| Festivals & Events 2003 |
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| Courtesy of Dept. of Tourism |
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| BEST OF WESTERN VISAYAS (REGION VI) IN INTRAMUROS October1-15 / Manila A showcase of the best of the best of Region VI (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 region to sell their tour packages, products and open their doors to business opportunities. PAGODA (FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI) October 04 / Cardona, Rizal (2 hours 30 minutes from Manila by land) An annual procession to ask the Lord Almighty for a bountiful and blessed lake through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi. ZAMBOANGA HERMOSA FESTIVAL October 10-12 / Zamboanga City (1 hour 30 minutes from Manila by air) The "City of Flowers" celebrates its grand annual festival featuring the "vintas" (colorful native sailboats) in a fast- paced regatta, cultural and flower shows, art exhibits and trade fairs. PAMUGU-AN FESTIVAL 3rd week of October / Mansalay, Mindoro Oriental (2 hours 30 minutes from Batangas City by land; 2 hours 30 minutes from Batangas City to Calapan/Mansalay by land/ferry) A festive reunion of different "Mangyan" tribes with sports events, baratillo of native products. MASSKARA FESTIVAL October 14-21 / Bacolod City (1 hour 10 minutes from Manila by air) Merrymaking in Sugarlandia where revelers wear colorful costumes and gaudily-decorated masks. BEST OF CENTRAL VISAYAS (REGION VII) IN INTRAMUROS October16-31 / Manila A showcase of the best of the best of Region VII (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 region to sell their tour packages, products and open their doors to business opportunities. LANZONES FESTIVAL October 25-28 / Camiguin (1 hour 30 minutes from Manila to Cagayan de Oro City by air; 2 hours 15 minutes from Cagayan de Oro City to Camiguin City by land/ferry) A street dancing extravaganza featuring Camiguin's favorite fruit - the Lanzones. SAMAL EXTREME CHALLENGE October 26-29 / Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte (1 hour 45 minutes from Manila to Davao City by air; 30 minutes from Davao City to the Island Garden City of Samal by ferry) A one-event-multi-feature plot of outdoor activities like caving, climbing, hiking, biking, horse riding, paddling. SUBIC BAY REUNION October / Venue TBA The first get-together of US military, civilian personnel and their families who were stationed in or who have visited Subic Bay and other US bases in the Philippines. ILONGGO FESTIVAL 2003 October / Metro Manila A trade fair showcasing the best products, investment opportunities, tourist attractions, arts and culture of Iloilo. MISS EARTH PAGEANT October / Manila CULINARIA FILIPINA October / Manila The event will gather some of the world-famous chefs to present current culinary trends and will culminate with a grandiose food exhibit and culinary competitions. BEST OF CARAGA (REGION XIII) IN INTRAMUROS November 01-15 / Manila A showcase of the best of the best of Region XIII (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 region to sell their tour packages, products and open their doors to business opportunities. 7th NATIONAL DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIP November 05-07 / Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena, Pasig City, Metro Manila (20 minutes from Manila) 22nd ILGA WORLD CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND SEXUAL MINORITIES November 07-14 / Venue TBA NATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL (IKATLONG TAGPO) November 14-21 / Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila A quadrennial event which will gather together theater artists and cultural workers to showcase the works of various theater groups across the country. BEST OF WESTERN MINDANAO (REGION IX) IN INTRAMUROS November 16-30 / Manila A showcase of the best of the best of Region IX (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 region to sell their tour packages, products and open their doors to business opportunities. QUEEN CITY INTERNATIONAL RUN 3rd Sunday of November / Cebu City / Mandaue & Lapu-Lapu, Cebu (1 hour 15 minutes from Manila by air) 13.4 km. leisure-oriented finishers' run. PASKUHAN SA DUMAGUETE WITH KUMBIRA November 16-December 31 / Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental (1 hour 15 minutes from Manila by air) Establishments are enjoined to light up and decorate their respective places using "sinamay" as the main material or accent. Other activities include sports events, garden shows, art shows and food festivals. BAGUIO ARTS FESTIVAL November 18 / Baguio City (50 minutes from Manila by air) An exhibition of the different artworks and art pieces of Cordillera artists using different art media. ASIAN ETHNIC FOOD FEST November 21-23 / World Trade Center, Manila HIGANTES FESTIVAL November 23 / Angono, Rizal (2 hours 30 minutes from Manila by land) A fiesta of "gigantic" proportions highlighted by a grand procession of 10-feet high papier mache puppets, surrounded by a crowd of drenched, water-fighting revelers. DECEMBER FIESTA 2003 November 29-30 / Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex Boardwalk, Manila CCP's holiday performances at the outdoor venues. Drum and lyre bands, choir, folkdance groups and community theater groups become the centerpiece for an artists' fair at the CCP Complex Boardwalk. INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORIC FESTIVAL November / Venue TBA A dance festival that will feature the cultural diversity of each country. A mixture of entertainment and education with emphasis on historical importance. INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL (With Provincial/Regional/National Competitions) November / Venue TBA A music festival showcasing the talent and musicality of Filipinos and re-enforcing Philippines' claim as the "Music Capital of Asia". HARANA SA MAKATI November / Makati City, Metro Manila (30 minutes from Manila by land) A romantic project wherein the boys will serenade their school belles in traditional and contemporary styles with an aim to preserve, conserve, promote and practice our customs and traditions. BEST OF CAGAYAN VALLEY (REGION II) AND CENTRAL LUZON (REGION III) IN INTRAMUROS December 01-15 / Manila A showcase of the best of the best of Regions II and III (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. GRAND CONCERT ON FILIPINO COMPOSITIONS December 01 / Venue TBA DECEMBER FIESTA 2003 December 06-07/13-14 / Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex Boardwalk, Manila CCP's holiday performances at the outdoor venues. Drum and lyre bands, choir, folkdance groups and community theater groups become the centerpiece for an artists' fair at the CCP Complex Boardwalk. COFFEE FESTIVAL December 11-16 / Lipa City, Batangas (2 hours from Manila by land) A week-long tribute to this Batangas specialty. CHRISTMAS LANTERN/LIGHTS/MUSICAL FESTIVALS December 15-January 6 / Nationwide (but most fun in Pampanga) KANYONG KAWAYAN FESTIVAL 3rd week of December / Kidapawan City, North Cotabato (1 hour 30 minutes from Manila to Cotabato City by air; 2 hours 15 minutes from Cotabato City to Kidapawan City by land) A unique activity to discourage the use of dangerous pyrotechnics during the yuletide season. A citywide contest features the firing of bamboo canons using empty milk cans as projectiles. MISA DE GALLO December 16-24 / Nationwide Misa de Gallo is a Filipino yuletide tradition that starts on the 16th of December and culminates in a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Roman Catholics attend the daily mass at three or four in the morning. Upon exiting the church, the hungry is enticed by the sight and smell of puto bumbong and bibingka (native delicacies made of sticky and glutinous rice sold nearby). GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL December 26-30 / San Fernando, Pampanga (1 hour from Manila by land) An annual competition and parade of the biggest, most spectacular lanterns, around 40 feet in diameter and bearing thousands of light bulbs per piece. MARDI GRAS December 30 / Olongapo City (2 hours 30 minutes from Manila by land) ASIAN LANTERN FESTIVAL December / Venue TBA A grand extravaganza that will serve as a "melting pot" of culture and tradition through a diorama of lanterns coming from the different Asian countries. BELEN DISPLAY AND COMPETITION December / Intramuros, Manila |
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