For hundreds of years, the Filipinos have been celebrating fiestas of different kinds to honor their saints and give importance to the miracles that the saints have gifted them. Filipinos generally love fiestas and celebrations because this is a part of their life. They commemorate their town’s honored saints with miles of processions, lively music, carnivals and non-stop feasting. The celebrations come in different months so if you are planning to visit the Philippines anytime of the year, you will be able to witness a festival that you haven’t seen in any part of the world.
JANUARY
FEAST OF BLACK NAZARENE
January 9, 2011- Quiapo, Manila
Devotees of the Black Nazarene swarm the Quiapo Church for a chance to be able to pull the carosa of the image of the Black Savior. It is one of the most spectacular religious events in the country.
SINULOG FESTIVAL
15-16, January 2011 – Cebu City
The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Philippines. The festival honors the vision of the child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño (Holy Child),who used to be the patron Saint of the City of Cebu.A grand procession of over two hundred well-dressed images of the Child Jesus.
ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL
15-16 January 2011- Kalibo, Aklan
The Ati Atihan Festival is held every 3rd Sunday of January, in the province of Aklan. This event is filled with street dancing, music and other merry-making activities. The thundering of “Hala Bira” by the tribe members makes the celebration a lively one. One of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines.
DINAGYANG FESTIVAL
22-23 January 2011- Iloilo City
The Dinagyang Festival is celebrated every fourth weekend of January in Iloilo City to commemorate the Christianization of the natives and to honor the Holy Child Jesus. It is a very colorful parade coupled with a dramatization in honor of the patron Saint Sto. Niño as the object of dramatized offerings and prayers amidst the cracking of drums and shouts of “Viva Señor Santo Niño.”
CARACOL FESTIVAL
16 0r 23 January 2011- Makati City
A relatively new and small festival, it makes up for the grand and lavish dance presentations by the Makati high school and college students. The main purpose of the festival is to help raise awareness on how to preserve the planet. It has also been coined as Makati’s version of the Mardi Gras.
THE BORACAY INT’L FUN BOARD CUP
24-29 January 2011- Boracay Island
This is the longest running international sporting event for windsurfing and kiteboarding in Asia. In 2010, it was voted by CNNgo.com “Top 52 Weekend Event Destination in the World”. Boracay attracts competitors from all around the world to compete for friendship, victory and honour. The pristine white sand, blue smooth waters and hammering Amihan winds of Bulabog Beach make it an ideal location for the event.
BALOT SA PUTI FESTIVAL
January 31, 2011- Pateros, Metro Manila
The Balot sa Puti Festival is a food festival featuring a cooking competition of the famous Philippine delicacy known as balut. Balut is a fertilized duck or chicken egg with a developing embryo inside.
FEBRUARY
CHINESE NEW YEAR
February 3, 2011 – Nationwide
Chinese New Year is considered to be the most important festival for the Chinese community in the Philippines. It does not follow a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar, which is widely used in many countries. It’s time to meet up with your Feng Shui consultant and eat lots of tikoy! Be sure to visit Binondo or Chinatown to see their dragon dances.
HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL
10-13 February 2011
Hot Air Balloon Festival at Clark is an adrenaline pumping festival, literally! Expected in this event are scores of colorful hot air balloons from all over the globe. Also expected during the event are other activities like light plane exhibition, sky diving exhibition, and a whole lot more.
PANAGBENGA FLOWER FESTIVAL
February 26, 2011 – Baguio City
The festival was recognized as one of the countries most celebrated festival with hundreds of street dancers performing in the main thoroughfares of Baguio City. One of the most awaited event is the Flower Float Festival in which several tons of fresh flowers were used to decorate the float representing various organizations
MARCH
PARAW REGATTA
1st Sunday of March 2011 – Iloilo City
An exciting race among native outriggers in the strait between Guimaras Island and Iloilo City. This is an activity every summer hedged with rules, umpires and kibitzers.
APRIL
MORIONES FESTIVAL
18-24 April, 2011 – Guagua, Pampanga
The annual Moriones Festival is a week-long religious event that begins on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday. It is one of the most colourful events in the Philippines and sees participants re-enact the story of Longinus, a Roman centurion who, it is said, speared the crucified body of Jesus Christ.
BANGUS FESTIVAL
April 8-May 1, 2011 – Dagupan City, Pangasinan
In Pangasinan, Bangus Festival is a yearly event celebrated to highlight the local bangus industry and aims to promote Dagupan City to be a major tourist destination and be globally known to be The Philippines Bangus Capital. The festival held every 28th of April, features the Bonuan bangus (milkfish) and is said to having taste uncomparable to the other variety of milkfish.
MAY
PAHIYAS FESTIVAL
May 15, 2011 – Lucban, Quezon
Pahiyas Festival is a colorful feast in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saints of farmers, as a thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. Houses along the old streets of Lucban are artistically decorated with agricultural harvest, and of the very unique highlight of the festival, the “kiping.” It is a wafer made up of rice that comes in different colors.
OBANDO FERTILITY RITES FESTIVAL
17-19 May, 2011 – Obando, Bulacan
This festival is a beautiful mix of religion and superstition. Most participants of this festival are from out of town that dance to the streets to ask for a child, a spouse or just good luck.
JUNE
PARADA NG LECHON
June 24, 2011 – Balayan, Batangas
A grand parade of succulent roasted pigs. The delicious aroma of this sumptuous dish led the locals of Balayan to commemorate the feast of St. John, their patron saint on 24 June with the presence of the delectable, crispy lechon. On the event day, a mass is held at the Immaculate Conception Church. After the mass, at least, 50 lechons are gathered in anticipation of the celebration. The parade proceeds after the holding of blessing of the pigs and people in St. Johns’ name.
PINTADOS FESTIVAL
27 to 28 June , 2011 – Leyte, Tacloban, Philippines
The Pintados festival of Tacloban City is a Filipino festivals with its own unique flavor. This Pintados festival recalls Pre-Spanish history of the native Leytenos from wars, epics and folk religions.
The most anticipated aspect of the Pintados festival are the festive dancers, painted from head to toe with designs that resemble armor to resemble the tattooed warriors of old.
JULY
SANDUGO FESTIVAL or BLOOD COMPACT FESTIVAL 
23-24 July, 2011 – Bohol, Tagbilaran City
This festival commemorates the Treaty of Friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. The festival is celebrated with street dancing, shows, trade fairs, beauty contest and other activities.
AUGUST
KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL
Every 3rd week of August -Davao Cty, Philippines
Held in Davao City every 3rd week of August. This festival give thanks to the bounty of fruits and flowers as the waling-waling orchid blooms. Colorful floats are bedecked with beautiful orchids and other flowers in the grand parade.
SEPTEMBER
FEAST OF NUESTRA SEŇORA DE PEŇAFRANCIA
Every 3rd Saturday of September – Naga City, Camarines Sur
Considered the biggest and most popular religious event in the Philippines, celebrated every 3rd Saturday of September in Naga, Camarines Sur, Bicol Region. Highlight of this fiesta is the grand fluvial parade where the image of the Lady of Peñafrancia is carried through the river aglow with floating candles.
OCTOBER
MASSKARA FESTIVAL
1-20 October, 2011 – Bacolod City, Philippines
This festival shows a very distinct trait of the Filipinos of “smiling” in spite of tragedies. the festival features different colorful masks that are all smiling, with dancing in the streets and rhythmic drumbeats filling the air
NOVEMBER
HIGANTES FESTIVAL
22 to 23 November, 2011 – Angono, Rizal
Adding color and gaiety to Angono town fiesta are the “Higantes”, paper to mache to giants measuring four to five feet in diameter and ten to twelve feet in height.
DECEMBER
SAN FERNANDO GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL
The whole month of December
The festival culminates in a judging contest of the best, biggest and most beautiful Christmas lantern made by the local craftsmen in San Fernando.