Calendar of Philippine Festivals and Monthly Observances / Theme

Date: Whole Month

Venue: Catholic-wide event

Brief Description:

Literally translated, it means “Flowers of May”and highlights a procession honoring Virgin Mary. Coinciding with it is the Santacruzan, re-enacting the search of Queen Elena for the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. The town or city’s loveliest ladies grace the occasion.

Date: May 1

Venue: Pangasinan

Brief Description:

This is a seaside festival and a thanksgiving day by local fishermen for a bountiful year.

Date: May 2

Venue: Nabua, Camarines Sur

Brief Description:

This is a re-enactment of the 13th-century rite of offering chains of coconut embryos called boa to deities. They believe that doing so would mean a prosperous year.

Date: May 3

Venue: Pavia, Iloilo

Brief Description:

This is an event where carabaos (water buffaloes) pull decorated bamboo carts in a 400-meter course race.

Date: May 1-3

Venue: Balabag, Digos, Davao del Sur

Brief Description:

This the ritual performed by the Bagobos involving the making of medicinal oil (lana) after their pilgrimage to Mount Apo.

Date:

Venue: Butuan

Brief Description:

This commemorates the coming of the early migrants from Borneo and Celebes. It is said that they came to Agusan in balanghai or wooden boats.

Date: Whole month of May

Venue: Alitagtag, Batangas

Brief Description:

This is a month-long celebration honoring the Holy Cross.

Date: May 11

Venue: Aparri, Cagayan

Brief Description:

This is a fluvial festival held annually in honor of Saint Peter Thelmo, the town’s patron saint.

Date: May 15

Venue: Pulilan, Bulacan

Brief Description:

This is an event honoring. San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. Carabaos are paraded and blessed by the town priest.

Date: May

Venue: Lucban and Sariaya, Quezon

Brief Description:

This is a thanksgiving festival to San Isidro Labrador for the past year’s bountiful harvest. The event is popular for the elaborate edible decorations that cover entire houses like fruits and vegetables, most prominent of which are the brightly colored rice wafers known as; The image of the patron saint is also paraded around town assuring the farmers of a bountiful harvest in the years to come.

Date: May 17 to 19

Venue: Obando, Bulacan

Brief Description:

This festival involves the different dance rituals held for three consecutive days honoring three patron saints: May 17 for St. Paschal (for couples who want a male child), May 18 for St. Claire (for couples who want a female child) and May 19 for the Our Lady of Salambaw (patroness of fishermen).

Date: May 19 to 25

Venue: Calbiga, Samar

Brief Description:

Every May, the quaint little town of Calbiga abounds with giant pahoy-pahoy (scarecrows) made of indigenous materials dancing about its streets. Musical instruments made up of bamboos, cans and stones create the sounds that scare the local maya birds.

Date: May 1 - 31 - NO CELEBRATION DUE TO THE COVID

Venue: Albay Province

Brief Description:

In admiration of the Majestic Mayon’s beauty and splendor, this festival is dubbed as Magayon, a Bikol term which means beautiful. In essence, this is a celebration of the Albayano’s way of life and a thanksgiving for the abundance of the land’s plentiful harvest through various activities such as agricultural products display and trade fairs, cooking shows, cultural events, street parades, photo/arts exhibits, sports events, and manv more.

Date: May 1 - 2

Venue: Nabua. Camarines Sur

Brief Description:

A colorful cultural festival of pagan origin, and is derived from the dialect “Alinsangan”, a word that describes the characteristics of the people living the in the early settlements. It is a festival showino fertilitv and thanksgiving.

Date: May 11 - 13

Venue: Capalonga, Camarines Norte

Brief Description:

Highlighted by a street dancing and agro-industrial fair which expresses local folk’s gratitude for their town’s name etymology and signifies the abundant presence of rooster available in the locality. Held also in celebration of their Black Nazarene’s Feast Day on Mav 13.

Date: May 12-17

Venue: San Pascual, Masbate

Brief Description:

A festival that portrays and reflects the place, people and heritage linking and tie-up semblance of inspiration and pride of the people of San Pascual working as one people towards community development

Date: 3rd Week of April to 4th Saturday of May

Venue: Region IX

Brief Description:

P’GSALABUK is a Subanen term that means “togetherness”. It is a depiction and celebration of the peaceful unity and myriad interplay of culture of the bi-people -the Christians, Muslims, and ‘lumads’ (indigenous people groups) inhabiting the city. It is celebrated annually with pageantry and series of activities such as trade fairs and exhibits, conferences and competitions.

Date: May 17 - 24

Venue: Donsol, Sorsogon

Brief Description:

A festival which ushers the •Butanding” (Whaleshark) season and a thanksgiving for its blessings to the people of Donsol. Now that they are back, the festivity features regatta, fluvial parade with boats carrying colorful banners and giant images of the butanding along the Donsol River, a street parade of life-size images of the butandings on floats accompanied by barangay delegations. brass bands, drum and bugle corps, and festival street-dancing continQents.

Date: May 18 - 26

Venue: Monreal, Masbate

Brief Description:

Held in time for the town fiesta celebration, the festival focus on the advocacy of the LGU in the protection and preservation of its rich natural resources including the manta rays as well as in the promotion of ecotourism attractions in the area.

Date: May 19 - 27

Venue: Sto. Domingo, Albay

Brief Description:

Celebrating the crystal anniversary of the Sarung Banggi Festival this year, this colorful and igniting festivity commemorates the birth of the composer of the immortal love song Sarung Banggi, Potenciano V. Gregorio. It is known for the annual Parade of the Dancing lights where every barangay showcases impressive interpretation of the song, Sarung Banggi. Contingents parade their dazzling cultural presentations along with their Spanish era portrayed costumes downtown after twilight. Another main event is the Potenciano wanna-be composers competition.

Date: May 21-27

Venue: Camarines Sur

Brief Description:

A week-long celebration of the Foundation Anniversary of the province of Camarines Sur. The festival features numerous activities such as cultural expositions, sports events, beauty pageant, procession and Grand parade.

Date: May 22

Venue: Gingoog City

Brief Description:

Date: May 22 - 27

Venue: Rapu-Rapu, Albay

Brief Description:

A week-long festivity coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia. The festival name was taken from a local world “layag· or sail boat which is a primitive means of transportation of the early people of Rapu-Rapu. It depicts the peoole’s journey of faith

Date: May 27 - 31

Venue: Catanduanes

Brief Description:

Formally known as Catanduanes Abaka Festival, Abaca Festival showcases the life and resilient spirit of the Catandunganon and its culture, as well as the uniqueness and exoticness of the island and its people. It celebrates the fiber industry and its products, which is Catanduanes’ and Bicol’s main materials for its handicrafts. Highlights of the festival include streetdance competition, float parade, trade fair, fashion show among others.