Most of the festivals in the Philippines have some sort of cultural or religious aspect to them. Indeed, they are events that shouldn't be missed in the Philippines. We have a lot to offer with festivals and celebrations happening every month all over the country. This January 2014, we have five big festivals and celebrations to watch out for. There's the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila, Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo Aklan, Sinulog Festival in Cebu, Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City and Chinese Lunar New Year. For your reference, here's a calendar of the festivals happening this month.
The Feast of the Black Nazarene is an annual event held in the capital City of Manila every January 9th. It is a fiesta that commemorates the Traslacion or the transfer of the religious image of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno to its shrine in Quiapo Church. Considered as one of the most attended religious events of the Catholic devotees, an estimated of 6-8 million devotees join the procession every year. Certainly, the "Pista ng Itim na Nazareno" is one religious festival to watch out for.
Touted as the "Mother of all Festivals", Ati-atihan Festival in Kalibo Aklan is one of the must-see festivals honoring the Senyor Santo Niño. Held annually in January and concludes on the third Sunday, you'll get to see different tribe-participants dancing in revelry the major streets of Kalibo to the beat of the drums known as the "Sadsad Pasaeamat kay Senyor Sto. Niño". They painted their faces with black soots, wear indigenous costumes, carry tribal weapons, some would be in colorful and extravagant costumes and the others with paints all over their body as they show how "to become like Aetas".
Sinulog Festival is one of the country's grandest festivals in honor of the Santo Niño . It is an annual event held every third Sunday of January in Cebu City where a grand display of colorful and festive dancing with various contingents from all over Cebu and other provinces in extravagant costumes dancing to the beat of the Sinulog. As a religious celebration, it is the time of the year where millions of local and foreign tourists and devotees flock to the Queen City of the South to pay homage to the Infant Jesus and to witness and join the festivities.
Dinagyang is an Ilonggo term for "merrymaking", is a religious and cultural celebration in Iloilo City showcasing the rich heritage, colorful history and passionate devotion of the Ilonggos to the Senyor Sto. Niño. Held annually on the fourth weekend of January, Dinagyang Festival is as grand as Iloilo's old churches and mansions. Every year, thousands of tourists and devotees are expected flock to the streets of Iloilo City to join the celebrations and to witness the grand performances of different tribes as they dance to the beat of the drums in excellent folk choreography.
Chinese New Year is considered as one of the most important celebrations for the Chinese community in the Philippines. The Filipino-Chinese communities all over the Philippines celebrate Chinese New Year every year in hope of attracting good luck, closer family ties, peace and prosperity. It is a special non-working holiday in the Philippines as stated in Malacañang Palace's Proclamation 655, which was signed September 2013. Proclamation 655 lists all regular and special holidays for 2014.
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Save the dates, mark you calendars and witness the festivities!
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