List of Festivals in the Philippines: January

Do you want to witness and be part of the exciting and colorful cultural activities in the Philippines in this month of January?
 

Check out the list of popular fiestas or festivals happening this month.

Pabirik Festival

Location: Paracale, Province of Camarines Norte
Details: The festival is celebrated every last week of January up to the day of the town fiesta on the second day of February. Its highlight is the Pabirik street dancing competition. This festival is in honor of Nuestra Senora de Candelaria who is believed to have protected the town from Moro pirates. The name pabirik is derived from the name of an essential tool used by miners.

Tagbo Festival

Location: Poro, Camotes Island, Province of Cebu
Details: The festival is usually celebrated every 19th of January. Its highlight is the street dancing performances performed by different schools in Poro. This festival is in honor of Santo Nino de Poro who is the patron saint of the town and at the same time serves as a reminder to the new generation of how the town was born through the meeting or confrontation of two powerful tribes. The name tagbo means to meet in the Bisayan dialect.

Langub Festival

Location: Mabinay, Province of Negros Oriental
Details: The festival is celebrated every 24th of January. The highlights of the festival are the agro fairs, sports events, beauty pageants, live bands, and street dance showdown of the 6 basic Langub dance steps. Finally, it will be capped by fireworks displays. This festival is in honor of Sto. Nino (Child Jesus) and at the same time serves as a thanksgiving for the many beautiful caves that made Mabinay the "Cave Capital of the Philippines". The name langub or langob means cave in the Bisayan dialect.

Halamanan Festival

Location: Guiguinto, Province of Bulacan
Details: The festival is celebrated every 23rd of January. Its highlights are the street dances that simulate the movement of plants not to mention the colorful dresses of the dancers participating in the festival. This festival is in honor of San Ildefonso and also manifests a twin devotion to Sta Rita de Casia. The name halamanan means garden in the Tagalog dialect.

Kuraldal Festival

Location: Sasmuan, Province of Pampanga
Details: The festival is celebrated every 6th of January and ends on the 10th of January known as kawakasan (ending). The highlight of the festival is the fertility dance where participants would shout "Viva Apu Lucia. Puwera Sakit". This festival is in honor of Saint Lucy the town's patron saint who is known to help the blind and women who wish to bear children. The name kuraldal is believed to come from the Spanish word curar which means to heal.

Pansi' Festival

Location: Cabagan, Province of Isabela
Details: The festival is celebrated every 16th until the 25th of January. The highlight of the festival is the pancit eating festival, street dancing competitions, beauty pageants, and many more. The festival is to highlight the Pancit Cabagan which made the town popular throughout the country. The name pansi' is a shortened word for pancit or noodles.

Longaniza Festival

Location: Vigan City, Province of Ilocos Sur
Details: The festival is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January. The highlight of the festival is the street dance where the dancers carry the longaniza which is the main product of Vigan. The festival is a sort of thanksgiving that also promotes the Vigan longaniza. A longaniza is a Spanish sausage made popular in the region during the Spanish colonial era.

Buling-Buling Festival

Location: Pandacan, Manila
Details: The festival is celebrated every Saturday before the main celebration of the feast of Santo Nino on the third week of January. The highlight of the festival is the cultural street dancing which originated in 1800. The festival is in honor of the miraculous image of Sto. Nino. The word buling-buling means well-polished or well-prepared.

Dinagyang Festival

Location: Iloilo City, Province of Iloilo
Details: The festival is celebrated every fourth Sunday of January or right after the Sinulog Festival of Cebu or Ati-Atihan Festival of Aklan. The highlight of the festival is the street dances where the dancers cover themselves with soot and ashes. The reason behind doing so is for them to simulate the dancing Ati tribesmen celebrating the sale of Panay Island. Aside from that historical aspect the festival also gives honor to Santo Nino. The word dinagyang came from the root word of the Ilonggo word dagyang which means make happy.

Sinulog Festival

Location: Cebu City, Province of Cebu; Maasin City, Province of Southern Leyte; and Balingasag, Province of Misamis Oriental
Details: The festival is celebrated every third Sunday of January which lasts for nine days. The highlight of the festival is the street parade where the participants wear brightly colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets, and native gongs. Street performances, contests, and parades are scheduled on the days of the celebration. The festival will be capped off by the Sinulog Grand Parade on the final day. The festival gives honor to Santo Nino and is also depicting the Filipino's pagan origin and acceptance of the Catholic faith. The word sinulog came from the word sulog or strong flow.

Ati-Atihan Festival

Location: Kalibo, Province of Aklan
Details: The festival is celebrated every January concluding on the third Sunday of the month. The highlight of the festival is the tribal dance where the dancers wear indigenous Aeta or Ati costumes. It is said that the festival inspired many other festivals such as the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo and the Sinulog Festival of Cebu. The festival gives honor to Santo Nino and is also depicting the story of the 10 Malay Datus that bought Panay Island from the Atis. The word ati-atihan means to be like an Aeta. 

Coconut Festival/ Coco Fest

Location: San Pablo City, Province of Laguna
Details: The festival is celebrated every first until the second week of January. The highlights of the festival are street dances, float parades, street programs, and nightly programs. The festival gives honor to Saint Paul the Hermit and also to the most important product of San Pablo City -the coconut. 

Bailes de Luces Festival

Location: La Castellana, Province of Negros Occidental
Details: The festival is celebrated starting the 30th of December and ends on the 5th day of January. The highlight of the festival is the nighttime dance parade where the dancers wear costumes that lights up making the dancers look like angelic beings. The festival is a thanksgiving for the people of La Castellana. The Spanish phrase Bailes de Luces means dances of lights.

Kahimunan Festival

Location: Butuan City, Province of Agusan Del Norte
Details: The festival is celebrated every third Sunday of January. The highlight of the festival is the street parades said to be patterned to the Sinulog Festival of Cebu. The festival gives honor to their patron saint Santo Nino. The word kahimunan is a Lumad term that means gathering.

Salibanda Festival

Location: Paete, Province of Laguna
Details: The festival is celebrated every third and last Sunday of January. The highlight of the festival is the parade of the Santo Nino around town and the fluvial parade afterward. Prepare to get wet though as the revelers will be greeted by a splash of water. The festival is in honor of Santo Nino. The word salibanda is a combination of the phrase "sali sa banda" or join the band.

Dugoy Festival

Location: Sablayan, Province of Occidental Mindoro
Details: The festival is celebrated every 18th of January. The highlights of the festival are the street dances that showcase the Mangyan and the different other ethnocultural groups from the whole archipelago that have subsequently settled in Sablayan. The festival gives honor to the Dugoy Spirit of camaraderie and friendship between tribes. The word dugoy refers to the Mangyan spirit that promotes harmony.

Comments

  1. You have a great blog with so many gorgeous photos! I must add the Philippines to my buucket list now! I used to be a teacher as well. Nice to meet you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Michelle! Yes you must visit the Philippines! =) You'll have 7,107 islands to visit and choose from.

      Delete
  2. i just love philippines !! <3 <3

    ReplyDelete

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