Calendar of Events

These traditional holidays of the Philippines have much value to the country’s citizens. As can be seen, all of these holidays commemorate those who fought and died for Philippine independence thus creating greater value for the Philippines.

Traditional Holidays

9/4 - Bataan Day or Day of Valour

The country commemorates the Philippine and American soldiers who lost their lives defending the peninsula of Bataan in the Philippines against the Japanese.


30/8 - National Heroes Day

This commemorates the efforts of the Katipunan. This revolutionary group of rebels’ main goal was to gain independence from Spain.

1/11 - All Saint’s Day

Catholic Filipinos remember their loved ones by decorating graves with flowers, favourite foods of their loved ones and candles.

30/11 - Bonifacios Day

Bonifacio Day honours the birth of Santiago Bonifacio who started the Philippine Revolution against Spain.

30/12 - Rizal Day

Rizal Day remembers the death of Jose Rizal, who was essentially the founder of the Katipunan rebellion group.

Religious Holidays

This includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter Sunday, in short, known as Holy Week.

Easter Sunday is a normal day in Philippines, while Thursday, Friday and Saturday are virtual ghost towns. Holy Week is a solemn event of reflectiveness because this is the week that Christ died. In the past, the Cable TV went off of the air for the entire week.

Festivals

For the Filipinos themselves, every year the festivals and processions are days of great joy and happiness. Fiestas or any community celebration usually feature music, dancing, and food feasts.

1. Ati-Atihan

The festival is a Catholic festival in honour of Santo Niño. It is a colourful happening with celebrants who paint their faces in many different ways and are dressed in the most exceptional costumes. The dancing on the rhythm of drums makes this festival comparable with carnival Rio in Brazil!

2. Sinulog

Celebrated in Cebu City, it is a long parade with many dressed in colourful costumes while dancing the Sinulog, a traditional and ritual dance. The dance is accompanied by the sound of the drums: all the time moving two steps forward.

3. Black Nazarene

The largest procession in the country through the streets of Quiapo in metro Manila where barefooted men carry a black wooden statue of Jesus (of Nazarene) through the streets of Quiapo in Metro Manila.