The fiesta, while not a uniquely Filipino tradition, is one of the main cultural and religious events in the Philippines. The celebration of fiesta, which means feast, is one of the influences of Spain that has taken root in the Philippines.
The fiesta, while not a uniquely Filipino tradition, is one of the main cultural and religious events in the Philippines. The celebration of fiesta, which means feast, is one of the influences of Spain that has taken root in the Philippines. Each barangay has a fiesta, which probably holds true for most municipalities and cities (refer to the Philippine political subdivisions). The festivities mostly coincide with the day of the Patron Saint of a particular place, although it’s on the charter day in some places. Here are the more famous fiesta celebrations (if there are others that you believe should be included in the list, please let us know through the comment section below):
Sinulog (Cebu City). – The Sinulog dance ritual, which is in honor of the miraculous Santo Niño or Infant Jesus, is held every third Sunday of January. I understand it wasn’t always that way, and it was celebrated to coincide with the enthronement of the Santo Niño image at its shrine on April 28, 1565. Read more about Sinulog festival from a previous entry (with one great video, kudos to Jerrold Tarog) in this site, or go to the the official Sinulog Festival website.
Ati-Atihan (Kalibo, Aklan). – This is also a feast in honor of the Santo Niño, also celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of January (since the feast is celebrated at the same time with Sinulog of Cebu City, you better make up your mind which feast, and street dancing, to attend). Ati-atihan is from the “Atis” — the aboriginal Negritos in the area. The Ati-atihan, just like the Sinulog, has become more famous for its mardi gras. Read more at the Ati-Atihan website.
Pahiyas Festival (Lucban, Quezon). – From the website of the Pahiyas festival: “The San Isidro Pahiyas Festival held every May 15 has become one of the country’s tourist attractions prompting the Department of Tourism to list down Lucban as a tourist town and a cultural heritage site. During the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival, each household tries to outdo each other in friendly competition as they vie for honor of recognizing their creativity. As incentives to their effort, prizes were given to the winning pahiyas based on a given criteria. This accounts for some of the most curious décor that the unstoppable spirit of the festival tends to show. Decking the hall or decorating the wall with “Kiping” and agricultural harvest is what “PAYAS” or “PAHIYAS” literally means.”
Feast of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo, Manila). – The feast of the miraculous Black Nazarene, with the Quiapo Church as its home, is celebrated on the second Tuesday of January. Thousands of devotees flock to attend the procession of the Black Nazarene, trying to touch the carriage