Regional Technolympics 2017 Webpage Design Content

Theme: “Filipino Culture Towards Peace, Unity and Progress”

It’s a known fact that Filipinos everywhere in the world love to celebrate and get together. Just
take a look at this long list of festivals in the Philippines. With that being just a partial list, we
wouldn’t be surprised if there’s at least one fiesta or festival in a town somewhere in the country
on any given day of the year.

Lasting anywhere between a day to an entire month, Philippine festivals are huge cultural
celebrations that attract both local and foreign tourists due to its colorful and festive nature.
Because of Spain’s Catholic influence dating back to the mid-1500s, most of these festivals are
usually religious in nature while others are meant to commemorate important events in history.
Either way, attending a Philippine festival is definitely something you have to experience at least
once.

Since there’s usually a festival going on each month, timing isn’t going to be a problem. If you’re
looking for Philippine festivals to attend, here’s a chronological list of 10 popular ones to give
you an idea of which ones to visit.

Festivals
1. Ati-Atihan Festival

3rd weekend of January | Kalibo, Aklan

This Sto. Niño festival started it all. One of the oldest religious celebrations in the country, Ati-
Atihan is characterized by a parade filled with face-painted celebrants, indigenous costumes
and weapons, tribal dances, and loud drumbeats.

Tourists who flock to Kalibo for the festivities are free to cover themselves in black soot and
dance on the streets with the drum beats. Known as the “The Filipino Mardi Gras,” it is truly an
experience not to be missed.

2. Sinulog Festival

3rd weekend of January | Cebu City

Cebu also has its own version of the festival in honor of the Sto. Niño. If you find yourself
attending the Sinulog Festival, “Pit Señor!” is a phrase you will hear a lot. It means “Panangpit
sa Señor,” a Cebuano phrase that means to plead to the Señor Santo Niño.

It is one of the most attended festivals in the Philippines, attracting millions of locals and tourists
from all over the world. In 2013, it was reported that the number of participants reached a
whopping four million.
Sinulog not only sets the stage for Cebuano talents but also for other regional acts as
contingents from neighboring provinces are showcased through street dancing, pageantry, and
sports. It is also known for hosting the country’s biggest raves, drawing a growing number of
party-goers from all over the country year after year.

3. Dinagyang Festival

4th weekend of January | Iloilo City

If you happen to know someone from Iloilo, try and ask them about this Philippine festival. You’ll
see how their pride for their city’s festival is nothing short of astounding.
Once a year, Iloilo City transforms into one big street party — streets closed, bands in all
corners, overflowing food and drinks, and towering boom boxes. To cap it all off, tribes
representing different barangays and high schools perform in one very competitive street
dancing contest.

It’s no wonder how this city’s once simple celebration in honor of the child Jesus (Sto. Niño)
ended up bagging several awards including the Association of Tourism Officers of the
Philippines’ (ATOP) title holder for Best Tourism Event of the Philippines.
According to Iloilo City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena, the winning tribes are now going
international and will be promoting Philippine tourism to countries like the United States,
Canada, and Singapore.

4. Panagbenga Festival

February | Baguio City

The word “Panagbenga” comes from the Kankanaey term that means “season of blooming.”
With the numerous parades of floral floats and children dressed as flora and fauna, it definitely
lives up to its name, making Baguio the perfect destination for those who still have a hangover
from the huge festivals in January.

Adding to the usual Baguio tourist sites to visit, the whole length of the Session Road during
Panagbenga becomes a feast for the eyes. Called “Session Road in Bloom,” Baguio’s famous
street is closed to vehicular traffic to make way for flower carts, street dancing, and outdoor
cafes.
Now that it’s a huge event bringing in thousands of tourists each year, it’s important to plan
ahead (make early restaurant reservations, bring a map, etc.) if you are attending this Philippine
festival.

5. Moriones Festival

Holy Week | Boac, Gasan, and Mogpog, Marinduque

This week-long celebration of the life of St. Longinus is what makes Marinduque one of the top
destinations during Holy Week in the Philippines. Morion is the helmet worn by the centurions
while Moriones refers to the costumed penitents reenacting the search for St. Longinus, hunted
by his fellow centurions for converting to Christianity.

During the festival you will see Marinduqueños dressed up as centurions (Moriones) looking for
Longinus. One person acts as Longinus, hiding from them while the townspeople play along and
allow him to hide in their houses. Via Crucis or the reenactment of the Passion of Christ also
happens during this Philippine festival.
6. Aliwan Fiesta

Last weekend of April | Pasay City, Manila

Aliwan Fiesta is more of a competition than it is a festival. However, it has undeniably added

great value to the growing interest in Philippine festivals. Although it just started in the early
2000s, it has already gained a strong fan-base nationwide with more than 5,000 young men and
women from all over the country joining the competition.

For a lot of people who are in Manila, heading to the CCP Complex is the cheapest way to see
quality performances from tribes representing festivals in their respective provinces. Plus, it’s
always great to see tribes from Dinagyang and Sinulog give their A-performances to grab the
million-peso grand prize.

7. Pahiyas Festival

15th of May | Lucban, Quezon

One of the Philippines’ most colorful harvest festival, May 15th marks that time of the year when
people in Lucban decorate their houses with different-colored produces in an almost competitive
manner.

It’s not uncommon to see singakamas (turnip), talong (eggplant), sigarilyas (winged bean) and

all the other vegetables and fruits mentioned in the Bahay Kubo song hanging on the exteriors
of their homes. You can actually bring a basket and pick the produce from the walls for free.

8. Pintados Festival

29th of June | Tacloban City

Pintados is another festival in honor of the Sto. Niño (yes, this is the 4th of its kind in the list). It
just goes to show how Filipinos want to be reminded to be childlike in their ways and to place
hope in their children.

This festival has been growing in popularity because of the contingents they send to the Aliwan
Fiesta every year. They don’t fail to amaze. Leyte is also the home base of other festivals like
Alikaraw, Pasaka, and the 2009 Aliwan Fiesta champions, Buyogan.

9. Kadayawan Festival

3rd week of August | Davao City

Kadayawan comes from the Dabawenyo word “madayaw,” a friendly greeting which means
good or beautiful. Probably the biggest festival in Mindanao, Kadayawan has everything all
other festivals have: street dancing, beauty pageants, fireworks displays, floral floats.

It is a celebration of Davao‘s as well as the rest of Mindanao’s abundance; showcasing flowers,

fruits, and other produces that abound the country’s second largest island. Just two years ago,
they even introduced a week-long street food fiesta in Freedom Park, Roxas Avenue called
Kaan sa Da’n.

10. MassKara Festival

19th of October | Bacolod City

Colorful masks, street dancing, electrical displays and best of all… the sweet smiles of
Bacoleñas! What more could you ask for?

MassKara is a combination of the words “mass” which means “crowd” and “kara” which means
“face.” You will see participants wearing smiling masks signifying a multitude of smiling faces,
solidifying Bacolod’s title as the “City of Smiles.”

PLACES

The Philippines is a world-famous tourist destination. Aside from its beautiful places and scenic
tourist spots, it is also rich in history and culture. Filipinos built different landmarks and places
to remember the outstanding sacrifices of national heroes and to beautifully exhibit the
country’s heritage. These popular works of architecture can capture not only the eyes but also
the hearts of the viewers. These historical sites are part of the tourism in the Philippines.

1. Rizal Park

Previously called Bagumbayan Field, Rizal Park or Luneta Park was built as a tribute to our
greatest national hero – Dr. Jose Rizal. It is one of the leading historical sites in the Philippines
where Rizal was executed by the Spanish military firing squad on December 30, 1896 because
he had spread the ideals of revolution against Spanish rule.
Nowadays, it is one of the major tourist attractions of Manila. The park became a favorite spot
for unwinding and socializing. It is also a place for family bonding and picnics during Sundays
and holidays.

 2. Corregidor

Want to know the moving story behind the famous Corregidor Island?
Known to be the “the Rock”, Corregidor is known for its important historical attractions. When
the Japanese invaded the Philippines, Corregidor became the headquarters of the Allied
Forces and also the seat of Philippine Commonwealth government. The huge firearms of
Corregidor which are used in support for Filipino and American defenders of Bataan are now
silent but the damage seen on buildings, structures, and tunnels in the island continues on
telling a very moving story of a war that has claimed so many lives. A visit to this former
battleground is a memorable experience, especially for those people who value and cherish
freedom and peace.
 3. Intramuros

Intramuros is known in history as the “Walled City” because of its most famous feature: a
nearly three-mile-long circuit of massive stone walls and fortifications that almost completely
surrounds the entire district. It is the oldest district and historic core of Manila where old
Spanish era influences are still plentiful. Photography and history lovers will find Intramuros an
interesting destination. If you visit the place, you can still feel the Spanish ambiance and
appreciate the historical landmarks and churches in the area. Plus, visiting Intramuros is very
affordable and worth your time. Going here, you can re-experience the past in a modern light.

4.  EDSA Shrine

The EDSA Shrine, also known as the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, and Our Lady of EDSA,
is a small church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila located at the intersection of
Ortigas Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City. It is a monument
dedicated to the first People Power Revolution and its peaceful outcome on December 15,
1989. It is a place that witnessed the two demonstrations that overthrew the presidencies of
Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada. This shrine is a towering proof that fighting for freedom
doesn’t have to be a blood-spattered cause. Rather, it can be achieved through peaceful
means and with no casualty.

5. Barasoain Church

Having earned the title as the Cradle of Democracy in the East, Barasoain Church is the most
important religious building in the Philippines.
It was founded by the Augustinian Missionaries in 1859 and served as the session hall of
Malolos Congress, the first congress in the Philippines which was held in September 15, 1898
under the presidency of Pedro Paterno. Three major events in the Philippine history happened
in this church: the convening of the First Philippine Congress (September 15, 1898), the
drafting of the Malolos Constitution (September 29, 1898 to January 21, 1899), and the
inauguration of the First Philippine Republic (January 23, 1899).
The architectural design of the church attracts and engages visitors because of the curved
façade, rose windows, and medieval bell tower. Its floral motifs and paintings of angels and
saints along the ceiling adorn the interior of the church.

6. Leyte Landing Memorial Park

If you ever drop by Tacloban City, the Leyte Landing Memorial Park, formerly known as the
“McArthur Park,” is a must-visit destination. Remember the promise made by Gen. Douglas
McArthur “I shall return”? He kept this promise when he returned with an army of 700 ships
containing 174,000 American soldiers at Red Beach, Palo, Leyte on October 20, 1944. The
“red” in Red Beach doesn’t refer to the natural color of the sand, but its color after being
drenched in blood.
Many tourists visit the park to reminisce an important event in history – the fulfilment of Gen.
McArthur’s promise to the Filipinos to come back and help them win against the Japanese
colonies. It always brings inspirational memories of how our beloved ancestors fought for our
freedom
7. Fort Santiago

Fort Santiago, located in Intramuros, is a famous tourist destination in the Philippines. It is a

historical structure that is part of the city’s famous wall. The attraction of the site is a museum
where you can find a replica of Dr. Jose Rizal’s prison cell before he was executed. The rest of
Fort Santiago has been set up into a beautiful park. There is also an imitation of old dungeons
– dark underground chambers or cells used to confine prisoners. You can just imagine how
hard it is to be imprisoned, tortured, and executed in one of them.

8. Mactan Shrine

The Mactan Shrine, located in Mactan Island in Cebu, is made in honor of Lapu-Lapu,
Ferdinand Magellan, and the Battle of Mactan. It is also known as Liberty Shrine and it lies on
the very ground where the battle took place. The said encounter was between the Spaniards
led by Ferdinand Magellan and the locals led by Lapu–Lapu.
Ferdinand Magellan and his crew were the first people to introduce Christianity in the
Philippines. In the quest to prove that the earth is not flat, he traveled the world and docked in
Mactan, where he was eventually killed by Lapu-Lapu on April 27, 1521. Lapu-Lapu is
recognized as the first native of the archipelago to have resisted the Spanish colonization.

9. Rizal Shrine

Rizal Shrine is an important historical place in Dapitan where Dr. Jose Rizal spent four years in
exile. He lived here as a physician, merchant, farmer, inventor, painter, sculptor, archaeologist,
linguist, grammarian, teacher, architect, poet, biologist, composer, surveyor, and
environmentalist. He was also a father and brother to all Dapitanons, serving and helping those
who needed him. No wonder Dr. Jose Rizal is considered as the Philippine National Hero.
Rizal Shrine nowadays is one of the most attractive tourist spots in the Philippines. It reflects
Rizal’s lifestyle and how he socialized with the people around him.

10. Banaue Rice Terraces

How in the world could they have accomplished this amazing feat?
The Banaue Rice Terraces was made approximately 2000 years ago, carved into the
mountains by the indigenous people using only their hands and some crude equipment. It is
said that if the steps were put end to end, it would encircle half the globe. It is considered as
one of mankind's greatest engineering accomplishments.
Ethnic Groups

1. Ati

The Ati, a Negrito ethnic group, are mostly found in Western and Central Visayas. Large
concentrations are found in Aklan, Capiz, Antique, and Iloilo on Panay Island, and the biggest
group is in Iloilo. There are also Ati populations on the islands of Guimaras and Negros
(comprising Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental). Few Atis still speak their traditional
language, as it has been replaced by Kinary-a, which is spoken in Antique and some parts of
Iloilo.
Atis cultivate a variety of crops for their livelihood. Tobacco is bartered for the products of their
Visayan neighbors. During September and October, they work at the sugar plantations of
Christian landowners. Other means of subsistence are hunting, fishing, handicrafts, and bow-
and-arrow making; working as household help and midwives; and practicing herbal medicine as
herbolarios.

2. Aklanon

The province of Aklan in the northern part of Panay Island (Western Visayas Region) is home to
the Aklanons. They speak Akeanon and Ibayjanon, languages that are mutually intelligible with
Hiligaynon.
The Aklanons comprise the majority in Aklan and share the province with the Ati, Karay-a,
Hiligaynon, and Capiznon. Most of the Aklanons are Roman Catholics, for whom Christian
festivals such as Lent and Christmas are of great importance. They regard the Santo Niño (Holy
Child Jesus), a Catholic icon, as a very important cultural symbol.

3. Badjao

Widely known as the “Sea Gypsies” of the Sulu and Celebes Seas, the Badjao are scattered
along the coastal areas of Tawi Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, and some coastal municipalities of
Zamboanga del Sur in the ARMM. Amongst themselves, they're known as Sama Laus (Sea
Sama) and are found living on houseboats where they make their livelihood solely on the sea as
expert fishermen, deep sea divers, and navigators. They come to shore to barter their harvests
for farmed produce such as fruits and cassava, as well as, replenish their supplies and/or make
repairs to their houseboats. Unique to their cultural rituals is the concept of life and their
relationship to the sea: For example, as a childbirth ritual, a newly born infant is thrown into the
sea and members of the clan dive to save the newborn. Other traditions such as marriages are
prearranged by the parents for their sons and daughters; the process similar to other ethnic
groups, in that, a dowry is often presented to the parents of the woman a man wishes to marry.
And, only the Badjao leader can consecrate a marriage. Therefore a leader is chosen based on
individual inherent virtues, wisdom, and “charisma”...an inate ability to attract followers.
Sadly, due to the ongoing conflict in the region between revolutionary Muslim groups and the
government, many Badjao have migrated to Sabah in Malaysia and Sulawesi and Kalimantan in
Indonesia. As a result, they now comprise the second-largest ethnic group in Sabah, despite the
fact that many of them are illegal immigrants. There, the Badjao speak nearly (10) languages of
the Sama-Bajau subgroup of the Western Malayo-polynesian language family.
4. Bicolano

The Bicol Albay language has five dialects: Buhi’non, Daraga, Libon, Oas, and Ligao. It is
classified under the Inland Buhi-Daraga of the Bikol subgroup in the Central Philippine
Languages. The speakers of Albay Bicolano are found in West Albay, Buhi, and some parts of
Camarines Sur.
The “perfect cone” shape of Mt. Mayon in Albay is popular worldwide, as is Lake Buhi, home of
the tabios, the smallest edible fish on the planet.

5. Ilocano

Ilocanos make up the 3rd largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines. Large populations are
found in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Abra, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan,
Tarlac, and Benguet. There is, in fact, a diaspora of Ilocanos; they are found all over the
country, as far south as Mindanao. The language has become the lingua franca of Northern
Luzon.
The Ilocos Region is not endowed with large tracts of land for farming. To survive, Ilocanos
have maximized the use of the small space available to them by planting diligently. Their
geographic disadvantage has made Ilocanos innately cautious, resourceful, practical, and
frugal.

6. Maranao

The Maranao inhabit Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur in Mindanao. The name Maranao
translates to mean “People of the Lake”, after their traditional territory in the area surrounding
Lake Lanao in the Bukidnon-Lanao Plateau.
According to the early written genealogical documents salsila, this term generally referred to the
native people living around Lake Lanao. The lake area is the home-range of the Maranao which
is located in North Central Mindanao, approximately 135 sq. miles in area and is situated 2,300
feet above sea level. They are one of the largest Islamic groups in the Philippines, with the core
areas being Marawi City, Lumba-a-bayabao, and Bayang. The Maranao are a splinter group of
the Maguindanao who took up Islam; families tracing their religious origins to Sharif Kabunsuan,
who introduced the religion to the region. Communities are clustered around a mosque and a
torogan, a royal house belonging to the preeminent economic household in the area. Aside from
exotic textiles, metalwork, and woodcraft, the torogan structure is the most significant and
spectacular example of Filipino secular architecture.

7. Tausug

The dominant ethnic group in the Sulu archipelago because of their political and religious
institutions, the Tausug occupy Jolo, Indanan, Siasi, and Patikul in Sulu (ARMM). There are
also scattered settlements in Zamboanga del Sur and Cotabato, and all the way to Malaysia,
which has an estimated Tausug population of more than 110,000.
Tausug is a combination of tau (person) and suug (the old name of Jolo Island). The present
generation of Tausugs are believed to be descended from the different ethnic groups that had
migrated to the Sulu archipelago.
The Tausug language is adopted from the vocabulary of Tagimaha, in whose locality the Sultan
of Sulu lived and established Buansa, the capital of the Sultunate. They have two dialects:
parianum and gimbahanun. Parianum is spoken by the people living along the coasts of Jolo
and gimbahanun, by those living in the interior part.

About the Philippines

The Republic of the Philippines was named to honor King Philip II of Spain in 1543. Filipinos are
originally from the southern part of Asia. People from countries like China, India, the United
States and Spain married Filipinos resulting in a great deal of stock blending. 79 indigenous
ethnic groups compose the Filipino people. According to Wikipedia, the last five hundred years
of eventful history of the country added an impact to the cultural blend of the Asian and Western
population. The colonial reign of the Spaniards in 1570-1898 as well as the Americans in 1903-
1946, resulted in the expansion of Christian values, which gave an identity to every Filipino. And
the interaction with other countries' cultures, like the ones from China, India, Indonesia and
Malaysia, gave a specific Asian touch to the cultural heritage of the Philippines.

Language

There are 175 estimated languages spoken in the Philippines.  Almost all are classified as
Malayo-Polynesian languages. Among those languages, there are 13 indigenous languages
with nearly 1 million speakers.
For more than three centuries Spanish was the official language under Spain's colonial rule.  It
was spoken by 60% of the population as either a first, second or third language in the early 20th
century.  However, the use of Spanish began to decline after the United States occupation in
the early 1900's.  In 1935 the Constitution of the Philippines named English and Spanish the
official languages.  In 1939 the Tagalog language was named the national language.  The
language was renamed "Pilipino" in 1959 and finally "Filipino" in 1973.  The present Constitution
names Filipino and English as joint official languages.

Culture

The Philippines is a country that has varied cultural influences. Most of these influences are
results of previous colonization, deriving mainly from the culture of Spain and the United States.
Despite all of these influences, the old Asian culture of Filipinos has been retained and are
clearly seen in their way of life, beliefs and customs. Wherever you go, Filipino culture is very
evident and has largely been appreciated and even applauded in many parts of the world.

Music, Arts and Literature

Filipinos are very fond of music. They use various materials to create sound. They love
performing dances (Tiniking and Carinosa) and group singing during festive celebrations.
Settlers from Spain introduced to them a variety of musical instruments like the ukulele, trumpet,
drums and violin. Most of their music is contemporary and they have also learned to write their
own songs based on real life events. People are also fond of folklore, which was influenced by
the early church and Spanish literature.  Jose Rizal, the country's national hero, is famous for
his literature and novels inspired from the independence story of the country.
Religion

The majority of Filipino people practice the Christian religion. Spain highly influenced the people
to the extent that the Philippines became one of the two predominantly Christian nations in the
Asia Pacific, the other being East Timor. According to Wikipedia, Christianity is the religion of
about 80% of the Philippine population (mostly Catholics) while Islam is the religion of 11%, and
other religions and beliefs comprise the 9% of the rest of the population.

Celebrations

Christmas is one of the most loved celebration by Filipinos. Families and relatives gather on the
24th of December, to celebrate food prepared for "Noche Buena," a Spanish term which means
"midnight meal" to greet Christmas Day. New Year is another celebration that gathers the
Filipino families. Wearing dotted clothes and preparing round fruits on the table, which
symbolize prosperity, is one of the many customs of the Filipinos.

Family Structure

The basic social unit of the country is the family, which also includes the intermediate family
members (aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins) and other outside relations (godparents and
close friends). As such, many children have several godparents and when parents are out of the
country to work, children are mostly left to the grandparents to watch over them. It is common
for members of the same family to work for the same company, a practice which was influenced
by the first Chinese settlers in the Philippines. Filipino families live in different kinds of house
structures depending on their status or area. For families in rural areas, they live in a nipa hut
which is made of bamboo and roofed with leaves from palm trees or corrugated metal. Filipinos
that are ranked as "middle class" live in houses made of bricks and stones.

Filipino Foods

Filipinos are big eaters, even though it is not obviously seen in their petite bodies. The
Philippines is known as Asia's melting pot because of the uniqueness and variety of their food.
Filipinos can't go a day without including rice in their meals. They love plain rice matched with
salted fish, chicken and meat.  They serve rice first followed by the various viands they have
grown to eat and cook.  Filipinos have a very regular eating schedule: morning, mid-morning,
lunch, afternoon (merienda) and dinner.
They enjoy a variety of sweet foods adopted from other countries which encouraged them to
make their own desserts like "mahablanca" a dessert made of coconut milk, corn, sugar, or
"puto" and "palitaw" which are also made of coconut milk. They also enjoy eating "halo-halo" for
their afternoon snack which means "mixture," a popular dessert that consists of layers of
cornflakes, ice cream, small pieces of gelatin, milk and shaved ice.
During special occasions like a town's big event in celebration of their saint's feast, a favorite
food called "lechon," a suckling pig that has been roasted until the skin turns crusty is served.
Some street foods are also common in the country like the famous "balut," a boiled duck egg
with an embryo, and fish and squid balls on a stick that are dipped on spicy and sweet sauces.
Other Details

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253 M.L. Quezon Street
Manila, Philippines

Email
Technolympics@deped.gov.ph

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