Festivals in Quezon Province

If you are to visit the Quezon Province, the trip would be more fun if the locals are celebrating a
festival. To check out the days of the year where a festival is being held in the province, check
the list below.

Sibidan and Carabao Festivals of Tagkawayan — January

Although the first of this festival starts on January 1, it is a month-long activity lasting through to
the Town Fiesta in February. Celebrations include fairs and crafts of the Tagkawayan. Walk
through the exhibitions and select merchandise to buy. The Carabao Festival, held during this
time, offers a parade full of color and decorated carabao.
A month long activity held in time with the town’s foundation day (Jan. 1) till the Town Fiesta
(Feb.9-11). The celebration are highlighted with the following events: agricultural fairs wherein
all the products and crafts of Tagkawayan are exhibited and sold. Sibidan Festival (a one-man
banca with the use of paddle and the town’s people designed their bancas in different colors).
Carabao Festival features a colorful parade of decorated carabao.

Candle Festival of Candelaria — February 2

This is the celebration of the ritual purification of Mary, which, as required by Jewish law, took
place forty days after the birth of her child. Candle Festival is February 2. The first celebration
took place in the late seventh or early eight centuries. The custom of blessing the candles that
were carried in processions gave the day its popular name of candle Festival. In many
countries, Candle Festival has been looked upon as the end of the Christmas season. This was
the day when the decorations would be taken down and stored for another year. The Christmas
plants would be burned, with the remnants of the Yule log for the next year would be chosen
then. Candle Festival was also a good day for weather forecasting. If it was sunny day, there
would be forty more days of cold and snow. In Almonacid del Marquesado, La Endiablada (The
Fiend) pays tribute to the Virgin Mary, and appears the following day when the feast of St.
Blaise is celebrated. This feast-day is structed in an unusual yet precise way. The cowbells ring
out ceaselessly, becoming even more prominent once inside the church. The devils (children,
youths, adults and old people) are present at the processions both for Candle Festival and St.
Blaise, running and jumping and raising their arms whilst staring obsessively at the statues. A
similar celebration, though not nearly as well-known, takes place in the nearby town of El
Hito(Cuenca) on 28th May. Turtledoves, doves, candles and large cakes all feature in the
procession held on this day. In Alcaudete de la Jara, Toledo, a group of soldiers makes an
appearance the following Sunday and parades through the streets every Sunday and feast day
until the first day of Lent, that following Shrove Tuesday. In Valls Tarragona, in years ending in
the number 1, Decennial Celebrations are held, bringing together colles de castellers, groups of
acrobats who form human pyramids, giants and big heads from all aver Catalonia. Finally, in
Madrid the traditional heifer-run has recently seen a revival following its sharp decline or even
disappearance after the Civil War. This belief has carried into American folklore tradition as
Groundhog Day.
The color of the candle used in devotion that symbolized to all the wishes of the debutant in
Virgin Mary. Pink (the answer of the prayers) Red (prayers that granted) purple (repentance)
White (prayer that pray to the Lord after the novena).

Taytsinoy Festival of Tayabas — February 2-5

An event to remember – Taytsinoy Festival is one of Tayabas City’s much celebrated festivities.
As part of Chinese New Year the City of Tayabas celebrated its Taytsinoy Festival last February
2-5, which served as a connecting bridge between the Chinese and Tayabense people. The
festivity also aimed to heal discrimination between the Tayabenses and Chinese folks.

Tayabenses commemorated the event to impart themselves with the tradition and belief of
Chinese society. Aligned with this were some Chinese activities being adopted by Tayabenses
and contests like Chinese Garter Contest, Kiamoy Eating Contest, Chopstikan ng Pancit
Habhab, Binibining Taytsinoy, and a lot more. The highlight of the event was the Dragon and
Chinese Presentation in Parke Rizal and Pagdalaw ng Leon at ng Dragon at Tayabas Poblacion
wherein all people undeniably enjoyed, especially the children.

The four days celebration embodying numerous events greatly gave bunch of fun to all
Tayabenses and guests. Ultimate learning, awareness of the Chinese culture and tradition, and
endless merriment were being brought out by the municipality.

Laguimanoc Festival of Padre Burgos — February 17

Padre Burgos was formerly known as Laguimanoc due to the shape of the coastline which
resembles the bill of a chicken or “manok”. Another version is that chickens were so abundant in
the town that hawks always sweeped down the place to snatch chicks from their mother hens.
When hawks flew overhead, as warning to their neighborhood, people shouted “Hawk Manok”
or “Lawin-Manok”. On January 1, 1917 the village of Laguimanoc, which was formerly a barrio
of Atimonan, became a municipality. Ten years after, the town’s council changed the name to
Padre Burgos, in honor of one of our country’s martyrs. The streets were named after local
leaders who rendered valuable services to the community. Because of the physical and
topographic conditions of the town, four (4) sitios where clusters of houses were built became
the main district of the town namely Campo, Burgos, Basiao and Bundok-Punta. The community
converged to be in this particular spot because of its sea which made this town as port of
Laguimanoc. In the early days this port offered a good wharf for vessels plying between Manila
and Southern Luzon. This was also a port of call for ships exporting lumber to Europe during the
Spanish regime. In this town was the residence of the “Alcalde Mar” or Port Officer. Business
and other industries were prospering and people conglomerated in this spot. Spots of the
historical interest are the wharf symbol of commercial progress, the old church with the old-
fashioned “canyon” markers of the people’s religious faith, the Bag Cement Slabs and Stone
quarries Mute Testimonies of the effervescent power and grandeur of the early foriegn settlers,
the Hills near the railroad station where the Japs tortured and massacred civilians in the barrios
of Marao and Polo where the Hunter’s Guerillas built their camps.

Hambujan Festival — April 11

Since the early times, Sitio Hambujan wa an eminent bathing place now called Sta. Lucia.
Hambujan to most is just basaan. But to the deepest essence of the word, it is the ceremony of
acceptance of guests from other places who come to present themselves with gift of friendship
and the proposal of unity. It has now become the gateway to the strengthening of our
brotherhood as a nation through our tradition. And to this effect a Hambujan Festival was
organized and being held annually in the month of April the towns Foundation Celebration.

Sinampalukan Festival of Sampaloc — April 25

Fiestas and festivals are colorful traditions brought by our Spanish ancestors. These are
characterized by so much merry making, highlighting the undying culture of our nation, the
inherent warmth of the Filipinos and the love for music and arts in different forms. Festivals
evolved to become a means for tourism development. Arts and crafts, music and local products
meld to become what a locality is known for not only locally but globally as well. But like all
conceptualization of any event, festivals started as small gatherings to display the peoples’
ingenuity and gratitude for blessings received. Later, these small events flourished through the
creativity, talent and love for festivities. Like any other town with beautiful and nurtured
traditions, Sampaloc has finally decided to pool all its resources to create a festival that would
reflect its inherent culture, show to every one the products of which Sampaloc is known for,
showcase the hidden talent of its people, to create a niche in the tourism map. Like other grand
undertakings that started with small steps, Sampaloc began its initial step by launching its first
Sinampalukan Festival which reflects the “awit, sayaw at katuwaan ng mga Sampalukin”. An
Executive Order was signed on March 6, 2006 by Honorable Mayor Samson B. Delgado for the
creation of an AdHoc Committee headed by Vice Mayor Emmanuel S. Torres. It will be
responsible for the implementation of the proposed activities and directing all sectors to
participate in and celebrate the first Sinampalukan Festival. The Sangguniang Bayan through
Resolution No. 07-2006 sponsored by Councilor Peter Ornedo overall coordinator declared April
16-26 yearly as the date for holding the festival. It is primarily conceptualized as a way of giving
thanks to the patron saint San Vicente Ferrer. Activities for the festival which may vary yearly,
will be held for nine days coinciding with the nine-day novena for San Vicente Ferrer. It will be
participated in by the fourteen barangays of the municipality, schools and non-government
organizations. Dance troupes and bands from other locality were invited to add color and
glamour to the occasion. The first Sinampalukan Festival may have flaws, it may not be as a
grand as renowned festivals of other municipalities but the local government of Sampaloc will
not stop to polish the activities so that Sampaloc will continue to show that even small as we are
we can also staged a festival, Sampalukins can be proud of.

Pahiyas Festival of Lucban — May 15

San Isidro Labrador is said to have worked all his life for the same wealthy landowner named
Juan de Vargas. San Isidro was always in church so his co-workers complained that his piety
was keeping him from his work. Vargas went to see for himself and saw that he actually came
later than the others; but as he advanced to reprimand him, he saw not only San Isidro’s plow,
but two others, pulled by teams of snow-white oxen, guided by invisible plowers. He realized
that San Isidro was getting supernatural aid and fell on his knees. Most representations of San
Isidro depict this scene. During the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban all the homes in the
procession’s itinerary are decorated with fruits, vegetables, agricultural products and kiping.
The kiping is a leaf-shaped wafer made of rice (similar to tacos of Spain) and dyed in bright
colours. No one really eats kiping anymore and it is solely used as a decoration.
The celebration is a form of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and in honour of the patron saint
of farmers, San Isidro de Labrador. A procession of the image of San Isidro is planned long
before the festival and it is said that houses along the route of the procession will be especially
favoured and blessed in the coming year. It is from this belief that the lavish decoration of the
home began. The Pahiyas Festival attracts a lot of people. Make sure you arrive in the early
morning (around 7 am) so that you have the town almost for yourself. From 11 am on the
streets of Lucban are so full of people that you can’t appreciate the decorations of the houses
anymore.
 Katang Festival of Calauag — May 25

This Genus Scylla species or mud crab throughout tropical warm temperature zone of the
pacific region, and are found commonly in mangrove forests and habits. The size high
heat yield and delicate flavor mean that they highly priced for coastal residents for they are
easily caught using simple traps or net. Calauag is one of the coastal municipalities which
blessed with bountiful marine resource and sea products especially the mud crabs, locally
known as KATANG. Every year we are celebrating the founding anniversary of Calauag,
were our Kababayans from other places, people from neighboring towns and visitors do
come and visit us, were the Calaugeneans disply all our unique special products like
Katang for them to see, we are show our interest to sell them, and finnaly open our door to
tourism. The local government unit of Calauag initiates the celebration of Katang Festival
to be the part of the celebration of founding Anniversary of this Municipality to recognize
this marine product for being one of the source of income of our fisher folks and to
promote

Pasayahan sa Lucena — May 27-30

Pasayahan sa Lucena was conceptualized to the natural and ecological interrelationship and
independence between nature and man. It also promotes the ways of life inherent among the
people of Lucena. All these find exquisites and appreciative expressions through a mammoth
gathering of colors, outlandish costumes and symbolic floats reminiscent of Mardi Gras in Rio
de Janeiro and New Orleans.showcase. The first Pasayahan in 1987 was a big triumph that it
has become an annual affair. Year after year the Pasayan draws a sea of frolicking humanity.
Pasayahan sa Lucena 2006 features Chami Festival to promote Lucena’s very own native
delicacy, the chami. Other features such as the Midnight Madness Sale and street concerts take
stage in the Pasayahan

Seafoods Festival of Guinayangan — June 21

In 2003, the municipality of Guinayangan initiated the hosting of the Sea Foods festival as part
of promoting local tourism and for the town to be recognize as Seafood’s Paradise of Quezon.
The festival was successful and from then, the municipality held the festival annually, dated
every 20th day of June. On its first celebration, booth exhibition of fresh seafoods, Agricultural
and Livelihood products are among of the highlights of the festival. There are also Street
Dancing competitions. So, if you are fond of seafoods, Guinayangan and its Seafoods Festival
will satisfy your cravings as well as enjoying the programs of the festival.

Lubid-Lubid Festival of Tiaong — June 24

The idea of the festival revolve around paying tribute to the cows. But instead of showcasing the
real cows in their annual parade, the local government decided to depict the cows in their
dancing because it is based from the legend where the name of Tiaong came from the mowing
of the cow. A street dancing competition among the elementary and high school students is one
of the highlights of the event. Students in their colorful costumes dressed like a cow brings
delight to the audience.

Lilay-Coco Festival of Unisan — June 28-30

CocoLilay Festival When the month of February comes, the people of Unisan, Quezon prepare
for the annual celebration of CocoLilay Festival, wherein the coconut tree and the Lilay Tree is
the main attraction of the festivities. The festival is highlighted by a street dancing competition
participated by the residents of different barangays, as well as by elementary and high school
students.

Maubanog Festival of Mauban — July 14

Maubanog Festival is a seven day cultural extravaganza that features the town’s colorful history
amiable people, tasty cuisine and of course, its locally fermented only-in-Mauban nipa wine!
Known for its unique aroma and tangy taste, the nipa wine, popularly known as lambanog, is
one of Mauban’s top agricultural produce. Fermented for a number of weeks from nipa leaves,
local wine makers from some 20 barangays of Mauban sell their produce locally and yet are
looking forward to selling overseas as the present administration ties up with the Department of
Science and Technology and the Department of Agriculture to improve its taste and explore a
myriad of possibilities. And yes, Maubanin wine makers are looking forward to the annual
Maubanog Festival as its number one salesman as its number one salesman, as its number one
creator of opportunity for Mauban lambanog to be known internationally! Thus, Maubanog
festival is a most anticipated event in Mauban. It’s carnival! It’s the most joyous moment in
Mauban! With activities that include a boat race, a street dancing competition, a wine drinking
contest, a singing competition, a street party and concert, a benefit ball, an agricultural exhibit, a
cultural presenstation, a fireworks display, and a lot more, Maubanog Festival says a mounthful
about the people of Mauban and also of Quezon Province: they love to party and party they do!
With an estimated 50, 000 local and foreign visitors every MAubanog Festival, this event
promises a host of possibilities for those who would want to partake a life that is fun filled and
unique! Only in Mauban. Only where fiesta is a way of life. 40 barangays. 79,450 people. One
town. One vision. One Maubanog Festival. Taas Noo! Maubanin Tayo!

Tagultol Festival of Atimonan — August 1-2

In Atimonan, they are celebrating Tagultol Festival every July 29- August 2. This is another rich
cultural tradition from Quezon province.
What does Tagultol Festival mean? Let us know more about this festival.
Wiki says, the Tagultol Festival is an evolution of various cultural activities, practiced in
previous years by Atimonanins. The Town & Patronal Fiesta every August 1 & 2 is simply
celebrated with the usual parade, a cultural program, thanksgiving mass and procession. In
1981, an activity was started – the Karakol. A retired public school teacher put new
dimension and vigor to the town’s cultural awareness and in the year 2003, the Tagultol
Festival was finally launched. Tagultol, an old fishing method used by Atimonanins, was
derived from the Tagalog word ugtol, meaning bounce. Tagultol fishing consists of a
rectangular stone tied at the end of abaca strings dip in honey. Thorns of calamansi &
similar plants with bait were tied 2 feet above the stone before dipping in water and moved in
bouncing movements. The festival is a five-day celebration starting July 29 until August 2.
The celebration is an arrangement of both cultural and sports activities, talent and beauty
contests participated by community organizations and individuals and headed by the local
government’s culture and arts council (LUPTAKSA) and Atimonan Tourism Council.
Bilao Festival of Pagbilao — August 29
The Concept of Bilao Festival originated as a salvo to the celebration of Araw ng Parokya on
August 31, 2002. This is a joint effort of the Parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria, headed by
Msgr. Antonio Obeña and The LGU of Pagbilao, Quezon headed by Mayor Romeo R. Portes.
The responsible brains for the Street dancing and showdown competitions were: Casiano M.
Ayapana from the LGU, the late Engr. Christopher Ayaton, and Rowena L. Arcelo representing
the Parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria.

During the pioneering stage, there were 15 participating groups and composed of religious
organizations, schools, barangays and civic organizations. The Team Energy Corporation co-
sponsored the Festival.

From the on participation to the Bilao Festival tremendously each year. In 2008, however, the
religious counterpart ceased to celebrate with the LGU, instead had its own celebration of Araw
ng Parokya. This promoted the LGU to carry through the festivities as part of the tourism
development.

It showcases the rich resources, traditions, values, aspirations, customs, history, culture, and
arts of the municipality of Municipality of Pagbilao, Quezon through dances, colorful costumes,
and extra ordinary props all derived from local materials.

Boling-Boling Festival of Catanauan — every Palm Sunday

Boling Boling Festival is an old age practice particular to Catanauanins, which is celebrated
annually starting Sunday and ends on Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday and signals the
start of the Lenten Season. Participants roam around the town garbed in any costume they
may fancy. Most of them wear colorful clown-like clothes called “Karnabals”, originating from
the prominent figure probably coming from the clowns of carnival while others imitate
anybody whom they despise and make fun of them. Senior women wearing brightly colored
dresses and hats with flowers called “Denoñas”, or like one house to another with
accompaniment of a guitarist and some tambourines to solicit cash donations, half of which
is given to the local Parish Church for its expenses during the Lenten Season activities and
the other half for their own groups civic projects. Some men skimpily clad only in their
undergarments put on mud or grease with charcoal all over their bodies and roam around
the town trying to scare young women and children for fun. This is a symbolic ritual of
cleansing oneself making them prepared to commemorate the Lenten Season and also a
way of expressing their creativity.No one can tell exactly when and how this practice started,
 not even the oldest resident of this idyllic town located at the heart of Bondoc Peninsula.
Boling-Boling comes from the visayan word “Boling” which means dirt. This reminds people
of the mortality of man. In earlier times, Catanauanins had a grandiose merry-making during
the Boling-Boling as starting the following day, which is Ash Wednesday, they will keep
silent suspending all merry-makings until the Black Saturday in reverence to the Lenten
Season.

Niyogyugan Festival

The festival, first held in 2012, was conceptualized by the governor’s mother, then Quezon
Rep. Aleta Suarez, to give tribute to the coconut, also known as the “tree of life.” The event
aims to contribute to the cultural and historical development of the province, and also to
promote tourism and locally produced coconut products.The event was canceled in 2014
after Typhoon “Glenda” (international name: Rammasun) devastated coconut farms in the
province.“Niyogyugan” is derived from “niyog” (coconut) and “yugyog” (to shake or
dance). Thirty-seven of Quezon’s 39 towns and two cities are participating in this year’s
festival, up from the initial 20 towns that joined its first staging. The towns of San Narciso
and San Francisco did not join this year.Other festival events are the commemoration of
the birth of former President Manuel L. Quezon on Aug. 19 and the awarding of the
Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan to the province’s outstanding citizens on Aug. 16. The
booths, all made from parts of the coconut tree, depict the unique character of the towns,
local culture and their people.