Arts

• The Philippines is home to rich, colorful and lively festivals which is dubbed as the “Fiesta Island of the Pacific”.
• Pahiyas Festival is celebrated every 15 th of May. An extravagant and colorful affair in the quiet town of Lucban, held in honor of San Isidro Labrador and is the farmer’s thanksgiving for rich and bountiful harvest.
• Kiping are leaf-shaped, multi-colored rice –paste wafers used to decorate their houses with, along with agricultural produce like fruits, vegetables and flowers.
• Obando Fertility Rite is a dance ritual and Catholic festival celebrated every month of May in Obando, Bulacan.
• Locals and pilgrims dressed in traditional costumes, dance and sing in town’s street to honor and beseech Obando’s three saints: San Pascual (Paschal Baylon), Santa Clara (Clare of Assisi) and Nuestra Senora de Salambao (Our Lady of Salambao).
• The fertility dance is both a festival and a prayerful appeal for devotees. Couples who are childless can take this occasion to appeal for heavenly intercession and dance to please the Virgin of Salambao
• The Iloilo Dinagyang festival is a showcase of the rich heritage, colorful history, passionate devotion and fun-loving spirit of the Ilonggo people.
• The root word, dagyang means “to make happy”, that’s why colorful costumes and headdresses are made to represent this celebration full of joy and wonder and to create happy memories for all who are participating and watching.
• One of the most popular and biggest celebration during May is what we call the Flores de Mayo, which means “Flower in May”
• Flores de Mayo celebrates the queen’s legendary quest for Jesus’ cross in Jerusalem. One of the most powerful aspects of the festivals is the portrayal of characters,
• Religious Festivals - expression of thanksgiving and celebration for the blessings from God.
• Non-religious Festivals focus on the cultural and heritage aspect of our country and are celebrated with enthusiasm and passion.
• One of the famous festival in the Philippines held in Baguio is the Panagbenga Festival.
• Panagbenga Festival's english name is “The blooming Flowers Festival”, which means “Seasons of Blooming”, a month long annual celebration of a tribute to the city’s beautifully grown flowers and is celebrated in the month of February.
• Masskara Festival - the English word “mass” and the Spanish word, “kara” (which means face), this festival is celebrated every third week of October, or on the closest weekend to October 19
• Masskara Festival dramatizes the steadfast character of the Negrenses and symbolizes what the City of Smiles, Bacolod City do best, putting on a smiling face even when faced with challenges.
• Kaamulan festival - ethnic festival that celebrates the customs and traditions of the seven tribal groups that originally inhabited the Bukidnon region, the Matigsalug, Tighawanun, Higaunu, Umayamnun, Manobo, Bukidnon, and Talaandig.
• Kaamulan Festival is considered one of the most authentic and well- preserved traditional celebrations in the Philippines
• Kadayawan Festival - a festival of thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture and the bounties of harvest and serenity of living