JANUARY
� NEW YEAR'S DAY (1st, nationwide): The New Year is welcomed with fireworks, horns and other noise-makers. Families gather for the Media Noche, or traditional midnight feast.

� FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE (9th, Quiapo, Manila): This religious feast is centered on the life-size image of a blackened Christ bearing a heavy cross said to have healing powers.

� SINULOG (third weekend, Cebu City): Cebuanos pay homage to the historic Sto, Ni�o or Christ Child of Cebu with a solemn mass. They parade through the streets in papier mache figures and bright costumes, waving their arms in a special dance imitating the flow of water or sulog.

� ATI-ATIHAN (third weekend, Kalibo, Aklan on Panay Island): This Christian-pagan "Mardi gras" originated in the town of Kalibo. Participants, their bodies darkened with soot and garbed in elaborate, skimpy costumes, stomp their feet and chant prayers to the beat of the drums.

� DINAGYANG (4th weekend, Iloilo City): Held in honor of the Sto. Ni�o or Christ Child, the merrymaking or dinagyang brings together costumed townsfolke to dance and watch cultural presentations.

� CHINESE NEW YEAR (late January or early February, depending on the lunar calendar): The Chinese community celebrates its New Year with lion daces, fireworks and open-air Chinese opera performances as they feast on sweet delicacies and other Oriental specialties.

FEBRUARY
� BAMBOO ORGAN FESTIVAL (moveable, Las Pi�as, Manila): The unique Bamboo Organ, housed in the Las Pi�as Church, is showcased in a series of concerts featuring the resident boys' choir, a full orchestra, and local and international musicians.

� EDSA ANNIVERSARY (22nd to 25th, EDSA, Manila): In celebration of the "People Power" revolution that toppled the Marcos regime and restored a democratic form of government, people flock to EDSA to hear mass and give thanks.

MARCH
� ARAW NG DABAW (10-16, Davao City): Cultural performances mark these festivities which celebrate the city's Charter Day. Dancers garbed in colorful intricately hand-woven tribal costumes entertain the crowds. There are also street parades, beauty pageants and an abundance of Davao's exotic fruits and orchids.

APRIL
� MORIONES (Marinduque Province): The festival is focused on the story of Longinus whose sight was miraculously restored after a drop of Jesus' blood fell on his one blind eye. The menfolk of Marinduque dress up as Roman centurions, wearing fierce masks and headdresses. The festival culminates on Easter Sunday, when the Roman centurions behead the newly converted Longinus after a wild chase.

� PENITENCIA (Good Friday, nationwide): In honor of Christ's suffering and death, and in atonement for personal sins, hooded penitents flog their backs with whips or trudge through the streets carrying wooden crosses. The day's climatic penitential rite occurs with the actual crucifixion of penitent volunteers.

� EASTER (moveable, nationwide)

� BAGUIO SUMMER FESTIVAL (moveable, Baguio City): Coinciding with Let and culminating on Easter Sunday, this week-long festival features art shows, parades, handicraft fairs, and tribal performances.

MAY
� SANTACRUZAN (month-long, nationwide): This nine-day series of evening processions commemorates St. Helena's quest for the true cross, gathering the town's prettiest ladies to parade under flowered arches.

� FLORES DE MAYO (moveable, nationwide): Children offer flowers daily to the Blessed Mary. The highlight is a candle-lit precession of beautiful ladies dressed elaborately in white and bringing flowers to the Virgin.

� CARABAO FESTIVAL (14th, Pulilan, Bulacan): The farmer's beast of burden is groomed and garlanded for a parade to the Church, where they are made to kneel and blessed. The highlight is a race and a competition where the best-looking strongest and fastest carabaos are rewarded.

� PAHIYAS ((15th, Lucaban & Sariaya, Quezon Province): This harvest festival floods the idyllic old towns of Quezon with color as houses are decorated with kiping or dyed rice-paste wafers shaped into leaves, fruits and various other objects.

� PILGRIMAGE TO ANTIPOLO (month-long, Antipolo, Metro Manila): The Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo becomes the gathering point of people honoring the dark image of the Virgin Mary, said to be miraculous.

� NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK (every 1st or 2nd week of May, Manila): Aimed at promoting the country and its many attractions, the event includes activities like the Travel Mart, the Philippine Food Festival, the Kite Festival, and other organized activities like tours and all-night dancing.

JUNE
� INDEPENDENCE DAY (12th, nationwide): Independence Day rites, led by the President and leading officials, are held at Luneta (Rizal Park) in Manila, along with a parade of floats and regional delegations.

� HALARAN FESTIVAL (24th, Roxas City, Capiz): Festivities, highlighted by tribal dances, are held in remembrance of the purchase of Panay Island in the Visayas by ten chieftains from Borneo.

JULY
� SAINT MARTHA RIVER FESTIVAL (29th, Pateros, Metro Manila): The town, made famous by the Filipino delicacy called balut (fertilized duck egg), honors their patron with a fluvial parade along the Pateros River.

AUGUST
� ORCHID AND FRUIT FESTIVAL (moveable, Davao City): Luscious fruits and varieties of orchids are displayed for guests to a savor and admire. Market fairs and handicraft exhibits are interesting sidelights.

� HIGANTES (19th, Angono Rizal): The people of Angono convert the town into a land of giants with their colorful papier mache creations of folk heroes, mythical figures and other personages.

SEPTEMBER
� PE�AFRANCIA (3rd Saturday, Naga City, Camarines Sur): In a procession, Naga's patron saint, The Lady of Pe�afrancia, is transferred by barge from the city cathedral to her shrine by the Naga River.

� SINULOG OR MICHAELMAS DAY (29th, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte): The people of Iligan City honor St. Michael, the archangel, donning elaborate costumes to depict what folklore has said to be the saint's victory over an evil dragon.

OCTOBER
� LANZONES FESTIVAL (moveable, Camiguin Island, Cagayan de Oro): Sweet and translucent fruit, said to be the Virgin Mary's gift to the people of Camiguin, is proudly displayed and feasted upon by residents and visitors.

� MASSKARA (14th to 19th, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental): The people of Bacolod welcome visitors with smiling faces, dressed in imaginative costumes and wearing papier mache masks.

NOVEMBER
� UNDAS (1st, nationwide): Undas or All Souls' Days is, despite its solemn undertones, a joyous one for Filipinos. Based on the belief that souls of one's departed return to their earthly home, the "reunion" is marked by abundant food, a gathering of the whole clan and much noise.

� GRAND CA�ao (late November, Baguio City): The Grand Ca�ao is a thanksgiving ceremony marked by tribal dancing to the beat of the gongs, and the slaughtering of animals as an offering for a good harvest.

DECEMBER
� MISA DE GALLO (16th to 24th, nationwide): Filipinos attend dawn masses in preparation for Christ's birth. These culminate in the Midnight Mass, after which families partake of the noche buena, the traditional Christmas Eve repast.

�LANTERN FESTIVAL (24th, San Fernando, Pampanga): Known for making the most colorful and intricate parols or star-shaped lantern, the people of San Fernando show off their craft in a bright and festive parade.

May

Tinikling-A-Thon. Dance festival. Held alternate years (next in 2003). Oakland. 510-429-2584

June

Filipiniana Song and Dance Festival. Performances, fashion show, food. Daly City. 415-665-5763

Rizal Day. Evening music and dance program, in honor of national hero Jose Rizal's birthday (June 19). San Francisco. 415-665-5763

Philippine Republic Day (June 12) Celebration. Dinner dance. South San Francisco. 415-206-8172

Ka-Fiestahan. Food, entertainment. Union City. 510-785-4515

Independence Day. Mass, choirs. St. Anne's Church, San Francisco. 415-753-5154

Fiesta Filipina. Entertainment, booths, food, art exhibits. San Francisco. 415-438-9933, 650-757-4803

Pistahan Fair. June or August. Parade of floats, food, crafts, booths, symposium, film festival. Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco. 415-436-9711

Filipino Festival. Monterey. 408-424-3134

Filipino Food Festival. Sacramento. 916-421-7633

Unity Day Celebration, Gapanian. Potluck picnic. San Jose. 408-923-2954

Santacruzan. Crowning of Queen Helena and Princesses, floral procession, mass. Burlingame, Colma. 415-755-1475

Ibajanons Reunion. San Francisco. 415-334-5191

Mothers Day Picnic. Pageant, food, games. San Leandro. 510-769-0556

Potluck Picnic. Picnic, dance, social event. Fremont. 510-791-0854

Binalonians Debutante Ball. Dinner dance, speakers. Burlingame. 415-239-6126

July

Binalonan Annual Picnic. Social event, games, food, dancing, karaoke. San Jose. 408-996-8394 Philippine Village. Village of booths, exhibits, martial arts, music, dance, food. San Jose. 408-732-2499

Cagayan Tapok. Annual get-together of Cagayanons. Different locations. 408-251-4597

Fiesta, Carigara Leyte group. Celebrating the Triumph of the Holy Cross, dinner dance. San Francisco. 415-952-5878

Mabini Day Picnic, Tanauenos/Batangas. Family event. San Leandro. 510-895-8610

Basketball Tournament. Competitions, followed by dance party. San Francisco. 415-878-3417

Pangasisnan Day Celebration. Dinner dance, beauty pageant and coronation. San Francisco. 415-994-9225

Annual Picnic and Toy Drive. Family fun, food, games. San Jose. 408-238-0390

August

Filipino Community Day. Music, dance, stories, art exhibits. Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. 415-379-8879

Higantes Festival. Parade of large puppets, storytelling, kid's activities. San Francisco. 415-379-8879

Pistahan Fair. June or Parade of floats, food, crafts, booths, symposium, film festival. Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco. 415-436-9711

Pistahan Fair. June or August. Parade of floats, food, crafts, booths, symposium, film festival. Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco. 415-436-9711

November

Christmas Village Festival. Crafts, games, food, gifts. San Jose. 408-448-2519

December

Pasko Sa Nayon: Filipino Christmas Festival. Music, dance, stories, craft activities. Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. 415-379-8879/8801

October 12, 2002 -- Pasadena, CA
UCLA PAA Annual Tailgate Party
(Event submitted by Mark Sullano)
Pilipino Alumni Association of UCLA is having their Annual Tailgate
Party at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, UCLA Bruins vs Oregon Ducks. Money to go to PAA Scholarship Endowment For ticket information please visit: www.uclapaa.net

October 20, 2002 -- New York City
Two Cathedral Organ Recital By Jennifer Pascual, D.M.A. (Doctorate of Music). (Event submitted by Michael Matthews)
Recital will take place on Sunday, October 20 at 3:00PM at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge Street, Newark, NJ. For info call (971)484-2400. Recital of organ works based on Gregorian by Bach, Durufld, Guilmant, Hakim, Langlais, Manari, Simonds, and Tournemire.

November 2, 2002 -- Rancho Cucamonga, CA
MNET Community Home Buyers Program
(Event submitted by CVST Peralta)
Free seminar to be held for interested residents of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. Topics to be covered include: Buying a Home with 0 down & 0 closing costs, Benefits of Homeownership vs Renting, and the Process of Searching for a Home. Free credit analysis, buy vs rent report, customized home search and breakfast when you attend this free workshop. Seats are limited. Get your reservation number by calling 1-888-831-1888 ext 118.

November 14-15, 2002 -- New York City, NY
Asian Diversity Conference & Job Fair at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (Event submitted by Michael Matthews)
More than 200 government agencies and companies and over 20,000 people are expected to attend this biggest indoor Asian American event! The event is presented by Asian Diversity, Inc (ADI) of NYC and Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP) NYC. ADCJF is supported by over 70 organizations including, Asian American Business Development Center, Asian Women in business, project by Project and Asian American Journalist Association. For more info log on the following Web site: www.AsianDiversity.com

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