AUGUST

Pangapog Festival
August 1 – 7-Samal Island, Davao

This is a thanksgiving festival for a bountiful harvest highlighting the culture of the Sama, the indigenous people of Samal, as shown in the indigenous sports, and other culture-based competitions.

Palu-Palo Festival
August 4-5-Basco, Batanes

This is highlighted by a cultural presentation showing the life and times of the Ivatans.

Marang Festival
August 5-Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte

Locals celebrate the bountiful harvest of the fruit Marang.

Mercedes FISHtival
August 6-11-Mercedes, Camarines Norte

This is a thanksgiving festival by local fisherfolk for blessings received during seafaring, and fish-farming.

Pangasinan Bamboo Festival
August 12-Calasiao and Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan

Pangasinan Bamboo Festival August 12 This is a festival showcasing bamboo products and includes bamboo planting and film exhibitions. Venue: Calasiao and Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan

Pasaka Festival
August 14-Tanuan, Leyte

“Pasaka,” the native word for Assumption, is a street spectacle in honor of Our Lady of Assumption.

Lubi-Lubi Festival
August 15-Calubian, Leyte

This is a dance festival extolling the many uses of the coconut in homage to Our Lady of Fatima and St. Roque.

Kalibongan Festival
August 17- 18-Kidapawan, Cotabato

This is a gathering of Mindanao ethnolinguistic groups like the Bagobos and Manobos. This is highlighted by a horse fight and a Manobo wedding.

Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival
3rd week-Davao City

Dabaweños celebrate the annual Kadayawan – a colorful occassion that lasts for five days – as a thanksgiving festival and a tribute to its indigenous peoples. Kadayawan is a native expression in Dabawnon tongue, which means “anything excellent that brings great fortune” from “dayaw” (good), describing a thing that is valuable and superior. Indeed, Davao teems with ‘kadayawan,’ from its delicious durian to pomelos to waling-waling, to its people. Included in the program is a two-hour showcase participated in by eighty (80) traditional artists belonging to the eight indigenous groups of Davao namely: the Manobo-Ubo, Ata-Matigsalog, Bagobo-Tagabawa, Bagobo-Guiangan, Kalagan, Maguindanao, Maranao and Tausug.

Gigantes
August 19-Lucban, Quezon

On August 19, in the town of Lucban, Quezon, townsfolk trot out their beloved gigantes or giants. Measuring about 14 feet tall, the giants come in pairs, the mag-asawa or couple, a giant man dressed in the peasant’s camisa chino or undershirt, and his wife clad in the native patadyong and kimona, a loose skirt topped with a flimsy blouse. Made from papier mache, the giants are borne on shoulders by those who have made a panata (oath) made in return for a favor received. This festivity is shared by Lucban with the town of Angono, Rizal, which holds it in November.

Buyogan Festival
August 19-Abuyog, Leyte

Buyogan focuses on the bee locally known as “buyog” from which the town’s name originated.

Bankaton
August 20-Lavezares, Northern Samar

This is an annual boat racing contest celebrating the feast of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion, the town’s Patroness.

Kagayhaan Festival
August 26-28-Cagayan de Oro City

This festival is highlighted by streetdancing participated in by contingents from schools and civic organizations.