Tacloban City, found in the diverse Visayan region have festivals of their own that pay tribute to the heroes of the past through colorful dances and face paints. To truly understand and appreciate the beauty of Tacloban, it is a must to witness at least one of their festivals.
Pintados Kasadyaan is celebrated every 29th of June and this event lasts a whole month. Pintados Kasadyaan was said to have started from another festival, the feast day of Senor Santo Nino and these parades are held to commemorate the bravery of the Filipinos during the Spanish occupation. The Pintados Kasadyaan has several highlights and since this is a month long of merry making, there are several events held in between such as the Pintados Festival Ritual Dance, Paghayak Grand Parade and dubbed the Festival of Festivals, the Leyte Kasadyaan. During this festival, aside from the festive dancers who perform tribal dances, they recollect the past including folk religion and the wars so that we never forget the roots of Tacloban. Pintados Kasadyaan also showcases the exceptional talent of the Visayans in body art and tattooing and the dancers have themselves tattooed and painted as if they were warriors of old. The streets are jam packed with the performers during Pintados Kasadyaan and the excited onlookers who are dazzled and mesmerized by this event.
The Sangyaw Festival is also celebrated in Tacloban about a month before the Pintados Kasadyaan. The Sangyaw Festival was held May 11 this year but this date is subject to change and spans about week. This festival involves every member of the community and there are several events scheduled during this week. The Sangyaw Festival is usually started with a band fest with both local and foreign bands playing and some schools hold their cultural night prior to the grand event. The grand event itself of the Sangyaw Festival is a parade held on the streets of Tacloban attended by the tribes, and participated by the ladies dancing on the streets in colorful costumes and accessories. There are contests for street dancing and awards are given for those best in costume, best in music and of course for the Sangyaw Festival grand champion.
The Sangyaw Festival and the Pintados Kasadyaan are just two of the festivals celebrated in Tacloban that showcase the talent of the residents in terms of dancing and costumes. These festivals also provide the onlookers with an experience straight out of history and a chance to experience the culture of Visayas.
Fondly known as Gensan and the crown jewel of southern Philippines, General Santos has fascinating attractions that draw visitors to it all year round. Originally just a vast farm land, General Santos has progressed to a highly urbanized city but at the same time has managed to preserve age old traditions. General Santos festivals are one of the many things that people enjoy and the experience during these events is truly something else.
General Santos is known for having one of the best Tuna in the world and hence it comes as no surprise that this city would celebrate the Tuna Festival. Tuna caught in General Santos is fresh out of the sea and it is one of the sources of income for this progressive city. The Tuna Festival is a culinary event that showcases the many different dishes that can be made from Tuna. This General Santos festival was an instant hit when it was first celebrated and today the entire city celebrates this. During the Tuna Festival, there are several contests and the biggest one is the cooking competition. This General Santos festival draws the best chefs from all over the country hoping to win that prestigious award. The other highlights of the Tuna Festival are the parades, street dances and trade exhibits all centered on the sashimi-grade fish. The best part though about the Tuna Festival is the gastronomical feast where one can try the many different dishes prepared by the different restaurants that take part in this event.
The Kalilangan Festival is the second biggest General Santos festival that has been celebrated for almost two decades. The Kalilangan Festival commemorates the foundation of this bustling city and it is an event organized by the local government in collaboration with civil society groups. This General Santos festival is more than just about merry making as it affords every visitor the opportunity to learn about this city’s rich culture and heritage. During the Kalilangan Festival, there are several presentations prepared by the residents from different towns that showcase the history of General Santos from the time the first settlers arrived. The Kalilangan Festival also has several contests for the local community which includes dancing and singing competitions. Some of the best talents are discovered right here at this General Santos festival. After a day filled with exuberance, a magnificent fireworks display light the night sky signaling the end of the Kalilangan Festival.
Colorful traditions are expressed in the grandest way during Laoag festivals and there is no better way to learn about them than to join or at least watch one. Laoag festivals are enchanting and the Ilocanos do such a good job of making sure that each year, their events are livelier and celebrated with a bigger bang.
Named after a legendary bird the Pamulinawen Festival is a religious Laoag festival to commemorate St. William, the province’s patron saint. The inhabitants of Laoag believe that St. William has spared Laoag from several natural disasters and helped make it the thriving city it is today. Celebrated for a whole week, the Pamulinawen Festival is something that the locals prepare for with plays, dances, parades and other merry making activities. There is even a food festival during the Pamulinawen Festival which draws people from all over the region to participate. All government and non-government organizations prepare for this Laoag festival and even corporations actively participate in it. Some believe that this Laoag festival because it’s celebrated in February is the Ilocano’s way of extending the merry making of the Christmas season. The history of the Pamulinawen Festival dates back to the times of the Spanish occupation of the country when the feast day of saints was celebrated marking the conversion of the Ilocanos to Christianity. The Pamulinawen Festival starts off with a military parade and among the highlights are the Ms. Laoag beauty pageant, floral parade and the magnificent fireworks show on the last day.
The Filipinos love to eat and having said that, the Ilocanos are no different and admittedly, they prepare delicious and unique dishes that more than just satisfy hunger. The Dulang Food Festival is a Laoag festival where one can taste test the local favorites of Ilocos and those who join this event come from all areas of the region. The dishes that one can taste during the Dulang Food Festival are prepared with one-of-a-kind utensils that one will not find in any store and they also have unique names. During the first few times that the Dulang Food Festival was celebrated, every single household in Laoag would prepare their favorite dish and invite guests over for merry making. Every household is jam packed with family members and friends who dine and reminisce together during this Laoag festival. Among the dishes prepared during the Dulang Food Festival are Dinuguan (pork stew cooked in its own blood), Dinakdakan (a delicacy the primary ingredient of which is pig’s brain) and Pinakbet (mixed vegetables stir fried in shrimp paste). The Dulang Food Festival promotes camaraderie among neighbors because anyone can drop by and eat as much as they want.
Subic Bay is known for being the economic hub of the northen part of Luzon. Subic Bay, despite being very modern has annual Subic Bay festivals that it celebrates with much vigor and excitement.
This Subic Bay festival although not very traditional is just as exciting and definitely very interesting. The Scootourista Festival is commercial in nature and it serves as a promotion for several businesses through races and rallies. The scooter is growing in popularity in the Philippines because it’s an affordable means of transportation that can avoid the everyday congestion. Scooters are on parade at the Scootourista Festival primarily because Subic Bay is where many big scooter companies drop off the goods to sell to the Filipino market. Big names such as Honda and Mitsubishi as well as American motorbike brands participate at the Scootourista Festival and races are held between professional drivers. This Subic Bay festival starts in Olongapo and passes through several provinces such as Zambales and Bataan with Subic as the final destination. Scooter enthusiasts who form their own clubs make sure they are in Subic for the Scootourista Festival and there are at least 3000 enthusiasts during this Subic Bay festival. Add this to the eager onlookers and one has a very excited crowd anticipating the rallies and races. During the Scootourista Festival, there are also trade exhibits for scooters as well as for the accessories and parts of the bike. This Subic Bay festival would not be complete without a live band at the end of the evening and the crowd partying until the early hours of morning.
Subic Bay was where the US military base was set up until 1991 by virtue of an agreement between the governments of the US and the Philippines. During the time that the American base was located in Subic, the Americans and the Filipinos lived in perfect harmony and hence the origin of the Fil-Am Friendship Day. This Subic Bay festival is on the same date as the US Independence Day which is July 4 and there are special activities during the Fil-Am Friendship Day. The Fil-Am Friendship Day remembers the combined efforts of the American and Filipinos during the Second World War to achieve freedom from the Imperial rule. Considered as heroes, the soldiers who fought and helped the Filipinos regain their liberty receive the warmest appreciation and thanks from the residents. During the Fil-Am Friendship Day, there are parades, street dancing, plays and various exhibits that locals and visitors enjoy. The Fil-Am Friendship Day ends with an amazing firework display.
The province of Iloilo is said to be the “City of Smiles” and it is located in the western part of Visayas. It is bordered by Antique and Capiz and its capital is called Iloilo City. Iloilo can be reached by plane from Manila or from Angeles. From Clark, Angeles to Iloilo, the air fare would be less than US $150 and upon alighting from the plane in Caticlan, there is a bus that will take one directly to Iloilo City. There are several Iloilo festivals that are celebrated every year and from these we learn so much more about the Ilonggos and we find out how truly hospitable they are.
Pasundayag Festival is an Iloilo festival participated in by all the 42 towns that comprise of the province. The Pasundayag Festival is held every month of April and with every year that passes, this Iloilo festival promises to be bigger than the previous one. The local government units are the ones responsible for organizing the Pasundayag Festival within their respective municipalities and the result is a display of tribal clothing from tribes that have existed for centuries, traditional dances, parades, singing and dancing, and of course who will forget the great food served at this event. The Pasundayag Festival gives one an opportunity to learn about the history of this province and it is an opportunity for the locals to remember their roots.
Another Iloilo festival aside from the Pasundayag Festival is the Masskara Festival which is celebrated in Bacolod. This Iloilo festival starts on the third Saturday of October and it is a 2 day affair. The Masskara Festival starts off with a food fair and for those who don’t know, the Ilonggos cook very well. There is then a mask making contest, beauty pageants, a talent search, competition for brass bands, art exhibits, drinking contest and a windsurfing regatta. The Masskara Festival’s atmosphere is similar to that of the Mardi Gras where there are elaborate costumes and dance rhythms so everyone can join in the fun. Iloilo festivals such as the Masskara Festival help us understand why this province and in particular Bacolod City is called the “City of Smiles.”
Aside from the Iloilo festivals such as the Masskara Festival and the Pasundayag Festival, there are also many tourist attractions here such as the antique houses, cultural sites and very old churches that date back to the Spanish times.