CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICES

FESTIVALS: A Representation of Philippine Arts

SINULOG FESTIVAL
• Hailed as the “City of Culture”
• a traditional celebration in Cebu City held every third Sunday of
January to honor the image of Santo Niño de Cebu (Child Jesus).
• Festival done by a dance ritual
• “SINULOG”- graceful dance
• tells the story of the Filipino people’s pagan past and their
acceptance of Christianity.
• Started in year 1980
DINAGYANG FESTIVAL
• Held in Iloilo every fourth Sunday of January in
honor of Sto. Nino, commemorating the arrival of
Malay settlers in Panay and the selling of island to
them by Atis.
• “Dinagyang”- merry making
- Coined by Pacifico Sudario
ATI-ATIHAN
KALIBO, AKLAN
• Held on the third Sunday of January, it features the parade
of drum beating Ati-atihans and the cry of “hala-bira!”
• “Hala-bira”- pour/dispense all means
• Ati-atihans are make believe atis
• the history of the Ati-atihan could be traced to the old
fishermen couple in Barangay Naile in the western part of the
province.
 PAHIYAS
(Lucban, Quezon)
• Held annually on May 15 and honors San Isidro
Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
• Kiping- cooked rice dough
- an edible leaf-like wafer used into making
largearanyas (chandeliers) and can also be
formed into flowers, charms and other forms of
embellishments.
MORIONES
FESTIVAL
Marinduque, Philippines
• Outdoor theatrical performance that
features the story of Longinus.
• Held during the holy week of Lent
season
PAMULINAWEN
Laoag,Ilocos Norte
• Held every tenth of February
• The fiesta commemorates St. William the Hermit, the patron saint of Laoag, whom
residents believe the one who saved Laoag from calamities.
• Dulang food festival, kalesa festival, street pageantry, street dance, and more
SAMBALI FIESTA
Piat, Cagayan
• Sambali is a war dance of Itawis tribe.
• Itawis tribe was united and converted to
Christianity through the intercession of the Lady
of Piat.

• The Festival is celebrated every June 23-30

after which the Feast Day of Our Lady of the
Holy Rosary of Piat follows July 1-2.
 ZAMBOANGA LA
HERMOSA FESTIVAL
Zamboanga
• Zamboanga Hermosa Festival or commonly known as Fiesta
Pilar celebrates the feast of Nuestra Señora La Virgen del
Pilar. She is the revered patroness of Zamboanga City whose
miracles of healing & protection coddle massive devotion.
• Zamboanga City is home to Hispanic Christians, seafaring
Muslims & the indigenous Subanen. This multiplicity of culture
weaves seamlessly into one social fabric that makes them all
Zamboangeños.
 1. Mascota de Zamboanga- traje de mestiza
2. Original chavacano video music festival- original modern chavacano songs
3. Zampex
4. Street dancing
5. Religious procession
FESTIVALS COMMEMORATING EVENTS
AND
HONORING SPECIALTIES OF AN AREA
PANAGBENGA
FESTIVAL
(Baguio City)
 PANAGBENGA
FESTIVAL
• is an annual flower festival celebrated every
February which takes place in Baguio City,
Philippines
• “Panagbenga”- season of blooming/ flowering
• commemorates the earthquake event during 1990s
reviving the city’s industry
 PATTARADAY FESTIVAL
(Santiago City, Cagayan)

• Pattaraday- “unity”
• Held during the first week of May
• Commemorates the founding
anniversary of the city and the
coming together of several ethnic
groups.
MASSKARA
FESTIVAL
(Bacolod City)
 MASSKARA FESTIVAL
(Bacolod City)

• Came from the words “mass” and “cara”

• Pays tribute to the sugar industry that once flourished in the
region.
• The performers wear smiling masks to give a brighter light to
the fall of their industry which occurred in 1970s.
• Held on fourth week of October
• Arts Association of Bacolod- Negros
A smiling mask was adopted by the organizers to dramatize the
Negrenses happy spirit, despite periodic economic downturns in
the sugar industry
F’LOMLOK FESTIVAL
(Polomok, South Cotabato)
F’LOMLOK FESTIVAL
• Flom’lok is taken from a B’laan word which
means “hunting ground.”
• The people of Polomolok celebrate this by
showcasing the local products and a mix of
socio-cultural activities
• Held every second week of September
 BANGUS FESTIVAL
(Dagupan City, Pangasinan)
 BANGUS FESTIVAL
• is an annual celebration in the city of Dagupan highlighting the
city’s rich milk fish aquaculture industry in the province of
Pangasinan and in the country.
• This is the city’s way of featuring their bangus products with
its unique taste.
• During the festival there are dancers and performers parading
the city streets, all wearing or handling a bangus image with
them.
 GAMENG FESTIVAL
(Solsona, Ilocos Norte)
• The Gameng Festival's chief objective is to strengthen
Solsona's culture, uphold its cultural products and
designs and preserve its historical and cultural treasure
and resources.
• Held every last week of January, usually for four to
five days.
• Features exotic food delights
• “Gameng”- treasure
Thanksgiving
festivals
 Tabako Festival
(Candon, Ilocos Sur)
• Held during last week of March, as gratitude for
bountiful harvest.
• Held to promote major industry of the city, tobacco
and to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest.
• celebrated during the cityhood anniversary.
• One of the most-waited events in the Tobacco Festival is
the Panagdubla (Tobacco Rolling) Festival, or the age-old
industry of rolling tobacco.
 Kadayawan festival
(Davao City)
• “King of festivals”
• A festival which serves as a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature
(bountiful harvest) and a celebration of life every third week of
August.
• This festival focuses on the mix of Davao and Mindanao’s indigenous
communities as well as its migrant settlers which make up the rich
cultural heritage of this island.