The Philippines is a cauldron of remarkable culture and music. Take a look at some of these phenomenal Filipino festivals you SHOULD be at this summer!
Known for it’s tropical beaches and rich culture, the many islands of the Philippines harbour a bevy of some incredible cultural, as well as independent music festivals. Most of the cultural festivals celebrate lives of saints, while the music festivals are youth-immersive, and bring together musicians from all over the world for a cohesive experience. Take a look of these undeniably amazing festivals that make the Philippines proud.
1. Ati-Atihan Festival
When: January (3rd week)
Where: Kalibo, Aklan
Ati-Atihan Festival is celebrated in the honour of Santo Niño, or baby Jesus, every January in the small town of Kalibo. This is one of the primary Filipino festivals, having inspired many other Santo Niño festivals such as the Sinulog Festival and the Dinagyang Festival. As one of the oldest festivals in the counrty, Ati-Atihan is celebrated with colourful parades, face-painting, tribal dancing , and much more. The festival usually ends with processions of people carrying torches in the honour of Santo Niño, and a customary masquerade ball.
(Images via: ROB Photography/fest300.com)
2. Panagbenga Festival
When: February, 2016
Where: Baguio City
The Panagbenga Festival (also known as the Blooming Flower festival), which celebrates the Filipino season of blooming, sees a slew of immaculate floral floats in Baguio City every year. Parades with thousands of townspeople proudly flaunting these massive floats are a common site during the festival. The festival was initially created to help the city rise up from the devastating Luzon earthquake in 1990. Today, a truly a picturesque sight, this festival has made the city of Baguio a popular tourist site for many.
(Images via: rappler.com)
3. GoodVybes Fest
When: February 20, 2016
Where: Parañaque City, Manila
One of the distinguished independent music festivals in the Philippines, GoodVybes promises a carefully curated, and honest-to-God indie lineup. This year’s roster features some incredible acts such as Passion Pit, Oh Wonder, Chvrches, and more you can check out here. From their Facebook page, “the festival aims to showcase the best international and homegrown talent from the alternative, indie, and sub mainstream scenes.”
(Image via: GoodVybes/Facebook)
4. Wanderland Music and Arts Festival
When: March 5, 2016
Where: Makati
Now in its fourth year, Wanderland is probably one of the biggest music festivals in Philippines. This one, too, prides itself in the brilliantly curated indie/alternative lineups. With its promise of outer space magic and crackling headliners, it’s no surprise that Wanderland is Karpos Multimedia’s biggest music festival. This year’s lineup, which you can examine in depth here, features Death Cab For Cutie, Bon Iver, The Naked and Famous, Blackbird Blackbird and more.
(Images via: rappler.com)
5. Paradise International Music Festival
When: April 9, 2016
Where: Pasay City, Manila
Debuting in Manila this summer, Paradise International Music Festival is set to bring Kanye West as their headliner for its first edition. No other names on the lineup have been announced as of now, but the festival has already garnered a lot of attention of social media with their headliner announcement. This is said to be the first time the rapper will perform in Manila, so the enthusiasm of fans in the Philippines is palpable. We’re eager to see the rest of the lineup. Join the event page for updates here.
(Images via: philippineconcerts.com)
6. Moriones Festival
When: March/Holy Week (a week before Easter), 2016
Where: Boac, Gasan, and Mogpog, Marinduque
Like many other cultural festivals in the Philippines, the Moriones festival is also celebrated in the honour of a saint, specifically, St. Longinus. During the week-long celebration of this festival, there are processions with men and women, known as Moriones, wearing the ancient Roman biblical garb to honour St. Longinous walk the streets of the cities. The re-enactment of the Passion of Christ is also a common tradition of the festival. If you’re planning to visit the Philippines around the time this festival takes place, make sure to indulge in the local processions and parades; they’re quite a fascinating sight.
(Images via: thecollectiveint.com)
7. Pahiyas Festival
When: May 15, 2016
Where: Lucban, Quezon
Pahiyas Festival is the most flamboyant harvest festival in the Philippines. On May 15, the houses in Lucban are adorned with colourful produces, be it fruits, vegetables, agricultural products, or even handicrafts. The day commences with a morning mass at the Lucban Chruch, and then the day is filled with patrons decorating their houses with produce, at the end of which the best house is picked. It is customary during the day to pick out some food from the houses as you walk by. It is truly one of the most interesting cultural festivals in the Philippines.
(Images via: wikipilipinas.org)