PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS January - April

PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS
Philippines boasts over a thousands of festivals and celebrations
yearly in honor of our patron saints, the flora and fauna, mythologies,
epics or history itself. It's been said that we've got even more festivals
than our very own islands!
Every year, thousands of tourist and locals alike, flock and feast from
city to another to witness the exuberant and colorful parades and
street dances along with pageants, contests, uniquely local food and
delicacies!
THE FEAST OF THE BLACK
NAZARENE IN QUIAPO, 09 January 2015

MANILA
THE FEAST OF THE BLACK
NAZARENE
• A 400 year-old Catholic procession with a
black life-sized wooden statue of Jesus
Christ,

• It draws devotees from all over the

country with a daring attempt to touch
the centuries-old image of the Black
Nazarene over massive crowds.

• The yearly festivities start on the 7th of

January when a procession of replicas of
the Nazareno is displayed followed by
hourly masses and vigils at the Quirino
Grandstand.
HISTORY
the statue was made by an anonymous Mexican sculptor, and the
image arrived in Manila via galleon from Acapulco, Mexico, sometime
in the mid-1600s. Traditional accounts attribute the color to factors
such as votive candles offered before the image, although the most
widely-held belief is that it was charred by a fire on board the galleon
that brought it from Mexico.
The older and more popular copy belonging to the recollects was
destroyed in the second world war during the liberation of manila in
1945. The surviving image has been enshrined in the Minor Basilica
for centuries, withstanding several fires, earthquakes and war. A
common misconception among devotees is that this copy is the same
as the lost image from the Church of Saint Nicolas Tolentino, which
belonged to the Recollects in what is now Rizal Park
outside Intramuros. The Quiapo image was available for physical
veneration by devotees, while the Recollects always kept their copy
above the retablo mayor (high altar) away from crowds.
HYMN

Tagalog lyrics
Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno,
Sinasambá Ka namin,
Pinipintuhò Ka namin
Aral Mo ang aming buhay
at Kaligtasan.
Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno,
Iligtás Mo kami sa Kasalanan!
Ang Krus Mong kinamatayán ay
Sagisag ng aming Kaligtasan.
KORO:
|| Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno,
Dinarangál Ka namin!
Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno,
Nilul'walhatì Ka namin! ||
SINULOG FESTIVAL IN 18 January 2015
CEBU CITY
SINULOG FESTIVAL
Street dance of Queen city of the South, Sinulog is celebrated as a
tribute to the beloved patron of Cebuano. Sinulog is derived from the
Cebuano word "like the flowing water." The celebration includes
bazaar, arts and cultural performances, procession and parade, the
Queen of Sinulog, and the colourful spectacular fireworks.
SINULOG FESTIVAL
The Sinulog Festival is an annual cultural and religious festival held
on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, and is the center of
the Santo Niño celebration in the Philippines. It lasts for nine days
HISTORY
On April 15, 1521, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand
Magellan arrived and planted the cross on the shores of Cebu,
claiming the territory for Spain. He presented the image of the
child Jesus, the Rajah Humabon. Hara Humamay (or Amihan in some
versions) was later named, Queen Juana in honor of Juana, mother
of Carlos I. Along with the rulers of the island, some 800 natives were
also baptized to the Roman Catholic Church. At the moment of
receiving the holy image, it was said that Queen Juana danced with
joy bearing this image of the child Jesus. With the other natives
following her example, this moment was regarded as the first
Sinulog.
SINULOG
IN HONOR OF
SANTO NIÑO

“Pit Señor” is the short form of “Sangpit sa Señor,” a phrase in

Cebuano that means, “to call, ask, and plead to the king.” This call for
help brings believers together in the crowded streets of Cebu every
third Sunday of January.
“PIT SEÑOR! SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO
While dancing, people are shouting petitions and thanksgivings to
the Santo Niño. Shouting is necessary because the pilgrims have to be
sure that they will be heard by the Santo Niño.
“Pit Señor! Señor Santo Niño, Manoy Kiloy...."
The Sinulog became indeed a dance ritual in honor of Santo Niño!
SINULOG DANCE
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.
The Sinulog was already danced by the locals in honor of their
wooden statues in the period before the Cebuanos were
baptized. Later on, after the image of the famous Santo Niño was
brought to Cebu and the Catholic faith was established in the region,
the dance was made a part of the yearly fiesta in honor of the Santo
Niño.
SINULOG DANCE
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.
ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL IN 19 to 26 January
KALIBO, AKLAN 2015
ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL
Dubbed as the "The Filipino Mardi Gras" and the “The Mother of all
Philippine Festivals”, Ati-Atihan Festival is filled with wild, rhythmic,
tribal dances and street party in honor of Santo Niño (the infant
Jesus). It is usually held every 3rd Monday of January for 7days,
visitors flock to witness tribesmen in their indigenous costumes and
painted faces parade along the streets.
HISTORY
• The name "Ati-Atihan" means "to be like itas" or "make believe
Ati's". Itas were the primary settlers in the islands according to
history books. They too are the earliest settlers of Panay Island
where the province of Aklan is situated

• At 13th century (c.1200 A.D.) event explains the origins of the

festival. A group of 10 Malay chieftains called Datus, fleeing from
the island of Borneo settled in the Philippines, and were granted
settlement by the Ati people, the tribes of Panay Island. Datu Puti,
Makatunaw's chief minister made a trade with the natives and
bought the plains for a golden salakot, brass basins and bales of
cloth.DJ TaNiX They have a very long necklace to the wife of the Ati
cheiftan. Feasting and festivities followed soon after.
HISTORY
•Some time later, the Ati people were struggling with famine as the
result of a bad harvest. They were forced to descend from their
mountain village into the settlement below, to seek the generosity of
the people who now lived there. The Datus obliged and gave them
food. In return, the Ati danced and sang for them, grateful for the
gifts they had been given.
•The misoln was originally a pagan festival from this tribe practicing
Animism, and their worshiping their anito god. Spanish missionaries
gradually added a Christian meaning. Today, the Ati-Atihan is
celebrated as a religious festival.
EVENTS
The people attend masses for the Santo Niño, and benefit dances
sponsored by government organizations. The formal opening mass
emphasizes the festival’s religious event. The procession begins with
a rhythmic drumbeats, and dances parading along the street. The
second day begins at dawn with a rosary procession, which ends with
a community mass, and procession. The phrase "Hala Bira! Pwera
Pasma!" is originally associated with the Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival
as the revelers and devotees keep on going with the festivities all
over the town from morning to the wee hours of the next morning,
rain or shine, for one week or even more. They believe that the
miraculous Child Jesus will protect them from harm and illness. The
highlight of the festival occurs on the last day, the third Sunday of
January, when groups representing different tribes compete for
tourists' attention and prizes. The festival ends with a procession of
thousands of people carrying torches and different kinds of images of
the Santo Niño. The contest winners are announced at a masquerade
ball which officially ends the festival.
DINAGYANG FESTIVAL IN I 25 January 2015
LOILO CITY
DINAGYANG FESTIVAL
Known as the Queen Festival of the Philippines, Dinagyang is
Iloilo's version of Ati-atihan. Held every 4th Sunday of January,
residents with their body painted in black, groove to the beat of the
drums and enliven the streets in their colorful and grandest
costumes!
HISTORY
Dinagyang is Iloilo City’s version of the Ati-Atihan festival widely
celebrated not only in Panay Island but also in other parts of the
country. It may not be as ancient as the one in Kalibo in Aklan
Province, but is definitely impressive in choreography and striking in
terms of the various attires worn by participating tribes which reflect
the ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry of the Ilonggos.
HISTORY
An Ilonggo term for revelry or merrymaking, Dinagyang was coined in
1977 by Ilonggo writer/broadcaster Pacifico Sudario to describe the
riotous celebration. Prior to this, Dinagyang was labeled “Iloilo Ati-
Atihan” to differentiate it from other Ati-Atihan festivals.
Iloilo Ati-Atihan dates back to the year 1967 when a replica of the
image of Señor Santo Niño was first brought from Cebu by the San
Jose Parish in Iloilo City. The image, accompanied by devotees from
Cebu, was enthusiastically received at the Mandurriao Airport by the
people of Iloilo.
HISTORY
In 1969, the Ati-Atihan contest became a part of the cultural aspect
of the celebration with only four tribes participating. Since then, the
celebration has progressed into a more colorful and pompous affair
that includes the participation of more tribes and groups.
In 1974, the Dinagyang Festival played a vital role in the “Operation
Balikbayan” program of the then Ministry of Tourism when some of
the tribes provided tourists with a unique form of cultural
entertainment.
In 1976, street revelry and audience participation were encouraged.
From mere spectators of the performances of various competing
tribes, the 1976 festivities offered people their first chance to wildly
gyrate in the streets, to shed off inhibitions and to forget the cares,
pressures and vexations of everyday life.
HISTORY
In 1977, an authentic Ati tribe from the mountains of Barotac Viejo
was invited by the Dinagyang organizers and by the Regional
Association of National Government Executives to perform and
display their native dances.
From 1978 to the present, the Dinagyang Festival has evolved into a
big religious and cultural activity supported by both the government
and the private sectors. It now features cultural presentations, sports
competitions and various side events.
The Festival was likewise adjudged the country’s tourism event of the
year by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines for
three consecutive years from 2006 to 2008.
EVENTS
January 2015
January 9 (Friday) at 3:00PM – Opening Salvoalong the Street Parade Route (Iloilo Provincial
Capitol to Freedom Grandstand)
January 21 (Wednesday) at 7:00PM – Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2015 Coronation Nightat
University of San Agustin Gym
January 22-25 (Thursday to Sunday) from 5:00PM onwards – Dinagyang IHRRA Food Festivalat
Delgado Street
January 23 (Friday) from 7:00PM onwards – 5th Annual Dinagyang Festival Luces in the Sky
Pyrolimpics– SM City Iloilo Carpark, Mandurriao District
January 23 (Friday) at 3:00PM – Salvo of a Thousand Drumsat Arroyo Fountain Area
January 23 (Friday) at 8:00AM – Tambor Trumpa Martsa Musikafrom Bonifacio Drive to
Freedom Grandstand
EVENTS
January 23 (Friday) at 3:00PM – Religious Fluvial and Solemn Foot Procession
of the image of Santo Niño de Cebu. From Fort San Pedro to Iloilo Customs
House, followed by solemn foot procession to San Jose de Placer Church
January 24 (Saturday) at 8:00AM – Kasadyahan Regional Festival along the
Street Parade Route
January 24 (Saturday) at 2:00PM – Sponsors Mardi-Gras along the Street
Parade Route (refer to festival route map for details)
January 24 (Saturday) at 7:00PM – Religious Sadsad at San Jose de Placer
Parish Church
January 25 (Sunday) at 6:00AM – Concelebrated High Mass at San Jose de
Placer Parish Church
January 25 (Sunday) at 8:00AM – Iloilo Dinagyang Ati Tribe Competition
along the Street Parade Route
January 25 (Sunday) at 7:00PM – Awarding Ceremonies at Freedom
Grandstand
 PANAGBENGA
February 01 to
FLOWER FESTIVAL IN March 08 2015
BAGUIO CITY
PANAGBENGA FLOWER FESTIVAL
A month-long of colourful blooms and dances, the Panagbenga
Flower Festival is an annual event in the summer capital of the
Philippines, Baguio. Panagbenga is of Malayo-Polynesian origin,
meaning "season of blooming". The festival includes gigantic floats
decorated with flowers and street dancers clad in flower-inspired
costumes. Next year's festival is expected to feature hot air balloons
as a new attraction.
HISTORY
A little about its history, the word Panagbenga was rooted from a Kankanaey
term which means “Seasons of blooming ” or “a time for flowering”. This
festival is celebrated as a tribute to the beautiful flowers of Baguio City rising
up from the devastating effects of the earthquake in Luzon during 1990.
Since then, it became one of the most colorful and elegant festivals in the
Philippines.
This year, Panagbenga is jam packed with exciting big events including a
street dancing parade, a drum and lyre band competition and a grand flower
float parade! The festival will start with an opening ceremony simultaneous
with the Street Dancing Parade Competition at the Panagbenga Park down to
Session Road and will pass to Harrison Road going to the Melvin Jones
on February 1. An opening concert will also be held which venue is yet to be
announced. The Baguio Blooms Exhibition and Exposition will be at Lake
Drive, Burnham Park fromFebruary 1 to March 8.
On February 15, the "Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio" will
host various activities such as "Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom",
the Panagbenga 2015 Kite-Flying Challenge, Panagbenga Variety Show and
a fireworks display at the Melvin Jones.
EVENTS
•February 01 Opening Ceremonies, opening concert, Grand Opening Parade, Drum
and Lyre Band Competition with Street Dancing
•February 01 Start of the 5 week Baguio Blooms Exhibition – at Lake Drive, Burnham
Park
•February 15 Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio (Let A Thousand Flowers
Bloom) Melvin Jones Arena
•February 19 Chinese Spring Festival
•February 20-22 PMA Grand Alumni Homecoming
•February 23-27 The Floral Arrangement and Landscaping Competition
•February 28 Grand Street Dancing Parade
•March 01 Grand Flower Float Parade
•March 01-08 Session Road in Bloom (Baguio’s most popular street will be closed to
traffic to let pedestrians walk freely and enjoy the food and entertainment on offer)
•March 07 Pony Boys’ Day – Entertainment, horse back riding shows
and competition
•March 08 Closing Ceremonies and Grand Fireworks Display
PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL
HOT AIR 12 to 15
BALLOON FIESTA IN ANGELE February 2015

S CITY, PAMPANGA
PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL HOT
AIR BALLOON FIESTA
Also known as “A Weekend of Everything that Flies", is more than just
a spectator event, as PIHABF is a gathering of aviators from
the Philippines and the world. This is a 4-day fiesta said to be visited
by more than 60,000 visitors, locals and tourists to witness the
remarkable Hot Air Balloons afloat in various shapes and colors.
Aerial spectacles also include radio guided gliders, skydiving, rocket
models, kite flying and more!
HOW IT STARTED
Three years after the devastating effects of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption,
former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor together with some aviation
enthusiasts engineered the first Philippine International Hot Air
Balloon Festival with a goal: to help jumpstart the local economy and
uplift the spirit of the Central Luzon region. 21 balloon pilots from 10
countries took part and showcased their balloon flying skills and one
of them, Capt. Joy Roa, came from the host country.
By 1996, Tourism Sec. Mina Gabor requested Capt. Joy Roa of Air Ads
Inc, to take over the organization of the event, being the only
licensed balloon pilot in the country. As an aviation enthusiast, a
fixed wing pilot and rotary wing pilot, he encouraged all the other
disciplines of flying to be a part of the fiesta. From then on, the
Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta has become A Weekend
of Everything that Flies.
 PINTADOS DE
PASI FESTIVAL IN PASSI, March 2015

ILOILO
PINTADOS DE PASI FESTIVAL
Celebrated every 3rd week of March showcasing performers adorned
in traditional body tattoo with elaborate geometrical designs all over
their arms, legs and torso. It's a week-long festivity that includes
garden show and food fairs, Karosa Parada, grand coronation night of
the Search for Binibining Pintados, carabao artwork and tribal
contests. This festival is a significant event especially for
the Passinhons depicting the history of Passi through “pintados”,
celebrating the town's colourful ancestral beings laid down every
feature of the area, especially their way of life.
 MALASIMBO MUSIC & ARTS
FESTIVAL IN PUERTO GALERA 06 to 08 March &
13 to 18 March
2015
MALASIMBO MUSIC & ARTS
FESTIVAL
Puerto Galera is one of the most favored diving sites in the world and
the only bay in the country to be listed in the Club of the “Most
Beautiful Bays in the World.” Since 2011, Mt. Malasimbo has become
another staple name in Puerto Galera’s attractions, with the
Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival happening annually around March.
Here you will find music, arts, nature, and the rich tribal culture of
the Mangyans of Mindoro. The festival is held outdoors in a natural
amphitheater at the foot of Mount Malasimbo overlooking Puerto
Galera Bay.
1. The festival is named after a supposedly mystical mountain in
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. The first edition was held in 2011
and has been held there annually since then.
2. Malasimbo is the brainchild of 3 people, each with his or her own
contribution: Hubert D’Aboville, a Frenchman who first came to the
Philippines in the late 1970s and built his home here; his daughter
Olivia, an artist and designer; and her partner Miro Grgic, a Croatian-
born Australian sound engineer.
3. Musicians who have performed at Malasimbo in previous years
include DJ Krush, Nyko Maca, Joe Bataan, Joey Ayala, Grace Nono, Up
Dharma Down, Radioactive Sago Project, Sinosikat, Jimmy Cliff, and
Joss Stone.
4. Besides music, Malasimbo is also promoting the visual arts,
through exhibits and installations from established and up-and-
coming artists, including Gus Albor, Billy Bonnevie, Agnes Arellano,
Kawayan De Guia, Niccolo Jose, Risa Recio and many others. Some of
the sculptures and installations from previous years are still at the
venue for people to check out.
5. The festival also advocates environmental awareness. When the
D’Abovilles and Grgic first laid their eyes on the mountain and the
location, it became their mantra to help preserve and protect it for
generations to come. To this end, they have engaged in reforestation
efforts and are mindful of the virtues of sustainable development.
6. There are many indigenous communities in this part of Luzon, and
Malasimbo also strives to put the spotlight on preserving their unique
heritage, particularly the native Mangyans of Mindoro. There is a
native Mangyan village within the grounds that exposes festival-
goers to cultures beyond the familiar.
7. The 2014 edition of Malasimbo is a five-day affair, starting on
February 27 to March 3. If you’re too festival-ed out, there are other
things to do in the playground that is Puerto Galera. Get a tan at
White Beach, explore Aninuan Falls and the Tukara River, visit the
Lighthouse at Sinandigan, say hello to various flora and fauna at the
Paradise Zoo, and snorkel and scuba dive to see some of the most
spectacular underwater scenery you’ll see anywhere in the world.
8. You can get one-, two-, or 3-day passes to the festival, ranging in
prices from P500 to P6,600, depending on the day and when you buy
them. If you’re there for the music, don’t miss Saturday and Sunday
as these are the days that the top music acts are performing. –
Rappler.com
 MORIONES
30 March to
FESTIVAL IN MARINDUQUE 05 April 2015
ISLAND
MORIONES FESTIVAL
The annual Moriones Festival is a week-long celebration of the life
and death of Jesus Christ that begins on Holy Monday and ends on
Easter Sunday. Witness the dramatic re-enactment of the story of
Longinus, a Roman centurion who is said to have speared the
crucified body of Jesus Christ. The performance is famous for the
"Moriones" who are the men and women dressed as biblical Roman
soldiers wearing masks known as the "Morion" depicting fearsome
faces
MORIONES FESTIVAL
While the rest of the country makes quiet visits to churches or stays
at home watching somber television shows in observance of the Holy
Week, the people of Marinduque dresses up in rainbow-colored
centurion costumes and caricature-like wooden masks.

the word "morion" means visor or mask associated with the armor of
Roman soldiers, the story behind the festival is tied to the legend of
Longinus, a Roman centurion who is believed to have been at the side
of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. The word "Moriones" refers to the local
inhabitants who dress up in costumes and masks of Roman
soldiers during Biblical times. These costumed locals are farmers and
fishermen who engage in the street theater as a form of penitence.
Once a man wears his Moriones costume, no one must know his
identity, so he must not take off his mask, nor reveal his true name or
voice.
MORIONES FESTIVAL
In the Bible, Longinus was blind in one eye, but the blood that
spurted out of Christ's side reached his eye and fully restored his
sight. The miracle converted Longinus to Christianity, but he was
scorned by his fellow centurions who ended up murdering him.

In the street theater, costumed actors reenact the life and death of
Jesus Christ, and the conversion to Christianity of Longinus as a form
of penitence. For seven days, from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday, the
masked and costumed Moriones march around town scaring children
and making a ruckus in a reenactment of the search for Longinus.
The locals' reenactment of the Biblical story climaxes on Easter
Sunday, when Longinus is beheaded.
 BANGUS
01 April to 01 May
FESTIVAL IN DAGUPAN, 2015
PANGASINAN
BANGUS FESTIVAL
The Dagupan Bangus Festival is a yearly event in Pangasinan to
promote the local bangus (milkfish) industry and underline Dagupan's
status as the Bangus Capital of the World. In 2003, the Guinness Book
of World Records recognized the “Kalutan ed Dagupan” as the
Longest Barbecue of the World. This festival also includes the BANGUS
RODEO and the BANGUS ED KAROSA parade in colourfully decorated
floats.
BANGUS FESTIVAL
From its humble beginning in 2002 to a lavish celebration today,
the Bangus Festival has come a long way in establishing its place on
the Philippines’ list of best fiestas. In 2003, the Guinness Book of
World Records recognized the festivals very own “Kalutan ed
Dagupan” as the Longest Barbecue of the World! The annual affair has
consistently drawn people from all over the Philippines to savor the
native delicacy and to enjoy the many activities lined up for the whole
festivity.
BANGUS FESTIVAL
The traditional BANGUS RODEO is up in the search for the Longest
Bangus, Heaviest Bangus, Prettiest Bangus, Fastest Bangus Eater,
Fastest Bangus Classifier and the Fastest Bangus Deboner! One of the
major highlights of the festival also include BANGUS ED KAROSA
parade in colourfully decorated floats.
Local entrepreneurs and food enthusiasts need not worry as the
Festival also features a month-long bazzar called the One Barangay,
One Product and One Town, One Product Trade Fair. This new expo
will exhibit and sell only native products and delicacies from
participating municipalities, giving tourists a delightful chance to
relish different regional treats without having to leave the city.
BANGUS FESTIVAL
The Bangus Festival will never be complete without the Bangusan
Street Party and Kalutan ed Dalan. Famous bands will be rocking the
streets as people revel in the succulence of the famous grilled bangus
and other seafood. During these events, barbecues will be lining the
highways with FREE bangus to eat, of course, along with several
stages for music and entertainment. Young and old party goers will
never be disappointed with this extravagant blowout.
Source:
• http://buymebuddy.com/blog/view/7169/calendar-of-philippine-
festivals-and-celebrations-for-2015
•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Nazarene
•http://buymebuddy.com/blog/view/9777/20th-panagbenga-flower-
festival-2015
•http://buymebuddy.com/blog/view/9827/dinagyang-2015-the-
queen-festival
http://buymebuddy.com/blog/view/9775/moriones-festival-of-
marinduque-2015
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ati-Atihan_festival
http://www.philballoonfest.net/started/
https://www.google.com.ph/maps/@11.6978351,122.6217542,6z