Fiesta
Philippine Fiestas
Filipinos never forget to be thankful for their own patron saints and bountiful harvest by celebrating their town’s festival. With countless towns and cities, we are a veritable land of fiestas and festivals anytime of the year.
Filipinos never forget to be thankful for their own patron saints and bountiful harvest by celebrating their town’s festival. With countless towns and cities, we are a veritable land of fiestas and festivals anytime of the year.
Ati-atihan Festival
Ati-Atihan Festival
Kalibo, Aklan
January 1-16
The Ati-Atihan Festival honors the "Santo Niño", or Christ Child, but draws its roots from much older traditions. Festival participants wear black face and tribal clothing to imitate the aboriginal "Ati" tribes people who welcomed a group of Malay datus fleeing Borneo in the 13th century.
Kalibo, Aklan
January 1-16
The Ati-Atihan Festival honors the "Santo Niño", or Christ Child, but draws its roots from much older traditions. Festival participants wear black face and tribal clothing to imitate the aboriginal "Ati" tribes people who welcomed a group of Malay datus fleeing Borneo in the 13th century.
Sinulog Festival
Sinulog Festival
Cebu City
January 6-21
Like the Ati-atihan, the Sinulog Festival is another Catholic festival honoring the Christ Child (Santo Niño), with deeper pagan roots. The feast draws its origin from an image of the Santo Niño gifted by Ferdinand Magellan to the recently-baptized queen of Cebu. The image was re-discovered by a Spanish soldier amidst the ashes of a burning settlement.
The feast begins with an early morning fluvial procession marking the arrival of the Spaniards and Catholicism. The procession follows after a Mass; "sinulog" refers to the dance performed by the participants in the big procession - two steps forward, one step back, it's said to resemble the movements of the river current.
Participants dance to the beat of drums, shouting "Pit Señor! Viva Sto. Niño!" as they move the procession along.
Cebu City
January 6-21
Like the Ati-atihan, the Sinulog Festival is another Catholic festival honoring the Christ Child (Santo Niño), with deeper pagan roots. The feast draws its origin from an image of the Santo Niño gifted by Ferdinand Magellan to the recently-baptized queen of Cebu. The image was re-discovered by a Spanish soldier amidst the ashes of a burning settlement.
The feast begins with an early morning fluvial procession marking the arrival of the Spaniards and Catholicism. The procession follows after a Mass; "sinulog" refers to the dance performed by the participants in the big procession - two steps forward, one step back, it's said to resemble the movements of the river current.
Participants dance to the beat of drums, shouting "Pit Señor! Viva Sto. Niño!" as they move the procession along.
Moriones Festival
Moriones Festival
Marinduque
April 18-24
The province of Marinduque celebrates Lent with a colorful festival commemorating the Roman soldiers who helped crucify Christ. The celebrations begin on Holy Monday, and end on Easter Sunday.
Townsfolk wear masks patterned after Roman soldiers, taking part in a masquerade dramatizing the search for a Roman centurion who converted after Christ's blood healed his blind eye.
The festivities coincide with the reading and dramatization of the Passion of Christ, re-enacted in different towns throughout Marinduque. Penitents can be seen whipping themselves in atonement for this year's sins.
Marinduque
April 18-24
The province of Marinduque celebrates Lent with a colorful festival commemorating the Roman soldiers who helped crucify Christ. The celebrations begin on Holy Monday, and end on Easter Sunday.
Townsfolk wear masks patterned after Roman soldiers, taking part in a masquerade dramatizing the search for a Roman centurion who converted after Christ's blood healed his blind eye.
The festivities coincide with the reading and dramatization of the Passion of Christ, re-enacted in different towns throughout Marinduque. Penitents can be seen whipping themselves in atonement for this year's sins.