Festivals
A religious festival in the Philippines celebrated in Cebu every January
What is Sinulog?
It marks the nation’s independence from the Spanish rule on June 12, 1898. Filipinos celebrate it annually on June 12.
What is Independence Day?
Practiced as a sign of respect to elders. It is done by gently tapping the hand of the elder to a younger person’s forehead.
What is Blessing (Pagmamano)?
It is shaped like a large circle with a central star, but you can choose from a variety of other designs such as stars and flowers.
What is Filipino Christmas Lanterns?
Done during Maundy Thursday until the morning of Good Friday. It requires people to visit seven churches within that short period of time.
What is Visita Iglesia?
One-of-a-kind festival in the Philippines held in Aklan.
What is Ati-atihan?
It marks the greatness of Filipino fighters during World War II. It is marked on or around April 9 in the Philippines each year.
What is Day of Valor?
Another influence of the Spanish colonizers and was mainly done to honor the patron saints.
What is Fiesta Celebrations?
For the nine days preceding Christmas, Filipinos attend mass late at night or in the wee hours of the morning.
What is Night Mass/Dawn Mass?
Men and women dressed as Roman soldiers and wearing morion masks to give the fierce look of these soldiers who accompanied the march of Jesus Christ before the Crucifixion.
What is Moriones Festival?
One of the most colorful Philippines festivals held in Lucban, Quezon where tourists can enjoy FREE food!
What is Pahiyas Festival?
This event holds a special place in the hearts of many Filipinos as they remember a revolution that restored democracy in the Philippines in 1986.
What is People Power Anniversary Day (EDSA)?
The traditional Filipino courtship is an extremely long process and one way to “woo” a girl.
What is Serenading (Harana)?
Beginning in early December, both children and adults in the Philippines go house to house. Lyric books and Christmas costumes are abandoned in favor of recycled instruments and fabricated lyrics.
What is Christmas Carols (Caroling)?
A Catholic devotion in the Philippines popular during Holy Week involving the uninterrupted chanting of the Pasyón, an early 16th-century epic poem narrating the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What is Singing of the Passion (Pabasa)?
Where you can see giant paper mache do the festival dance.
What is Higantes Festival?
is held every last Monday of August. This date was chosen as it marked the beginning of the Cry of Pugad Lawin in 1896, the start of the Philippine revolution against the Spanish colonisers.
What is National Heroes Day?
It is the formal act of a guy asking the girl’s family for her hand in marriage. It usually involves the guy’s family bringing over gifts and discussing the couple’s plans for marriage.
What is "Pamamanhikan"?
One must find the ideal present for your partner, but you must also describe them, have everyone guess who it is, and sing the classic song before presenting your gift.
What is Manito-Manita?
This celebration marks the end of Lent. Held at dawn where a little girl dressed up as angel meets the image of the Virgin Mary and takes off the black veil.
What the The Meeting (Salubong)?
The Philippine festival of many faces held in Bacolod.
What is Masskara Festival?
This is the time when many Filipinos refrain from engaging in worldly activities such as listening to loud music or drinking alcohol. Most Catholics refrain from eating meat during this day and engage in fasting and prayer.
What is Good Friday?
Comes from the different sayings and beliefs of our ancestors that aim to prevent danger from happening or to make a person refrain from doing something in particular.
What is Superstition?
A lavish feast of traditional Filipino Christmas dishes such as lechon, queso de bola, hamon, spaghetti, and fruit salad as part of the regular household Christmas traditions of every Filipino.
What is Noche Buena?
It features lit floats, some with tableaus of the life and passion of Christ and others of saints. The parade starts at 6:00 pm and takes place near the town center. This procession is one of the many proofs that religion is such an important part of Philippine culture.
What is Procession of Saints?