Kalilangan Festival, Philippines
Every year, General Santos City marks its foundation anniversary on February 27 with various activities culminating the weeklong celebration of Kalilangan Festival. A Kalilangan is derived from the Maguindanaoan word “kalilang” which means “festival,” or “celebration.” It has been adopted as the carrier of the city’s foundation anniversary as it perfectly embodies the meaning of the historical episode being celebrated. The logo depicts the docking of the pioneers at the shores of Sarangani Bay. With empty hands and hopeful hearts, they tilled the lands, cultivated dreams, and planted a vision.
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Quiapo Fiesta: Procession of the Black Nazarene
Quiapo Fiesta or Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated on the second Tuesday of January. It is the feast day of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church. After the main mass, the famous statue of the Black Nazarene, carved in Mexico during the 18th century, is placed ona gilded carriage and borne in procession around the Quiapo district, with thousands and thousands of devotees participating.
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Tuna Festival, General Santos City
Tuna Festival is one of the more interesting fiestas in the Philippines especially in General Santos City. This celebration was inspired by the fact that this particular city is referred to as the country’s Tuna Capital. General Santos City has a population of 535,747 as of 2007, making it as one of the populous cities in the Philippines. The city is a three time awardee for the “Most Competitive City” in the Philippines for the years 1999-2000 (all cities category) 2000-2001 (mid-sized category) and 2007 (mid-sized category). Tuna Float is an awesome event to taste also sumptuous tuna treats during the Tuna Culinary Contest.
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The Masskara Festival is Bacolod’s Biggest Annual Event
Bacolod City will never be called the City of Smiles without any reason at all. Once again, this charming city in the province of Negros Occidental has celebrated the country’s most colorful fiesta: The Masskara Festival. As we all know, Masskara is a cardinal symbol that depicts the many faces of life and the challenges it brings. It is a festival of thanksgiving for the bounty showered upon the Negrenses during the season of harvest. Animated street dancing highlights the celebration flocked in by thousands of spectators from all over the country.
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Flores de Mayo is one of the Most Colorful Festivals in the Philippines
May is the month when most Filipinos celebrate Flores de Mayo in honor of the Holy Cross. Flores came from the Spanish word “flowers”, also known as Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), Flores de Maria (flowers of Mary) or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival celebrated in the month of May in honor of the Virgin Mary. This Philippine wide fiesta is marked by a parade of maidens escorted by young men under floral arches. The main participant represents Reyna Elena and the emperor.
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The Hari Raya Puasa Festival of our Muslim Brothers
The Hari Raya Puasa literally known as “Celebration Day of Fasting” is the Malay term for the Muslim Festival of Eid ul-Fitr. It is used to refer to Eid ul-Adha in the form of “Hari Raya Aidiladha”. The main greeting used by Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore is “Selamat Hari Raya” which means “Happy Eid” in Malay. Hari Raya Puasa is considered the most significant celebrations for Muslims. It marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan (or Bulan Puasa” in Malay) and is a time of abstinence, contemplation, and worship for Muslims.
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Sinulog Festival for Señor Santo Niño
Nowhere else in the Philippines can one witness a yearly historical pageantry in parade known as Sinulog which is part of a religious observance except in Cebu City. The Sinulog is an annual festival held on every third Sunday of January. It honors the child known as the Santo Niño, patron of the city of Cebu. The dance moves two steps forward and one step backward to the sound of the drums. This resembles the current (Sulog) of what was then known as Cebu’s Pahina River. Thus, in Cebuano, they say it’s Sinulog. The Sinulog dance steps were believed to originate from Rajah Humabon’s adviser, Baladhay. It was during Humabon’s grief when Baladhay was driven sick. He then ordered his natives to bring Baladhay into a chapel where the Sto. Niño was enthroned. The festival now features a street parade with participants in bright-colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets, and native gongs.
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The “Hala Bira, Puera Pasma” Street Dancing in Kalibo
Philippine Mardi Gras comes in very spectacular style when the people of Kalibo take to the streets to dance through the night and parade their magnificent costumes. The Ati-Atihan Festival is known to be the wildest among the Philippine fiestas. It has grown in giving honor to Santo Niño, a depiction of the Child Jesus which held every year on the third Sunday of January, in the town of Kalibo, Aklan. Art is become a big factor as celebrants paint their faces with black soot and wear bright, peculiar costumes as they dance in revelry during the last three days of this two week-long festival. There is a mix of parades, procession and dancing people on the rhythms of monotonous music of drums or the rhythmic tinkling of metal and stone on bottles while celebrating the Ati-Atihan.
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