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The Sinulog Festival of Cebu, it celebrates Cebu's patron saint which is Sto.Nino. Where dancers also perform while holding the figurine of Sto.Nino. Sto.Nino has a special space in my life, because before this pandemic happened I used to go to Quiapo and for some reason when I pray in that church it kind of comforts me that everything that I am facing right now will make sense and will be alright. And the festival itself represents Filipinos so much, is that we have respect for our Catholic Church.

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The Panagbenga Festival is a flower festival celebrated annually in Baguio City, Philippines. I greatly enjoyed witnessing this festival for the street performances and the parade floats never fail to amaze you. I would consider the atmosphere to be the highlight of the festival for even if you are amongst large crowds and heavy traffic across the city, there is a light and happy feeling all around. It also helps that Baguio is such an enjoyable city to be in where you would always feel excited to eat out because of the good produce. It is certainly an event that my family and I anticipate almost every year.

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I also haven't gone to any festivals here in our country because I never really got to travel that much. If I were given the chance to actually celebrate or just experience a festival I would choose the Masskara Festival in Bacolod City.  I like the meaning behind that festival because the masskara that they have are all smiling faces. Thus, it is why Bacolod is known for "The City of Smiles". The Masskara festival is celebrated every October and because of a tragic ferry accident that has happened The Masskara festival's aim is to lift the spirits of the people and bring back their beautiful smiles. This is why i would love to see the festivals with my own eyes.

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I haven't been to any festivals but if I were given a chance to, I wanted to attend the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Pampanga. For over two decades, the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, known as “The Weekend of Everything that Flies,” has been the most highly anticipated and longest-running sports aviation event in Asia. Over the years, it has stayed true to its longtime objectives: to spark interest in aviation; to instill discipline in young pilots and to impart a spirit of volunteerism to the whole community.

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In all honesty, I haven't really attended or participated in a grandeur festival, but one thing I anticipate to see every year is the Flores De Mayo or as everyone knows it, the Santacruzan festival. The Santacruzan celebrates the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena and her son. When they found the Holy Cross, this was celebrated by the people of Jerusalem with them. And the reason why I like this event is because I love seeing my fellow females (at any age) wear beautiful gowns alongside with their escorts while they walk along a guided path of arched flowers. My favorite part is seeing who the Reyna Helena is because she's the one who has the most beautiful gown out of all the other girls.

Source: [see attached]

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History
Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns and even small villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. This custom and celebration started after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla's translation of the devotional Flores de Maria or Flowers of Mary. Since May is also the month dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the celebration is also known as Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May). The festivity commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena and her son, the newly converted emperor Constantine the Great. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome, there was joyful celebration for thanksgiving.

Nine days of prayer (a novena) in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Santacruzan or Flores de Mayo. Introduced by the Spaniards, this festival has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love and romance. Beautiful town belles are selected to participate in this colorful pageant parade representing various historical-religious figures. The stars are selected not for their looks alone, but for their embodiment of traditional feminine qualities. It honors beautiful Philippine maidens and their handsome escorts under the hand-carried bamboo arches adorned by fragrant native flowers.

Leading the procession is a group of Aetas, an aboriginal group in central Philippines. These unconverted Filipino pagans represent the state of the country before the coming of Christianity.

Following the Ati-Atihan dancers are various characters representing historical and religious personages.
SANTACRUZAN PAGEANT (Character Roles)

1. Methuselah - he is bearded, bent with age, riding a cart looking preoccupied with toasting some grains of sand in a pan over a fire. This is a reminder that all that glitters will end up as dust like what he is toasting.

2. Reyna Banderada - a young lady dressed in a long red gown carrying a yellow triangular flag. She represents the coming of Christianity.

3. Aetas - represent the state of the country before the coming of Christianity. These are the unconverted Filipino pagans.

4. Reyna Mora - represents the dominant religion before Christianity (feminine of Moro from the Moslem religion).

5. Reyna Fe - symbolizes the virtue of faith - the first of the theological virtues. She carries a cross.

6. Reyna Esperanza - symbolizes the virtue of hope - the second theological virtue. She carries an anchor.

7. Reyna Caridad - symbolizes the virtue of charity - the third theological virtue. She carries a red heart.

8. Reyna Abogada - the defender of the poor and the oppressed. She wears a black graduation cap (toga) and gown and she carries a big book.

9. Reyna Sentenciada - has her slim hands bound by a rope. She is the symbol of the innocents who have been convicted. She is accompanied by two Roman soldiers.

10. Reyna Justicia - a personification of the "mirror of justice". She carries a weighing scale and a sword.

11. Reyna Judith - representing Judith of Pethulia who saved her city from the Assyrians after she beheaded the cruel holoferns. She carries the head of the beheaded man on one hand and a sword on the other.

12. Reyna Sheba - who visited the famed King Solomon and was overwhelmed by his wisdom, power and richess. She carries a jewelry box.

13. Reyna Esther - the biblical Jewish who spared her countrymen from death and destruction through timely intervention with the King Xerxes. She carries a scepter.

14. Samaritana - the woman who Christ spoke to at the well. She carries a jug on her shoulder.

15. Veronica - the woman who wiped the face of Jesus. She carries a bandana imprinted with the three faces of Jesus.

16. Tres Marias: Mary of Magdala - she carries a bottle of perfume; Mary, Mother of Christ - she carries a handkerchief; Mary, mother of James - she carries a bottle of oil.

17. Marian - celebrating the many titles of the Virgin Mary.

A-v-e-M-a-r-i-a - represented by eight (8) girls all Wearing long white dressess with wings to make them look like angels. Each one carries a letter to complete the word "AVE MARIA."

Divina pastora (Divine Shepherdess) - she carries a shepherdess' staff.

Reyna de las Estrellas (Queen of Stars) - she carries a wand with a star.

Rosa Mystica - she carries a bouquet of roses.

Reyna Paz (queen of peace) - she carries the symbol of peace.

Reyna de las Propetas - she carries a hour glass.

Reyna del Cielo (Queen of Heaven) - she carries a flower. She has two (2) angels.

Reyna de las Virgines - she carries a rosary and is surrounded by two (2) little angels.

Reyna de las Flores (Queen of Flowers) - she carries a bouquet of flowers.

18. Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) - the legendary founder of the true Cross, represented by the small cross

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History Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns and even small villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. This custom and celebration started after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and after the publication circa 1867 of Mariano Sevilla's translation of the devotional Flores de Maria or Flowers of Mary.

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The Ati-Atihan festival in the city of Kalibo is the festival that I particularly enjoy the most, it's considered to be as the mother of all Philippine festivals since it is the oldest one as well. The festival's name translates to "be like the Atis," Atis or Aetas are those who are darker-skinned and are smaller in height that were also known to be the first settlers in the Philippine Islands. It is celebrated every January as it celebrates the peaceful relationship between the Malay migrants and the Aetas. The Malays darkened their faces in honor of them and helped them out by sharing their food as a way of showing gratitude while the Aetas danced and sang for them. As the culture slowly progressed, it later on became an event to show honor to the Santo Nino. In the modern way of celebrating the Ati-Atihan, people will dress up in colorful costumes with blackened faces as a tribute to the indigenous people while "snake dancing" to the powerful drum beats. Every year, there are dancers that will come to our streets with very grand costumes along with their huge drums, watching them perform gives me the utmost happiness.

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I haven’t really experienced going to a festival but if I would it would be the panagbenga festival. It is because aside the fact that I love the city of baguio, I am also a big fan of creativity and I think that it would be a great experience for me to be in a festival that captures the creativity of people who lives in it by creating different giant characters out flowers and also to watch a dance and float parade in the city I love.

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One of the festivals that I like is the MassKara Festival of Bacolod City. Other than it having a deep connection to my family and being a part of my province's culture, I believe that this festival represents the hospitality and outgoing personality of the Filipinos. The festival contains big vibrant masks, eye-catching outfits, and colorful designs with grand performances matching the folk songs and upbeat remixes. Due to the smiling faces of the masks, Bacolod got the nickname of "the City of Smiles." This festival originated in the 1980s where the province experienced several crises such as the tragic ferry incident which killed and lost individuals and prominent families from Bacolod including many of my own relatives, as well as the time where the province's primary agricultural livelihood which relied on sugar cane as its primary crop hit its lowest point due to the introduction of sugar substitutes in the United States. Amid these crises, the local government developed the MassKara Festival to uplift the spirit of the locals. Thus, declaring that the city will survive and recover from any tragedy and challenges that they will be facing.

Photo Source:
https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/history-culture/masskara-festival-bacolod-guide

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My mom is from Ilo-Ilo and my dad is from Guimaras. Every year, we'd always go home to our province and be with our families there but I, personally, have never attended the Dinagyang festival because it happens during January, and I already have my classes then. My family would always talk about how fun the experience was and how it brought people closer to each other. Someday, I wish to be able to experience it, not just to enjoy it, but also to get closer to my roots as an Ilonggo. Just like the Sinulog, the Dinagyang festival celebrates the Sto. Niño.

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The festival that i like the most will be The Panagbenga Festival or also called the flower festival. I haven’t experienced it yet but based on what I saw on the internet and news I think it’s one of the most colorful, and exciting to watch because the performers incorporated different flowers to their costumes and to their dances which is pleasing to the eyes. This festival reflects their history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras.

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Among the Philippine festivals, I really like the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City. Cebu City is the origin of the Santo Niño statue. That’s why the Cebuanos celebrates a special festival dedicated for their patron saint, Santo Niño, and called it the Sinulog Festival. It is one of the major traditional events in the Philippines which is celebrated every third Sunday of January. People look forward to this event because it has a street parade filled with religious activities like offering a  prayer-dance as a way of praising and thanking Santo Niño .They also repeatedly shout a chant “Pit Senyor! Pit Senyor!” or “Pit Senyor Mama kini, Pit Senyor Papa kini” which means “Hail Santo Niño, this one’s for my father”.

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Every year back when I was a little girl, I used to be so excited when June 24 came around because it meant it was time for the Basaan Festival or Wattah Wattah Festival for us in the city of San Juan in Metro Manila. I spent most of my early childhood days living in San Juan so that meant that we could just go out of our house to celebrate with the rest of the city. I remembered using my big Spiderman water gun to soak people with water and jumping and dancing around as people pile the streets to start drenching each other in water.

The fiesta is done every year to celebrate the feast of Saint John the Baptist. Traditionally, people use water for the celebration to mimic the Baptism of Jesus Christ done by Saint John the Baptist at the Jordan River. Since our Patron Saint is Saint John the Baptist, the festival represented being baptized for them. The people in San Juan believed that through the Wattah Wattah Festival and by drenching each other with water, there will be a downpour or flow of abundant blessings that will be showered upon them.

Due to scarcity of water and since it is El Niño season during that time, the San Juan City Government limited the firetrucks they used to go around and spray people with water. they found a way to still celebrate the festival but still be environmentally sustainable.

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My favorite Philippine festival would be the Sinulog Festival or the celebration of the Feast of Sto.Niño. Sinulog festival is a very colorful and meaningful celebration. People joyfully dance in festive music and colorful clothing. Everyone prepares delicious food which will be shared to people who join in the celebration. In our hometown in Taguig City, we have our own adaptation of the festival which is called “karakol”. Several parishioners form groups for the dance, and design their own costumes and props. On the feast day of Sto.Niño, people dance around the town carrying an image of the little Jesus. Those who are at home give away candies to the people who joined the “karakol” or procession. This festival is very special to me.

Photo Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTiFaBVwhZzqgTvFZud-ChFMH7yh6WxAGjTEA&usqp=CAU

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I haven't really attended any festivals yet but this one festival I've been loving is the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga. It gives so much happiness to a lot people and it really is beautiful to see giant lanterns lighting up. This festival is celebrated every December which is held every nine-day novena mass or simbang gabis and it is brought around barrios in Pampanga. I love how this festival promotes Filipinos creativity and the attitude of being resourceful. Each creation of lantern is an entry to a competition.

photo source: https://www.hellotravel.com/events/giant-lantern-festival

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Pahiyas Festival is one of the festivals I like the most. One reason is because as far as I can remember, this is the first festival I've been. This festival in Lucban Quezon, celebrate their bountiful harvest to patron saint of farmers, Saint Isidore the Laborer every 15th of May. Before, the farmers would offer some of their harvest to their church but as the Church cannot accommodate everyone, the parish priest would then go around their community instead. And with this, the locals decided to celebrate with decorating their homes, hold competition and performances, a festival. And because of the creative way of holding a festival, the intricate work of art (from brainstorming to final product) every single year and the spirit the locals embody every festival (thie decoration takes time and the festival only lasts a few hours), this becomes one of the festivals I like the most.

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A festival I like or would like to be part of someday would be the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio. Otherwise known as the festival of flowers. The word “Panagbenga” is a word from the local Kankanaey language, which means “blooming.” It is indeed a very beautiful festival due to the many colors and blooming flowers worn by festival performers.

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I am not fond of festivals but if I were to choose the most promising one it would be the "Ati-Atihan Festival" in Aklan celebrated during January 10 – 19. This festival consists of locals wearing colourful costumes dancing and chanting “Hala Bira!”. This festival is celebrated to honor Santo Niño. This is festival is one of the oldest celebrations in the Philippines and is also considered as one of the best.

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I don't have any festival that I like the most. But, I am interested in attending Vakul-Kayani Festival done in Sabtang Island in Batanes. It is celebrated during April 25 until 27 and it's compromised of cultural shows, parades, dances, and games that are indigenous. Vakul means the headgear which women wear in Batanes, while Kayani is the vest used by men to work. These are materials used until today, made out of Philippine date palm.

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The Higantes Festival is an event held annually in Angono in which the locals parade hundreds of paper-mâché puppets. This festival signified how the Spanish were awful hacienderos during their colonial rule.