The year 2015 has just started and here’s a list of some of the best must-experience festivals in the country. Here they are in no particular order. Drumroll please :
Sinulog Festival
1. Sinulog (Cebu) January 18 –
undoubtedly the biggest festival of the Philippines. Experience the deep devotion of the people by attending the fluvial procession on January 17 early in the morning or rhe foot procession in the afteenoon. Highlight of the festival is rhe Street dancing competition every third Sunday of January. As of this writing 37 contingents have already signified their intention to join the competition. 10 contingents will be coming from outside of Cebu.
Contingents to watch out for are the Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe from Tangub City. The Buyogan Festival of Abuyog Leyte, Placer Masbate and the top local bet Lumad Basakanon from Basak San Nicolas Cebu City.
Dinagyang Festival
2. Dinagyang (Iloilo City) January 23-25
Dinagyang is the biggest festival and tourism event in Iloilo.
The festival has always been known for very extravagant production with overly complicated choreography and multiple costume changes. In 2013 Tribu Panayanon portrayed the folklore of rhe sea monster known as Bakunawa. Last 2014 the same tribe from Iloilo City National High school dramatized the Panay Bukidnon epic Hinilawod.
Tribu Panayanon ‘s routine centered on the adventures of three siblings Humadapnon, Dumalapdap, and Labaw Donggon. The group had larger than life props of bats depicting the uyutang. This makes you wonder what new innovation will they showcase on the fourth weekend of January.
Pahiyas Festival
3. Pahiyas (Lucban, Quezon) May15
every 15th day of May the town of Lucban in Quezon celebrates the feast of St. Isidore the Farmer with the Pahiyas festival. Pahiyas is a festival of Thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest. During this day locals deck their homes with fruits vegetables and kiping. Such adornments make each and every house in Lucban resemble a candy house. Oh it’s an open house too! This is the best time to savor lucban’s culinary pride: the longganisang Lucban and Pancit habhab.
Buyogan Festival at Pintados Kasadyaan
4. Pintados Kasadyaan (Tacloban Leyte) June 27-29
former Cebu Sinulog Champions Lingganay Festival and Buyogan Festival all came from here. Pintados Kasadyaan is the provincial festival of the province of Leyte. Highlight of the festivity is the Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals competition participated by various towns from all over Leyte former champions include rhe Alikaraw festival Pasaka Festival Lingganay and Buyogan Festival. All of them made outstanding performances at the Aliwan Fiesta National Street dancing competition.
Christmas Symbols Festival
5.Christmas Symbols Festival (Tangub City) whole month of December
December is said to be the merriest month of the year. And Tangub City some 30 minutes drive away from Ozamis City knows to the celebrate it in style. With the theme Christmas from around the world concept Tangubanons surely know how to put up installations that resemble a popular landmark. What even makes it more interesting is that they made these installations using recycled and indigenous materials like lampirong or polished Capiz shells, corn husk, corn cobs, crab shells bamboo used CD, And a lot more. It’s just amazong to see the ingenuity of the people xome ro life every December.
Aliwan Fiesta
Honorable Mention : Aliwan Fiesta (Metro Manila) April 23-25
known to be Metro Manila ‘s hottest summer event, Aliwan is a weekend rhat gathers rhe best craftsmen artisan and streedancers in a weekend of cultural extravaganza. Highlight of this three day fête is the national streedance competition where the grand winner goes home with One Million Pesos.