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Philippines

Birthdays
Birthdays are much celebrated in the Philippines. Although they are not considered a holiday, birthdays are such big deals in the Philippines. To Filipino people, forgetting someone’s birthday is a terrible offense.

January
January 1: New Years (Maligayang Bagong Taon)- The New Years is celebrated with a big festival. According to Filipino Chinese beliefs, malicious spirits are warded off by the noise. Families gather and light firecrackers, beat the drums and pans, rings bells, and make other loud noises at the stroke of midnight. Sometimes for New years, everyone would wear their new clothes that are red or gold with deep pockets and be filled with new money and are jingled to celebrate good luck in the New Year.

First Sunday of January: Araw ng Tatlong Hari (Feast of three kings.)- The Three Kings were the bearers of gifts for Filipino children. Santa came in second. Shoes that were brightly polished are left on thee window sills together with the cleanest socks because children knew that the Three Kings are on their way to Bethlehem and would pass by their homes to fill their shoes with gifts. It is also known as Pasko ng Matatanda (Feast of the Elderly) because it honors senior citizens. This feast of the Three Kings marks the official end of the liturgical Christmas of the Philippines.

January: Ati-Athan Festival- Ati- Atihan was originally a pagan festival but missionaries gradually added Christian meaning. Ati-Athan today is celebrated in honor of the Christ Child. There is a parade that lasts three days and leads to the church where the main procession starts. The parades are colorful and vibrant like many festivals are.

January 9: Feast of the Black Nazarene- The Black Nazarene is a life-sized statue of Christ that is carried through town near Quipo Church in Manilaby barefooted men shouting, “Viva Senor,” while people in huge crowds try to touch the statue. People who touch the statue are reported to be healed of diseases and other miracles. Some people ask guards to rub towels on the statue in hopes of carrying some of that power away with them. The statue is brought out every January 9 and Good Friday.

February
February 2: Feast of our Lady of Candelaria- This particular festival is the biggest religious event in the Visayas island group. The festival honors the patron saint of Jaro. It is marked by parades and the blessing of candles which is taken to their houses for protection against danger.

February 17- March 3: Baguio City- The flower season at Baguio, the City of Pines. The people here take a break from any kind of work to enjoy the cool climate and see parades and performances in the streets. Multi-colored costumes are worn, copying the various flowers and plants around the Philippines, and fake flower beds disguised as the Panagbenga parade floats.

March
March: Kaamulan Festival- Kaamulan, meaning social gathering, is a bright and colorful extravaganza that welcomes anyone. Unlike other festivals, the Kaamulan Festival is not just an all street performance. This festival has real native people do authentic rituals.

First week of March: Pagsanjan Bangkero Festival- The Pangsanjan Bangkero Festival includes exciting events that take place on water and land. These events include street dancing, drum and band competition, choralfest, cultural night, trade fair, and many sports activities. This festival celebrates the skills of the boatmen with maneuvering their boats upstream and against wild rapids at the waterways of Pansanjan Falls.

April
April 9: Bataan Day- Bataan Day commemorates the day when about 12,000 American soldiers surrendered to the Japanese at the tip of the Bataan Peninsula.

April: Jeepney King Festival- The jeepney driver is honored in Manila every month of April. Some of the celebrations include brightly colored jeepneys and caravans. These jeep-like cars are a symbol of Pinoy Pride.

May
May 14:  The Caribou Festival- A two day celebration where farmers pay tribute to water buffalos, known as caribous in the Philippines. On the first day, farmers brush their skin until it is sleek and shiny. Next, they decorate the caribou with ribbons, attach them to carts, and lead them to the church. On the second day of this celebration, the caribous compete in a race.

May 14: Sunduan Festival- This festival celebrates the courtship of women. The custom is for the men to court on a girl by accompanying her to the town plaza, and bringing her home.

June
June 12: Araw ng Kalayaan (Filipino Independence Day)- This national holiday honors the beginning of the first Philippines Republic in 1895. It is celebrated with parades, firework displays, concerts and ringing of church bells. An important event is the civilian-military parade that is staged through the Grand Stand of Rizal Park in Manila.

July
 July 24: Kinabayo Festival- The Kinabayo Festival is an exotic and vivid pageant re-enacting the Spanish-Moorish wars, which includes the Battle of Covadonga.

November
November 23: The Higantes of Angono- This Festival started centuries ago and is celebrated with giant paper mache people measuring four to five feet in diameter and ten to twelve feet in height.

August
August 14: Kalibongan Festival- The Kalibongan Festival is a grand festival which is celebrated yearly in Kidapawan, Cotabato. Their display of a “party” is a traditional horsefight.

Third week of September: Lem-lunay (T’boli Tribal Festival)- A Thanksgiving festival.

October 19: Masskara Festival- A festival where people in huge crowds where smiling masks.

November
November 30: Bonifacio Day- Celebrated on his birthday, Bonifacio Day commemorates the fearless Banifacio Kalookan. Bonifacio urged his men to revolt against Spain which began the Philippine Revolution against Spain.