The Panagbenga festival is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Among the many highlights of this colorful festival are the Grand Street Dancing and Grand Float Parade, happening on the 4th Saturday and Sunday of February, respectively, which showcase the best innovations of Baguio and attract a large number of visitors to the Philippines’ Summer Capital.

“Panagbenga,” according to panagbenga.ph, is a Kankana-ey term for ‘a season for blossoming; a time for blooming.’ The festival, once known as the Baguio Flower Festival, began in 1995 as an effort to promote tourism and remind the younger generation of their traditional roots and practices. Indeed, the festival not only displays the bountiful produces and flowers decorating the floats, but also features street dancing inspired by Bendian, an Ibaloi celebratory dance that came from the Cordillera region.

Panagbenga 2012 was launched with a concert last November 14, but the Grand Street Dancing Parade and Grand Float Parade will be happening on February 25 and 26. Find the updated schedule of events and lodging information here.

The world’s leading pyrotechnic experts will be meeting at the SM Mall of Asia for the 3rd year of The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition. For six Saturdays starting February 11, the Manila Bay night sky and sea will be painted with beautiful fleeting light and music as 12 countries showcase the emerging artistry of their fireworks technology.

Ticket Prices are P1,500 inclusive of dinner, P500 for VIP, P300 for gold, P100 for silver.

For ticket reservations, call TicketWorld at 02-891-9999, TicketNet 02-911-5555 or SM Tickets at 02-470-2222

One of February’s biggest event is the annual Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta held in Omni Aviation Complex in Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga. Now on its 17th year, the event is expected to attract 100,000 visitors from here and abroad with its numerous contests and activities promoting aviation sports. Among the features of the festival are: aero-modeling symposium, hot air balloon flights, kite-making & choreographed kite-flying, precision maneuvers, pylon racing, remote-control airplane & helicopter flying exhibitions, and sky diving.

Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta started in 1994 as an effort to boost regional spirit and economy three years after the Pinatubo eruption. The organizers committed the event to developing hot air ballooning and promoting the Philippines as a leading sport aviation and tourist destination in the Asia-Pacific region. The event grew in popularity and now attracts a large number of balloon exhibitors, pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and tourists from all over the world.

Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012

This year’s Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta will happen on February 9-12 and will feature balloons from 9 countries. The organizers also included activities which the visitors can participate in like hot air balloon flights, light airplane balloon bursting competitions, and seminars. For a complete list of activities and schedules, see Clark Subic Marketing’s official website.

Clark Freeport prides itself for having a complete array of facilities for accommodating and entertaining guests. Because of the popularity of the event, however, visitors are encouraged to book their rooms as soon as possible. Tickets, priced at 200 Php, will be available only until January 27. For inquiries and group discounts, please contact Clark Subic Marketing at 045-499-0695 or 045-499-1179.

Every fourth Sunday of January, the streets of Iloilo City come alive to celebrate the Dinagyang Festival, a sum of events that remember the arrival of Malay settlers in the country, the Christianization of the natives, and honor the Sto. Niño. This annual event is marked by a very colorful parade, street dances, contests, and offerings and prayers amidst drumbeats and shouts of “Viva Señor Santo Niño” and “Hala Bira.”

The term Dinagyang is an Ilonggo word for merry-making. Before it got its own name, the festival was known as Ati-atihan, same with the celebration in Kalibo, Aklan. In 1968, a replica of the original image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu from Cebu City was brought to San Jose Parish Church by Fr. Suplicio Ebderes, OSA, and members of the Cofradia del Sto. Niño. To welcome the image, the then-parish priest of San Jose Church Fr. Ambrosio Galindez, OSA, and the devotees of the Sto. Niño in Iloilo, held a novena every Friday in the patron’s honor. The Fluvial Procession marked the culmination of the nine-day novena.

The celebration grew with participation from ‘tribes’ coming from different sectors of community, to the point that the local parish can no longer handle the challenges that come with the festivity. When the Marcos government ordered various regions to come up with their own celebrations to boost tourism in 1977, Iloilo City readily named their Ati-atihan as their project. Dinagyang is divided into three parts: Ati-Ati Street Dancing, Kasadyahan Street Dancing and Miss Dinagyang. The ‘tribes’ participating in the Street Dance competition must adhere to certain rules, such as that the performers must paint their skins brown and use only indigenous materials for their props and costumes.

The festival has already won a number of awards, among which is getting voted the Tourism Event by the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines for three years in a row (2006-2008), as well as claiming the Championship in Aliwan Festival 2010 and 2011.

This year’s Dinagyang Festival promises a lot of events for festival goers, as well as a cultural immersion like no other. For a detailed schedule of events, visit this.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinagyang_Festival

http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_festivals/dinagyang_festival.html

The Procession of the Black Nazarene, happening on the 9th of January, is a popular event attended by people from all over the country. These pilgrims pull a wagon carrying the life-size black wooden statue of the Nazarene and hold a procession in the streets surrounding the famous Quiapo Church. Thousands—millions, actually—flock upon the statue to touch it or pull the wagon, all done in hopes of fulfilling a pledge or encountering a great miracle.

The Black Nazarene came to the Philippines in a galleon from Acapulco, Mexico. The statue was given a fair complexion by its unknown Mexican sculptor but, according to folk tradition, a fire in the ship that carried it to country charred the statue and gave it its now famous black color. Two identical images of the Black Nazarene were brought to Manila; one was kept in the Church of Saint Nicholas de Tolentino in Bagumbayan and was later transferred to Intramuros. This original statue was famous for being a part of the Palm Sunday celebration inside the walled city. It was, however, lost during the liberation of Manila in February 1945.

The other statue was given to the Recollects to the Church of Quiapo and became the central image of the famous Procession. To protect the image from the wear and tear of this annual event, the Fathers of Quiapo decided to commission a replica of the Black Nazarene. The old hands and head were attached to a new torso while the old torso held the new head and hands. These two statues are alternately used in the procession every year.

The devotees wear maroon, the usual color of the Nazarene’s garb, and walk barefoot, all in imitation of the Nazarene’s journey to Mount Calvary. Due to the volume of people and the narrow streets which the procession has to pass through, the event usually takes several hours to finish. Along the way, the rope pullers, or namamasan, are usually joined by devotees and pilgrims who wish to have their handkerchiefs wiped on the Black Nazarene’s brow. Traditionally, only males were allowed to partake in the pulling of the Black Nazarene’s wagon, but in recent years, females have also participated in the procession.

Every Lenten season, the people of Marinduque celebrate the island’s biggest event of the year, the Moriones Festival. This is a religious festival that commemorates Christ’s suffering and death at the hands of the Roman soldiers. It is also a reenactment of the story of Saint Longinus, a Roman centurion who was said to have been the one who pierced Christ’s side with a lance. Through the years, the festival has had local folk practices mixed in with it to make it uniquely Filipino in nature. It is a very colorful festival that has participants wearing masks and painted costumes.

History

The festival began in the year 1807 when Fr. Dionisio Santiago, then parish priest of the town, organized the event to help the locals better appreciate the sacrifice Christ made when he offered his life to wash the sins of mankind. Among the activities of the event was a reenactment of Christ’s forced marched to Calvary. Christians call this march the Via Crucis or Way of the Cross. It is also sometimes called Via Dolorosa or Way of Sorrows. A large part in this reenactment includes the story of Saint Longinus, the blind Roman centurion who pierced the side of Jesus to make sure Jesus was dead. Jesus’ blood spurted out of his body and hit Longinus’ eyes. Longinus regained his eyesight and attributed this miracle to Jesus Christ. He then converted to Christianity and would later become a saint.

Activities

The festival lasts for the whole duration of Holy Week. It begins on Palm Sunday, the Sunday preceding Easter Sunday, lasting all throughout the week and ending the next Sunday, Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday, there would be a procession (also called Hosanahan) on all towns commemorating Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. The parish priest of the town would be riding a horse, with the people following in procession, bearing palm branches called palaspas. The procession wounds around the town and ends in the town church, where a mass would be celebrated and the palm branches blessed and sanctified.

Holy Monday

This is the day when the Morions, the people dressed in masks and costumes portraying Roman soldiers, parades around town and reenacts the story of Saint Longinus. Groups of Morions can be seen in various town centers (Boac, Gasan, Torrijos, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz) with one man playing the role of Saint Longinus while the others play the roles of his fellow Roman soldiers. The high point of the reenactment comes when Longinus is captured by his fellow soldiers and beheaded for having converted to Christianity.

Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, and Maundy Thursday

On these days, there would be parades of various kinds, usually connected in some way with the Lenten celebration. Maundy Thursday is especially of note, as this is when Visita Iglesia is celebrated. This is the tradition of visiting seven churches as penance for one’s sins. The sinakulo is also celebrated on any of these days.

Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday

The last days of the celebration involves various town activities such as religious stage plays, competitions, and processions involving penance such as what the flaggelantes do. On Easter Sunday, the last day of the celebration, the event is culminated by a ritual dance called “Salubong at Bati” or “Aleluyahan.” This activity celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is celebrated as a joyful occasion, with many people showing merriment and joy which they usually curb following Good Friday and Black Saturday, the days when merriment is curtailed in observation of the deep sorrow Christians feel at Christ’s death. But on Easter Sunday, the day Jesus is resurrected, the townspeople come to celebrate and proclaim the good news of Christ.

How to get there

Marinduque is an island located at the southern part of Luzon. Being an island, the only two ways of getting there is by plane and by boat. By plane, there is a direct flight from Manila to Marinduque Airport.  Schedule of flight is four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday). If you are going by boat, there are a number of ports in Lucena City going to the island. If you are coming from Manila, you need to book a trip by bus to Lucena City before being able to take a boat or ferry to the island. Alternatively, you can also travel by land (either bus or car) and travel via ferry through RORO (roll on, roll off) ports. These ports allow the transport of vehicles onto ferries/ships so you could travel from island to island on your car or other land vehicles.

Filipinos are romantic people. Every Valentines Day, Filipinos would go out of their way to celebrate this special day. In a recent survey of Asian nationals, results showed Filipinos give more importance  in celebrating Valentine’s day compared to their Asian neighbors. In the said survey, 72% of Filipinos said that they would celebrate Valentines Day, the highest proportion among all Asian nationalities surveyed.

Called “Araw ng mga Puso” or “Hearts Day,” Valentines Day in the Philippines is celebrated with enthusiasm. Many businesses and commercial establishments take advantage of the people’s romantic mood and offer Valentines-themed products and services. Hotels offer cheaper rates and packages; restaurants and cafes decorate their dining areas with hearts and flowers; and flower shops and florists increase their prices due to the increased demand for flowers.

Due to the Philippines’ colonial past, Valentine’s Day in the country is heavily influenced by western culture. Cupid is ever present in most Valentines decoration, as well as the traditional hearts and flowers you see in all Valentines decoration. Greeting cards are also popular, and many locals buy heart-shaped cakes and pastries for their loved ones. In the capital city, Manila, Dangwa Market is known for having the best-arranged flower bouquets at the cheapest price. If you need flowers, this is where you should go.

While serenades have decreased in popularity, some Filipinos, especially men in the rural areas, still choose to serenade their loved ones with romantic songs. Modern Filipinos on the other hand, choose to go on dates with their sweethearts. Some go out to dinner, while others attend concerts and parties.

Valentine’s Day in the Philippines is a day when women are exalted and pampered. It is also a day set aside not only for lovers, but also for families.  Moms get Valentine cards from their kids, while Dads get personalized cups or shirts. Parks and other public recreational areas are also frequented by the locals.

Romantic Get-Aways

For those wishing to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Philippines is home to many romantic and secluded areas that provide the perfect place where lovers and honeymooners can spend their Valentines undisturbed by the multitudes who are also celebrating their Valentine’s Day. From private islands to mountainous rockies, to serene lakes and rivers, the Philippines hosts some of the most beautiful places in the world. Here are some of the more popular romantic get-aways in the Philippines

• Baluarte San Diego Wall, Intramuros
• Camiguin Island
• Cape Engaño off the Babuyan Channel
• Flower Island, Palawan
• Hacienda Tabukol in Murcia, Negros Occidental
• Mt. Maculot Rockies, Cuenca, Batangas
• Ogod River, Donsol, Sorsogon
• Sonya’s Garden, Tagaytay
• Siquijor Island
• Silliman Hall Heritage Building, Dumaguete City
• Taal Lake, Batangas City

• Bee Farm, Bohol

There are many other romantic places in the Philippines. Places which are less well-known yet possess the same beauty and serenity possessed by the places listed above. For the romantically challenged, it may take many miles and leagues for them to reach their romantic get-away, but for the true romantic, there’s really only one place where they’d want to spend Valentine’s Day – beside their loved ones.

One of the more known festivals in the Philippines is the Panagbenga Festival, a flower festival held in Baguio City, the summer capital of the country. Every February, thousands of spectators and visitors from all over the world visit this city on a mountain to watch an amazing parade of beautiful roses and other colorful flowers as the city celebrates not only the bounty the flower industry has enjoyed over the years, but also the city’s enduring resilience against disaster and misfortune. Aside from a flower parade, the festivities also feature street dancing, marching bands, trade fairs, and bazaars.

History

Panagbenga comes from a Kankanaey (a dialect in particular use in the Mountain Province of the Philippines) term which means a season of blooming or blossoming, or a time of flowering. The festival was formerly known as the Baguio Flower Festival, but had its name changed when local archivist and curator Ike Picpican suggested the local word Panagbenga be used to better reflect the festival’s ethnicity. The change from an English name to a local one also promoted further ethnic and cultural pride among the local tribes of the Mountain Province who has since then used the event as an occasion to celebrate their tribe’s traditions and rediscover their history.

Activities

The festival is a month-long celebration, but its main activities are held during the first day of the month, the last Sunday of February, and first Sunday of March. All throughout the event, a trade fair and bazaar will be opened for the public at Burnham Park.

The event officially kicks off with a parade followed by a short opening ceremony. Drum and lyre, and street dancing competitions are held after the opening ceremonies. On the fourth Saturday of February, the grand Festival Parade will be held and will run through the length of Session Road up to Melvin Jones grounds. On the following day, the float and marching bands competition are held on the same venue.

Stalls and booths selling flowers and other souvenir items will also be set-up along Session Road (which will be closed to vehicles during this time). There will also be sidewalk cafes and food outlets that will be operating along this strip of road for visitors who will go hungry or thirsty.

The festival officially ends on the first Sunday of March, the last day of the event. On this day, field demonstrations and other colorful exhibitions will be held to bring a close to the city’s most celebrated event of the year.

How to Get There

Baguio is a popular tourist destination in the country and tourists can reach the city by land or by plane. Local airlines maintain a daily schedule of flight from Manila to Baguio. You can also choose to travel by bus, which is an approximate four-hour travel. For more information, please visit the official Panagbenga Festival website.

Currently one of only three international hot air balloon festival in Asia (the other two being in Japan and Thailand), the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is a premier international hot air balloon festival that is held annually between January and February in Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga. Aside from ballooning, the festival features a number of aerial attractions such as skydiving, paragliding, kite flying, aeromodelling, and a light aircraft show. The organizers also hosts flight tours and other games and competitions for visitors and participants attending the event.

History

The festival started in 1994, three years after the devastating eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, a volcano located somewhere in the borders of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales – all northern provinces of the island of Luzon. Determined to jumpstart the local economy and help the people of the province regain their festive spirit, the Philippine Government together with some private individuals, hot air balloon and aviation enthusiasts decided to organize the first ever international hot air balloon festival in the Philippines. The event initially began with 21 balloon pilots from 10 countries, with one entry coming from the host country. With the success of the first festival, that number grew and later increased to more than a hundred balloon pilots coming from 16 different countries around the world. Today, the festival draws an estimated crowd of more than 60,000 and has added a dozen other aerial shows aside from the original hot air balloon shows that started the festival.

Other activities you can enjoy while the festival is ongoing

The event location, Clark Freeport, is home to a number of popular resorts and country clubs, all of which are known for their world-class golf courses. There are also a number of bars and night spots for those who want to go clubbing and enjoy the night life. For the more adventurous, there are trekking, off-road exploration, go-karting, and target shooting activities which you can avail of while staying in the Freeport Zone. Those who may want to view the aftermath of the destruction caused by the volcano can opt for an aerial visit to the nearby dormant volcano where the ruins can be surveyed. Clark Freeport Zone also has water parks, riding stables, casinos, duty-free shops and malls, and a world-class quarter mile drag strip.

Other important details you should know

Tickets – Php150 per person (equivalent to about US$3) * exchange rates may vary

Balloon rides – visitors can enjoy a balloon ride for a minimum fee of US$150. Be aware however that this is strictly on a first-come-first-serve basis. To book a ride, go directly into the Information booth upon arrival.

Food and refreshments – food booths and refreshments stalls will be installed on the event grounds. A bazaar would also be set up on three sections of the event grounds.

Parking – you can find road signs directing you to parking lots where marshals will guide you to a suitable parking space. A minimum parking fee is charged for this.

For more information such as event program, location maps, and FAQ, please visit the official event website at http://www.philballoonfest.net