The Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival is an annual cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January

in Cebu City, and is the centre of the Santo Niño Catholic celebrations in the Philippines.
The festival is considered to be first of most popular festivals in the Philippines, with every celebration of the festival
routinely attracting around 1 to 2 million people from all over the Philippines every year.[1] Aside from the religious
aspect of the festival, Sinulog is also famous for its street parties, usually happening the night before and the night
of the main festival.[2]
The word Sinulog comes from the Cebuano adverb sulog which roughly means "like water current movement;" it
describes the forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance. The dance consists of two steps forward and one
step backward, done to the sound of drums. The dance is categorized into Sinulog-base, Free-Interpretation, and
street dancing. 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
Sinulog is the ritual prayer-dance honoring Señor Santo Niño or the Child Jesus. An image of the Child Jesus is said
to be the baptismal gift the Portuguese conquistador Ferdinand Magellan gave Hara Amihan (Humanay) of Zebu
(now Cebu) in April 1521. The image, believed to be miraculous, is housed at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in
downtown Cebu City.
The Sinulog dance moves are basically two steps forward and one step backward as the dancer sways to a distinct
rhythm of drums. This movement resembles the current (Sulog) of what was known as Cebu’s Pahina River.
According to historical accounts, the Cebu natives already danced the Sinulog in honor of their animist idols long
before the arrival of Magellan who led a Spanish expedition on April 7, 1521. Magellan did not live long after he
introduced Christianity. He died in a failed assault on nearby Mactan island at the hands of a local chieftain named
Lapu-Lapu.
Survivors of Magellan's expedition left behind the image to be discovered 44 years later.
The expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi bombarded the native settlement when they arrived on April 28,
1565. In one of the burning huts, one of Legazpi's men, Juan Camus, discovered the image of the Santo Niño inside
a wooden box beside other idols. This time however, Legazpi discovered that the natives already dance the Sinulog
honoring the Santo Niño.[3]
Today the Sinulog commemorates the Filipino people's acceptance of Christianity (specifically, Roman Catholicism),
and their rejection of their former animist beliefs (worship of nature and sustainable utilization of resources). The first
of these conversions happened in 1521 on the island of Cebu, when Indianized-Sanskritized ruler Rajah
Humabon and his queen Amihan (Humamay) were baptized along with their subjects, becoming Carlos and Juana
of Cebu.
Panagbenga Festival (English: Flower Festival) is a month-long annual flower festival occurring in Baguio. The
term is of Kankanaey origin, meaning "season of blooming".[1] The festival, held in February, was created as a tribute
to the city's flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake.[2] The festival
includes floats that are covered mostly with flowers not unlike those used in Pasadena's Rose Parade. The festival
also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes, that is inspired by the Bendian,
an Ibaloi dance of celebration that came from the Cordillera region.
Aside from boosting the economy through tourism, the festival also helped the younger generation of indigenous
people to rediscover their culture's old traditions. The indigenous people were first wary with government-led tourism
because of the threat that they will interfere or change their communities' rituals.[3]
The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), in collaboration with the John Hay Poro Point Development
Corporation's (JPDC)[4] annual Camp John Hay Art Contest, gave its official logo from one of the entries: a spray of
indigenous sunflowers from an artwork submitted by Trisha Tabangin, a student of the Baguio City National High
School. The festival was set in February to boost tourism as it was considered as a time of inactivity between the
busy days of Christmas season and the Holy Week and the summer season.[5]
In 1996, archivist and curator Ike Picpican suggested that the festival be renamed as Panagbenga,
a Kankanaey term that means "a season of blossoming, a time for flowering"
The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), Held on the
third Sunday, in the town of Kalibo Philippines in the island of Panay originally came from Batan, Aklan, then
adopted later by some neighboring towns. The name Ati-Atihan means "to be like Atis" or "to make believe Atis", the
local name for the Aetaaborigines who first settled in Panay Island and other parts of the archipelago.
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 has inspired many other
Philippine Festivals including the Sinulog Festival of Cebu and Dinagyang of Iloilo City, both adaptations of the
Kalibo's Ati-Atihan Festival, and legally holds the title "The Mother of All Philippine Festivals" in spite of the other two
festivals' claims of the same title.
The Dinagyang Festival is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines held on the 4th Sunday of
January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, 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 Ati people. Dinagyang is also the most popular festival among others because of its influence to other
cities in the country such as Tondo, Palawan, Romblon and many others. Dinagyang was also voted as the Best
Tourism event three times in a row among any other festivals in the Philippines, it is also the most awarded festival
in the country, because of its legacy, popularity and innovation it receives an honor and regarded as World Class
Festival.
The Kadayawan Festival is an annual festival in the city of Davao in the Philippines. Its name derives from the
friendly greeting "Madayaw", from the Dabawenyo word "dayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful. The
festival is a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and
serenity of living. It is held every third week of August[2].
History of Kadayawan This ritual serves as their thanksgiving to the gods particularly to the "Manama" (the Supreme
Being) and Bulan (a moon deity) that the first gathering was on a night of a full moon, It was said that, long time ago,
Ancient Visayans and Davao's ethnic tribes residing at the foot of Mount Apo would converge during a bountiful
harvest and had to celebrate the full moon because they believed "the diwata came to earth at that time" so did the
other islanders and tribesmen. The full moon was greeted with a variety of names- 'paghipono', 'takdul', 'ugsar'- but
most significantly as "dayaw" [at present it is kadayaw in some Bisayan Islands], perfect or praiseworthy, fit
recognition of its spectacular shape and sunset-to-sunrise brilliance. It was so beautiful that the pre-colonial people
praised and believed it was the reason for their bountiful harvest
Various farming implements, fruits, flowers, vegetables, rice and corn grains were displayed on mats as villagers
give their respect and thanks for the year's abundance. Singing, dancing and offerings to their divine protectors are
the highlights of this ritual.
Although times have changed, this practice of thanksgiving or "pahinungod" is still very much practiced by modern-
day Davaoeños. This tradition flourished and evolved into an annual festival of thanksgiving.
In the 1970s, Mayor Elias B. Lopez, a Bagobo, initiated tribal festivals featuring the Lumad and the Muslim tribes of
Davao City where they showcase their dances and rituals of thanksgiving.
Later in 1986, a program called "Unlad Proyekto Davao" was initiated by the government which was aimed to unite
the Dabawenyos after the turbulent Martial Law era. At that time, the festival was called "Apo Duwaling," a name
created from the famous icons of Davao: Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak; Durian, the king of fruits; and Waling-
waling, the queen of orchids.
"Apo Duwaling" was meant to showcase the city as a peaceful destination to visit and to do business after 1986
EDSA Revolution.
Finally in 1988, 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.
The Moriones is a lenten rites held annually on Holy Week on the island of Marinduque, Philippines. The
"Moriones" are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as
interpreted by local folks. The Moriones or Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of other festivals in the
Philippines where cultural practices or folk history is turned into street festivals.[1]
It is a colorful festival celebrated on the island of Marinduque in the Philippines. The participants use morion masks
to depict the Roman soldiers and Syrian mercenaries within the story of the Passion of the Christ. The mask was
named after the 16th and 17th century Morion helmet.[2] The Moriones refers to the masked and costumed penitents
who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. Morions roam the streets in town from Holy
Monday to Easter Sunday scaring the kids, or engaging in antics or surprises to draw attention. This is a folk-
religious festival that re-enacts the story of Saint Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye. The
festival is characterized by colorful Roman costumes, painted masks and helmets, and brightly colored tunics. The
towns of Boac, Gasan, Santa Cruz, Buenavista and Mogpog in the island of Marinduque become one gigantic
stage. The observances form part of the Lenten celebrations of Marinduque. The various towns also hold the unique
tradition of the pabasa or the recitation of Christ's passion in verse.[3] Then at three o'clock on Good Friday
afternoon, the Santo Sepulcro is observed, whereby old women exchange verses based on the Bible as they stand
in wake of the dead Christ. 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. This weeklong
celebration starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday. [4]
The term Moriones was concocted by the media in the 1960s, but local inhabitants have kept the original term
Moryonan. Many practitioners are farmers and fishermen that engage in this age-old tradition as a vow of penance
or thanksgiving. Legend has it that Longinus pierced the side of the crucified Christ. The blood that spurted forth
touched his blind eye and fully restored his sight. This miracle converted Longinus to Christianity and earned the ire
of his fellow centurions. The re-enactment reaches its climax when Longinus is caught and beheaded.

MassKara Festival

Genre carnival, parade, street dancing

Dates third weekend of October or closest weekend to

October 19

Location(s) Bacolod City, Philippines

Years active 1980 - present (39th edition)

Website Official website

The MassKara Festival (Hiligaynon: Pista sang MassKara, Filipino: Pista ng MassKara) is an annual festival with
highlights held every fourth Sunday of October[1] in Bacolod, Philippines. The most recent festival was held October
8-28, 2018. The festival sites include the Bacolod Public Plaza, the Lacson Tourism Strip and the Bacolod
Government Center.
The word "Masskara" is a portmanteau, coined by the late artist Ely Santiago from mass (a multitude of people), and
the Spanish word cara (face), thus forming MassKara(a multitude of faces). The word is also a pun on maskara,
Filipino for "mask" (itself from Spanish máscara), since it is a prominent feature of the festival and are always
adorned with smiling faces, giving rise to Bacolod being called the "City of Smiles".
The Festival first began in 1980 during a period of crisis. The province relied on sugar cane as its primary
agricultural crop and the price of sugar was at an all-time low due to the introduction of sugar substitutes like high
fructose corn syrup in the United States. This was the first MassKara Festival and a time of tragedy; on April 22 of
that year, the inter-island vessel MV Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, including those belonging to prominent
families in Bacolod City, collided with the tanker Tacloban City and sank in Tablas Strait off Mindoro while en route
from Manila to Bacolod. An estimated 750 lives were lost in the tragedy.
In the midst of these events, the local government then headed by the late Mayor Jose "Digoy" Montalvo
appropriated a seed fund and enjoined the city's artistic community, civic and business groups to hold a "festival of
smiles", to live up to the City's moniker as the "City of Smiles". They reasoned that a festival was also a good
opportunity to pull the residents out of the pervasive gloomy atmosphere brought by the Don Juan Tragedy.[2] The
initial festival was held during the City's Charter Day celebration on October 19, 1980 and was steered by an
organizing committee created by City Hall which was headed by the late councilor Romeo Geocadin and then city
tourism officer Evelio Leonardia. It was a declaration by the people of the city that no matter how tough and bad the
times were, Bacolod City was going to pull through, survive, and in the end, triumph.
The festival has evolved into one of the major annual tourism attractions of the Philippines over the next four
decades. Held in typical Oktoberfest and Mardi Gras fashion, the MassKara Festival served as a catalyst for far-
reaching growth and development of the city's tourism, hospitality, culinary, crafts and souvenirs and services
sectors. In later years, the Electric Masskara was added as another attraction of the Festival. For several nights
leading to the highlight weekend, tribes of MassKara dancers garbed in colorful neon and LED lights on illuminated
floats make their way up and down the Lacson Strip, a one kilometer stretch of merrymaking dotted with band
stages, souvenir stands, exotic car displays and roadside bars and food set-ups put out by restaurant and hotels
along the strip. It is said that beer consumption during the festival is so high that at one time during the first few
stagings of the festival, it bled dry the Mandaue brewery of San Miguel Corporation on nearby Cebu island. The
company eventually built its Bacolod brewery to serve the city and Negros Island.

Masskara Festival Dancers in Bacolod City

Masks[edit]
The mask motif of the festival has changed from masks influenced by native Filipinos to those influenced by
the Carnival of Veniceand the Rio Carnival. Earlier masks were hand-painted and adorned with feathers, flowers
and native beads, while contemporary masks feature plastic beads and sequins.

Bangus Festival is one of Philippines’ most elaborate celebrations. Popular for its unique cultural fusions, this is
a popular tourist attraction.

The festival is held in the beautiful city of Dagupan. It is no-brainer why this makes up a perfect location for the
event. The city is well-known for its delicious bangus products. Every year, tourists from all walks of life make
their way to the city to tantalize their taste buds with this unique delicacy.

Bangus Festival History and Schedule of Activities

Just like the Dinagyang Festival, the Pintados Festival and other more, this Bangus festival is not just a culinary
event as there are energetic street performances that keep visitors enthralled all day long. Join in the dances with
the locals for a first-hand experience of the local culture. The dances are held for the purpose of showing
bountiful harvests of Bangus. The locals will often adorn traditional colorful regalia that resonates well with the
theme of the festival.

Check out the numerous bands that play at the festival, and stay entertained. Food vendors line the streets, so
you can always grab a quick bite as you nod your head to the pulsating rhythms that bring Dagupan to
life. Bangus Festival is the perfect way to indulge oneself in the rich culture of the locals, all the while trying
out different foods. Mark your calendars for this invigorating festival, and do not forget to have fun.

This is a list of festivals in the Philippines, known as "fiestas". The majority of fiestas in the Philippines also have
their own peryas (trade fairs with temporary amusement parks). The origin of most early fiestas are rooted
in Christianity, dating back to the Spanish colonial period when the many communities (such as barrios and towns)
of the predominantly CatholicPhilippines almost always had a patron saint assigned to each of them. Originally
encouraged by the Spanish to coincide with Christian holy days, early festivals became vital instruments in
spreading Christianity throughout the country.[1][2][3][4]
Fiestas in the Philippines can be religious, cultural, or both. Several of these are held to honor the local Roman
Catholic patron saint, to commemorate local history and culture, to promote the community's products, or to
celebrate a bountiful harvest. They can be marked by Holy Masses, processions, parades, theatrical play and
reenactments, religious or cultural rituals, trade fairs, exhibits, concerts, pageants and various games and contests.
However, festivals in the country are not limited to Christian origins. Many festivals also focus on Islamic or
indigenous concepts. There are more than 42,000 known major and minor festivals in the Philippines, the majority of
which are in the barangay (village) level. Due to the thousands of town, city, provincial, national, and village fiestas
in the country, the Philippines has traditionally been known as the Capital of the World's Festivities.
Some festivals, such as Holy Week and Christmas, are declared as public holidays, and thus, are observed and
celebrated nationwide.

The Manaragat Festival of Catbalogan City honours Patron Saint, St. Bartholomew every 24th of August as the
miraculous Saint who maintained the richness of Maqueda Bay as a major fishing ground of the province of Samar.
This is far different from the well known Sinulog, Kasadya-an and other festivals in the country that honours the
birth of Christianism.
The Manaragat Festival is interpreted by colours, dances and the sound of drums that echoed through the deep
culture of the fishing industry that stayed long in the history of Catbaloganons. The City Government of
Catbalogan under the tutelage of Mayor Coefredo "Tekwa" Uy encourages every barangay to participate in this
festival to promote tourism industry as one of the major thrust of his Government.Manaragat is the local dialect
for fishermen.

The original name of the Catbalogan was Katbalaugan or Kabalaugan. It was first organized by the priests of
the Jesuits Order or the Society of Jesus sometime in October 1596. On the first decades of the Spanish
colonization of the country, Samar was under the jurisdiction of Cebu. Later, it was declared as a separate province.
In 1735, Samar and Leyte were united into one province with Cariaga, in Leyte, as the capital. But the union did not
prove satisfactory. In 1768, Catbalogan City became the provincial capital when Samar separated from Leyte and
became an independent province.
From the colonization of Spaniards to the governance of Americans and to the oppressions of the Japanese troops,
Catbalogan suffered much. Even though there were little developments when it comes to economy and
infrastructures, the natives still hoped for the freedom they have been longing for. As early as 1960, Catbalogan
already agitated to become a city. On March 15, 2007, Catbalogan finally attained its cityhood.