Talking about Philippine culture is not exciting without highlighting the celebration of a variety of lively festivals. Aside from having beautiful beaches and breathtaking sights, the country has tons of festivals in which people are looking forward and get excited to see the town full of colorful banderitas, street dancing, pageants, and hear loud music, without a doubt, make it more fun and exciting to attend these festivals. Despite the pandemic, Filipinos never run out of reasons to celebrate festivals. It is the only way to exhibit each town’s rich culture, history, and feast day of saints. This is no surprise because looking back in history, the Spaniards introduced our ancestors the Christianity, traditions, and beliefs. That is why every month there is a festival going on in every part of the archipelago.
Many are excited and curious of what festival is celebrated in August that is worth attending. Well, actually all of them, to experience one of the festivals must be one of the bucket lists because August festivals in the Philippines is extremely colorful and full of fun activities. This will be a busy month with many festivals all through the Philippines which are worth experiencing. When the month starts, there is no more blinking when events take place in town after town. And now is the time of year when people wanted to be in different places at once.
Read more to find out what festival is celebrated in august.
Higalaay Festival – Cagayan De Oro
Highlights: Carnival Street Dance Competition, Higalaay Street Parade and Floats, Coronation night of the Ms. Cagayan De Oro
This year’s Higalaay festival is the first face-to-face celebration after the two years hiatus break because of the pandemic. It will be a month-long celebration from the first day up until the end of this month. This festival is one of the most awaited august festivals in the Philippines. The celebration is to commemorate the feast day of St. Agustine, the city's patron. The Higalaay word is a Bisayan term that means “friendship” when translated to the English language, which was the city tagged, the City of Golden Friendship.
Dinagat Festival - Cebu
Highlights: Street Dance Competition, Interpretative Dance Competition
The annual celebration of San Roque's feast day is observed on August 16 but the festivities usually begin a few days earlier. It is a popular celebration wherein the people showcase their primary livelihood which is fishing and honor the bounty of the sea. They get its name from the Filipino word for sea, "dagat." This celebration in Cebu features customary rites and dances, many of which illustrate the local folklore, mythology, myths, and history.
Kadayawan sa Dabaw – Davao
Highlights: Hiyas sa Kadayawan, Indak-Indak sa kadayawan, Pamulak sa Kadayawan
August festival in the Philippines wouldn’t be complete without the Kadayawan Festival. This year’s festival will mark the return of the face-to-face celebration. The celebration will be a “hybrid” or a combination of face-to-face and online. The yearly celebration of the Kadayawan Festival is held on the third week of August. It is a way of showing appreciation for nature for the crop and life in general. The procession with gorgeous floral floats, street-dancing competitions, and exhibitions showcasing the island's original culture and history are the festival's principal attractions.
Coron Festival – Libon, Albay
Highlights: Float Parade, Concerts, Sporting Events, Religious Activities
Celebrated on the third week of August. Coron Festival is a way to help the ceramic artisans to promote their product. The town's main source of income is its pottery, which is produced in a variety of shapes and sizes, primarily round or hexagonal. The highlight of the festival is a long maritime procession of various local sea vessels on the sea spray of the serene Pacific Ocean going to the quiet barangay of Joroan, the location of the miraculous image, which attracts thousands of devotees and religious groups. This is to commemorate the Albay’s town patroness, Our Lady of Salvation.
Guinobatan Longganisa Festival - Guinobatan, Albay
Highlights: Culinaria Longganisa Cooking and Making Contest, Street Dancing
The festival is held on the second week of august from 5 to 15, 2022. It is celebrated to honor the town's patron saint, Our Lady of Assumption and showcase the cultural and natural heritage of the town and also the unique and tasty longganisa products. Street dance performances and other activities are held to promote the town's products, one of which is the Longganisa, that is advertised as one of the varieties of Bicol's culinary specialties in both the local and international markets.
Buyogan Festival – Abuyog, Leyte
Highlights: Street Dancing
The town’s name originated from the word “buyog” which means bees. Each year, the Island of Abuyog celebrates Buyogan Festival on the 28th of August. The people wear realistic costumes and dances artistic choreography which focuses on the movement and appearance bees. During the festival, there are participants in the procession that would have tribal henna tattoos on their bodies and faces to symbolize the ethnic heritage of the Abuyog community.
Ibalong Festival – Bicol
Highlights: Street dancing
Giant floats
Re-enactment of Ibalong Epic
Celebrated on August 12 – 30 and is now on the 31st year. This festival is different from the other festivals in the Philippines because it is a non-religious festival about harvests. It is a celebration honoring the socio-historical-cultural heritage of Bicolanos based on the Ibalong Epic, which highlights the courage and fortitude of three heroes—Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong—who had to face the elements, one-eyed monsters, enormous flying sharks, boats-sized crocodiles, and other terrifying creatures.
Mercedes Kadagatan Festival – Camarines Norte
Mercedes Karagatan festival is annually celebrated every August 1 – 8 in Mercedes, Camarines, Norte. This festival is celebrated to give appreciation for the blessings and prosperity received during seafaring, fishing, and various fish farming operations. The community also honors its ecological harmony for achieving environmental beauty and dignity. This fiesta is held to give thanks to Mother Nature for giving Mercedes the gift of abundant fisheries, beautiful shorelines, and numerous aquatic maritime riches.
Rajah Baguinda Festival – Jolo, Sulu
Highlights: Festivities, Cultural show
The festival is one of the August festivals in the Philippines that is celebrated celebrated every second week of August to commemorate the essential contribution of Rajah Baguinda in the Philippine history. He was the driving force behind the spread of both the Islam religion and the Sulu Sultanate administration. Despite the fact that Rajah's entrance was not welcomed by the locals, who knew they shared a common religion, they still accepted him on the island. Rajah then fought back. To mark Rajah's entrance, participants are present across the city wearing vibrant costumes and performing in a variety of cultural performances.
There are still variety of festivals worth experiencing when you visit the archipelago because they are still celebrated in practically every region. Bria is helping you to be near these festivals. There are house and lot and condominiums in every region where there is always a festival and events to look forward. These holidays and festivals in the Philippines are more than just chances to party and indulge in delectable food till the sun sets; they are emblems of resiliency, diversity, and community. It's undoubtedly this unrestrained kindness and hospitality of the Filipinos that makes more fun in the Philippines.
Comments