Parades, street dancing, theatrical plays, religious or cultural rituals, trade fairs, exhibits, concerts, pageants and various games and contests – all these and more give color and life to fiestas around the nation. These celebrations honor the moments in history that has defined identity, culture, and locality in the areas where they occur. They highlight traditions indigenous to the locale.
Philippine Festivals came with Christianity, during the Spanish rule. Many of the communities in the country had a patron saint assigned to each of them. Fiestas were days in honor of them. It became a key to spreading the Catholic religion throughout the nation.
Now, there are so many Philippine festivals. And they mean food – lots of them. Usually, houses are open to anybody who wants to eat. It feels as if everyone are friends with each other. Also, festivals could mean day-off to most employees as they are declared as public holidays.
Here’s a list to help you experience festivities this August:
| DAY | FESTIVAL | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | Almasiga Festival | Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental | Governors celebration in the town. |
| Aug 1-4 | Cabibi Festival | Lal-lo, Cagayan | The patronal town fiesta of Lallo, the former Cuidad Nueva Segovia – the capital of Cagayan during the Spanish colonial period is highlighted with street dancing, trade fair, Balikbayan tribute, among many others. |
| Aug 1-5 | Padagyaw Festival | Dumarao, Capiz | Being held every year mirrors the spirit of unity and cooperation of its people. One of the few is the street dancing and pista ng bayan. These are the concrete example of group effort. From one fermented idea of planners, action men, and executions, they have translated their ideas and concepts into mass action of well rehearsed and well executed play, dancers, and graceful rendition of songs and dances. A delight to the eyes of the heart. |
| Aug 1-7 | Pangapog Festival | Island Garden City of Samal | A thanksgiving festival celebration bountiful harvest features parade, indak-indak sa dalan, cultural presentation etc. |
| Aug 1-8 | Mercedes Fishtival/Mercedes Kadagatan Festival | Mercedes, Camarines Norte | It is a fishermen’s celebration of thanksgiving for the blessings and bounty during the seafaring, fishing expedition and fish farming endeavors. The fishtival is also a moment of retrospect and recognition of Mother Nature for having endowed Mercedes with a gift of vast fishery resources, magnificent shorelines and other aquatic potentials and the wise utilization and preservation of ecological balance for the attainment of environmental dignity and beauty. |
| Aug 1-10 | Sal-lupongan festival | New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province | Celebrating the fiesta of sal lipongan. |
| Aug 1-31 | Buwan ng Wika | Batangas | A month long activity celebrating “Buwan ng Wika”. The activities undertaken are campaign for using Pilipino as a medium of instruction, hanging of streamer and short program. |
| Aug 1-31 | Kasuotang Pilipino Exhibit and Show | Museo ng Makati, Makati City | A yearly exhibit mounted at the city’s museum featuring the evolution of Filipino costumes per region in celebration of the month of Filipino Costumes. |
| 2 | Udyakan sa Kabankalan/Charter Anniversary | Kabankalan City | A weeklong celebration by an agro-industrial fair showcasing the indigenous products of the farmers and the cooperatives. Creative booths that display these products are constructed by the different barangays at the city plaza. |
| 2 | Adlaw Hong Butuan | Butuan City | It’s the charter day celebration of Butuan City. It is highlighted by the thanksgiving mass, motorcade recognition of outstanding Butuanons & City employees night. |
| 2 | Palagsing Festival | Butuan City | A competition for the longest and the best tasting palagsing |
| Aug 4-5 | Palo-palo Festival | Basco, Batanes | A cultural presentation of the different municipalities of Batanes, showcasing their ethnic group”s rugged yet storied existence. |
| Aug 4-13 | Sta. Clara Festival | Tigaon, Camarines Sur | A celebration held in honor of Patron Saint, St. Claire of Assisi. Various activities are lined up including cultural shows, job fair, concert, fairworks display, beauty pagent, firworks display, battle of the bands and the highlight activity which is the Sta. Clara devotional dance. |
| 5 | Feast of our Lady of Snows | Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental | Nuestra Señora de los Nieves is the patron saint of the city. Parishioners celebrate the event with the Holy Mass and a procession around the city streets and capped with a cultural show in the local catholic school. |
| 5 | El Salvador Fiesta | El Salvador City | Agro-Fair/Parade/cultural show. |
| Aug 5-9 | Bayombong Festival | Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya | The four day event features a typical fiesta with fireworks display, parade, peoples night, streetdancing and a beauty pageant competition. August 8 is also the feast day of St. Dominic, the town’s patron saint. |
| Aug 6-10 | Pagpasidungog Festival | Panit-an, Capiz | Meaning to honor. The Panitan Municipal Government gives honour and recognition to every Paniteño who has given something for the social, cultural, educational and economic development of this town. Pagpasidungog honors those whose successes in life give inspiration to our young generations. This festival also honors their “KASIMANWAS” who brought fame, honor and recognition for Panitan. |
| 8 | Nalupon Festival | Lupon, Davao Oriental | Celebrating the feast Rean Daanoy |
| 9 | Bonga Festival | Sibonga, Cebu | The celebration is in honor of the town”s patron saint, Our Lady of Pilar and Santa Filomena. Among its highlights is the street dancing and ritual/showdown competition. “Bunga” is a Cebuano word which means fruit in English. This festival is a form of thanksgiving for all the blessings and graces the Sibonganhons have received for the abundant fruits found in their town. |
| 9 | Maliputo Festival | San Nicolas, Batangas | The festival is a showcase of local maliputo (Caramax Ignobilis) and its contribution to the growing industry of fish in the area. The people of San Nicolas enduring efforts to promote and cultivate the maliputo as a source of income to local residents is highlighted by a streetdancing parade showcasing the different concepts and themes of maliputo fish. |
| Aug 9-11 | Fruit Festival | Kidapawan City, North Cotabato | Kidapawan takes its fruit growing industry to the streets literally as the city celebrates its annual fruit festival. There are cultural shows, a parade of local fruit products, a bevy of exhibits, street dancing competition and selected lectures on fruit preparation. |
| Aug 10-16 | Cordova Dinagat Festival | Cordova, Cebu | The celebration honors the town’s most prized source of livelihood-fishing. “Dinagat” means “anything” pertaining to the sea”. It showcases Cordova’s distinctive cultural heritage though authentic traditional rituals and dances. |
| Aug 10-17 | Pavvu Rulun Festival | Tuguegarao, Cagayan | The patron fiesta of Tuguegarao City. It is being celebrated yearly in honor of St. Hyacinth, which is being venerated at the Ermita de San Jacinto. Pav-vurulun which means comng together allows all members of the community to join in the celebrations from the well applauded street dancing competitions, drum, bugle and lyre competitions, beauty pagent, agri-trade fairs and job fairs, among many others. The highlight of the event is the outdoor cooking and pancit eating contest of the Pancit Batil Patung, a local noodle delicacy in the city. |
| 11 | Kaadlawan Han Samar | Catbalogan, Samar | Festivities to commemorate the foundation day of Samar |
| 11 | Kaahaan Festival/Araw ng Kinoguitan | Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental | Display of various agri- products of the municipality Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental. |
| Aug 11-13 | Araw ng Cabanglasan | Cabanglasan, Bukidnon | Agro-Fair/cultural show. |
| Aug 12-16 | Santones Festival | Liliw, Laguna | A five day festivity featuring the sweet santol and lanzones fruits raised in the locality. |
| Aug 12-17 | Arandurugan Festival | Guinobatan, Albay | The festival is held to coincide with the town fiesta and as a form of thanksgiving for the bounties from the land. Various activities are lined up to drumbeat the affair. |
| 13 | Araw ng Tayabas | Tayabas, Quezon | Designated as the day for commemorating heroism of Tayabasins. The event calls for unity, strengthens social bonding and encourages Tayabasins to renew its commitment to service. Araw ng Tayabas pays tribute to the historical event in August 13, 1898 when the Spaniards surrendered to the revolutionaries of Tayabas. |
| 13 (2nd Saturday) | Pasigarbo sa Sugbo | Cebu City | In celebration of the province’s founding day, the Cebu Provincial Government stages this event where the best of what Cebu can offer is showcased. From world-class furniture and handicrafts, to the different delicacies that Cebu is well known for, this event showcases the talent and diversity of the Cebuanos to the world. The event is capped with the presentation of the different festivals in Cebu and fireworks. |
| 14 | Kalibongan Festival | Kidapawan City, North Cotabato | August 14 marks the celebration of the Kalibongan Festival. Kalibongan is a manobo term for a Grand Festival which is celebrated yearly in Kidapawan, Cotabato. The Manobos, Bagobos, and other highland tribes from the different parts of the province go down to Kidapawan to show off and proudly display their tradition and cultural heritage. The natives display thier own version of “party” with a traditional horsefight, a “blood compact” peace ceremony, etc. |
| 14 | Pasaka Festival | Tanauan, Leyte | Pasaka is a waray word meaning invitation to progress, health and luck for the inhabitants for the coming year. Religious homage, cultural dance parade in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption. A form of thanksgiving for the blessings received and a way of welcoming the visitors. |
| 14 | Caro-tao Festival | Mawab, Compostela Valley Province | Feast Celebration. |
| Aug 14-16 | Kumbira (Food Festival) | Cagayan de Oro City | Food & culinary competitions sponsored by the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA). |
| Aug 14-20 | Kalubihan Festival | Jordan, Guimaras | Celebrated in support to the National Coconut Week Celebration in recognition of the efforts of the coconut farmers and other stakeholders of the province. Activities include “karituhan”, a parade of caritos artistically decorated with coconuts and its products, poster making and painting contests. Hataw sa Kalubihan-games and cultural presentation, food festival and highlighted by a coronation of “Nanay sang Kalubihan.” |
| Aug 14-21 | Kadayawan sa Dabaw | Davao City | Celebration of the thanksgiving, this cultural festival’s highlights include street dancing, floral float parade, cultural shows, exhibits, etc. |
| 15 | Lubi-lubi (Coconut) Festival | Calubian, Leyte | The humble coconut tree gets its day in the spotlight as the town celebrates its Lubi-Lubi Festival. |
| 15 | Feast of our Lady of Assumption | Boac, Marinduque | A celebration in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption. |
| 15 | Pasakan Festival | Tanauan, Leyte | Religious homage/ cultural dance parade in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption |
| 15 | Sirong Festival | Cantilan, Surigao del Sur | A war dance between Muslims and Christians, reflecting the Christianization of the early Cantillanons |
| 15 | Sumayajaw Festival | Jabonga, Agusan del Norte | Held during the town fiesta of Jabonga. It is a thanksgiving celebration for the bounties showered by the Heavenly Father through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Lady of Assumption. |
| Aug 15-17 | Coron Festival | Tiwi, Albay | “Coron” is a Bicol dialect meaning clay-pot or potteries of which the town of Tiwi is popularly known for. Thus, the festival’s main feature is the municipalities pottery industry which is done with skills passed from parents to children and perfected through long years of practice without the benefit of written manuals. |
| Aug 17-19 | Kumbira Culinary Foodshow and Competition | Limketkai Atrium, Cagayan de Oro City | A yearly culinary show and competition usually participated by hotels, restaurants, and schools. |
| 18 | Sundayag Festival | Cagayan de Oro City | A showcase of the Best of Northern Mindanao featuring Agriculture, Trade, & Tourism destinations. |
| 18 | Lumin-awa Festival | Lubuagan, Kalinga | A festival that showcases a parade, cultural presentations, fashion show, and field presentations from different barangays of Lubuagan. |
| 18 | Araw ng Alubijid | Alubijid, Misamis Oriental | Street Dancing competition |
| 19 | Quezon Day/Angono Day | Angono, Rizal | Anniversary of Independence , the residents of Angono led by the Municipal Tourism Office, prepare a weeklong celebration characterized by trade fairs, arts exhibits, symphonic band concerts, cultural presentations, etc. Flower offering to the statue of President Quezon is being observed, as it is also his birthday. |
| 20 | Pilgrimage to Joroan | Joroan, Tiwi, Albay | Held every 3rd Saturday of August to pay homage to the miraculous image of Our Lady of Salvation, Patroness of Albay. It is highlighted by a maritime procession where the image is carried by the menfolks down to the beach where a large and well-decorated trawl boat is docked. An entourage of similarly decorated pumpboats follow, carrying the pilgrims and devotees to the shores and village at Sogod where a concelebrated mass is held. |
| 20 | Bankaton Festival | Lavezares, Northern Samar | Exciting motorboat race in honor of the town’s patron saint |
| 19 | Coco Sabutan Festival/Quezon Birth Anniversary | Baler, Aurora | Celebrated every year in honor of the Patron Saint of Baler, San Luis Obispo, and in commemoration of the birth of a great leader and statesman, President Manuel Luis Quezon. The long week celebration features Coco-Sabutan Festival, street dancing, Search for Little Ms Baler and Binibining Baler, Historical Quiz Bee and merry making activities. |
| Aug 21-25 | Sabutan Festival | SanLuis, Aurora Province | Highlights the importance of growing palm trees locally called Sabutan on the community’s economic wellbeing. The raw material is used to weave a variety of useful products and ornamentals like hats, placemats, fans and even native dress. The festival features native dance presentation among school children, trade fair, cultural shows and exhibits. |
| 23 | Anniversary of Cry in Pugadlawin | Pugad Lawin Shrine, Brgy. Baha Toro, Quezon City | Another historical event celebrated yearly with a flag-raising and a wreath-laying ceremony followed by a civic parade and a program. |
| 23 | Manaragat Festival | Catbalogan, Samar | Manaragat is the local dialect for fishermen. This festival honours St. Bartholomew as the miraculous Saint who maintained the richness of Maqueda Bay as a major fishing ground of the province of Samar. It is interpreted by colours, dances and the sound of drums that echoes through the deep culture of the fishing industry that stayed long in the history of Catbaloganons. |
| Aug 23-24 | 24-Hour Mountain Bike Endurance | national Bilibid Prison Land Reserve Area, Muntinlupa City | A competition among the elite and amateur mountain bike outdoor sports athlete from across the country. The event will test the competitor’s mountain biking skills in the varied crisscrossed paths of the NBP Land Reserve Area. |
| 25 | Tsinelas Festival | Gapan, Nueva Ecija | To mark the anniversary of the town’s cityhood, Gapan City holds its annual Tsinelas Festival, with street dancing, parade of floats decorated with regular to gigantic 7 ft. slippers the famous slippers bazaar. The festival is aimed at bolstering the new city’s claim as the North Slippers Capital. |
| 25 | Iloilo Charter Day | Iloilo City | Iloilo City received its charter on August 25, 1937 during the American Commonwealth Government in the Philippines. |
| Aug 25-30 | Pasa-Pasa Ikaw Festival | Pasacao, Camarines Sur | The festival showcases the town’s rich cultural heritage forever reminding its people of the significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the province of Camarines Sur and the region, in general. |
| 26 | Alcala Town Fiesta | Alcala, Cagayan | The local government unit of Alcala has highlighted the agricultural products of Alcala town like corn and rice presented a lcoal street dancing versino and the colonial past of the town depicted in its centuries-old church – St. Philomene Church. |
| 26 | Higa-onon Dance Festival | Cagayan de Oro City | St. Dancing and Tableau presentation of Higa-onon dancers. a festival participated by diff. groups showcasing Higao-non tribal dances & culture. |
| Aug 26-Sep 8 | Daragang Madayon | Daraga, Albay | A historical and religious celebration in honor of the town’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Gate. It aims to showcase tha cultural life of Daragueños. Various colorful activities are lined up for this celebration. |
| 27 | Native Manok Festival | Mabunao, Panabo City | One of the highlights of Brgy. Mabunao’s araw, this festival is in thanksgiving of the bounty given as the Native Manok is one of the major products of Mabunao. |
| 27 | Bahandi Festival | Alcantara, Cebu | A street dancing celebrated during the town”s fiesta honoring the town”s patron saint, Señor San Augustine. The dance expresses the town people”s joy for the Bahandi (Treasure from the environment) that were given to the municipality. |
| 27 | Cagayan de Oro Golden Float Festival | Cagayan de Oro City | A float parade and competition highlighting the historical and cultural interpreted into colorful and unique floats. The event is participated by government organizations, civic organizations and various academic institutions in the city. |
| 27 | Kaumahan Festival | Opol, Misamis Oriental | Series of activities such as beautification , parade of farm products , agro and trade fair, cultural shows. |
| Aug 27-28 | Madyaw, Hugyaw Samal Festival | Peñaplata, Davao del Norte | Festival of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and blessings. |
| Aug 27-28 | Jinawa Festival | Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte | A local rendition of the classic Christian-moro conflict interpreted through songs and dances. |
| 28 | Lambagohan Festival | Cagayan de Oro City | A fluvial parade and a river festival with fully decorated outrigger boats complete with live band musician & ethnic dancers usually participated by various barangays of the city; this is also held to honor St. Augustine, the Patron Saint of the City. |
| 28 | Paladong Festival | Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur | A festivity of arts and rituals. The art of performing the ritual of “ladong” conducted by a “landongan”, a person who has the power and ability to cure as medium to call the spirits and relay the wishes to the clients through an offering. |
| 28 | Kalumunan Festival | San Agustin, Surigao del Sur | A reunion of relatives and friends during town fiesta of San Agustin celebrated through street dancing. |
| 28 | Kagay-an Festival | Cagayan de Oro City | A street parade and competition showcasing the Higaonon and Maranao influences of the city participated by various schools and groups. |
| 28 | Kariyawan Festival | Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province | A thanksgiving for the municipality’s rich agricultural harvest and abundant mineral resources. It features street dances depicting its wealth of cultural heritage and trade fairs. |
| 29 | Buyogan Festival | Abuyog, Leyte | “Buyog” (bees) dancer depict the origin of the town’s name in a well choreographed dance. |
| 29 | National Heroes Day | SanCarlos City, Negros Occidental | A celebration paying homage to people who fought for freedom, usually held with a cultural program and flower offering at the foot of the Unknown Soldier Monument. |
| 29 | Nagsabado Festival | Pasig City | A re-enactment of the revolutionary action against the Spaniards leb by Valentin Cruz and Andres Bonifacio in 1896. The historic revolution happends to fall on a Saturday that”s why the event is called “Nagsabado”. |
| 29 | 29 de Agosto | Brgy. Hagdang Bato Itaas, Mandaluyong City | Travel back to history as the city observes its First Cry of Revolution against Spaniards in 1896. A commemorative program and an evening of Kundiman are special activities for the occasion. |
| Aug 29-31 | Tilawng SaPagkaong Nan Surigaonon Food Festival | Surigao City, Surigao del Norte | A celebration of Surigao City’s diverse bounty of seafoods and unique Surigao flavour and food culture. An annual event designed to provide opportunity for caterer’s / food handlers and individuals to showcase their culinary talents as they create their own Interpretations of a uniquely Surigaonon dish. It is also an avenue for the restaurant staff and students to showcase their skills and expertise in basic restaurant services. |
| 30 | Siloy Festival | Alcoy, Cebu | The festival promotes the Mag-abo forest with its famous Black or Siloy, the town”s scenic white sand beaches and dive spots and in honor of the town”s patroness Saint Rose of Lima. |
| 30 | Kayaba: Guimaras – Iloilo Cross Channel Swim | Iloilo City | A cross channel swim to create awareness to preserve the Iloilo river, promote tourism in Guimaras and Iloilo and encourage endurance swimming as a competitive sport. |
| 30 | Mandaue Charter Day Celebration | Mandaue City, Cebu | The Mandauehanons celebrates this eventful anniversary with parades, games and variety shows. The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry spearhead the holding of the Mandaue that will start off on this day. |
| 30 | Turumba Festival | Teresa, Rizal | This is done every year during the feast of Saint Rose of Lima called “Turumba sa Birhen” which means a unique dance dedicated to Saint Rose of Lima, the patron saint of Teresa. Song and dance rites are practiced during the turn of the 19th century up to this time. It is participated by children, young and old who dance with the accompaniment of the musical band. They are clad in colorful costumes with big salakot decorated with multi colored Japanese papers and dance their way from the church to the different barangays of the town. They get hold of any branches of trees and shrubs found on their way to use as their swaying instruments for the dance. |
| 30 | Battle of Pinaglabanan | Pinaglaban Shrine, Municipality of San Juan | National / local celebration of the Battle of Pinaglabanan, a Battle which sparked the Philippine Revolution of 1896. There will be mass at 7:00 am followed by wreath-laying ceremony |
| 31 | Birth Anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay | Iba, Zambales | Morning activities which consists of flag raising, flower offering to the monument of the late Pres. Magsaysay. After the celebration infront of the Pavilion, the celebration was continued to the Ancestral House of President Ramon Magsaysay for the program. |
Credits: Wikipedia.org
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