RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS AND FESTIVITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Religious Celebrations and Festivities in the Philippines - the only Catholic country in Asia since the 16th century

Calendar of Philippine Religious Festivities

Dubbed as the "fiesta island of the Pacific", the Philippines is home to rich, colorful and lively festivals. From Luzon to Visayas down to the southern tip of Mindanao, Filipinos have various ways of celebrating life's abundance which are clear expressions of their religiosity and strong faith in their creator. Fiestas showcase Filipino ingenuity at its finest. 

Contents

January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December ·

January

Feast of the Black Nazarene - Celebrated every 9th day of January, the feast coincides with the "Piyesta ng Quiapo" where barefooted devotees carry the life sized statue of the Black Nazarene as they circle the town while yelling "Viva Señor!".

Sinulog Festival - A feast in honor of Señor Sto. Niño held in Cebu on the third Sunday of February

Ati-Atihan Festival - A feast in honor of the Santo Niño held annually in January and concluding on the third Sunday of the month in the town of Kalibo, Aklan in the Philippines.

Dinagyang Festival - Celebrated every 4th week of January in Iloilo commemorating the Christianization of the natives and honoring the Holy Child Jesus.

February

Feast of Our Lady of Candles - Held in Jaro, Iloilo City every 2nd day of February. Devotees light candles in honor of the patron saint of Candelaria.

Babaylanes Festival - Based on ancient rituals performed by the babaylan, this festival is celebrated during the Charter Anniversary every 19th of February in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

March

Ang Pagtaltal sa Guimaras - A Holy Week presentation in the town of Jordan, Guimaras. This is a re-enactment of the Passion of Christ wherein local devotees trek to the "Balaan Bukid" or Holy Mountain.

Centurion Festival - Held during Holy Week at General Luna, Quezon and is believed to be the origin of Marinduque's Moriones festival.

Moriones Festival - A folk-religious festival that re-enacts the story of Longinus and is celebrated during the Lenten season in the island province of Marinduque

April

Feast of Our Lady of Manaoag - An annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan every 2nd week of April.

Pasalamat Festival - Held every last week of April or first week of May in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

May

Flores de Mayo - A month-long celebration in honor of the Blessed Virgin. People usually go to church to pray and offer flowers to the Virgin.

Antipolo Festival - A month-long celebration every May which honors Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage of Antipolo.

Magayon Festival - A May festival in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria, Daraga's patron saint. This also relives the legend of Mayon Volcano.

Boa-Boahan Festival - A cultural festival held every 2nd of May in Nabua, Camarines Sur. The celebration re-enacts the fertility and thanksgiving traditions of the town's early settlers.

Barangay Boat Festival - A fluvial festival held every May 11 in Aparri, Cagayan.

Pahiyas Festival - Held every 15th of May in Lucban, Quezon in honor of San Isidro Labrador. Houses are usually decorated with kipping, fruits and rice stalks. Farmers offer their thanksgiving to the San Isidro Labrador for a bountiful harvest.

Obando Fertility Rites - The rites are held every year during the month of May in Obando, Bulacan. Childless couples dance with the hope of having a child. This festival also commemorates the patron saints San Pascual, Santa Clara, and Nuestra Señora de Salambao.

June

Pagdayao Festival - Held every 11th and 12th of June in Masbate in thanksgiving to Saint Anthony of Padua.

Parada ng Lechon - A parade of crisply roasted pigs in commemoration of the feast of St. John. The parade is held on June 24 in Balayan, Batangas.

Hibok-Hibok Festival - Held in the island of Camiguin every 24th of June in honor of St. John the Baptist. The festival is marked by fluvial processions, parades and water sports.

Pintados Festival - Held in Tacloban every 29th of June in honor of Sto. Nino de Tacloban. The highlight of the Pintados festival is the appearance of festival dancers, painted from head to toe--hence "pintados"-- with war-like designs to emulate the tattooed warriors of old.

July

Pagoda Festival - A feast is held from July 4 to July 7 in honor of the Holy Cross of Wawa found in Bocaue river in Bulacan. A fluvial parade of the pagoda and other small decorated boats are the main attraction of this festival.

Kahimoan Abayan Festival - Celebrated every last week of July by the people of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte in honor of St. Anne.

August

Pasaka Festival - An annual town fiesta held in Tanauan from August 14 to 16.

Bankaton Festival - A religious festival held every 20th of August in Lavezares, Northern Samar.

September

Feast of Nueva Señora Peñafrancia - Popularly known as the Peñafrancia festival held every 2nd Friday of September in Naga City.

October

Mardigra- A three-day celebration in the town of Lucena in Quezon.

Feast of San Dionisio - Held every 9th of September in Parañaque city where a Moro-moro re-enactment is showcased.

Eid-ul-Fitr - Or the “Festival of Breaking the Fast” is an Islamic feast celebrated after the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Sagingan Festival - A feast in honor of San Isidro Labrador held every 17th of October in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

La Naval de Manila - A procession held in honor of the Blessed Mother of La Naval held every 2nd Sunday of October in Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City.

Ibalong Festival - Celebrated in Legazpi, Albay every second week of October.

Inug-og Festival - Held on the 14th and 15th of October in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental.

Feast of La Naval and Piyestang Apu - Twin fiestas celebrated in Angeles City, Pampanga. La Naval is celebrated every 2nd Sunday of October while the Piyestang Apu is celebrated on the last Friday of the month.

November

Higantes Festival - Also known as the feast of San Clemente celebrated in the town of Angono, Rizal every November 23.

Lubi-Lubi sa Glan Festival - A dance festival held every 25th of November, extolling the many uses of the coconut in homage to Sta. Catalina de Alexandria.

December

Pagdidiwata - A thanksgiving celebration of the Tagbanua natives of Palawan, held annually on December 8.

Grand Marian Procession - An annual procession of the images of the Blessed Virgin Mary held every first Saturday of December in Intramuros, Manila.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Celebrated every 8th of December in remembrance of the Immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Giant Lantern Festival - An annual festival held in December (Saturday before Christmas Eve) in San Fernando, Pampanga featuring a competition of giant lanterns.

Bikol Pastores - A unique Christmas celebration in Legazpi, Albay reminiscing the birth of Jesus Christ through different cultural presentations and sports activities.

COMMENT:

Notice CHINA, economically the richest country in the world today. They neither have the time nor the energy to imitate such religious celebrations or festivities of the Philippines - the only catholic country in Asia since the 16th century keeping the Philippines perpetually poor spiritually, impoverished economically, sick sociologically, and insane historically. - - - Poch Suzara