Aklan's Makato Festival

MAKATO FESTIVAL is a yearly, 3rd Sunday of January, Ati-Atihan and religious town fiesta of Makato, Aklan, one of the world’s famous Ati-Atihan festivities in the Province of Aklan where Boracay Island is. The ati-atihan festival of Makato dates back before the Spaniards came to sow the seeds of Christianity into this land. During the celebration, thousands of Catholic devotees from all over the country and those from abroad felt the urge to come and join in the wholesome, frolic and religious fervor of thanksgiving to the Holy Child, Sto. Niño.

Butuan's Kahimunan Festival

Held every third Sunday of January, KAHIMUNAN FESTIVAL is Butuan’s way of showing its gratitude towards one of its patron saints, the Sto. Nino, also known as the Child Jesus. The word “Kahimunan” is from a dialect meaing the “gathering”. On the day of the Kahimunan Festival, participants line up the streets to present exotic dances and ceremonies. Dancers are dressed up in colorful costumes as they dance to native music. Theatrical performances of ceremonies and dances are highlighted as they decorate the streets with their exotic costumes and native ornaments such as baskets, spears and other accessories. Kahimunan Festival is the city’s tribute to Sto. Nino for providing its residents with a bountiful harvest and many blessings. The main theme of the ceremonies in the Kahimunan Festival is a combination of the area’s pre-colonial culture and its affiliation with Christianity.

Koronadal Hinugyaw Festival

HINUGYAW FESTIVAL is an annual celebration in Koronadal, South Cotabato. It is being held from January 3 to 10. The celebration features the different cultures that have dwelled on the fertile valley of Koronadal for many years. "Hinugayaw," from a Haligaynon term, meaning "merrymaking," is a jovial and colorful festival which tells of the historical stream of how tribes from different parts of the Philippines has rolled up in what Koronadal is now despite their diversity in culture.

2010 Hinugyaw Festival Cotabato Province

Lambunao's Binanog Festival

Every second Sunday of January, Lambunaonons in Lambunao, Iloilo celebrates their BINANOG FESTIVAL. It is an exhibition of the deeply rooted culture of the locals and the festival centers on the native’s “binanog” dance. The dance replicates the mating ritual of the hawk or banog birds. The soul and dignified nature of the natives or Bukidnons is evident in the calm movement of the arms and various footwork in rhythm to the heartbeat of the gong. The dance depicts courtly pastime and stories that have been handed down from generations.

Binanog Festival

Sinulog Festival in Cebu City

SINULOG FESTIVAL is an annual celebration held every third Sunday of January in Cebu City. It honors the vision of the child Jesus (Sto. Niño) who used to be the patron saint of the city. There is a dance ritual that commemorates the Cebuano people’s Islamic and pagan origin, and their acceptance of Roman Catholicism. The festival features street parade wherein participants in bright colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumphets and native gongs.

About the Sinulog Festival
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Tanging Ina vs. Rosario for Best Picture

Who you want for 2010 MMFF’s Best Picture: Ang Tanging Ina Mo Last na “To or Rosario? I’d been hearing the buzz questioning how a comedy film outpowered a rated A epic drama film. According to one of MMFF board of judges, 70% was technical excellence and artistic value and the remaining 30% was for family and cultural values. Rosario fell short on the family and cultural values criteria.

Poll: Do You Agree with the MMFF Board of Jurors in Choosing ‘Tanging Ina’ for Best Picture Instead of ‘Rosario’?

Kaliugyon Festival @ Libacao, Aklan

Libacao, Aklan celebrates "Kaliugyon Festival" from December 28 - January 1. Kaliugyon means "kali" for kalye (street) and "ugyon" for unity or union in the streets. Libacaonons go out for a wild revelry of merrymaking to celebrate the coming of the New Year.

Pamitinan Festival of Rodriguez, Rizal

The “Pamitinan Festival” highlights the founding anniversary of the town of Rodriguez, Rizal formerly known as Montalban. Celebrated from December 17 to 23, the festival culled after the famous Pamitinan Cave or Cave of Bernardo Carpio, which aims to preserve its contribution to the historic quest for independence by the 8 Katipuneros led by Gat Andres Bonifacio. Likewise, a street dancing competition is held to depict the multi-faceted culture of the Montalbeños.

More of Pamitinan Festival..

Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na "To!) movie

“Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na “To!) {Your Only Mom (This is the Last One!)} is one of the official entries in the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival this 2010. It is a Filipino comedy film starring Ai-Ai de las Alas and serves as the third and final installment of the “Ang Tanging Ina” series.

Pangasinan's Galicayo Festival

Back in the late 1500's, an apparition of the Virgin Mary was believed to call on the people to build a church. The term manaoag, which means "to call", was then attributed to the town and eventually became its official name. The Dominicans viewed the appearance of the apparition as a miraculous event and they were inspired to build the church of Our Lady of Manaoag. The church's foundation, coupled with the story behind it, made Manaoag the religios center of Pangasinan.

The people of Manaoag decided to hold a feast in honor of their patron saint, which was named as the “Galicayo Festival.” It is a province-wide cultural and religious celebration from December 1 to 9 in honor of Pangasinan’s patrones, Our Lady of Manaoag.

Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City

The “Pintaflores Festival” was born out of San Carlos City locals’ search for a cultural identity and tradition. After holding 2 successful activities in 1992, the Nabingkalan Tattoo Festival and the Dances of Flowers, the idea of combining the 2 concepts to come up with a presentation that the city will be identified for started what today is one of the most popular street dancing festivals in the region – the Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City every November 3-5.

Said celebration features rhythmic dances and dance dramas of life and death and the triumph of good against evil that depict the people’s thanksgiving of merriment, abundant blessings and success. As part of the Pintados tradition, the faces, arms, bodies and legs of the dancers are painted with flowers to express gratitude to man and his environment.

Paskuhan sa Surigao City

“Paskuhan” in Surigao City is a series of activities held during Christmas time. It is highlighted by “Light up a Tree” where companies and individuals sponsor putting Christmas lights on trees around the Luneta and those lining up the streets at the downtown area. “Painit sa Pasko” is also held during Misa de Gallo from the 16th to 24th of December at the Luneta fronting the Cathedral where churchgoers converge after each mass celebration to drink hot chocolate and local delicacies like sayongsong, suman and bibingka. The celebration runs from December 1-24.

Belen sa Makati Festival

“Belen sa Makati” Festival is conceived in 1987. Facades of buildings are decorated by crèches and complemented by locally made lanterns. Barangay halls, school premises and local government offices put up their own versions of the crèche. The event is also one of the biggest affairs of Makati in cooperation with the NGO’s that starts in December.

Banaag Festival of Anilao, Iloilo

Anilao, Iloilo celebrates “Banaag Festival” every November 1. It is the town’s way of celebrating its foundation. “Banaag” in Hiligaynon vernacular means “blazingly bright.” It is an annual festival celebrating the valour and honor of their ancestors, triumph of light over darkness and the utilization of the light and fire in their everyday life in Anilao as farmers and fishermen. The festival is highlighted by a dance-drama competition using light and all its forms as a medium.

Camiguin's Lanzones Festival

Lanzones Festival in Camiguin is being held every October 18-26 of the year. It features a street dancing extravaganza featuring Camiguin''s favorite fruit - the Lanzones. The Lanzones fruit is a major source of the Camiguin Islands' livelihood and it is for the annual harvest that they celebrate this thanksgiving day. Houses, carriages, street poles and even people are decorated with lanzones and lanzones leaves. Townsfolk dances in joy abandon in commemoration of the legend that a beautiful, unknown maiden took from the its former bitter flavor to leave only its luscious, sweet taste.

Nagcarlan's Ana Kalang Festival

Unlike most festivals in the Philippines which usually start during the onset of summer and end in late May, the Ana Kalang Festival of Nagcarlan anchors a five-day celebration beginning from the first Wednesday of October each year. The festivities commemorate a bountiful harvest of the town's agro-industrial products.

The name of the festival was derived from a woman named Ana Kalang who, according to myth, was known for her tremendous wealth, kindness, piety and generosity. Nagcarlenos say this woman used to help her townmates in times of trouble. One day, a Spaniard came to her house and upon looking out of the window, he saw branches of a lanzones hitting one another. He asked what was going on and Ana Kalang said "nagkakalang sila". The Spaniard repeatedly misprounounced the phrase until it eventually became Nagcarlan.

The Ana Kalang Festival showcases a unique folk art whose leimotif is the giant statue which Nagcarlenos call "kalang-kalang". The kalang-kalang is usually ten feet high and made of different fruits and vegetables or any indigenous materials for it's parts. Barangays, schools, organizations and individuals are pitted in the kalang-kalang-making contest and each entry is exhibited at the festival site during the five-day celebration and paraded around the town at the close of the festivities.

Pamugu-an Festival of Mansalay

Locals of Mansalay, Mindoro Oriental celebrates every October 17-23 the "Pamugu-an Festival." It is a festive reunion of different “Mangyan” tribes. There are sports events (Palaro ng Lahi), cultural presentations, product demonstrations and “Barakalan” or “baratillo” of native products.

Sagingan Festival of Tubod

Sagingan Festival is a feast in honor of San Isidro Labrador held every 17th of October at Tubod, Lanao del Norte. This festival is a thanksgiving celebration for rich harvest of the fruit. Participants in this event wears costumes made of Banana.

The festivals are highlighted with Street dancing Competition, Best Decorated Caromata, Booth Contest, Search for Ms. gan Festival which use of 75% of Banana materials, banana Festival and Agro-industrial Trade Fair. Folk Dance Competition and Sports Competition were incorporated to add and grandeur to the celebration. Hon. Romana dela Cruz-Neri is known as the Grandmother of the Sagingan Festival.

Inug-og Festival of Oroquieta City

Inug-og is an ethnic festival of the Suban-on culture that is celebrated on the 14th of October, in conjunction with the weeklong Fiesta celebration. This festival showcases tribal performance of street dancing in tribute to Oroquieta City’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Performers are dressed up in ethnic costumes while performing rituals in the street and dancing to the rhythm of the parade.

Inasal-Halad Festival of Talisay City

Inasal-Halad Festival is a showcase of Talisay City's historical heritage and identity promoting the city as an aqua and tourist hub, through street dancing as a thanksgiving offering to the city's patroness, Sta. Teresa de Avila. They have sports fest, parade of the great personages as higantes, food festival featuring the famous "Inasal "or lechon, Talisay's roast pig being the undisputable best - golden brown, crackling crispy skin, tasty meat from secret stuffed herb. This festival falls on 14th-15th of October.