Philippine Festivals

• Pahiyas Festival


  Colorful and vibrant thanksgiving festival held annually at Lucban, Quezon to honor San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, laborers and agricultural workers
• Pahiyas Festival


  • Families design their houses with their harvest and the colorful "kiping" a leaf-shaped wafer made from glutinous rice
• Moriones Festival


  Portrays the suffering of Christ and the story of Saint Longinus who plunged a spear into the crucified body of Jesus
• Moriones Festival


  1. Men and women wear colorful Morion attire and masks which portray faces of the Roman soldiers

  2. They march along the town as an attempt to reenact the scene of the Roman soldiers searching for Longinus, as well as some scenes about the Passion (the final period in the life of the Christ)
• Fertility Dance


  Three-day celebration which lasts from May 17-19 in Obando, Bulacan and it involves different dance rituals that are meant to honor three patron saints
• Fertility Dance


  • Couples especially those who struggle with infertility dance and pray with the hopes of bearing children, and they offer thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest
  • Couples who want a male child offer dances to San Pascual de Baylon on May 17, while couples who want a female child offer dances to Sta. Clara the day after
  • The patroness of fishermen, Our Lady of Salambaw, is honored on the last day of celebration (May 19)
• Ati-Atihan Festival

  Also referred to as the "Mother of all Philippine Festivals", celebrated every third Sunday of January in Kalibo, Aklan to honor the Sto. Niño
• Ati-Atihan Festival


  • Street dancers dress in vibrant, colorful costumes with blackened faces
  • The festival name means "to be like the Atis", or the native Aetas, who are naturally dark-skinned
• Sinulog Festival


  The grandest festival of Cebu celebrated every third Sunday of January to honor the Señor Sto. Niño
• Sinulog Festival


  • Famous for its two-steps-forward and one-step-backward dance
  • Sinulog is derived from the word sulog which means "like the movement of water
• Dinagyang Festival

  Celebrated in Iloilo every fourth Sunday of January in honor of Sto. Niño
• Dinagyang Festival


  • The name of the festival comes from the Ilonggo term "dagyang" which means "merry-making"
  • Participants shouted "Viva Señor Santo Niño" and dramatized an act of offerings and prayer
• Santa Cruzan


  A religious-historical festival held every month of May, commemorating the search of the Holy cross by Queen Helena and her son Constantine the Great
• Santa Cruzan


  • Participants parade the streets wearing their beautiful and colorful gowns like as though they were joining a pilgrimage
• Panagbenga Festival


  A month-long annual celebration in Baguio City, a tribute to the vibrant and beautiful flowers
• Masskara Festival


  Held in Bacolod City, the "City of Smiles", every fourth Sunday of October
• Masskara Festival

  • Comes from the English word "mass" which means "large crowd" and a Spanish word, "cara", which means "face"
  • Different, colorful costumes and smiling masks are worn by the participants during the dance
  • Symbolizes the character of Negrenses (or natives of Negros): that even when there are challenges to overcome, they maintain a positive attitude
• Kaamulan Festival

  A three-day gathering in Bukidnon which begins on the second week of February until the 10th of March, an ethnic festival that showcases the unique indigenous cultures of Bukidnon
• Kadayawan Festival

  One of thanksgiving for the gifts of nature and the wealth of culture, a colorful celebration of Davao which is celebrated every third week of August
• Kadayawan Festival

  • Comes from the word "Madayaw" a friendly greeting of Dabawenyos meaning "good, reliable, greater and beautiful"