Easter Sunday is celebrated almost worldwide. But nowhere is it celebrated with more gusto and commitment than in the Philippines. This religious feast, sometimes “Pasko ng Pagkabuhay” (Christmas of the Resurrection) or “Pista ng Pagkabuhay” (Feast of the Resurrection) in the vernacular, is very special second to Christmas. In fact, thousands flock to the provinces for this Philippine fiesta.
The whole Lenten Season, in fact, is observed like a religious feast. Though the faithful is urged to observe it in silent and sorrowful rumination (and self-sacrifice), most Filipinos, including tourists, celebrate Holy Week in the countryside with feasting (instead of “fasting”) and fun. A lot of town fiestas coincide with Good Friday and the Philippine fiesta of the Resurrection or Easter.
The religious feast is observed this way. As early as 4:00 in the morning (after a “Pabasa” or rhymed and tuned reading of the gospel the night before) devotees of this Philippine fiesta, Easter, rise up to prepare a sumptuous lunch and supper for the guests. At times the community jointly does this, sometimes it happens per household. Some proceed to the church this early for a Sunrise Service (the protestants have their “Dawn Worship") as a preliminary celebration of this religious feast, Easter. Then later in the morning, more Easter Sunday masses are held to accommodate as many devotees as possible.
In some Catholic and Protestant churches, this Philippine fiesta is observed with games and fun, like Easter egg or bunny hunting and other treasure hunting games. If the occasion coincides with the town fiesta (which often happens), the town plaza will be filled with carnival fun and games the rest of the day. The reason for this extravagant religious feast is that there ought to be as much merriment in Easter as possible because Jesus rose from the dead.
The hearty meals that follow are full of native dishes and delicacies, often local specialties. Anybody can join and eat. In summary, the Ilocanos of the North would serve their Pinakbet among others, the Tagalogs their Kare-kare among others, the Visayans their Aros Valenciana among others, and so on. Often, the town mayor has prepared a special Easter program at the plaza for residents and visitors in this Philippine fiesta. Awarding ceremonies usually follow recognizing citizens’ efforts in the community and in preparing for this religious feast.
The Feast of the Resurrection, or easter, is a Philippine fiesta well celebrated with dole outs of food, prizes, and awards. It is one of the religious feasts vacationers and tourists wait for in summer time. Easter is a celebration of recovery and abundance.
There are many Tagbilaran festivals that are celebrated only here and no other region or province in the Philippines. These Tagbilaran festivals are unique to the locality because of its historical significance.
The Ubi Festival is held for five days during January and this event somewhat extends the festivities of the Christmas season. This Tagbilaran festival is celebrated mid January from the 15th to 19th and this is a farmer’s feast where they showcase their primarily grown product ubi or purple yam. During the Ubi Festival, the by products of the purple yam are showcased from wonderful desserts such as cakes, pastillas and pies to dishes where the purple yam is used. This Tagbilaran festival though is more than just about showcasing a homegrown product. The purple yam is considered as a holy crop because of how resilient it is to many natural disasters and farm pests. During the Ubi Festival, the children of farmers are taught that this God given crop is something that should be appreciated and they are even taught to kiss this if it falls to the ground. The Ubi Festival showcases the many products that can be produced out of this crop and the ingenious ways of doing it. Many visitors flock to the province to see this Tagbilaran festival because this is also an opportunity to purchase purple yam and its by products at an incredibly low price. The Ubi Festival is indeed unlike any other Tagbilaran festival.
Another really popular Tagbilaran festival is the Sandugo Festival and it has its roots deeply embedded in the history of this region. Translated in English, the Sandugo Festival means the Blood Compact Commemoration and this is a landmark event that symbolizes friendship between Datu Sikatuna and the Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. This Tagbilaran festival used to just be celebrated for a whole month in July but over the past 2 or 3 years, the celebration has been extended well into August. There are many events and competitions that are held during the Sandugo Festival and it includes cock fighting, sports competitions as well as street parades. During the parades at the Sandugo Festival locals dressed in colorful costumes represent both the Spaniards and the tribe of Datu Sikatuna and there is re-enactment of the blood compact. Every night visitors and locals dance to Filipino bands performing and there are always firework displays at the Sandugo Festival.
Aside from festivities with local flavors, the Philippine Islands have events too of international appeal which attracts foreigners. In Las Piñas City, there’s the Bamboo Organ Festival featuring international classical music performers utilizing the legendary bamboo organ of St. Joseph’s Parish Church. In Masbate of the Bicol Province, the Rodeo Filipino can be likened to rodeo shows in the US Midwest or Latin America with activities like bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, lassoing on foot, casting down large cattle, and wood chopping.
A whole year of banderitas
Indeed, an imaginary string of banderitas (colorful trimmings) can be wrapped around the Philippines to represent a year-full of celebrations. And we haven’t even talked about the festivals of the Christmas season yet. You may have already known that they have the longest Christmas season in the world, starting as early as October and lasting until February. The spirit of the season could not be contained that you can hear people greeting “Merry Christmas” even during the grim-funny Halloween Night and the deliriously-funny All Souls’ Day.
For devoted Catholics though, the official Christmas season begins at the first Advent Sunday which marks the start of the Simbang Gabi. Friends, lovers, families flock to churches to hear the late night or early morning mass before enjoying hot chocolate and puto bumbong. And the surrounding is really a sight to behold with the multi-colored blinking lights of lanterns. For this, LGUs have started hosting Christmas lantern, tree and other Christmas symbols festivals. In Tangub City, indigenous materials are used to create Christmas symbols to be later displayed in an event. Of course, there’s also the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga which this year will feature the largest lantern to be ever built.
Indeed, the Filipinos love to party and they party like no other people can. While the trend in western countries like America is to party in one big swoop after toiling at work for a significant time, in a society like the Philippines, every occasion becomes a cause for a celebration and so everyday is a holiday. This may appal non-members of the society but festivities like these merely reflect the Filipinos’ zest for life and their unwavering capacity to laugh at life’s hardships.
So what are you waiting for? If you’re a foreigner looking for a truly fantastic place to celebrate a holiday or a local wanting to discover more of the country, Philippines will not disappoint you. Explore and be awed.
The Obando Fertility Dance is a festival where couples who hope to be blessed by children perform street dances in a long procession. The Fertility Dance of Obando is both a festival and a prayerful appeal for devotees.
Obando has hosted this festival since pre-Spanish times. The festival is also mentioned by the country's national hero, Jose Rizal, in one of his epic novels Noli Me Tangere. Obando, a small town in Bulacan, has held to this age-old tradition of Fertility Dances to the present day and has attracted a lot of tourists the world round.
The Fertility Dance of Obando has been part of tradition even before the Spanish conquest of the Philippines. The month of May has always been the season for the Fertility Dance. Initially, the native childless couples dance in front of idols to request that they would soon have children.
When the Spanish took over, they convinced the natives that they can keep the Fertility Dance but would instead dance in front of images of saints instead of idols.
Nowadays, the Fertility Dance is celebrated in Obando in honor of Santa Clara, San Pascual de Baylon, and Nuestra Señora de Salambao. The prayers are offered to these three saints for the childless, for religious virtue, and a bountiful catch since fishing is the main industry of Obando, Bulacan.
The Fertility Dance most of the time is offered for Santa Clara, patron saint of the childless. Others dance to the saint in hope to find a mate. Single men and single women often pariticipate in the Fertility Dance festival on separate dates since the festivities usually last three days long.
Parents who take part in the Fertility Dance do it to give thanks to their patron saint to give thanks. The fishermen and farmers of the locality of Obando participate in the Fertility Dance to pray for a good catch and a good harvest. Most of the townsfolk participate in the street dancing and merry making during the three-day long Fertility Dance.
Veterans and so-called experts of the Fertility Dance insist that the dance be performed with gyrating hips in time with the music and must be done with the belief of prayers being answered. You'll be amazed at the huge number of childless couples, thankful parents, and grateful fishermen clad in colorful costumes. One proof the locals would claim would be the population growth as evidence of the efficacy of the said Fertility Dance.
Whether it works or not, the Fertility Dance is a timeless tradition that bids a prayer of request or thanks and draws in a lot of curious visitors from all over the country. Whether you believe it or not, take part of the festivity and enjoy both a solemn and a joyful celebration of life.
Bohol festivals are not just colorful events but are also very lively and the best part of the celebration is always the delicious array of food served during the event. In fact, it’s not only the panoramic sites that Bohol brags about, Bohol festivals also draw thousands of this tourists every year to this province.
Bohol has a rich history and the Sandugo Festival is an annual celebration that clearly depicts this. Every March, the Sandugo Festival draws tourist to Bohol since this colorful event is an opportunity to relive a very significant event in Philippine history. This Bohol festival remembers the pact of friendship between the Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who conquered the Philippines and the Filipino leader Datu Sikatuna. The Sandugo Festival made a very big impact on the lives of our Filipinos ancestors because this was the starting point for embracing the culture and religion introduced by the Spaniards. Up until this very day, the Spanish influence is still very much alive with every single Filipino. The reenactment of the blood compact is done during the Sandugo Festival and the other activities done on this day are church ceremonies, parades on the streets and various contests are held. There are cooking contests during the Sandugo Festival as well as a beauty pageant.
The name of this Bohol festival sounds very interesting and so is the event itself. If one thinks hard enough and keep pronouncing Bolibong Kingking Festival, one will realize that it sounds like empty barrels being used as drums by either a spoon or a fork and that’s exactly what happens on this day. The Bolibong Kingking Festival is a Bohol festival that is a religious event where drums and gongs are played all day and the sounds have several purposes. The beating of the drums is supposed to attract visitors and at the same time remind the residents that the Bolibong Kingking Festival is a chance to relive Bohol’s rich history and well entrenched traditions. This Bohol festival is held every May and it is in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Bohol. The Bolibong Kingking Festival is held in Loboc which is a place that is not only rich in flora and fauna but also has several interesting places to visit. In fact if one is going to Bohol to see the Bolibong Kingking Festival, it’s a good idea to dine at one of their restaurants on stilts or take a boat ride in the beautiful Loboc River.
The Philippines Archipelago located west of the Pacific Ocean is like a melting pot of cultures and one of a kind travel destination every month of the year. Each month means new festivities.
During the first part of the year in Minlain, Pampanga, Aguman Sanduk is celebrated. During the afternoon of January 1st, boys and men are in transvestite regalia; they put on their mother’s lipstick and try their wives dresses as they parade on the streets. Mayors and parish priests are not exempted from such tradition that started in 1934. At the end of the day, the ugliest of the cross-dressers is proclaimed the Aguman queen.
Also in January is the celebration in honor of the infant Jesus both done in Cebu and Aklan. In Cebu it is called Sinulog while it is called Ati-atihan in Aklan.
In other parts of the Philippines they celebrate the culmination of Christmas season with street dancing in costumes adored with lights. In Las Castellana, Negros Occidental, they call it Bailes De Luces.
Between the last weeks of January to the early weeks of February, Filipinos await the Chinese New Year with anticipation. They like they fortunes based on their animal zodiac sign casts. Fire crackers greet the entry of the New Year along with delectable foods tikoy and masi.
When February comes, aside from celebrating it with loved ones, in San Enrique, Negros Oriental they present a dance that depicts the life and character of cock fighting.
The gathering of hill tribes in Malaybalay, Bukidnon happens in March. During this time they feature their traditional songs and dances clad in their colorful costumes and jewelry.
By April, watches out for the different ways places from all around the archipelago celebrate the passion and cross of Christ. Some flagellate themselves believing it is penance for their sins.
Western Samar celebrates their Pahoy-Pahoy festival with different scarecrow costumes, a grand parade and street dancing in May. Other parts of the country celebrate the blooming flowers and retell the story of Reyna Elena and his son Constantine with the Santacruzan.
From June to September, it is an alternate festival on fishing, harvesting and being grateful. In June, a procession at sea led by the Patron Saint of Bilang-Bilang, Virgen dela Paz y Buen Viaje happens in Surigao City. In Tudela, Camotes Island, they display their various cassava-based products.
By August, aside from being the Buwan ng Wika, there is a reinvention of Dinagat festival in Cebu where they praise the bakasi, an exotic eel abundant in the place.
By October, Ramadhan is observed all over the country. It marks the start of the month-long fasting of Muslims. The fasting ends with a feast though with what they called Eid'l Fitr.
Also when November comes, the inhabitants celebrate Pintaflores in honor of Saint Charles Borromeo. Street dancing features the tribes dressed in colorful ehnic costumes with their bodies painted with flower designs in reminiscent of the tattoed Visayans of the Pre Spanish Negros. There is also Bacolod’s Maskara.
Carol presentation, decorating the Christmas tree, putting up the best Belens and Christmas bazaar are only few of the activities planned during the Yuletide season.
The quiet province of Leyte where everyone goes to for privacy and unwinding comes to life with the colorful and lively Ormoc festivals held annually. Ormoc festivals are a chance to mingle with the locals of the province of Leyte, enjoy the sights and sounds of the city and learn about its rich culture and history.
At the top of the list when it comes to Ormoc festivals is the Buyogan Festival and it is highly recommended by both locals and visitors who have experienced it. The Buyogan Festival is celebrated every August and the main attraction of this Ormoc festival is the colorful costumes worn by the residents of Buyogan, a small town in Ormoc. The Buyogan Festival is so named because the entire event centers on “buyog” or bees. The dances performed during this celebration mimic the movement of bees. There is also a dance competition during this whole week affair and the competitors are from the local high schools. The cash winnings provided by the local government during the Buyogan Festival goes to the best performers and the funds are used for certain things that their schools might need.
The Buyogan Festival also honors the patron saint of the town, St. Francis Xavier, and the event is a mixture of something religious and age old pagan beliefs prior to the introduction of Christianity to this province. The legendary fairy Opayda, believed to bring luck to good people is honored in several plays.
Another well known Ormoc festival is the Sunduan ha Carigana which is celebrated during Holy Week but the main event takes place during Easter Sunday. The Sunduan ha Carigana is a joyous event that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and there are several parades held during this Ormoc festival that not only pay tribute to the Catholic faith, but also showcase the rich history of this province. Like most Ormoc festivals, the Sunduan ha Carigana has street dancing and dance competitions where both males and females join. Visitors are most welcome to participate in the activities organized during the Sunduan ha Carigana which have been tailored so that every member of the family would at least have one event to join. Easter Sunday ends with a bang because at the end of the parades and presentations, there is a beautiful fireworks display for all to enjoy, not to mention great food prepared by the locals during the Sunduan ha Carigana.Ormoc festivals are very colorful events that not only honor the dominant religion in this province but also showcase the history and heritage of Leyte’s prominent towns. The Sunduan ha Carigana and the Buyogan Festival are week long events that are filled with fun and laughter as well as activities that everyone can enjoy. Ormoc festivals are events that should not be missed if you want to capture the diversity and beauty of this province.
May is the season for festivals in the Philippines. One of the most extravagant festival celebrated in the country is the Pahiyas Festival. Province of Quezon hosts this festival on the 15th of May. The celebration of the Pahiyas Festival has been going on since the 16th century. It is a way for the local folk to give thanks to a bountiful harvest.
The Province of Quezon is the second largest province of the Southern Tagalog region and is host to lavish Pahiyas Festival. The preparation for the festival takes quite some time and the actual Pahiyas Festival is held for only a short time.
During the Pahiyas Festival the small towns of the Province of Quezon in the Philippines evolves from sleepy small villages into exquisitely adorned houses. The Pahiyas Festival is commemorated in honor of their patron saint San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers.
Legend says that San Isidro Labrador magically plowed fields whenever he went to church. Spain passed on this legend to the Philippines from Mexico during the country's colonization. Since then, the Pahiyas Festival has been a source of excitement for the locals and visitors to the Quezon Province.
One of the highlights of the Pahiyas Festival in the Philippines is the colorful decoration on the houses. These are made of food. During the Pahiyas Festival, the houses of the local townspeople will be adorned in fruit, vegetables and the famous kipings. The kiping is a wafer that's shaped into a leaf. It is made of dried rice and dyed in brilliant colors.
The locals use different leaves to add flavor and color to the kiping. The locals to produce a variety of tastes and textures using Kabal, coffe, talisay (umbrella tree), cocoa, and banaba leaves. The locals boast that the procedure of making the kiping is a big secret among the people of Quezon and only a chosen few are entrusted with the secret recipe.
During the Pahiyas Festival, people display their harvest in front of their homes for the parish priest to bless as the procession passes their homes.
A competition is usually held during the Pahiyas Festival. Families would compete for the title of best-decorated house. After the competition is over and the awards are handed over, the winning house's decorations will be thrown away to the huge flock of people as free treats.
Try the pancit habhab when you're at the Pahiyas Festival. Enjoy the chance to try noodles straight from banana leaves without using forks or chopsticks. The delicious taste of the noodle blends well with the famed Longganisang Lucban (a local sausage of Quezon).
The Pahiyas Festival is a time of joyous merriment for the people of Quezon. You'll never walk away from the Pahiyas Festival with an empty stomach. It is a mouthful of a welcome to how the people of the Philippines welcome their guests. Just watch the calories while you're at it.
Experience a celebration all year 'round in the Islands of the Philippines. Visit different cities with very unique, colorful and amazing festivals. Like most Asian countries, the Philippines are rich in culture and tradition. Influenced by the Spaniards, the Philippines have the largest number of Christians in Asia. It is one reason why these folks are festival lovers!
These Fiestas are one of the reasons why the tourism industry in this beautiful country is growing. Tourists who experienced some of these festivals keep coming back to see more. Now, it’s time to introduce you to the fun!
Filipinos are known for big celebrations at the time of the feast day of their patronized saints and it is one way of giving thanks for a good harvest and overflowing blessings.
January is the Feast of Sto Nino. “Viva Sto. Nino!” is what everyone is shouting while dancing the Ati Atihan steps during the Ati Atihan Festival; a three-day celebration of masked ball in Kalibo, Aklan. It is their commemoration to the reconciliation between malays and Ati way back then.
While in the queen city of the south, Cebu City, make sure to attend the Sinulog Festival. It is similar to the Ati Atihan with a dance of two step forward, one step back that the crowds are doing during the exciting parade. Just try not to get wrapped up in the excitement and find yourself dancing along. We bet you can’t!
Panagbenga Festival, a flower festival in the summer capital of the Philippines, Baguio City, in which they exhibit different floral floats contest parade. Enjoy the festival without the sweat as the city is known for its cooler weather.
Or how about the Moriones Festival in Marinduque which is celebrated every March or April during Holy Week. During this festival people dress like one of the characters from the bible or as Romans. They wear masks and helmets called ‘Moriones’. This is a re-enactment of how Jesus suffered and was crucified according to Christian dogma.
In Lucban, Quezon Province comes the Pahiyas Festival every month of May, in honor of their patronized saint San Isidro Labrador. The houses all over the town are decorated with fruits, vegetables and flowers where everyone including visitors are free to eat and can bring some to their homes. It is a colorful event where everyone is elated in participating in the once a year event!
Well, we can’t forget to mention the very popular Flores de Mayo or the Santa Cruzan where every little Filipina is dressed in pretty gowns and accessorized with flowers dreaming to become the Reyna Elena (Queen of the parade). Its a procession towards the church where everyone brings flowers and saying the rosary offered to Virgin Mary. This is celebrated every 31st of May.
One of the world’s renowned Fiestas is the Kadayawan Festival which is a celebration of life and thanksgiving for the gift of nature. This is celebrated every third week of August with parades of floral floats and fruits. Every school participates in the street dancing contest in their traditional, unique and eye-catching costumes.
October is the Negros Island's Mascara Festival, a carnival parade in which the people are wearing colorful and smiling masks. Bacolod City is known for sugar cane production and people as they say, will have a smile in their face upon eating the cane that is why they are called as The City of Smiles.
How about the Lanuza Surfing Festival in Surigao del Sur? For those fond of surfing, try coming here every November as the best surfers all over the country gather here to give a good show!
Famous Festivals aren’t over yet! These are just a handful of what the Philippines can offer to the tourists around the world. Try celebrating one feast and definitely everyone will ask for more!
[Tags]Ati Atihan, Fiesta, Philippines, Festival, Party[/Tags]
If one takes a stroll in most of the big malls here in the Philippines, one would notice that almost all, if not all, have a special area for BINGO enthusiasts. In these halls, people of all ages, and of all walks of life, can be spotted, from a bouncing toddler to a weakly elder, from the masses to the elite all play Bingo. This grand game has been among the favorite past times of Filipino families most especially on weekends.
Bingo is a basically a game of chance wherein random numbers are picked and players match these numbers to their corresponding 5x5 cards which are basically a matrix of numbers and the letters B, I, N, G, O, hence BINGO.
Whenever, a specified pattern is formed, the player shouts “BINGO” to notify the caller of the win and inform other players. The caller will verify the pattern and will declare the winner. A corresponding cash price for the pattern will be given.
Then another pattern is called and another game is played until another player wins. Usually, the game is played in rounds wherein each round has a specified pattern that players aim to form. The pattern becomes more and more difficult round after round and the pot money becomes bigger and bigger, up to the final round, which is famously called as the black-out here in the Philippines. In these rounds all numbers in the matrix must be called and filled out on your card in order to win.
It can be argued that BINGO originated from the similar game Lotto in Italy around 1530. The term BINGO however came from the word Beano in the United States. Beans were used to cover the numbers on the cards back then. It is argued that an excited player shouted Bingo instead of Beano, and the term was adopted then on.
In the Philippines, earlier BINGO games were mostly played in "perias", an interim amusement place established during fiestas in the different barrios / places. This evolved into a highly popular game and is now often used as a form of charity by religious churches and / or groups, and other fund raising activities. Presently, online and real time games are also available over the web.
Off shoots from the original game have been developed as well, such as Christmas Bingo, Bovine Bingo, Roadkill Bingo etc. Basically the same principles and rules apply, with a little modification for more excitement, and only the rewards are changed. In Christmas Bingo for example, instead of monetary jackpots, gifts are given to the winners, also, at the onset, the cards given to the players are blank and it is up to the players to fill the blanks with numbers from 1 to 40. No duplication of numbers on one card is allowed.