Asia: Philippine Festivals

It just came to me that we are already in the month of February, soon month of March would come, then April, May. The Spring season is just around the corner and as the season changes, I am looking forward on a trip to my local Walmart garden department again to look at all the flowers and plants on display. And maybe I could get some petunias for the hanging baskets too.

On the other hand as I thought of this, it reminded me that Summer season would then be starting in my home country, the Philippines. And that means all those colorful festivals that is celebrated every year on every city or provinces is about to start (some had already started by the way.) And as I think of what else to hub about, I thought, well not make a hub about all these colorful festivities that occurs in the country known as "The Pearl Of The Orient Seas."

Also known as "The Festival Of Smiles."

And there's something interesting how this festival was born. The Masskara festival was first celebrated when the province of Bacolod was facing tough times in the year 1980.

What made the people of Bacolod sad? A big tragedy happened at that time as the Don Juan vessel collided with Tacloban City tanker and sank. Thus, resulted many lost love ones at a total of 700 in number.

Now, the "Masskara Festival" is celebrated every year on the month of October's 3rd weekend. Let's just say that it symbolizes how the people of the province had pulled out from those gloomy days. And to add to that, the province of Bacolod is also known as the "City Of Smiles."

Also called as the "Mother of all Philippine Festivals."

Ati-atihan Festival is celebrated on Aklan and is held every year on the 3rd Sunday of January. Like other festivals, this celebration gets pack of people; both devotees and tourists.

The Ati-atihan festival is celebrated annually to commemorate the 1,000 native of the province who attended the first Catholic Mass. This natives are the aeta or ati. And that's also how the Aklan got its capital Kalibo, which means sangka libo on the Aklanon language.

A celebration held in Cebu City Philippines that last for 9 days. This festival is celebrated every year on the month of January's 3rd Sunday and is held to celebrate the acceptance of Cebuano people of Roman Catholicism.

Participants on the parade wears brightly colored clothes while they dance to the rhythm of trumpets and drums.

Interesting fact, the forward-backward step of the Sinulog dance pertains to a waters current movement, which means sulog in Cebuano.

A festival that occurs every Holy Week on the province of Marinduque. This is a festival that starts on March until April where the man and women (usually men) that joins the festival wear costumes replicating the Roman soldiers.

The costumed, masked soldiers would then march or walk on the streets, searching for the Longinus. (The Roman centurion, Saint Longinus was blind on one-eye.)

This Moryonan or Moriones festival is also being observe in the province of Oriental Mindoro. And in those days where the Morions roam the streets, kids find them scary and some would hide if a Morion is spotted coming.

Philippines Summer capital, the Baguio City as it celebrate the "Flower Festival."

If you love flowers, marching bands, and street dancers, you may want to feast your eyes on this festivals floral and float parade. All floats are made of real flowers of the city and the celebration last for a month, starting on the month of February.

And did you know that the festival's name "panagbenga " means "season of blooming "? The "Flower Festival" started on the year 1990 after an earthquake had devastated the city of Baguio.

Celebrated yearly, and is also known as "The Farmer's Festival." The province of Lucban, Quezon held this colorful festival by decorating their houses with either vegetables, fruits, and handicrafts, depending on their source of living.

Also it is believe that the homes on the processions route will be blessed for the coming year. The festival is observe annually on the 15th of May and is celebrated in honor of the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador.

Literally means, "Flowers Of May," this Catholic festival is held every year in honor of the Virgin Mary on the month of May and is also considered as the "Queen Of All Filipino Festivals."

And on the last day of the Flores De Mayo, the "Santa Cruzan" is held in honor of Constantine and Reyna Elena (Queen Elena) in search of the Holy Cross. Santa Cruzan is observed in many cities and provinces in the Philippines where young beauties are being selected to participate in the Santa Cruzan parade.

From the root word "kawayan" pertaining to the "bamboo" tree. This festival is held yearly on the month of October 1st on the town of Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. The celebration is done by street dancing in colorful bamboo-made costumes.

One memory I have with this festival is the contest held in which each town would make a hut made of bamboo and enter the contest. The hut would then be displayed alongside the street of Gloria on where the festival is being held until on the day of the winner selection.