The Philippines offers plenty of regional festivals, often linked to the feast of the patron saints of the town or city holding the festival.
Black Nazarene - held in Quiapo Church Manila in January.
Sinulog - held in Cebu City on the 3rd Sunday of January. Celebrating Sto. Niño, the Sinulog Festival includes a week of dancing, parades and celebration.
Panagbenga - the flower festival held in Baguio every February
Ati-Atihan - also held to commemorate the feast of the Sto. Niño, but this time in Kalibo on the island of Panay.
Moriones - held during the Lenten Season in Marinduque. These are passion plays meant to depict the crucifixion and eventual resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Pahiyas - held every May in Lucban, Quezon to celebrate the feast day of San Isidro Labrador.
Flores de Mayo - flower festival held in every May. Many towns celebrate Flores De Mayo with the community congregating in the afternoons to pray the rosary, offer flowers to the Virgin Mary, and share homemade delicacies and snacks.
Kadayawan - held in Davao every August, Kadayawan means a Thanksgiving celebration for the good harvest, were most flowers and fruits are available during the season.
Bangus Festival - not as popular as the other festivals. It is held annually in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. A "Longest Barbeque" was also held during the festival one year.
Kagay-an Festival - held every August 26 to 28 in Cagayan de Oro in celebration of the feast day of Saint Augustine.
PEOPLE:
FOR ME, as a Filipina, Filipinos are the most hospitable people that I've known, They are also clean, respectful, and resourceful. Compared to other nationalities, FILIPINOS are the BEST!
Nothing much I can say. ILOVE FILIPINOS, I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES!
The hospitality of Filipinos is incomparable to the rest of the world.
In my experience, from all the Asians I have met, Filipinos are the most kind and friendly people, extremely welcoming and curious, but also respectful. They always seem happy and smiling, and they love to sing and to dance whenever there is an occasion to celebrate.
I don't feel like a walking wallet in the Philippines and getting in touch with locals and becoming friends with them is much easier over there than in other countries. If I look in my Facebook, I think by now I have more friends from Philippines than from my own country. I'm still in touch with many Filipinos I met during my trips, many of them I met again or even traveled together. They turned out as faithful, kind and caring friends. To sum it up, I love them!
02 | PARADISE BEACHES AND ISLANDS
Philippines is one of the largest island groups in the world with 7,107 islands.
Philippines islands and beaches are ... Heaven. Paradise. Amazing. No kidding. I hardly found better beaches in the world than there. The queen of all the beaches is probably White Beach in Boracay, constantly rated as one of the Top 10 beaches of the world. I wouldn't say it's the best one, but certainly the most famous one. If you are into white sandy beaches and turquoise crystal-clear waters, you're in the right country. Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands. It's not hard to find your dream beach or a pristine island over there and having it all for yourself...
03 | SHOPPING
Get lost in one of the biggest shopping malls in the world.
When I noticed all the giant shopping malls in Manila, I had a feeling that Filipinos must be crazy about shopping. Later I figured out that shopping is also a way of family gathering for them. Or as one of my Filipina friends says: "They come for the air conditioning."
Anyway, shopping in the Philippines can be quite a worthwhile experience. The country is known by many as a great handicraft center. Manila has fantastic shopping opportunities. There are a lot of places to go and it all depends on what you intend to buy, and how much is your budget.
04 | NATURE, FLORA AND FAUNA
Philippines has one of the most diverse wildlife in the world.
Philippines is home of a diverse range of birds, plants, animals and sea creatures. There are nearly 200 mammal species in the Philippines. The Philippine Tarsier is one of the smallest (and cutest!) species of monkeys in the world. You will find more than 600 species of birds, over 300 species of reptiles and amphibians and at least 400 coral species. From the giant whale shark to the world's smallest fish (Pandaca pygmea), everything you can dream of is united in the beautiful islands of the Philippines. Philippines has some stunning surroundings, the fantastic Chocolate Hills in Bohol, the Rice Terraces in Banaue, the incredible Archipelago of El Nido. You can climb one of the 37 volcanoes, for example the Mount Pinatubo, or see the world's smallest volcano of Taal. You can discover caves, lakes and waterfalls. If you love nature, you will love the Philippines.
05 | WEATHER AND CLIMATE
The average yearly temperature is around 26.6°C.
Luckily, the weather in the Philippines does not reach a point of extreme hot or extreme cold temperatures, so you can easily adapt to the tropical weather. The best time to go is between November and May. They also have a monsoon season over there and loads of rain between June and October. But honestly, I don't care, it wouldn't stop me from going there if I would have a chance. Nothing is more magical than swimming in the sea on a rainy day, the sun shines through the clouds and the water is 30°C... Anyway, the weather is pretty much unpredictable since global warming.
