Long before Cavite became known for subdivisions, industrial parks and busy highways, Cavite City was an important port facing Manila Bay. Ships arrived and departed from its waters. Sailors, merchants, soldiers and…

Christmas in Cavite City has its own collection of unforgettable characters. They are much taller than ordinary carolers, with oversized heads, brightly painted faces and bodies created from baskets, bamboo, paper, fabric…

The smell of freshly steamed rice cakes has a way of bringing people together. A tray of warm puto placed on the table rarely stays untouched for long. Someone prepares coffee, another…

Bananas are among the most familiar fruits in the Philippines. We eat them fresh, fry them with sugar, boil them as merienda and turn them into cakes, chips, preserves and other delicacies.…

There is something naturally joyful about watching a kite rise into the sky. At first, it struggles close to the ground. The person holding the line runs across the field, waiting for…

For many Filipinos, tahong is simple comfort food. It can be cooked in a hot ginger broth, baked with garlic and cheese or sautéed with tomatoes and vegetables. A large bowl placed…

As darkness settles over Alfonso, Cavite, a bed of glowing embers becomes the center of everyone’s attention. The crowd grows quieter. Ritual performers dressed in red gather near the fire while prayers…

At first, the name LoHiTor Festival may sound mysterious. It is not the name of a saint, a local delicacy or an agricultural product. Instead, it combines three colorful traditions associated with…

The most memorable moment of Naic’s Pawikan Festival does not involve fireworks, enormous floats or celebrities performing on a brightly lit stage. It begins quietly on the dark sand of Barangay Labac.…

Bamboo is so common in the Philippines that we sometimes forget how remarkable it is. We see it used as fencing beside provincial roads, poles supporting vegetable plants, furniture inside homes and…

There is something comforting about the smell of sugarcane juice slowly cooking over a fire. The liquid gradually thickens, the color deepens and the air fills with a warm aroma that is…