Some festivals are easy to understand from the name alone. A mango festival celebrates mangoes. A rice festival celebrates rice. A flower festival usually puts flowers at the center of everything. Then…

If you’ve ever seen photos of the Peñafrancia celebration in Naga City, you’ve probably encountered one unforgettable image: a sea of devotees surrounding the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, hands raised,…

There are places in the Philippines where agriculture is something you see outside the city. In Valencia, Bukidnon, agriculture is part of the reason the city exists as the commercial center it…

There are Philippine festivals that celebrate history, others that revolve around a patron saint, and some that were created around the livelihood that keeps an entire community moving. In Victoria, Oriental Mindoro,…

There are festivals named after flowers, fruits, patron saints and local products. Bansaulog is different. Its name is essentially an invitation for an entire town to celebrate. Every September, the municipality of…

There are Philippine festivals built around patron saints, harvests, flowers, local delicacies and historic events. Then there are festivals like Busig-On, where an entire celebration grows out of a story. Held in…

There are festivals where the main symbol is something you see only during the celebration. That isn’t the case in Basey, Samar. Here, one of the most important symbols of the festival…

When people think of Philippine festivals, the first images that often come to mind are colorful costumes, pounding drums, street dancing and huge crowds lining the roads. Megayon Festival certainly has all…

There are Philippine festivals built around flowers, fruits, harvests and religious images. Then there is San Mateo, Rizal, where one of the biggest celebrations of the year puts something much closer to…

Every September, something changes in Calbayog City. The streets become busier. Drums and chants start filling public spaces. Dancers rehearse elaborate routines. Costumes, props and cultural symbols begin appearing around the city.…