The Philippines is a nation of festivals.
Each month, not too few celebrations are held in various parts of the country.
Every January is known as the Sto. Niño month.
The Sto. Niño month celebrates the oldest religious image in the Philippines
Check out the events, dates, venues, and brief descriptions below.
The Feast of the Black Nazarene (January 9, Quiapo, Manila)
This feast is celebrated at the heart of Manila – Quiapo. Devotees come from all over the metropolis to participate in this annual event honoring the hundred-year-old statue of the Black Nazarene.
The Sinulog Festival ( January 15 or every 2nd Sunday of January, Cebu City)
This is an annual festival held in Cebu, which commences nine days before the third Sunday of January.
For the best hotels and resorts in Cebu, check out the 10 best places to stay when in Cebu.
The Ati-Atihan Festival (3rd Sunday of January Kalibo, Aklan)
This is a celebration in honor of the Infant Jesus, the town’s patron. Ati-Atihan is observed in honor of the Child Jesus. Ati-atihan means ‘making like Atis,’ that is, pretending to be like the aboriginal natives that once inhabited Aklan. This involves smearing oneself with soot to darken the skin and dressing up in tribal finery. The start of the procession is signaled by drums and whistles, and later punctuated by shouts of “Hala Bira!”
For the top hotels and resorts in Kalibo, check out the top 5 places to stay in Kalibo.
The Dinagyang Festival (4th Sunday of January, Iloilo)
Dinagyang is a Hiligaynon word extrapolated from dagyang meaning “merrymaking”. It celebrates the feast of the Infant Jesus and the pact between the Datus and the locals.
For the best places to stay when in Iloilo City, check out the top 10 hotels in Iloilo City.
Come celebrate with us!
For more details, visit the website of the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines.
Editor’s Note: The author is the President of TEAM Philippines (Tourism Educators And Movers of the Philippines), an organization of individuals and groups committed to promote the tourism industry in the Philippines.