MEDIA RELEASE

3 January 2011
Metro Manila readies 1st-qtr festivities

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim announces the festival line-up for the first quarter
of 2011 for Metro Manila’s 16 cities and lone municipality.

“We have begun the re-development of Metro Manila as a tourist destination in

itself through our collaboration with the local government units. Soon both foreigners
and locals will know the metropolis beyond being the premier gateway and capital city
of the Philippines. For a start, there are special events in Metro Manila worth witnessing
for January to March,” Secretary Lim said.

According to Undersecretary Ma. Victoria Jasmin, concurrent officer-in-charge of

the DOT-NCR office, these festivities showcase Filipino culture and tradition which has
been developed to promote Metro Manila as a prime destination.

Manilans annually begin the New Year festivities with the solemn Feast of the
Black Nazarene, Metro Manila’s oldest and biggest festival, on January 9.

As part of the nationwide celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Nino, festivals take
centerstage on the third Sundays of January. The 399 th celebration of the Sto. Nino de
Pandacan Parish in Pandacan district has the Buling-Buling Festival – decreed as the
official cultural dance identity of the City of Manila -- held every third Saturday a day
before the feastday. Likewise on the third Sunday are the celebrations of the Lakbayaw
Festival in Tondo, Manila, the Pajotan de Sto. Nino in Maypajo, Caloocan City, and the
Bambino Festival in Pasig City. The exhibition of more than a hundred images of the
Sto. Nino commences on the third week until the end of January at the PNB Building
highlighted by the grand procession.
 Throughout the second week of January, the fishing town of Navotas
commemorates its founding with the Pangisdaan Festival. Back to January’s third
Sunday, the City of Makati complements the Sto. Nino feasts by paying homage to
Mother Nature through the Caracol Festival promoting environmental preservation.

The whole month of February is Philippine International Arts Festival “Ani ng

Sining.” Aimed to promote Philippine culture and the arts as well as highlight and
enhance Filipino creativity, the festival consists of lecture series, exhibits, film showings,
and writing workshops, among others. It is spearheaded by the National Commission
for Culture and the Arts.

The cities of Pasay, Las Pinas, Pasig and Mandaluyong as well as the metropolis’
lone municipality of Pateros have for the second week of February their own festivities.
Pasay City honors the feast of Sta. Clara with the fertility rites at the Parish Church plus
the Serenata and Tiburin Race. These cultural activities coincide with the 18 th Travel
Tour Expo on February 18-20 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.

The City of Mandaluyong marks its Liberation Day and Cityhood on February 9.
The 35th International Bamboo Organ Festival is staged at the St. Joseph Parish in Las
Pinas City throughout the third week. Summer comes early for the residents and visitors
of Pasig City with its Summer Music Festival to be held at the city museum complex and
participated by local and foreign-based Pasigueños. Meanwhile, the town of Pateros
commemorates the feast of its patron, St. Martha, with the Pagoda sa Daan and
Pandangguhan Festival.

As the entire Christendom in the Philippines observes the beginning of Lent with
Ash Wednesday on March 9, Muntinlupa City commemorates the weeklong Dinagsa
Festival before the solemnity of Holy Week sets in. Details on Philippine festivals can
be accessed through www.tourism.gov.ph.