The Philippines is not only known for having picturesque landscapes, mouth-watering foods, and hospitable citizens but also, for having a rich cultural and traditional sense that are developed, sustained and passed down through generations. One of these are the festivals, which reflect their culture and pay homage to its history, customs and religion.  This is seen through colorful celebrations and gatherings that center on the unique aspect of a particular community in the country. In addition to that, the locals   in each region use this opportunity to take pride and show their own products to the festival attendees. The tradition of fiesta is a long-lived heritage that has been handed down to Filipinos from the Spanish religious practices. Consequently, majority of the fiestas are celebrated either to honor a patron saint and/or the major events events in the Filipinos’ religious beliefs.  One of the most well-known region in the Philippines that is often visited by the tourist, especially foreigners, is the Visayas region or the Visayan  island. It is a major island located in the midsection of the Philippines, separating Luzon and Mindanao. It is also subdivided into three non-administrative regions namely the Central, Eastern and Western Visayas. Visayas is surrounded by several beaches along its coast that is known for having a beautiful and fresh white sand that attracts tourists, has historical buildings and sites that is rooted way back to the Spanish-colonial period and other  famous landmarks. Aside from that, Visayas is also visited by a lot of tourists for its colorful and magnificent festivals.

Visayas is the home of major Philippine religious and cultural festivals. These festivals showcase colorful dance parades, costumes, processions that are joined by the locals and also ornaments that can only be found in the area. The major Visayan festival includes the famous Ati-atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan and Sinulog festival in Cebu City or also known by the tourists as the “Queen City of the South”. Both festivals are celebrated ever 3^rd Sunday of January in honor to Santo Nino of the Child Jesus, their patron saint. Ati-Atihan Festival is believed to be the “Mother of All Philippine Festival” because it is kept and sustained for more than 800 years and counting which actually traces its pagan roots back to prehistoric times or approximately 1200 AD. It also led to the birth of many other famous festivals like Sinulog Festival and etc. On the other hand, Sinulog Festival is also considered as one of the grandest and most colorful celebration in the Philippines which is also attended by thousands of people and also by local actors and actresses during  the parade. This festival usually have a colorful dance ritual that commemorates Filipinos religious past and their acceptance of Christianity. A week after the Sinulog and Ati-Atihan Festival is the Dinagyang Festival, which is held every 4^th Sunday of January in Iloilo City. It is considered as the city’s widest and grandest festival having the same vision of honoring the Santo Niño. Next is the Binirayan festival, unlike the first three festivals that aim to honor a particular saint, this festival is celebrated to commemorate the roots of Antiqueños, every 3^rd week of April in the province of Antique. The festival usually starts with fluvial parade followed by the re-enactment of the story of the 10 Bornean datus who fled to the island of Panay through the beaches of Antique. Another is the MassKara Festival which is also in Bacolod City, occurring every 19^th day of October every year. It is a week-long celebration in which it commemorates the city’s roots on tragedy that contradicts the other festivals in Visayas that is about remembering saints and tribal traces. MassKarra Festival is also known as “Festival of Smile”, reflecting Bacolod’s appellation as the “City of Smile”. Last but not the least is the Pintados-Kasadyahan Festival which is a joint celebration of  Pintados Festival and Kasadyahan Festival of festivals that lasts a whole month, the culminating proper happens on the 29^th or 30^th day of June in the city of Tacloban. This festival is celebrated in honor to Santo Niño and also to show the artistry of the ancient tattooed “pintados” warriors through body painting. It also commemorates the Pre-Spanish history of their ancestors during wars, epics and folk religions that are shown through the dances with the dancers’ body painted from head to toe. ñosVisayas is the home of major Philippine religious and cultural festivals. These festivals showcase colorful dance parades, costumes, processions that are joined by the locals and also ornaments that can only be found in the area. The major Visayan festival includes the famous Ati-atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan and Sinulog festival in Cebu City or also known by the tourists as the “Queen City of the South”. Both festivals are celebrated ever 3^rd Sunday of January in honor to Santo Nino of the Child Jesus, their patron saint. Ati-Atihan Festival is believed to be the “Mother of All Philippine Festival” because it is kept and sustained for more than 800 years and counting which actually traces its pagan roots back to prehistoric times or approximately 1200 AD. It also led to the birth of many other famous festivals like Sinulog Festival and etc. On the other hand, Sinulog Festival is also considered as one of the grandest and most colorful celebration in the Philippines which is also attended by thousands of people and also by local actors and actresses during  the parade. This festival usually have a colorful dance ritual that commemorates Filipinos religious past and their acceptance of Christianity. A week after the Sinulog and Ati-Atihan Festival is the Dinagyang Festival, which is held every 4^th Sunday of January in Iloilo City. It is considered as the city’s widest and grandest festival having the same vision of honoring the Santo Nio. Next is the Binirayan festival, unlike the first three festivals that aim to honor a particular saint, this festival is celebrated to commemorate the roots of Antiqueños, every 3^rd week of April in the province of Antique. The festival usually starts with fluvial parade followed by the re-enactment of the story of the 10 Bornean datus who fled to the island of Panay through the beaches of Antique. Another is the MassKara Festival which is also in Bacolod City, occurring every 19^th day of October every year. It is a week-long celebration in which it commemorates the city’s roots on tragedy that contradicts the other festivals in Visayas that is about remembering saints and tribal traces. MassKarra Festival is also known as “Festival of Smile”, reflecting Bacolod’s appellation as the “City of Smile”. Last but not the least is the Pintados-Kasadyahan Festival which is a joint celebration of  Pintados Festival and Kasadyahan Festival of festivals that lasts a whole month, the culminating proper happens on the 29^th or 30^th day of June in the city of Tacloban. This festival is celebrated in honor to Santo Niño and also to show the artistry of the ancient tattooed “pintados” warriors through body painting. It also commemorates the Pre-Spanish history of their ancestors during wars, epics and folk religions that are shown through the dances with the dancers’ body painted from head to toe.

These are some of the most awaited and anticipated festivals that captures many audiences and tourists from other regions or part of the world. This only proves that the Philippines really have a rich cultural and traditional background centering not only on the enjoyment but also because to be able to give honor to their patron saints, treasure and commemorate their history and share or pass through their community’s stories and celebrations to other people. Hope that this blog will be able to help travelers discover and wisely decide their travel spot and have a chance to witness those amazing and breathtaking festivals.