MAY

Flores de Mayo
whole month-Catholic-wide event

Literally translated, it means “Flowers of May”and highlights a procession honoring Virgin Mary. Coinciding with it is the Santacruzan, re-enacting the search of Queen Elena for the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. The town or city’s loveliest ladies grace the occasion.

Pasalamat Festival
May 1-La Carlota, Negros Occidental

This is a labor and thanksgiving festival marked by street dancing and a parade of farm products.

Magayon Festival
May 1-Albay Province

This is a showcase of Albay’s culture and arts marked by exhibits, parades, shows, and sports.

Pista y Dayat Festival
May 1-Pangasinan

This is a seaside festival and a thanksgiving day by local fishermen for a bountiful year.

Boa-Boahan
May 2-Nabua, Camarines Sur

This is a re-enactment of the 13th-century rite of offering chains of coconut embryos called boa to deities. They believe that doing so would mean a prosperous year.

Carabao-Carozza Race Festival
May 3-Pavia, Iloilo

This is an event where carabaos (water buffaloes) pull decorated bamboo carts in a 400-meter course race.

Lanahan Ritual
May 1-3-Balabag, Digos, Davao del Sur

This the ritual performed by the Bagobos involving the making of medicinal oil (lana) after their pilgrimage to Mount Apo.

Balanghai Festival
Butuan

This commemorates the coming of the early migrants from Borneo and Celebes.  It is said that they came to Agusan in balanghai or wooden boats.

Tapusan Festival
whole Month of May-Alitagtag, Batangas

This is a month-long celebration honoring the Holy Cross.

Barangay Boat Festival
May 11-Aparri, Cagayan

This is a fluvial festival held annually in honor of Saint Peter Thelmo, the town’s patron saint.

Carabao Festival
May 15-Pulilan, Bulacan

This is an event honoring  San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. Carabaos are paraded and blessed by the town priest.

Pahiyas Festival
Lucban and Sariaya, Quezon

This is a thanksgiving festival to San Isidro Labrador for the past year’s bountiful harvest.  The event is popular for the elaborate edible decorations that cover entire houses like fruits and vegetables, most prominent of which are the brightly colored rice wafers known as kiping.  The image of the patron saint is also paraded around town assuring the farmers of a bountiful harvest in the years to come.

Obando Festival
May 17 to 19-Obando, Bulacan

This festival involves the different dance rituals held for three consecutive days honoring three patron saints: May 17 for St. Paschal (for couples who want a male child), May 18 for St. Claire (for couples who want a female child) and May 19 for the Our Lady of Salambaw (patroness of fishermen).

Pahoy-Pahoy Festival
May 19 to 25-Calbiga, Samar

Every May, the quaint little town of Calbiga abounds with giant pahoy-pahoy (scarecrows) made of indigenous materials dancing about its streets.   Musical instruments made up of bamboos, cans and stones create the sounds that scare the local maya birds.