Famous Philippine Festivals: Highlights and Pasalubong

The Philippines is a country with many diverse cultures with unique festivals. To visit the Philippines, you must know the most popular festivals and what to expect. So, this blog post will discuss the highlights of Philippine Festivals.

We also included some of the best pasalubongs to buy from each place of origin! It’s customary to purchase pasalubongs when traveling to different provinces. Notably, it’s a Filipino way of sharing the experience with friends and family.

List of Philippine Festivals

Let’s start discovering the Philippines again!

1. Ati-Atihan Festival
2. Sinulog Festival
3. Moriones Festival
4. Dinagyang Festival
5. Kadayawan Festival
6. Pahiyas Festival
7. Masskara Festival
8. Pintados Festival
9. Panagbenga Festival
10. Higantes Festival
11. Penafrancia Festival
12. Bambanti Festival
13. Giant Lantern Festival
14. Aliwan Festival
15. Pagoda Festival
16. Ibalong Festival
17. Tuna Festival
18. Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival

1. Ati-Atihan Festival

Month of Celebration: January

Place of Origin: Kalibo, Aklan

Cultural Background: The Ati-Atihan Festival is a popular January celebration in Kalibo. The event celebrates infant Jesus, Santo Niño, and his feast day. Participants dress up in traditional costumes. At the same time, they paint their faces black to resemble an indigenous people called “ati.” Furthermore, this tradition has lively music and long nights filled with dancing!

Pasalubong from Aklan: Dried fish is a popular food product from the Aklan province. Take home this pasalubong and give it to your family and friends.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Ati-Atihan Festival: A One-Of-A-Kind Celebration

2. Sinulog Festival

Month of Celebration: January

Place of Origin: Cebu City

Cultural Background: The Sinulog Festival might be perfect if you’re looking for a more casual and low-key festival. Every January, we can observe this celebration in Cebu City. It’s a festival to honor our Santo Niño. The main thing that makes it memorable? Its spectacular grand procession features participants wearing colorful costumes while dancing to traditional music!

Pasalubong from Cebu: Dried mangoes are a popular snack from Cebu. They’re sweet, juicy, and perfect for snacking on. You can also buy other Cebuano delicacies such as otap (flaky pastry) and rosquillos (Filipino-type biscuits).

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Sinulog Festival: It’s More Fun in Cebu

3. Moriones Festival

Month of Celebration: March or April (Holy Week)

Place of Origin: Marinduque

Cultural Background: If you’re interested in experiencing a more traditional Philippine festival, check out the Moriones Festival. You can observe this Festival every March on the island of Marinduque. It commemorates the life of Saint Longinus. Furthermore, participants wear masks and costumes representing biblical characters during the Festival. Additionally, the Moriones Festival is known for its traditional dances and music.

Pasalubong from Marinduque: Arrowroot cookies or uraro are a must-have when you’re in Marinduque. These sweet treats complement your travels and exploration of this beautiful island province!

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Moriones Festival: Marinduque’s Masked Spectacle

4. Dinagyang Festival

Month of Celebration: January

Place of Origin: Iloilo City

Cultural Background: If you’re looking for a full-of-energy festival, you’ll want to check out the Dinagyang Festival. You can enjoy this Festival every January in Iloilo City. It celebrates the Santo Niño feast. Significantly, the participants dress up in colorful costumes during the Festival and paint their faces with black and white stripes. The Festival’s highlight is the grand procession, which features participants dancing to traditional music.

Pasalubong from Iloilo: Biscocho is a delicious and satisfying snack from Iloilo, made with butter, eggs & flour. For the perfect finishing touch, bakers put sugar or margarine on top. Another favorite is the delicious and sweet Barquillos, which are ideal for ice cream. You can find these crunchy treats at stores on Wewins Street or Merci along Iznart Street and Calle Real.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Dinagyang Festival: Experience Iloilo’s Best

5. Kadayawan Festival

Month of Celebration: August

Place of Origin: Davao City

Cultural Background: Suppose you’re looking for a festival celebrating nature’s beauty. In that case, you’ll want to check out the Kadayawan Festival. You can observe this Festival every August in Davao City, which marks the land’s bounty. Participants dress in traditional costumes and headdresses made from leaves and flowers during the Festival. The Festival’s highlight is the grand street parade, featuring participants carrying colorful floats.

Pasalubong from Davao: The durian candy is a popular local treat from Davao that has the authentic taste of this fruit. Everyone can enjoy the sweet and refreshing taste of a real Durian. Additionally, fresh mangosteen fruit is a popular Davao product.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Kadayawan Festival: Davao’s Spectacular Celebration You Shouldn’t Miss

6. Pahiyas Festival

Month of Celebration: May

Place of Origin: Lucban, Quezon

Cultural Background: If you’re looking for a festival that celebrates all things harvest, look no further than Pahiyas Festival. This May tradition in Lucban marks the rice crop. It brings together people from near and far with its colorful leaves & flower decorations on houses. The highlight? Your very own hay-filled stomach!

Pasalubong from Lucban: Longganisa Lucban is a popular pasalubong from Quezon. Made with pork and lots of garlic, they’re perfect for those who love garlicky food.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Pahiyas Festival: Everything You Need to Know

7. Masskara Festival

Month of Celebration: October

Place of Origin: Bacolod City

Cultural Background: What’s more cheerful than a festival full of happiness? The Masskara Festival in Bacolod City is one occasion to enjoy the local culture and tradition. This city celebrates its friendly atmosphere every October with colorful costumes and masks.

Pasalubong from Bacolod: Piaya is a popular pasalubong from Bacolod. These flatbreads are made with flour, sugar, and eggs and filled with muscovado.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: MassKara Festival: The Ultimate Guide

8. Pintados Festival

Month of Celebration: June

Place of Origin: Tacloban City, Leyte

Cultural Background: Suppose you’re looking for a festival that celebrates the tattooed tradition of the Philippines. In that case, you’ll want to check out the Pintados Festival. You can watch this Festival every June in Leyte, and it celebrates the art of body painting. Participants dress in traditional costumes and headdresses made from leaves and flowers during the Festival. Notably, the Festival’s highlight is the grand parade, featuring participants carrying colorful floats.

Pasalubong from Leyte: Binagol is a Waray delicacy made from mashed-up giant taro roots, condensed milk, and sugar mixed with coconut milk. The locals wrap it in banana leaves before steaming it for hours to turn its sticky consistency into something delicious!

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Pintados Festival: The Ultimate Guide

9. Panagbenga Festival

Month of Celebration: February

Place of Origin: Baguio City

Cultural Background: Suppose you’re looking for a festival that celebrates the coming of spring. In that case, you’ll want to check out the Panagbenga Festival. Every February, you can experience this Festival in Baguio City, which marks the city’s beautiful flowers. Additionally, the participants dress up in colorful costumes and headdresses made from leaves and flowers during the Festival. The Festival’s highlight is the grand flower float parade, featuring participants displaying colorful floats.

Pasalubong from Baguio: Strawberries are a delicious fruit from Baguio that you can find in many forms, including jam. This popular type of Pasalubong has an exciting flavor combination with sugar and lemon juice to make it fun for anyone who loves eating! Additionally, you can buy other Baguio products such as ube jam, peanut brittle, and Lengua de Gato from Rico’s

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Panagbenga Festival: A Fusion of Culture and Blooms

10. Higantes Festival

Month of Celebration: November

Place of Origin: Angono, Rizal

Cultural Background: The Higantes Festival is unique in the Philippines. This November, join locals and celebrate their patron saint by wearing giant costumes that mark him as a protector against danger! The event also includes parades through town with fantastic floats on them.

Pasalubong from Rizal: Suman is a popular pasalubong from Rizal province. This kakanin is a sticky rice cake densely covered in leaves. Moreover, another popular pasalubong from Rizal is their roasted cashew nuts or kasoy.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Higantes Festival: Rizal’s Colorful Giants

11. Penafrancia Festival

Month of Celebration: September

Place of Origin: Naga City, Camarines Sur

Cultural Background: If you’re looking for a festival celebrating the Virgin Mary, you’ll want to check out the Penafrancia Festival. Every September, you can experience this Festival in Naga City. It marks the city’s patron saint, Our Lady of Peñafrancia. The main highlight of this Festival is the fluvial procession, which takes place along the Naga River!

Pasalubong from Naga: The spicy, savory flavors of Bicol Express will make you feel like your mouth is on fire! More importantly, it’s a popular regional dish with coconut milk, chili peppers, and shrimp paste. Also, you can buy pasalubongs made of pili nuts.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Penafrancia Festival: Bicol’s Magical Event

12. Bambanti Festival

Month of Celebration: January

Place of Origin: Isabela

Cultural Background: If you’re looking for a festival celebrating the scarecrow, you’ll want to check out the Bambanti Festival. You can watch this Festival every January in Isabela, which marks the province’s agriculture. During the Festival, the participants dress in scarecrow costumes and headdresses made from leaves and flowers. The Festival’s highlight is the grand parade, featuring participants carrying colorful floats.

Pasalubong from Isabela: Isabela has many suman delicacies, but none are more popular than Binalay. This native dish consists of sticky rice flour wrapped in banana leaves that you can find across this province!

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Coming Soon

13. Giant Lantern Festival

Month of Celebration: December

Place of Origin: San Fernando City, Pampanga

Cultural Background: You can experience the streets of Pampanga filled with color, music, and cheer as people celebrate their love for this city’s signature industry- the lanterns. The Festival takes place every December. Participants with giant lanterns join the parade to travel around town, ultimately ending at a grand celebration where everyone who attends can see them up close and personal!

Pasalubong from Pampanga: Sisig is a Filipino favorite made from parts of the pig’s face, belly, and chicken liver. Kapampangans make this enticing flavor with calamansi, chili, and red onions. It will make your taste buds go wild in all possible ways.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Giant Lantern Festival: Pampanga’s Wonder

14. Aliwan Festival

Month of Celebration: April

Place of Origin: Manila

Cultural Background: Suppose you’re looking for a festival that celebrates the different cultures in the Philippines. In that case, you’ll want to check out the Aliwan Festival. You can join this Festival every April in Manila, which marks the country’s diversity. In addition, the participants dress up in traditional costumes and headdresses made from leaves and flowers during the Festival. The Festival’s highlight is the grand street parade, featuring regional participants wearing colorful costumes and performing their festival rituals.

Pasalubong from Manila: You can find it everywhere in Manila, from palabok to hopia, from cheap Divisoria items to branded fashion wear.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Coming Soon

15. Pagoda Festival

Month of Celebration: July

Place of Origin: Bulacan

Cultural Background:

The Pagoda Festival in the Philippines has occasionally led to enormous calamities. This was how the 2nd of July, 1993, in Bocaue, Bulacan, played out.

The celebration of the Santo Niño, the Philippines’ oldest Catholic icon, occurred at the same time as the Pagod Festival Philippines. During that time, people would ride down the river on a multi-level pagoda constructed specifically to float. People danced, ate, and sang. In other words, everyone had an unforgettable, one-for-the-books time.

However, given the people’s excitement, the floating pagoda went way beyond its current (no pun intended) capacity. As a result, the pagoda started to drop. At first, it did so gradually. But it sunk relatively quickly after a while, in a Titanic-like fashion.

Despite the tragedy, the Bocaue Pagoda Festival Philippines still goes on. Until today, a part of the Festival is dedicated to the departed. For the years to come, this custom carried on as usual. The only difference? People are more careful nowadays. Plus, the Pagoda Festival is way more fun.

Pasalubong from Bulacan: Looking to satisfy those hunger pangs at home and reminisce the Pagoda Festival? We got your back. From sweet treats like inipit de leche and pastillas to tasty ones like chicharon and putok, Bulacan has tons of pasalubong you can bring back home to your loved ones.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Pagoda Festival: The Ultimate Guide

16. Ibalong Festival

Month of Celebration: August

Place of Origin: Albay

Cultural Background: The Ibalong Festival is a series of celebrations over a week or two. The name “Ibalong,” the inspiration for the Festival’s name, refers to one of the most important epics in the province. The Ibalong epic describes the myths and stories of the area long before the arrival of the colonizers. Hence, the Ibalong Festival celebrates a cultural landmark and the province’s people. It also honors their resiliency in the face of the frequent disasters in the region due to its typhoon-prone location. 

Pasalubong from Albay: You know what they say, you can’t enjoy a festival without sampling the delicacies and bringing home some pasalubong. Here are the mouth-watering dishes you shouldn’t miss and bring home from Bicol: Bicol express, inulukan, ginulay an santol, pili cheesecake, pili nuts, and kandinga.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Ibalong Festival: The Ultimate Guide

17. Tuna Festival

Month of Celebration: September

Place of Origin: General Santos City

Cultural Background: As you probably guessed, the Tuna Festival in Gensan is celebrated because of tuna. Since the city is the country’s tuna capital, the fish has generated a lot of jobs for the people there. This boosted the city’s economy and improved the lives of many workers, especially the fishermen.

It doesn’t stop there. The activity is not just about tuna; it celebrates everything about fish. Therefore, attending the event allows you to enjoy and appreciate marine creatures.

You can find a lot of seafood, from exhibitions to street grills, at the event. Plus, the event helps you learn more about the diverse fish quality in the city. You’ll also interact with the locals and learn more about their unique ways of life.

Pasalubong from General Santos City: Bistek tuna belly is one of the best pasalubong from General Santos. It uses premium tuna instead of beef. The cooks usually prepare the fish with onions and tomatoes. The tuna belly skin contrasts nicely with the juicy and tender meat thanks to deep frying. The dish will take you to paradise when paired with steamed white rice.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Tuna Festival: General Santos’ Pride

18. Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival

Month of Celebration: February

Place of Origin: Clark, San Fernando, Pampanga

Cultural Background: The Hot Air Balloon Festival in the Philippines is an annual event featuring the beauty and excitement of hot air ballooning. The Festival lets the public experience the thrill of flight and learn about the history and technology of hot air balloons. Plus, many lovers can enjoy the Festival, with some proposals happening on air. The Festival puts love in the air. 

Pasalubong from Pampanga: Bring home some love and flavor by coming home with pasalubong. From sweet treats like turrones de casoy to tasty ones like sisig and kamaru, Bulacan has tons of pasalubong you can bring back home.

Read HICAPS Detailed Guide: Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival: Soaring to New Heights

Other Popular Philippine Festivals by HICAPS

• Magayon Festival: Unveiling the Beauty of Albay
• Alimango Festival: Get Your Claws Into the Fun
• Kamalig Festival: Witness Camaligan’s Beauty
• Sandugo Festival: Bohol’s Beautiful Spectacle
• Lemlunay: Celebrating the T’boli Legacy
• Hermosa Festival: Zamboanga’s Celebration of Colors
• Shariff Kabunsuan Festival
• Feast of the Black Nazarene: A Testament of Devotion

More Fun Awaits

So, there you have it! These are just a few of the many popular festivals in the Philippines. Each one is unique and offers something special for visitors to enjoy.

When planning your trip to the Philippines, check out the festivals! And don’t forget to buy some pasalubongs for your friends and family back home! Thanks for reading!

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Happy travels!