Thursday, December 9, 2010, 10:48 PM
As The Philippines is a lively, vibrant and happy country, many festivals and events are celebrated. Therefore, almost every week in a year, there would be an event going on. They celebrate religious, cultural and historical events. Some of the major events and festivals are stated below.
Religious Festivals & Events
Due to colonization by the Spanish, it causes a formation of a major religion group – Roman Catholic. This is the reason why most of the festivals celebrated at Manila are usually related to Catholicism.
Feast of the Black Nazarene
This is the most famous of all Manila festivals. It is celebrated on 9th of January each year. The life size image of the Black Nazarene shows a ‘black’ Jesus Christ carrying a cross and this image is brought out in procession on its feast day and Good Friday. Black Nazarene is also known as the patron saint of Quiapo.
The statue was brought to Manila by a Spanish priest in 1607 aboard a ship. The ship caught fire, burning the image and thus came to be known as the Black Nazarene. Though the image was burnt, the people decided to preserve and honour it. Since then, miraculous things have been reported to those who touch the image.
Every year, thousands of devotees from all walks of life go to the district of Quiapo to take part in the procession as a way of strengthening their faith or fulfilling their vow to Lord.
The devotion to the Black Nazarene is long time practice of the Filipino Catholics and they believe that through their faith with Jesus Christ, there will be peace and harmony among families, long life and good health among people, deliverance from all calamities and disasters, and prosperity, joy and love among nations.
Feast of the Sto. Nino
This is celebrated on the third Sunday of January every year. This event is centred on the district of Tondo, Manila where replicas of the Sto. Nino or “Little Child” are huddled together in various costumes atop a flowery float and paraded around selected streets in Tondo. Sto. Nino is considered as a representation of the ‘Infant Jesus’. This colourful festival fills the streets with dancers, tots, teens, and senior citizens, in bright costumes depicting clothes in early Hispanic times.
Grand Marian Feast
This is a religious Manila Festival devoted to the Virgin Mary. The widest array of different Marian statues displayed on flowery and brightly lit floats. The floats are intricately designed and paraded around the streets of Intramuros. Thousands of Marian devotees from around the country attend to see this event.
The celebration is supposed to fall on the birth date of the Virgin Mary as announced by the Roman Catholic Church. The parade starts from the Manila Cathedral, goes around the Walled City, and ends up also in the same cathedral.
Bailes De Los Arcos
Bailes De Los Arcos or “Dance of the Archs” is a traditional event passed on from generation to generation. It is a feast dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, and the "Virgen" Dela Rosa for her kindness. Daughters of devotees are required to carry on the tradition when they reach their teen years. Bailes De Los Arcos focused on young women trained to perform a peculiar dance for a year and then dedicate it to the saints. It is a colourful religious dancing event where devotees offer a pledged ritual in return for favours asked from the saints.
Cultural Festivals & Events
Buling-Buling in Pandacan
January of each year is the month of Buling-Buling in Pandacan, Manila. Among Manila Festivals which centred on cultural dances, this event is highlighted by dance performances on the community stage depicting the hospitality of Manila folks since early times up to the present. Buling-Buling is now the official cultural dance of Manila.
Historical Festivals & Events
Manila’s Chinese New Year
This is also known as Manila’s Liberation Day. Every 3rd day of February, a historic event is celebrated in Manila. Among historical Manila festivals, the event highlights the important decision of General Douglas MacArthur to prioritize the liberation of Manila over that of Formosa in World War II. Hence, in 3rd February 1945 Manila was liberated by American Forces from the Japanese. However, this event is observed with simple ceremonies.
Manila Day
Every June 24, Manila Day is celebrated with special ceremonies and programs at the Luneta Park and Manila City Hall. Also among historical Manila festivals, it is declared a holiday in the city.
Manila festivals allow people to celebrate their religious, cultural, and historical triumphs. A visit to these islands is more enriched sharing in these traditions.
Manila Independence Day
June 12, 1898, is a glorious date in the history of the Filipino people. On this day, President Emilio F. Aguinaldo proclaimed the freedom of the Filipino people. The Philippine national flag was hoisted and the country’s national anthem was played. We yearly celebrate Philippine Independence Day to bring to the awareness of our people that freedom is a most precious right.
Summary of the Festival and Events happening all year round in Manila:
Month | Festivals and Events |
January | · New Year’s Day · Feast of the Black Nazarene · Ati Atihan |
February | · Bamboo Organ Festival · People Power Day |
March | · Philippines International Jazz and Arts Festival |
April | · Maundy Thursday · Good Friday · Easter Sunday · Bataan and Corregidor Day |
May | · Labour Day · Flores de Mayo · San Isidro |
June | · Manila Day · Fête de la Musique · Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day |
July | · Subli-an sa Manila · Iglesia Ni Cristo Day |
August | · National Heroes Day · Ninoy Aquino Day |
September | · Kalesa Festival · Filipino Heritage Festival |
October | · La Naval Festival |
November | · Feast of Nuestra Senora Delos · International Salsa Festival · All Saints Day · All Souls Day · Bonifacio Day |
December | · Christmas Day · Rizal Day |
For more information, visit here
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN MANILA
