List of Festivals in the Philippines: May

Do you want to witness and be part of the exciting and colorful cultural activities in the Philippines in this month of May? 
Please check out this list of popular fiestas or festivals happening this May.

Pahiyas Festival

Location: Lucban, Province of Quezon
Details: The festival is celebrated every 14th to 15th of May. Its highlights are the colorful facade of houses decorated with leaf-shaped rice paste wafers called kiping. This colorful festival honors St. Isidore the Farmer, the patron saint of farmers. The word pahiyas came from the word payas which means to decorate or decoration.

Mayohan sa Tayabas

Location: Tayabas, Province of Quezon
Details: The festival is celebrated every 14th to 15th of May. Its highlights are the Hagisan ng Suman and the all-male procession. This festival honors St. Isidore the Farmer, the patron saint of farmers. It is one of the three big festivals held in Quezon on May 15th.

Arana't Baluarte Festival

Location: Gumaca, Province of Quezon
Details: The festival is celebrated every 14th to 15th of May. Its highlights are the colorful baluartes and the arana. The word araña is a Spanish word for chandelier while baluarte, on the other hand, is the Spanish word for a stronghold or a strongly fortified defensive structure. This festival honors St. Isidore the Farmer, the patron saint of farmers. It is one of the three big festivals held in Quezon on May 15th.

Kagasangan Festival

Location: Moalbal, Province of Cebu
Details: The festival is celebrated every 15th of May. Its highlight is the town's annual town fiesta which celebrates the town's main tourist attraction which is the corals. This festival is a way for the locals to promote the diving industry of the town. The Cebuano word kagasangan means corals.

Alinsangan Festival

Location: Nabua, Province of Camarines Sur
Details: The festival is celebrated every 2nd of May. Its highlight is the colorful street presentations. This festival is a colorful cultural festival of pagan origin. The word alinsangan describes the characteristics of people living in the early settlements in the province.

Balangay Festival

Location: Butuan City, Province of Agusan Del Norte
Details: The festival is celebrated every 1st to 31st of May. Its highlight is the Mutya Hong Butuan Pageant where beautiful maidens from all around town compete for the glorious title. This festival is a month-long celebration of the people of Butuan that tackles the rich history of the people. The word balangay came from the name of the huge boats that brought the settlers to the province.

Pastores Festival

Location: Gapan City, Province of Nueva Ecija
Details: The festival is celebrated every 1st of May. Its highlight is the colorful parade of the locals. This festival honors the patron saint of Gapan City, Nuestra Senora Dela Virgen Divina Pastora. The word pastores means to lead the group.

Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival

Location: Talavera, Province of Nueva Ecija
Details: The festival is celebrated every  12th to 15th of May. Its highlight is the street dancing follo0wed by a float parade and finally the parade of the carabaos. This festival aims to promote and enhance the industry of carabao's milk. The phrase gatas ng kalabaw means milk of the carabao.

Obando Fertility Dance

Location: Obando, Province of Bulacan
Details: The festival is celebrated every 17th to 19th of May. Its highlight is the dance ritual where participants wear traditional costumes. The participants also sing the song Santa Clara Pinung-Pino. This festival honors the patron saints San Pascual Baylon, Santa Clara, and Nuestra Senora de Salambao. It is also a way for women who are having problems bearing a child to ask for spiritual guidance and help.

Pastillas Festival

Location: San Miguel, Province of Bulacan
Details: The festival is celebrated every 5th to the 7th of May. Its highlight is the pastillas cooking demonstrations. This festival is a way for the locals to promote the local delicacy. A pastillas is a kind of candy made from carabao's milk.


Aringay Festival

Location: Lasam, Province of Cagayan
Details: The festival is celebrated every 15th to 21st of May. Its highlights are the agri-industrial trade fair and colorful street dancing. This festival is a way for the locals to highlight the agricultural product of Lasam which is the Aringay Rice variety.

Sakuting Festival

Location: Dolores, Province of Abra
Details: The festival is celebrated every 5th to the 7th of May. Its highlight is the street dancing portraying a mock battle of Ilocano Christians and non-Christians. This festival is a way for the locals to preserve the culture of the Dolorenians. The sakuting is a kind of dance of the people of Abra.

Pahoy-Pahoy Festival

Location: Cabliga, Province of Western Samar
Details: The festival is celebrated every 16th to the 24th of May. Its highlights are the grand parade and street dances where all the dancers are wearing scarecrow costumes. This festival is a way for the locals to celebrate a good harvest. The word pahoy means scarecrow in the Visayan language.

Pahinungod Festival

Location: Calape, Province of Bohol
Details: The festival is celebrated every 1st to 10th of May. Its highlight is the colorful street parade. This festival is a 10-day fiesta commemorating the town's rich ancestry and devotion to the patron saint of the town- San Vicente Ferrer. The word pahinungod means to come home annually.

Carabao-Carroza Festival

Location: Pavia, Province of Iloilo
Details: The festival is celebrated every 3rd of May. Its highlights are the Carabao Carroza Parade, Carabao Carroza Race and the Search for Carabao Carroza Queen. This festival is a way for the 18 barangays of the municipality of Pavia to celebrate together and showcase their ingenuity. The word carroza means carriage.

Basi Festival

Location: Naguilan, Province of La Union
Details: The festival is celebrated every 7th of May. Its highlights are the street dancing, farm tour, agri-trade, and Search for Ms. Naguilan. This festival is a way for the locals to promote their famous product which is the basi. A basi is a wine made from sugarcane.

Paukbayan Festival

Location: Butuan City, Province of Agusan Del Norte
Details: The festival is celebrated every 11th to 30th of May. Its highlight is the agro-industrial show which features landscape artworks decorated with different species of plants. This festival is a way for the locals to promote the local landscaping craft. 

Sanggutan Festival

Location: Barugo, Province of Leyte
Details: The festival is celebrated every 18th of May. Its highlight is the street dancing of the drinkers honoring the age-old process of wine-making. This festival is a way for the locals to promote the age-old process of wine-making.

Lubi-Lubi Festival

Location: Gingoog City, Province of Misamis Oriental
Details: The festival is celebrated every 22nd of May. Its highlight is the street parade where the abundant coco plants and materials are used as props. This festival is a way for the locals to honor the local patroness Sta. Rita de Cascia. Lubi-lubi is also called coconut dance.

Tromba Festival

Location: Baras, Province of Rizal
Details: The festival is celebrated every 1st of May. Its highlights are the afternoon procession and street parade preceded by a Pagoda parade held in Baras River. This religious festival honors the Nuestra Senora de Turumba.

Sublian Festival

Location: Bauan, Province of Batangas
Details: The festival is celebrated every 2nd of May. Its highlight is the ritual dance of Bauan- the subli. This festival is a way for the locals to revive the centuries-old tradition of dancing the Subli and also to pay homage to the Holy Cross of Bauan. The word sublian means to dance the Subli.

Wagayway Festival

Location: Imus, Province of Cavite
Details: The festival is celebrated every 28th of May. Its highlight is the parade where the townsfolk can be seen waving the flags in the streets of Imus. Aside from that, there are also exciting activities lined up every year. This festival commemorate the bravery and patriotism of the revolutionaries who won the Battle of Alapan in Imus, Cavite. The word wagayway means to wave the flag.

Palong Festival

Location: Capalonga, Province of Camarines Norte
Details: The festival is celebrated every 11th to 13th of May. Its highlights are the street dancing and agro-industrial fair which shows themes connected to roosters. This festival is a way for the locals to show gratitude towards the town's name and also to celebrate the Feast Day of the Black Nazarene of May 13th.  The word palong means cockscomb.

Dumarokdok Festival

Location: Botolan, Province of Zambales
Details: The festival is celebrated every 3rd to 4th of May. Its highlights are the street dances, sports competitions, and the search for Mutya ng Botolan. This festival honors the feast day of Sta. Monica. The word dumarokdok is the name of the native dance of the Botolanenos.

Layag Festival

Location: Rapu-Rapu, Province of Albay
Details: The festival is celebrated every 22nd to 27th of May. Its highlight is the fluvial parade of the colorful regattas of the locals. This weeklong festival coincides with the feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia. The festival depicts the people's journey of faith. The word layag means to sail.

Binuyugan Festival

Location: Maitum, Province of Sarangani
Details: The festival is celebrated every 27th of May. Its highlight is the street dancing competition which presents a diverse interpretation of dances depending on the cultural background of the participating barangay. This festival is a way for the different barangays of the town to share their heritage through dance. The word binayugan comes from the Ilocano word buyog which means "accompanied by or coupled with".

Location: Philippines

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