The Philippines is known the world over as a place of beautiful natural wonders. It attracts millions of foreign tourists who are drawn to its white sand beaches and pristine waters every year. And it is definitely a must-see destination too for its rich and colorful festivals.
Festivals are called fiesta or piyesta locally. They are crowd-drawing events and a prominent annual cultural experience of every Filipino regardless of class and background. These are celebrations that are conducted everywhere, from national down to the level of barangay (the smallest political unit), all year round that the country is famous for being “fiesta islands”.
Below is the list of top festivals in the Philippines.
Hirinugyaw-Suguidanonay Festival is an annual cultural, religious, and food festival in the municipality of Calinog in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. It starts January 24 and ends February 2. Its celebration is one offered to Sto. Niño and it is also a showcase of culture and identity of the indigenous people of Panay Bukidnon. History […]
Salakayan Festival is a yearly cultural fest and a founding anniversary in the town of Miagao in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. It remembers the victorious battle of the people of Miagao against Moro pirates in 1754. Conducted every first week of February, it is a week-long celebration of the town’s culture, history, and heritage. […]
Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is a film fest in Metro Manila, Philippines every December 25. It is the biggest and most popular film tilt in the country, drawing audiences and earning revenue of up to 1 billion pesos. Its schedule opens on Christmas Day, December 25, until January 7 of the following year. History […]
Bantayan Festival is a cultural and historical festival held in the town of Guimbal, Iloilo, Philippines. It is conducted every last Saturday of March. It is one of the celebrations that the town observes annually; the others are Bari-Bari during Lent, the patronal feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentino every September 10, and the Disyembre […]
The Feast of Black Nazarene is an annual religious festival held in Manila, Philippines every January 9. It is also called Pista ng Poong Itim na Nazareno or Traslacion. The image is enshrined in Quiapo Church, also called the Minor Basilica of Black Nazarene and St. John the Baptist Parish. The holy figure is one […]
Surong Festival is a cultural and summertime festival in Janiuay, a town of Iloilo, Philippines. Its schedule is every last Saturday of April. The town of Janiuay previously conducted Sadsad sa Kalye Festival starting in 2000. And then in 2005, the municipal government through Mayor Bienvenido P. Margarico launched the first Lanot Festival through Exec. […]
Sandurot Festival is a cultural festival held every fourth week of September in Dumaguete City, the capital of the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. It is one of the two major festivals in the city, the other being the annual Buglasan Festival organized by the provincial government every October. It is a ten-day fest that […]
Iwag Festival is the Christmastime festival in the municipality of Pototan in Iloilo, Philippines from December 16 to January 1. It is also called Festival of Lights, and its popularity has earned the town the nickname the Christmas Capital of Western Visayas. A two-week celebration, it attracts thousands of people and is considered one of […]
Bayluhay Festival is a cultural and historical festival held in the town of San Joaquin, Iloilo, Philippines every third week of January. It is the biggest festival in the municipality of San Joaquin and it celebrates its historic founding in the 13th century with the coming of the Malays. It is a week-long celebration. History […]
Paraw Regatta is a yearly cultural festival held in the district of Villa de Arevalo in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines every third weekend of February. It is regarded as the biggest sailing competition in the country, the oldest in Asia as a race involving traditional sailboats, and one of the much-anticipated yearly tourist attractions in […]