Calendar of Philippine Festivals and Monthly Observances / Theme

This feast is celebrated at the heart of Manila- Quiapo. Devotees come from all over the metropolis to participate in this annual event honoring the hundred-year-old statue of the Black Nazarene.

This is an annual festival held in Cebu, which commences nine days before the third Sunday of January.

This is a celebration in honor of the Infant Jesus, the town’s patron. Ati-Atihan, observed in honor of the Child Jesus. Ati-atihan means ‘making like Atis,’ that is, pretending to be like the aboriginal natives that once inhabited Aklan. This involves smearing oneself with soot to darken the skin and dressing up in tribal finery. The start of the procession is signaled by drums and whistles, and later punctuated by shouts of “Hala Bira!”

Dinagyang is a Hiligaynon word extrapolated from dagyang meaning “merrymaking” It celebrates the feast of the Infant Jesus and the pact between the Datus and the locals.

A week – long celebration of the MAHAGUYOG Festival, characterized by street parades, pageantry, and a lot of merry – making.  It is an annual festival every Saturday of February as a prelude to the feast day of St. Thomas of Aquinas, the town’s Patron Saint, as a gesture of gratitude and a way of thanksgiving of the farmers for the bountiful harvest of crops they reap the whole-year-round.  It also supports the One-Town, One-Product (OTOP) program of the National Government that promotes livelihood and entrepreneurship through agri-tourism.

This festivity features racing events between local outriggers in the strait between Iloilo City and Guimaras Island.

This is a seven-day event showcasing the artistry, craftsmanship and various talents of the people of Taytay.

This is a harvest-offering affair for Our Lady of Lourdes. Farmers parade in carabao-drawn carts filled with the best of local produce while Agtas come down from the mountain to dance.

This is a ten-day series of cultural events with a focus on the unique bamboo-made organ, made by Fray Diego de la Cera, and found only in Las Piñas.

This is a relatively “new” event in the country’s summer capital. Similar to the Rose Bowl Parade of the U.S., this festival is highlighted by a parade of floats made entirely of fresh blossoms from local horticulturists.

The festival celebrates the Kalinga culture through its sports, crafts, and indigenous food.

This highlights the culture of the first settlers of Bago City before the Spanish colonizers arrived. As defined by Negros historians, the babaylan is a doctor, herbalist, artist, adviser, herbalist, seer, diviner and agriculturist.

This features cultural shows, a civic/military, agro-industrial fair, sports competition, and a beauty pageant.

This is a three-day gathering of Bukidnon’s various ethnolinguistic groups in Pines View Park. It includes a performance of traditional rituals.

Malasimbo Festival has four pillars: music, arts, indigenous people, and environment. The festival is well known for bringing some of the most versatile musicians. In the event, the Malasimbo grounds is decorated with world-class artwork by various talented Filipino and visual artists, also showcasing indigenous peoples’ work.

World Theatre Week is an occasion for theatre artists of varied disciplines in performance and media arts to celebrate the power of Theatre to bring people together and an opportunity to share with audiences the wealth of each country’s heritage, history, habitat, theatrical traditions and expertise modeling cultural caregiving for marginalized sectors and disadvantaged youth exemplified in the Philippine program of the Earthsavers Dreams Ensemble honored as UNESCO Artists for Peace;

This is a week-long celebration of Samal’s founding anniversary held every first week of March.

This is an eight-day multi-themed annual festival that culminates on the province’s foundation day, March 8. It is a colorful and joyful celebration of the province’s rich agricultural harvests, abundant mineral resources, governance’s feats, trade and tourism fair, and a showcasing of the people’s culture and traditions. The Al-law Ng Kalomonan (Tribal Day) falls on the 7th day of Anibina.

This is a week-long event honoring Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross.  The Palm Sunday is held on the fifth Sunday of Lent where churchgoers bring palm and leaves to re-enact the arrival of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem.  Holy Thursday is held with a Visitaa Iglesia where Catholics visit at least 7 churches. A “Pasyon” or narration of Christ’s life through singing is held; On Good Friday, believers re-enact the sufferings and death of Christ on the Cross. Easter Sunday is highlighted by “Salubong” or dawn processions held in various parts of the country.*

This is a week-long celebration participated in by male penitents in costumes who parade around town. On Good Friday, they reenact the story of Longinus, a centurion, blind in one eye, who speared Jesus’ side. Christ’s blood fell on his blind eye, miraculously restoring it, leading to his conversion.

This is believed to be the origin of Marinduque’s Moriones Festival and is as colorful.

This is a procession of flagellants and devotees in biblical attire that ends in the Balaan Bukid Shrine.

This is a ritual where believers crawl through the Catilaran cave chanting prayers in the hope of gaining supernatural powers to ward off evil spirits.

Siquijor is popularly known throughout the country for “witchcraft”. A “Witches Festival” is held at Crocodile Hill overlooking the Bay of Lazi and the Mindanao Sea. When the moon is full, the sorcerers, called magbabarang gather herbs, roots and live insects, throw these into a giant cauldron filled with boiling water, then sit in a circle around it while mumbling incantations. This is followed by dancing and ends in an exclusive ritual in a secluded cave at dawn.

This is marked by the presence of men wearing masks (“moriones”) and garbed in what passes off for Roman centurion costumes to dramatize the story of Longinus, the blind centurion whose sight was restored by the blood that spurted from the side where Longinus speared Christ. This is held during the Holy Week in Marinduque.

It recounts the Passion play and is performed on the city’s streets.

This is a seven-day feast in honor of our lady of sorrows highlighted by a procession and a dance (to the beat of a turumba song).

Began in 1983 by former mayor Wilfrido Furigay, the festival showcases the rich Yakan traditions. This is highlighted by a parade and a horse race.

This is mainly the re-enactment of the Battle of Mactan along the islands’ beach.

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.

This is a labor and thanksgiving festival marked by street dancing and a parade of farm products.

This is a showcase of Albay’s culture and arts marked by exhibits, parades, shows, and sports.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

A Colorful and lively street dancing festival that pays homage to the city’s Patron Saints and the Queen Pineapple – deemed one of the sweetest in the world and a symbol for Ormoc. Competing school contingents with hundreds of participants will be judged int he streets packed with their student peers cheering them on.  Major cash prizes are awarded to winners as well as the chosen festival queen.

This is a province-wide festivity which coincides with Agusan del Sur’s  Foundation Anniversary in June 17. Incepted in 1993 during the incumbency of the late Gov. Democrito O. Plaza, the festival is a recognition of the Manobo people’s loyalty to their tribal leader, Datu Lipus Makapandong.

Literally meaning “the chosen one” the weeklong celebration showcases the indigenous people’s culture through music and dance, native products, ethnic games, and a host of sporting tournaments and special events.

The festival depicts the Agusanon culture and heritage. Natives from far-flung places of the province usually come down and display skills through tribal dances and rituals. A trade fair displaying the province’s cottage industries also takes place in Naliyagan Cultural Center Grounds at the Gov. D. O. Plaza Government Center, Prosperidad.

This is a two-day affair, which serves as a thanksgiving feast in honor of the Lord.

The city of Cotabato in Mindanao celebrates its founding with special events as the layang-layang or giant kite festival, fluvial parades, banca race and sports competition.

Crisp, golden-brown roast pigs are paraded through the streets. As soon as the best decorated roasted pig is announced, the eating commences.

The event is held in honor of St. John the Baptist and is marked with fluvial processions, parades and water sports.

This is a festival showcasing the famous and sweetest of all pineapples- the Formosa variety- abundantly growing in Daet. The week-long celebration features sports events, talent and skills competition, an investment forum, cultural shows and concerts, a food fair, an agro-industrial and trade fair, search for Bicolandia Queen, and street dancing contests.

The festival consists of three major activities: (1) Subiran Regatta – a sailboat race held at the eastern entrance of San Juanico Strait, (2) Balyuan – a pageant reenacting the historic exchange of images between Basey, Samar and Tacloban City, and (3) Pintados Festival where participants paint their bodies and dance to the rhythm of bamboo sticks.

In Piat, Cagayan, the colorful celebration is highlighted by street dancing, cultural shows and a beauty pageant. This festival commemorates the Christianization of the Ytawes region of Cagayan.

This is a festival with a Maranao war dance as a main event. The dance is performed during the Araw ng Lanao del Norte and is participated by all the municipalities in the province. The war dance is complemented by a fan dance performed by Maranao maidens wearing colorful dresses.

In Bocaue, Bulacan, a feast is held in honor of the Holy Cross of Wawa found in the Bocaue River. The main attraction of the affair is the fluvial parade of the pagoda or decorated barge and colorful small boats.

This coincides with the Foundation Day of Batangas City. It revives the tradition of dancing the subli, which is indigenous to the province.

The event honors Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte’s patron saint St. James.

The celebration of the residents of Tanjay, Negros Oriental of this 10-day fiesta features the origin of the old sinulog culture. A parade is held showcasing the clothes locals wear, while the horsefighting presentation re-enacts the battle between the Spaniards and the Muslims.

In Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, the feast is held in honor of Santa Ana (St. Anne), known to protect the residents along the Agusan River from man-eating crocodiles. The celebration includes the holding of a prayer on boats for safe passage and prosperity.

Celebrated in Bohol, this festival commemorates the blood compact between Spaniard Legaspi and Filipino Sikatuna. It includes an agro-industrial exhibit, a trade fair, a beauty contest, street dancing and a re-enactment of the blood compact.

This is a thanksgiving festival for a bountiful harvest highlighting the culture of the Sama, the indigenous people of Samal, as shown in the indigenous sports, and other culture-based competitions.

Pangasinan Bamboo Festival August 12 This is a festival showcasing bamboo products and includes bamboo planting and film exhibitions. Venue: Calasiao and Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan

This is a thanksgiving festival by local fisherfolk for blessings received during seafaring, and fish-farming.

Locals celebrate the bountiful harvest of the fruit Marang.

This is highlighted by a cultural presentation showing the life and times of the Ivatans.

“Pasaka,” the native word for Assumption, is a street spectacle in honor of Our Lady of Assumption.

This is a dance festival extolling the many uses of the coconut in homage to Our Lady of Fatima and St. Roque.

This is a gathering of Mindanao ethnolinguistic groups like the Bagobos and Manobos. This is highlighted by a horse fight and a Manobo wedding.

Dabaweños celebrate the annual Kadayawan – a colorful occassion that lasts for five days – as a thanksgiving festival and a tribute to its indigenous peoples. Kadayawan is a native expression in Dabawnon tongue, which means “anything excellent that brings great fortune” from “dayaw” (good), describing a thing that is valuable and superior.

On August 19, in the town of Lucban, Quezon, townsfolk trot out their beloved gigantes or giants. Measuring about 14 feet tall, the giants come in pairs, the mag-asawa or couple, a giant man dressed in the peasant’s camisa chino or undershirt, and his wife clad in the native patadyong and kimona, a loose skirt topped with a flimsy blouse. Made from papier mache, the giants are borne on shoulders by those who have made a panata (oath) made in return for a favor received. This festivity is shared by Lucban with the town of Angono, Rizal, which holds it in November.

The festival features evening novenas participated in by more than 40 clans, which culminate in a nocturnal fluvial procession at the Tanjay River.

This features a cultural show, trade fair, and a street dance depicting the archangels’ victory over the “Black” Angels.

This is a festival of Bicol cuisine: pinangat and laing, bicol Express, inolokan or tilmak, pecadillo and cocido.

The festival features street dancers dressed as cocks swaying to the beat of ancient Samareño instruments.

This is a gathering of the major ethnolinguistic groups in the province together with representatives from Davao.

This is a religious festival honoring Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, the patroness of the Bicol Region River.

This showcases local rituals, dances, and way of life.

This is a festival with a delightful pre-planting feast at its core where natives share their food with everyone.

This commemorates centuries-old religious and cultural tradition based on the life of St. Michael.

This celebrates the banig and the kawayan crafts industry flourishing in Basey.

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This festival highlights the performance of the history and culture of Capizeños during pre-Hispanic times.

The festival involves children of locals, dressed in costumes of UN member countries, parading around the city.

This is a grand Bacoleño celebration marked by carnivals, fairs and masked street dancers.

This festival is based on Ibalong, a Bicol epic showcasing legendary superheroes Handiong and Baltog.

The festival features a regatta, colorful vintas, banconan flower show, and fireworks honoring the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Zaragosa.

The festival is itself the foundation anniversary of Sorsogon. The festival’s name means “prosperity and happiness.”

The image of the Virgin is paraded around town in a colorfully-decorated carriage, which resembles a ship. The image is believed to be miraculous and ensures safe voyage to anyone who prays to it.

This is held in honor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

This is a religious celebration of thanksgiving and joyous pageantry of dancing devotees of San Rafael.

This festival is marked by a streetdancing involving the pintados or dancers with tattoos or flowers on their body.

This restages the Filipino tradition of visiting relatives to lovingly remember departed loved ones.

This festival reenacts the first contact between the natives of Mindoro and traders from China.

This celebration is marked by giant papier mache effigies, natives in wooden shoes and costumes joining the procession of the statue of San Clemente around town.

This involves performances by indigenous groups of the area, and harvest-related thanksgiving rituals.

This celebrates the versatility of the Bamboo plant and its importance in the area.

This is a thanksgiving celebration highlighted by the catching of the ipon , a small but mysterious fish.

This is one of the region’s major events featuring young Cordillerans in a day-long event to “celebrate life.”

This festival re-enacts the war between the Aetas and the Christians through dance.

This is higlighted by nightly cultural presentations from the different universities in Cebu City.

This is a lantern showcase where lanterns measuring 14 to 18 feet in diameter delight spectators with their kaleidoscope patterns

This features “Kiti-Kiti,” “Pastoras,” Bikol Song Festival, and other cultural events.

This involves a trade fair, a street theater performance, and songs and dances depicting the rich Subanon cultural heritage.

This is a month-long Christmas festivity featuring cultural presentations and contests..

This features a Lantern festival, the coronation of Miss Agoo, the awarding of Bannuar ti and Dakilang Datu Awards.

This features a fireworks display, a grand parade, a food festival, and the Capiz dance festival.

Children join in the “hanging of the green” signifying the start of the Christmas season.

This is a grand celebration in honor of the city’s patroness and is highlighted by a parade of several images of Virgin Mary.

This is the Tagbanuas’ feast of thanksgiving for a bountiful rice harvest along with food offerings to deities and departed kin. The rite involves men and partaking of rice wine with the spirits. After the harvest, the Tagbanuas gather in the house of the babaylan or the priestess whom the spirits speak to.