived more upland in the mountains.
One time the Ati people was in need of food because of a bad harvest in their
homelands because strong rains wiped out hillside crops. They came down to the
lowlands of the Maraynon and asked them food. Every year since then, the Atis came
down to the lowland people to ask for some food. The lowlanders who had a good
harvest shared their blessings with the black, kinky-haired people. They danced and
sang in gratefulness for the helping hand. A real friendship was born and the Maraynon
started to paint their faces black in honor of the Atis and took part in the fiesta.

Sometime in the 13th century, ten datus from Borneo fleeing the oppression of Datu
Makatunaw purchased some land in Panay from the Ati Marikudo, son of the old chief
Populan. The price agreed upon was a solid gold hat and a basin. In addition, the Ati
chief's wife wanted an ankle-length necklace for which the natives gave a mass of live
crabs, a long-tusked boar, and full-antlered white deer. Datu Puti, leader of the
expedition and a relative of Makatunaw, established the Panay settlement and left Datu
Sumakwel in charge.
Datu Puti went on farther north to the island of Luzon and left Datu Balensuela and
Datu Dumangsil in a settlement in Taal. Datu Puti later returned to Borneo. These we
gather from Maragtas, a book written by Pedro Monteclaro in 1907 and supposedly
based on an ancient manuscript that nobody has ever seen.

Aklan is the oldest province in the Philippines, structured in 1213 by settler from Borneo
as the Minuro it Akean to include what is now Capiz. The festival is a festivity of the
king of the "Aetas", the original indigenous inhabitant’s agreement with the leader of
the Malays that came by "banca" from Sabah's sultanate in the 1200s, 800 years ago.
Aklan's capital presently, Kalibo but has changed location several times throughout their
history.

5. Sibug-Sibug
Sibug – Sibug Festival is celebrated during their foundation day on the province of
Sibugay on February 26, with colorful Ethnic Street dancing with rituals illustrating good
harvest, wedding and healing rituals. During the festival, it endorses it’s number one
product which is the oyster or talaba in tagalong which has been known to be the
biggest, juiciest, and meatiest oysters in the country. In this two week celebration, in
the town of Ipil, “Talaba Longest Grill” has been the main attraction of the visitors and
viewers. In this manner, Zamboanga can promote their oysters to the world.
Zamboanga Sibugay recently achieved a world record for the Worlds Longest Talaba
Grill with five to 12 inches-long oysters or talaba as the main feature. Because of this,
the province of Sibugay earned a title as the Talaba Capital of the Philippines.
Zamboanga Sibugay is a major supplier of oysters from the Zamboanga Peninsula to
neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region. It has three major talaba farms in the
municipalities of Kabasalan, Siay and Alicia.

A project of Gov. George Hofer, the longest oyster grill aims to make the province
known worldwide for its export-quality oysters. Some 15,000 huge pieces of oysters
weighing 1,500 kilograms from Barangay Concepcion, Kabasalan were served in the 1.2
kilometer-long grill. More than a thousand participants composed of local government
employees, Sibugaynons and visitors joined the event which was part of the two-week-
long Sibug-Sibug Festival held in the capital town of Ipil. Zamboanga Sibugay is a major
supplier of oysters from the Zamboanga Peninsula to neighboring countries in the Asia
Pacific region. It has three major talaba farms in the municipalities of Kabasalan, Siay
and Alicia. Hofer said the oyster is one of the major economic boosters of the province.
Around 200 families in Barangay Concepcion alone are dependent on the oyster
business. Also a much-awaited event was the Sibug-Sibug street dancing competition.

Visitors were also given a glance of the locals culture and traditions through a Western
Subanen cultural show. The native Subanens presented their rituals in war, marriage
and birth. Subanens are the aborigines of Zamboanga, believed to have developed in
the province even before the Spanish period. Zamboanga Sibugay was declared a
separate province through a Republic Act in 2001. Local officials claimed that the
province holds the record of having the lowest crime-rate based on the Philippine
National Police (PNP) report for the period 2002-2003. The rubber business is its second
income-generating industry next to the export of oysters. It has been recognized for
having the oldest rubber plantation in the country.

6. Feast of the Black Nazarene

Considered as the largest annual religious procession in the Philippines, the Feast of
Black Nazarine celebrates an over 200 year old statue of a black Christ figure, said to
bring good luck to those who participate or come to pay honor. The procession of
barefoot men and women takes place in Quaipo, Manila on January 9th and Good
Friday.

7. Kadayawan, Davao City, Philippines

Kadayawan takes place in Davao and is a celebrated during the month of August with
various events including ethnic dance demonstrations and competitions as well as a
trade fair and exhibit. It’s a harvest celebration and is one of the most cheerful festivals
in the Philippines.

8. Pahiyas Festival, Lucban, Quezon Province

On May 15 every year, Lucban in Quezon celebrates Pahiyas Festival in honor of San
Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. Fresh fruits and vegetables are set out on
houses and buildings as decorations. The decorations are judged and the best is given
awards and prizes.

9. Masskara Festival, Bacolod City, Philippines

Incredible costumes and days of celebrations are typical of Masskara festival in Bacolod
City. It’s a giant masquerade party and one of the most fun and most widely known
festivals of the Philippines. It’s held in the third week of October, on or around Oct
19th. The festival features a street dance competition where people from all walks of
life troop to the streets to see colorfully masked dancers gyrating to the rhythm of Latin
musical beats in a display of mastery, gaiety, coordination and stamina.
Major activities include the MassKara Queen beauty pageant, carnivals, drum and bugle
corps competitions, food festivals, sports events, musical concerts, agriculture-trade
fairs, garden shows, and other special events organized ad-hoc every year.

10. Moriones, Marinduque, Philippines

Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday is celebrated in Marinduque with intricate
Roman soldier costumes called Moriones. The wearers are both celebrated and a
symbol of the self-cleansing of this time of year. They play tricks and cause trouble and
their real identities are unknown. A huge search for Longino is undertaken on Easter
Sunday and is sacrificed after being caught a third time. The drama is is engaging and
the crowd is involved, making this one of the most unique festivals in the country.

11. Higantes Festival

In Angono in Rizal, the Higantes Festival is another incredible example of the devotion
and dedication that Filipinos put into their festivals. The Higantes, or giants, are huge
paper mache people that can be as tall as 12 feet high and about five feet in diameter.
It’s held on November 23rd and celebrates the patron saint of fishermen, San
Clemente.
12. Pista'y Dayat Festival, Lingayen, Pangasinan
Pista'y Dayat Festival (sea festival) is a thanksgiving festival observed every April in
Lingayen, Pangasinan. It celebrates the bountiful harvest and abundant fishing from the
sea. The events feature mass offering on beautiful beaches and fluvial parade.
Celebration

From being a local thanksgiving festival, Pista'y Dayat has grown into Pangasinan's
grandest festivity. It lasts for two weeks and is held at the Lingayen Beach. Among the
anticipated events in the festival is the grand parade of Pangasinan festivals wherein
the nine well-known festivities of the province are featured, namely Galicayo Festival of
Manaoag, Pandan Festival of Mapandan, Longganisa Festival of Alaminos, Sugpo
Festival of Binmaley, Mango and Bamboo Festival of San Carlos City, Puto Festival of
Calasiao, Binongey Festival of Anda,Sawali Festival of Labrador, and Pista'y Dayat.

According to Governor Amado Espino Jr., the event serves as a “reawakening of the
Pangasinenses consciousness regarding music, dances, arts, and culture of the
province.” [1]

At least a hundred boats participating in a fluvial parade commence the celebration.

The festival also has an environmental preservation-related event, Konsyerto sa Gulpo,
which allows young bands to further environmental awareness through their music.
Other events include: the Grand Orchestra Showdown; the Pansasayawan,
Panturugtugan dancesport fest; a solo vocal competition; the Zarzuela Tan Turbaan;
the Panangidayaw Trade, Tourism, Food, and Garden Fairs; the Ating Yaman photo
contest and artscape; the Tianggehan sa Pista’y Dayat; the Limgas na Dayat beauty
contest; amateur boxing bouts; the Magpalipad Tayo kite-flying competition; the
Ipahayag sa Layag boat painting competition; the Palaro sa Lahi concert and variety
show; and the Buhay sa Buhangin sand-sculpting competition.

13. Pintados Festival, Tacloban City, Philippines

The Pintados Festival or Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival is annually celebrated on the 29th
of June in Tacloban City, Leyte, to honor the Señor Santo Niño or Holy Child. The
festival's highlights include the Leyte Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, the 17th Pintados
Festival Ritual Dance Presentation, and the Pagrayhak Grand Parade. In the Visayan
dialect, "Kasadyaan" means "merriment and jollity."
History
When the Spaniards came to the Visayas in 1668, they found heavily tattooed men and
women whom they called Pintados. The Pintados had their own culture and customs,
such as commemorating victories by holding festivals and honoring their gods. In the
17th century, the friars banned the use of tattoos, branding the practice as savage and
evil.
In 1888, 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.

In 1986, the businessmen and entrepreneurs of Tacloban City founded the Pintados
Foundation, Inc. They began organizing religious cultural activities for the city fiesta in
honor of the Sto. Niño. Former Leyte governor Remedios Loreto-Petilla spearheaded the
festival which was first celebrated on 12 May 1996. In 1999, the celebration was moved
to 29 June in honor of the Señor Santo Niño de Leyte.
Celebration

The Pintados Festival recalls the pre-Hispanic history of the native Leytenos and
showcases the cultural heritage of the people of Leyte and Samar by incorporating
native music and dances. The word "pintados" refers to the body tattoos of the native
warriors which represented courage and beauty. At that time, getting tattoos was
painful and open to the risk of infection, therefore, a man who faced the dangers of
tattooing and lived was considered strong and brave. In addition, he had to earn his
tattoos by fighting wars and battles. Being a pintado was also a status symbol. The
highest ranked or bravest warriors were heavily tattooed from head to toe.

The highlight of the Pintados Festival is the parade of street dancers who are covered
from head to toe in painted designs that represent the tattooed warriors of the past.
The parade traditionally begins at the Balayuan Towers and proceeds throughout
Tacloban, Leyte.

14. Pasaka Festival, Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines

Pasaka Festival
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Colorful parade during the Pasaka Festival

Pasaka Festival is a yearly town festival held at Tanauan, Poblacion from the 14th to the
16th of August, commencing at Canramos on the 14th, Licud on the 15th and
culminating in San Roque on the 16th.

During the 15th of August there is a big festivity held at the town center, composed of
two parts, the ritual presentation and the street dancing parade. It is has three
categories, the junior (elementary) division, the senior (High School) division and the
Merry Makers. They dressed in colorful costumes performing dances and routines that
follows a street parade around the municipality. The festival is called "Pasaka" which is
a waray word meaning invitation to progress, health, and luck for the inhabitants for
the coming year.

The festival is so popular and so merry that it encourages expatriates to visit during this
time of year. The festival also invites people from elsewhere who wish to join and enjoy
the festivity and are all welcomed by the locals in their own homes regardless of
whether they know them or not.

Pasaka Festival is a socio-cultural presentation depicting a people paying homage to the

town's Patronage, Our Lady of Assumption as she is assumed into Heaven. It is also an
act of thanksgiving for the blessings receives and a way of welcoming the visitors into
the homes of the Tanauananons.
15. Buyogan Festival, Abuyog, Leyte Philippines
The Buyogan Festival earned its fame when the Abuyog Tribe joined the Aliwan Festival
and managed to win as the grand champion. The Aliwan Festival is the national grand
competition of the best festivals in the Philippines, so the Buyogan Festival has surely
become a significant source of pride for the people of Abuyog.
What to Expect at the Festival

When watching the Buyogan Festival, you will be experiencing one of the best 10
festivals in the Philippines. The realistic costumes and artistic choreography focus on
the movement and appearance bees or “buyog”. The highlight of the festival would be
the parade of brightly colored dancers performing a choreographed bee dance. There
would also be costumed children buzzing around in a bee-like manner. There would
also be other participants joining in the parade tattooed with tribal henna designs on
their bodies and faces to represent their town’s ethnic history.

The festival coincides with the feast day of the town saint, St. Francis Xavier, usually
around the last weekend of August. Just recently, the Buyogan Festival’s tribe of
dancers was declared the champion of the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals,
which was held on June 27, 2015.

16. Sanggutan Festival, Barugo, Leyte

Sanggutan Festival is located in Barugo, Leyte held every 2nd week of May. The Barugo
Sanggutan Festival honors the traditional way of making coconut wine called "tuba"
which has been part of a Barugueño's (native) life. The Sanggutan is a dance of
celebration of men fondly called "managgetes" together with their wives, daughters and
sisters that are involved in the making of the coconut wine.

17. Bangus Festival, Dagupan City, Pangasinan

Bangus Festival is an annual festivity in Dagupan City, Pangasinan that kicks off every
month of April. It celebrates the province's Bonuan bangus, which is renowned for its
unique taste.
Celebration

Bangus Festival, first celebrated in 2002, was the brainchild of former mayor Benjamin
S. Lim, who wished to emphasize the local bangus industry and promote Dagupan as
the Bangus Capital of the World. Initially a part of the thanksgiving festival Pista'y
Dayat, Bangus Festival developed into a two-week socio-economic program of activities
that highlights the city's top produce.

The festival commences with the lighting of 1,000 barbecue grills lined up to cook
thousands of bangus, which stretches up to two kilometers. This also serves as a
competition for hundreds of cooks, whose dishes are not only judged by the grilling but
through whipping up the tastiest and most creative way of serving bangus. The contest
was eventually called “'101 Ways to Cook Bangus” and won for the city a recognition in
the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest barbecue in 2003.
Aside from the grilling challenge, the festivity showcases a bangus eating contest, a
search for the biggest and heaviest bangus, the Gilon-gilon dancing festival, the Pigar-
pigar festival, the Halo-halo festival, and the Bangusan street party, where several local
and Manila-based bands perform along Jose R. De Venecia Expressway Extension.

18. PIÑA Festival, Ormoc City, Leyte

Ormoc City, the Philippines’ very own “City of Beautiful People,” recently held its first
ever Piña Festival. Honoring the city’s patron saints San Pablo and San Pedro and its
world-famous Queen Pineapple, the festival has become another great addition to the
long list of reasons visitors flock to the city each year. (By the way, Cebu Pacific flies to
Ormoc from Cebu four times each week.)

Ormoc’s Piña Festival is a true celebration of the things that are important to
Ormocanons. And taking the center stage is the city’s unofficial icon — the queen table
pineapple. According to Mayor Richard Gomez, although Ormoc is known for a lot of
things — Lake Danao, Alto Peak, the Philippine-Japanese Peace Memorial, and many
more — the pineapple is the city’s star product. And this is the exact reason why the
Piña Festival was conceptualized. Mayor Gomez, who was hands-on every step of the
way, made sure that every aspect of the festival was perfect. And with the help of
various agencies, organizations, and individuals, the first staging of the festival ended
up becoming a huge resounding success.

19. Niyogyugan Festival, Quezon Province

The month of August marks the commemoration of the birth of then President Manuel
Luis Quezon, the illustrious son of the province. As a way of celebrating the event, the
provincial government prepares and organizes activities that highlight the best of
Quezon in terms of festivities, products and personalities.

In 2011, Quezon Province held the first AGRI-TOURISM Trade Fair featuring booths
adorned by agricultural produce and products from different municipalities here in
Quezon. In 2012, the very first provincial festival aptly called, NIYOGYUGAN Festival,
the celebration of the tree of life, was organized. The Niyogyugan, which came from the
words "niyog" and "yugyog" (to move to a beat), was conceptualized by former
Congresswoman Aleta Suarez and there will be 3 inter-related events/competitions
namely: Float, Dance, and Festival Queen.

Quezon province celebrates various festivals in its 39 municipalities and 2 cities the
whole year round, from January until December. To name a few, there is a Tay-Tsinoy
Festival during January or February in Tayabas, the Tagultol Fishing Festival during
July-August in Atimonan, the Maubanog Festival during July in Mauban, Boling Boling
Festival in Catanauan, the Gayang Festival in Guinyangan and of course, the world
renowned Pahiyas Festival during May in Lucban, Quezon. These celebrations are
usually based on culture and spiritual traditions of Quezonians. The belief of petition,
thanksgiving, and blessings from the Almighty are incorporated in these festivities.

On the other hand, the tree of life or commonly known as the coconut(niyog) tree, has
been the main produce of Quezon since time immemorial. Also, our province was once
hailed as the main producer/exporter of the coconut and its other by-products.
Currently, the provincial government covers three flagship programs, under the
leadership of Hon. Governor David C. Suarez, one of which is agriculture and this area
is aiming to revive the coconut industry of the province.

With very diverse topography and culture, the municipalities and cities that comprise
the province of Quezon may have at least one thing in common, it is our very lively,
vibrant, and interesting festivals and we are claiming to be the “home of colorful
festivals in the region!” This tagline can be used to fully promote the whole of Quezon,
encompassing the traditions and the festive way we do our celebrations, be it a gala
party or a carnival. It is then high time to launch a provincial festival that will showcase
the best of the best from all parts of Quezon be it in festivity, product or people.

Aptly called NIYOGYUGAN Festival, it aims to showcase the tree of life which has been
the main source of income for most of Quezonians in the early part of the century. It
also aims to “shake” the industry by featuring the culture, the traditions, the values,
everything that depicts the tree of life and how it affects the life of a typical Quezonian.
Moreover, we continue to aim that Quezon will be included in the tourism map of every
country, every continent in the world and we focus all our efforts in the promotion of
the province, be it through places and products or thrilling celebrations of festivals.
20. Sandugo Festival, Tagbilaran, Bohol
Sandugo Festival is a yearly historical event that takes place every year on the month of
March, in the island of Bohol. This festival honors the celebration of a local Philippine
leader Datu Sikatuna's blood compact and association or treaty of friendship with the
Spanish king conquistador, Captain General Miguel López de Legazpi in March 16, 1565.

History

It began with the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi in the shores of Tagbilaran, Bohol
in 1565 and the swearing of commitment of Datu Sikatuna to the Spanish crown. The
two people were believed to have made a cut on their left arms with a dagger and
sprinkled their blood into a cup filled with wine, which both drunk in honor of their
friendship and brotherhood. The treaty was signed on the SW coast of Bohol Island in
March of 1565. This was 44 years after Ferdinand Magellan was killed attacking a
Philippine village on Mactan Island about 50 miles north of here.

The Sandugo treaty is called a blood compact because the participants each drink a
small amount of the other's blood. ("Dugo" means blood in the Visayan language.) This
was a traditional way to formalize treaties of friendship in the Philippines. Magellan
himself took part in several of these ceremonies before attacking Mactan Island.

The Blood Compact preserved the ties of friendship between two people once different
in religion, nationality, culture and civilization. The Tagbilaran native chieftain who
swore by his ancestral Anito and Bathala, and the Spanish courageous explorer and
colonizer, who sought New World with the sword and the cross, drank to the common
cause - friendship. It was the first international treaty of friendship and comity between
the Filipinos and Spaniards.