CHAPTER 7: FESTIVAL

Objectives:
Discuss the history of Festival dance
Describe each Philippine Festivals
Appreciate the essence of Philippine
Festivals

When Spanish missionaries reached the Philippines in the mid-1500s, they considered
the fiesta to be a handy method for helping to teach Roman Catholic faith to Filipinos.
Regular ritual offerings were made in the ancient animistic culture to placate the gods,
and those offerings developed into the fiestas that we know today. The Spaniards took
the missionaries to the Islands from the very beginning. The Spaniards wanted to both
Christianized the people and colonize the land. In early Spanish times (1565-1898),
existing folk rituals often seem to have been combined with what the missionaries tried to
teach. According to Roman Catholic scholars, most of the pre-Spanish features of the
festivals have faded, after some three hundred years of Spanish presence in the
Philippines. The feasts have become the Roman Catholic feasts of the Philippines. There
are stunning highlands and amazing tropical getaways— so much so, in fact, it can be
almost daunting to have to pick your next escapade destination. And yet, beyond all these
picture-perfect sights, the appeal of the Philippines lies in a community deeply rooted in
religion and tradition, which with festival celebration remains important to the present day.

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 NATURE OF PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS

CULTURAL WITH
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE

These are dances characterized by movements

showing reverence to a religious icon believed to
interceded in their personal life.

INDIGENOUS
INFLUENCE / NON-
RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL

These are dances that acknowledge an icon which

became the source of inspiration, identity, or origin.
It also showcases Filipino values such as industry,
cooperation and unity.

FILM

This festival is gathering of artists, film makers,

directors, scriptwriters, and other people involved
in film making.

FLOWER FESTIVAL

It is a month-long annual flower occasion.

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 PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS

ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL The Ati-Atihan

Festival is a feast held annually in honor
of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), held on
the third Sunday of January in the town of
Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines, on the island
of Panay. It originally came from Batan,
Aklan, then adopted later by some
neighboring towns. The name Ati-Atihan
means "to be like Atis" or "to make
believe Atis", the local name for the Aeta
aborigines who first settled in Panay
Island and other parts of the archipelago.

MORIONES FESTIVAL -It is a colorful festival

celebrated on the island of Marinduque in the
Philippines. -The Moriones is a lenten rites
held annually on Holy Week on the island of
Marinduque, Philippines. The "Moriones" are
men and women in costumes and masks
replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers
as interpreted by local folks. The Moriones or
Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of
other festivals in the Philippines where cultural
practices or folk history is turned into street
festivals.

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 PAHIYAS FESTIVAL Every May 15, the
townsfolk of Lucban, Quezon, don their
houses with fruits, vegetables and colorful
kiping (a leafshaped wafer made of rice
and dyed with food coloring) in celebration
of the Pahiyas Festival. The word ‘pahiyas’
was derived from the word ‘payas’, which
means decoration or to decorate. The
reason behind such practice dates back to
the 15TH Century, when farmers used to
offer their harvests at the foot of Mount
Banahaw. Over time, they brought their
farm produce at the church in honor of the
town’s patron saint – St. Isidore the
Laborer, who is the patron saint of farmers,
laborers and peasants.

LANZONES FESTIVAL Lanzones Festival,

an annual event marked in the month of
October, is a four-day festival held to
celebrate bounty harvests of the Lanzones
fruit.

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 MASSKARA FESTIVAL This annual
festival, which is similar to Brazil’s Rio
Carnival, literally translates to “many
faces,” and is celebrated every October in
Bacolod. Because of the smiling faces of
the mask, Bacolod City got the nickname
of The City of Smiles.

METRO MANILA
FILM FESTIVAL The
Metro Manila Film
Festival (MMFF) is an
annual film festival
held in Metro Manila,
Philippines. The
festival, which runs
from December 25
(Christmas) through
New Year’s Day and
into first weekend of -
January in the
following year,
focuses on Filipino
Films.

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 IBALONG FESTIVAL The Ibalong
Festival is a non-religious festival in
Legaspi City, Albay, Philippines based on
the Ibalong Epic, and is held on August.
The festival celebrates the epic story
Ibalong who was accompanied by three
legendary heroes, namely Baltog,
Handyong, and Bantong.

PANAGBENGA FESTIVAL Panagbenga is

an annual flower festival celebrated every
February which takes place in Baguio City,
Philippines. The term “Panagbenga” comes
from a Kankanaey term meaning “season of
blooming”. The festival reflects the history,
traditions and values of Baguio and the
Cordilleras.

Visit video for more information:

https://youtu.be/DPJNISCl0qY
https://youtu.be/VJAzeMf-rzU

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ati
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moriones_Festival
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/ar ticles/pahiyas-the-
philippines-mostcolourful-harvest-festival/
https://expertworldtravel.com/philippine s/lanzones-festival/
https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/history-culture/masskara-
festival-bacolod-guide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Manila_Film_Festival
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibalong_Festival
https://www.panagbengaflowerfestival.com/