| CAGAYAN: CAVING AND MOUNTAINEERING CONGRESS March Pe�ablanca, Cagayan (55 minutes from Manila to Tuguegarao by air; 30 minutes from Tuguegarao to Pe�ablanca by land)An exciting adventure of more than 300 cave systems. |
| Festivals & Events 2003 |
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| MANILA FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE January 09 Quiapo, Manila An intense, day-long festival highlighted by a mammoth procession through the streets of Manila. |
| JANUARY |
| CEBU CITY SINULOG FESTIVAL January 13-19 Cebu City (1 hour 15 minutes from Manila by air) Sto. Ni�o procession and "Mardi-gras" parade. |
| NATIONWIDE PHILIPPINE GRAND FIESTA SALE January 15-31 Nationwide shopping spree offering myriad delights and sensational shopping experience. The event projects the country as a shopping haven and a byword for shopping excellence thus, making the Philippines "Asia's Shopping Paradise". |
| KALIBO, AKLAN ATI-ATIHAN January 18-19 (55 minutes from Manila by air) Frenzied merriment on the streets to honor the infant Sto. Ni�o and "Mardi Gras" parade. |
| BORACAY 15th BORACAY INTERNATIONAL FUN BOARD CUP January 20-25 Green Yard Funboard & Neilpryde Center, Boracay, Malay, Aklan (55 minutes from Manila by air) The country's biggest windsurfing event drawing participants from all over Asia. |
| ILOILO CITY D INAGYANG FESTIVAL January 25-26 Iloilo City (1 hour 5 minutes from Manila by air) A spectacular street merrymaking in honor of the Holy Child Jesus. |
| MANILA CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL/ FIESTA January 25-February 02 Chinese Garden, Rizal Park, Manila A grand celebration to welcome the new Chinese Lunar Year that will feature a Chinese Lauriat with complete show of Chinese performers to be capped by fireworks/pyrotechnic display. |
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| FEBRUARY |
| NATIONAL ARTS MONTH |
| Whole month of February / Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila A tribute to the talent and creativity of the Filipino artist, highlights world-renowned Filipino masters, as well as the new generations influencing the local arts scene. |
| MANILA : BEST OF SOUTHERN TAGALOG IN INTRAMUROS February 1-27 |
| A showcase of the best of the best of Region IV (music, dances, fiestas, culinary delights, street parties, arts and crafts). It aims to give a glimpse of what happens in the various provinces, and provides a venue for the regions to sell their tour packages, products and open their doors to business opportunities. |
| MANILA: STREET PARTIES Every Friday (Feb 07, 14, 21 & 28) |
| A monthly activity that capitalizes as well as highlights the musicality of Filipinos and their love for fiestas and merry making. |
| MANILA: CHINESE FOOD FESTIVAL February 03-05 |
| Glorietta, Makati City, Metro Manila (30 minutes from Manila) Celebration of the Chinese New Year in cooperation with Ayala Center and all Makati-based hotels. |
| MANILA: TRAVEL TOUR EXPO February 07-09 |
| Megatrade Exhibition Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila (1 hour from Manila ) A showcase of travel destinations offering sensational packages all over the Philippines and from around the world. |
| DAVAO CITY : FISTAHAN 2003 February 08-09 |
| Davao City (1 hour 45 minutes from Manila by air) A culinary festival that features Davao's grilled tuna specialties such as "panga and buntot". |
| IRIGA CITY: TINAGBA FESTIVAL February 11 |
| Iriga City, Camarines Sur (40 minutes from Manila to Naga City by air; 1 hour from Naga City to Iriga City by land) A lively, folksy procession wherein carabao carts are brought out and decorated with all kinds of fruits and vegetables. An Iriganon way of giving thanks for a bountiful season. |
| BAGO CITY : BABAYLAN FESTIVAL February 19 |
| Bago City, Negros Occidental (1 hour 10 minutes from Manila to Bacolod by air; 30 minutes from Bacolod to Bago City by land) Based on the rituals performed by the Babaylans, like rituals on marriage, baptism, healing, harvest and others. |
| BAGUIO CITY: TURISMONG PINOY, WOW GANDA! February 20-24 |
| A Conference on the promotion of LGU Tourism and Cultural Programs |
| MANILA: RIVER HERITAGE MARATHON RUN February 23 |
| Metro Manila A 42 kilometer International Marathon Run from Fort Santiago, the Old City of Manila, to the Global City of the Philippines, crossing eleven of the Pasig River's thirteen spans. |
| MANILA : ITIK-ITIK FESTIVAL February 23 |
| Pasig City, Metro Manila (20 minutes from Manila) Features the "itik" or native duck. The celebration includes street dancing, duck cooking contest, outrigger boat race, fluvial procession. |
| PANAGBENGA - BAGUIO FLOWER FESTIVAL February 23-March 03 |
| Baguio City (50 minutes from Manila by air) Biggest Baguio festival of Cordillera flowers on parade, with garden shows, exhibits, lectures and competitions. FIBER WEB FESTIVAL February 24 - Showcases the different fabrics of the Cordilleras. |
| INTERNATIONAL BAMBOO FESTIVAL February |
| Las Pi�as City, Metro Manila (45 minutes from Manila ) Highlights include exhibits at St. Joseph's Parish, an international bamboo musical competition and trade fair on bamboo crafts. |
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| Courtesy of Dept. of Tourism |
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| MANILA: GERMAN MONTH CONCERT SERIES Every Friday of March Paco Park. |
| MANILA: STREET PARTIES Every Friday of March (March 07, 14, 21 & 28) Venue TBA A monthly activity that capitalizes as well as highlights the musicality of Filipinos and their love for fiestas and merry making. |
| MANILA: CONCERT NIGHT AT THE OLD WALLS Every Saturday in March Baluarte Plano Luneta de Sta. Isabel, Intramuros, Manila |
| MANILA: BEST OF THE CORDILLERAS (CAR) IN INTRAMUROS March 04-16 Manila A showcase of the best of the best of the Cordilleras (CAR) (music, dances, fiestas, culinary delights, street parties, arts and crafts). It aims to give a glimpse of what happens in the various provinces, and provides a venue for the regions to sell their tour packages, products and open their doors to business opportunities. |
| ILOCOS NORTE: GULING-GULING FESTIVAL March 05 Paoay, Ilocos Norte (9 hours from Manila by land) An exciting and calendrical rites in Paoay where townsfolk and guests participate in street dancing and singing dressed in native costumes, held on Ash Wednesday. |
| LAGUNA: BANGKERO FESTIVAL March 06-10 Pagsanjan, Laguna (2 hours from Manila by land) Boat parade in Pagsanjan River. |
| BANGUET ABRA: ARYA! ABRA FESTIVAL March 07-11 Bangued, Abra (9 hours from Manila by land) Abra's biggest festival highlights of which are "Karerakit" bamboo rafting along Calaba River and Tinguan Festival of the tribal natives of Abra. |
| DAVAO CITY: SUGBAHAN 2003 2nd week of March Davao City (1 hour 45 minutes from Manila by air) A culinary festival that features Davao's grilled specialties such as tuna. |
| MINDORO ORIENTAL: BANANA FESTIVAL March 18-19 Baco, Mindoro Oriental (2 hours 30 minutes from Manila to Batangas City by land; 2 hours from Batangas City to Calapan/Baco by ferryland) A celebration of abundance of banana, other activities include banana cook fest, banana inspired street dancing competition and beauty pageant. |
| MANILA: BEST OF ILOCOS (REGION I) IN INTRAMUROS March 18-30 Manila A showcase of the best of the best of Region I (music, dances, fiestas, culinary delights, street parties, arts and crafts). It aims to give a glimpse of what happens in the various provinces, and provides a venue for the regions to sell their tour packages, products and open their doors to business opportunities. |
| MASBATE: RODEO MASBATE�O March 18-22 Masbate City, Masbate ( 1 hour 15 minutes from Manila by air) Feel the excitement of local cowboys as they pit their brains against bovine brawn in western style rodeo events like bull riding and steer wrestling, apart from local games like the good old carabao race. |
| LANAO DEL NORTE: ALIMANGO FESTIVAL March 22 / Lala, Lanao del Norte (1 hour 30 minutes from Manila to Cagayan de Oro City by air; 4 hours 15 minutes from Cagayan de Oro City to Iligan/Lala by land)A festival to celebrate "Araw ng Lala" featuring displays of different sizes of alimango (crab). Also features native costumes, dances and contests depicting and promoting local culture and tradition and fluvial parade passing through unspoiled mangroves. |
| SURIGAO CITY: Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte (2 hours 10 minutes from Manila to Surigao City by air; 2 hours from Surigao City to Siargao Island by boat)An international competition open to local and foreign bikers. |
| CEBU CITY: EBU MARINE EXPO 2003 & BOAT SHOW March Cebu Yacht Club, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu (1 hour 15 minutes from Manila by air) An exhibition of recreational watercrafts, marine and diving equipment and other related products. |
| MARCH |
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