Wazzup Pilipinas!
Happy Filipinos always find a reason to celebrate. MyProperty.ph lists
down upcoming festivities around the country that can help you plan your next
vacation destination
Some say you can only truly experience the Philippines once
you see and partake in traditional festivities that almost every province in
the country is proud of. Philippine festivals are perhaps the most effective
way to be familiar with the country’s rich and colorful history.
As summer draws near more travel itineraries are being
planned right now so to help you add an authentic and unique cultural feel to
your next getaway, MyProperty
comes up with a list of entertaining festivals you can explore. Witness streets
come alive with exciting dance and vibrant activities filled with locals and
tourists all hyped up to participate in the fun.
Fruit Festivals
The tropical country of the Philippines boasts fresh and
mouth-watering fruit that are abundantly offered in various provinces; thus,
each town celebrate the harvest through fiestas dedicated for the corresponding
fruit that a place is known for. For instance, the festivities for the Strawberry
Festival of La Trinidad, Benguet, started last March of 2017 and will run until
April. Likewise, the world-renowned sweet mangoes of Zambales also have a
festival under its name. Held every April in time for the bumper mango harvest,
the Mango Festival is surely an exciting feast that attracts mango-lovers as
well as tourists who enjoy the exciting tourist spots in Zambales.
Both the Strawberry and Mango Festivals feature street
parades, float competition, and trade events where you can sample the best
products made from these succulent fruit.
Bangus Festival
Celebrated yearly every April in Dagupan City, Pangasinan,
is the Bangus (milkfish) Festival meant to honor the bountiful
harvest of the province. Pangasinan, the milkfish capital of the Philippines,
started a tradition of lighting hundreds of barbeque grills for locals and
tourists to sample and savor the delicious bangus.
The grills stretch more than a kilometer long, highlighting the importance of
the festival to the natives of the province. The grill parade also features a
cooking contest, eating competition, dance performances, and street parties.
The longest barbeque of culinary experts even earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Sarangani Bay
Festival
The Sarangani Bay Festival, also known as Sarbay Festival,
is an annual event that unites both locals and tourists alike in a two-day fun
fair. Scheduled every third week of May, this festival celebrated in Sarangani
Province is one of the most popular beach events in the Philippines’ southern
island of Mindanao. The event caters to all party-goers as it offers a mixture
of activities for all. They have extreme outdoor sports for adrenaline junkies
or bay parties for fun-seekers. A Filipino festival will never be complete without
a gastronomic feast and Sarangani Bay Festival offers one of the best. The
fresh produce of Sarangani is surely an exciting reason to visit and taste the
best flavors.
More than being a lively fiesta,
you can also contribute to the community through conservation efforts that
happen alongside the festivities, such as mangroves planting. Enjoying pristine
beaches while taking care of nature is beyond doubt an excellent way to spend
your free time.
Pasalamat Festival
As a way of thanksgiving to a generous harvest, the
Pasalamat Festival is held every First of May or the closest Sunday to the date
in La Carlota City in Negros Occidental. The festival highlights a gathering of
participants at the base of Mount Kanlaon where cultural traditions to thank
the gods of fertility of the mountain
are celebrated. Colorful costumes and masks, as well as street music and dances
plus delicious local fares, can also be enjoyed in this fiesta.
Pahiyas Festival
The Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon, is one of the most
popular festivals in the Philippines, thanks to the very colorful and elaborate
decorations that adorn the houses of this quiet town every May 15. The
decorations, which are known as kiping,
are leaf-shaped rice wafers and are arranged in elaborate patterns forming
large flowers or colorful chandeliers.
Celebrated to honor the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro
Labrador, the feast is also the town’s way to thank a great harvest. Pahiyas
Festival is also must-attend event especially by food lovers as authentic and
delectable dishes are prepared by every household. Hundreds of stalls and
merchants of locally produced items, such as the town’s famous longganisang lukban and pansit habhab, are also available for
all attendees who are looking for unique souvenirs. Known as one of the most
colorful events in the Philippines, Pahiyas Festival is certainly an amazing
blend of culture, food, and lifestyle in one exciting affair.
Cover Photo: Pahiyas Festival. Courtesy of Kuhreizy - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 WikiMedia Commons
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
