Religious Festival

• The Philippines is home to rich, colorful and lively festivals that are expressions of the religiosity and strong faith of Filipinos
• Fiestas showcase Filipino ingenuity at its finest
• The fiesta is part and bundle of Filipino culture, and there is always a fiesta going on somewhere in the country
• The most elaborate festival of all is Christmas, a season celebrated with all the display and show the fun-loving Filipino can handle
• Pahiyas festival


  Celebrated every 15th of May in Lucban, in honor of San Isidro Labrador and as a thanksgiving for a rich and bountiful harvest
• Making of Kipling (leaf-shaped, multi-colored rice-paste wafers used to decorate houses)

  1. Selection of leaves

  2. Preparation of rice paste

  3. Spreading paste on leaves

  4. Steaming

  5. Drying and compressing
• Obando Fertility Rite


  A dance ritual and Catholic festival celebrated every May in Obando, Bulacan to honor and beseech the town's three patron saints
• Obando Fertility Rite


  • Locals and pilgrims dressed in traditional costumes, dance and sing in the town's streets
  • Couples who are childless can appeal for heavenly intercession and dance to please the Virgin of Salambao
• Moriones festival


  A week-long festival held during Holy Week in Marinduque, where people wear colorful and realistic Roman costumes and masks depicting the story of St. Longinus
• Moriones festival


  • Wearers' identities remain anonymous till the end of the festival, and they act as mean-tempered Roman soldiers
• Ati-Atihan festival


  A festival in honor of the Santo Niño, celebrated with rejoicing and energetic merriment on the streets in Kalibo, Aklan
• Ati-Atihan festival


  • People paint their faces in many different ways and dress in creative, outstanding costumes
  • Native dance competition where competitors cover their body with soot and paint their faces to portray the Ati
• Sinulog festival


  A native dance in Cebu that commemorates the acceptance of Christianity by the Filipino people
• Sinulog festival


  • Grand street parade with participants decked in brightly colored costumes, usually similar to the Sto. Niños they display
  • Fluvial Procession on the last day, with a decorated pump boat honoring the Sto. Niño
• Dinagyang festival


  A festival in Iloilo that is a showcase of the rich heritage, colorful history, passionate devotion and fun-loving spirit of the Ilonggo people, in honor of Senyor Santo Niño
• Dinagyang festival


  • Colorful costumes and headdresses, rhythmic dances of warriors in Aeta costumes, and energetic performances to the thunderous beat of drums
• Santacruzan or Flores de Mayo


  A festival celebrated in May, with flower offerings for the Blessed Virgin Mary and pageants for the best well-dressed characters
• Participants in the Santacruzan procession

  • Biblical Figures and Traditional Personifications
• Obando Fertility Rite


  It is celebrated every May in Obando, Bulacan.
• Dinagyang Festival 


  A festival in Iloilo that is for the Santo Niño celebrated in January
• Santa Cruzan


  Also called Flores de Mayo that is for Biblical Figures and Traditional Personifications
• Obando Fertility Rite 


  To honor the three patron saints:

  1. San Pascual
  2. Santa Clara
  3. Nuestra Señora de Salambaáo