January Fiestas & Festivals in the Philippines

(Part 2)

We all know that the first month of the year is January; it is a very religious and great way to start the year. January is the month of devotion dedicated to Santo Niño, the Holy Child Jesus. Devotees to the Santo Niño all over the Philippines prepared themselves to celebrate with faith in the month of January with colorful events.  Here’s a list of January ‘you should keep a look out for planning your vacation in the Philippines. We will try to cover each fiesta in individual article.

11- 15 January:

• Coconut Festival and Fair -   11- 15 January.   San Pablo City, Laguna (2 hours from Manila by land) A grand mardi-gras celebration which pays homage to Laguna Province's most ubiquitous crop.

• Malatarlak Festival - 12 -20 January.   Tarlac City, Tarlac.  The festival features various contingents of school children garbed in grass-inspired costumes – painted with black soots – all merrily dancing to the beat of local tunes and ethnic instruments made of bamboo

• Makato  Sto. Niño Festival  - Poblacion Makato, Aklan.  The ati-atihan festival of Makato dates back before the Spaniards came to sow the seeds of Christianity into this land. During the celebration, thousands of Catholic devotees from all over the country and those from abroad felt the urge to come and join in the wholesome, frolic and religious fervor of thanksgiving to the Holy Child, Sto. Niño. 

• Pasungay Festival  -  San Joaquin, Iloilo. Similar to Spains bullfighting festivals, the Pasungay is actually a safer bullfighting fiesta as the bull isn’t let loose in the streets and the bulls fight each other rather than chase after people. 

• Caracol Festival  - 16 or 23 January.   Makati City.  A relatively new and small festival, it makes up for the grand and lavish dance presentations by the Makati high school and college students. The main purpose of the festival is to help raise awareness on how to preserve the planet. It has also been coined as Makati’s version of the Mardi Gras.

• Kinaradto Festival - Buenavista, Guimaras. This cultural festival makes maximum use of the rich cultural tradition of the oldest municipality of the province. The presentation of songs, dances and musical tableau depicts the various influences Buenavista has been subjected to. Celebrated in honor of the town’s patron saint, Sr. Sto. Niño.  Kinaradto promises the participant loads of unforgettable positive experiences.

• Batan Ati-Ati Malakara Festivall - Poblacion Batan, Aklan.  The participants celebrating this festival wear masks made up of paper mache and prepared costumes. The festival is celebrated in honor of the Sto. Niño with merry making for a bountiful harvest, peace and prosperity, street dancing along the streets and plaza of the poblacion. A holy mass is celebrated before the start of the contest on Sunday morning proceeded with a parade of participating tribes

• Pangisdaan Festival - Brgy. Tangos, Navotas.  One of the highlights of the Navotas Day celebration featuring a street dancing and float competition focusing on the fishing industry

• Fireworks  Display & Contest - Arevalo, Iloilo City.  Highlights of this District Fiesta of Arevalo are the multicolor fireworks. The skyline becomes a celebration with the dazzling display of sparkles and blazing lights.

• Kahimunan Festival - Libertad, Butuan City.  Butuan''s version of the Sinulog of Cebu which has an equally lively and spectacular street dancing.

• Ibajay Ati-Ati Municipal and Devotional Fiesta - 16 - 25 January.  Ibajay, Aklan .  A religious feast in honor of its patron saint Sto. Niño , held by transferring the holy image of the patron from Ibajay Cathedral Rectory and enthronement at St. Peter Parish Church, by way of amusing the image from where it was originally discovered and brought to the church.

• Bansudani Festival/Feast of the Divine Savior -   Bansud, Mindoro Oriental . A thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest which coincides with town fiesta. It features dances and cultural presentations by schools and barangay communities.

• Sadsad sa Kalya - Janiuay, Iloilo “Sadsad Sa Kalye” is a dynamic mass presentation expressing the beliefs, views, visions and aspirations of the Janiuaynons based upon tradition, historical experiences, and culture of the people of Janiuay. It is a street-dancing affair buoyed by the kaleidoscopic prism of cultured grace and fineness that reflects the embodiment of all that are beautiful in man’s body and soul. “Sadsad” is a native word meaning dance. 

13 - 20 January:

15 January:

16 January:

17 January 

19 January: