Philippine Festivals and

Theatrical Forms
Most Essential Learning Competencies
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• festivals
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theater
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costumes
Philippine Festivals and theatrical forms
• Videos of different festivals in the Philippines
Festivals
There are two kinds of Festival in the Philippines
• Religious Festivals
• Non-Religious Festivals
Religious Festivals
• Pahiyas
• Obando Fertility Rite
• Moriones Festival
• Ati-atihan
• Sinulog
• Dinagyang
• Santacruzan
Pahiyas
celebrated every 15th of May

Lucban, Quezon

held in honor of San Isidro Labrador and is the farmer’s thanksgiving for a rich and bountiful harvest

Kiping – are leaf-shaped, multi-colored rice-paste wafers used to decorate their houses with, along with
agricultural produce like fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Obando Fertility Rite
• a dance ritual and Catholic festival celebrated every May in Obando, Bulacan.

• to honor and beseech Obando’s three patron saints: San Pascual (Paschal Baylon), Santa Clara (Clare of
Assisi), and Nuestra Señora de Salambao ( Our Lady of Salambao).
Moriones Festival

• The Moriones is a costume worn by Marinduquenos on the western side of Marinduque.

• This festival is held every during the Holy week. During this week, the Moriones costume must be worn
every day for a whole week.

• Morion means mask or visor that covers the wearer’s face, which is part of the medieval Roman armor worn
in Biblical times.

• This festival is characterized by colorful and realistic Roman costumes, vividly painted masks and
brightly colored tunics. It depicts the story of St. Longinus, the Roman centurion that miraculously gained his
eyesight when his eye was hit by Jesus’s blood when he stabbed Jesus in the side of his torso.
Ati-atihan
• Ati-atihan is a festival in honor of the Santo Niño and is celebrated by rejoicing and energetic merriment on
the streets.

• The name means “make believe Atis”

• The festival is also named after the Ati, the indigenous natives of the island.

• The festival is held on the 3rd week of January in Kalibo, Aklan.

Sinulog
• The native dance of Sinulog commemorates the acceptance of Filipino people of Christianity, more
specifically, Catholicism, to replace their belief of animalism.

• Celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January in Cebu.

• The word “sulog” means river current, which pertains to the dance steps being similar to a river’s push and
pull current.
Dinagyang

• Celebrated every 4th Sunday of January in Iloilo

• Dinagyang Festival is a showcase of the rich heritage, colorful history, passionate devotion and fun-loving
spirit of the Ilonggo people. The festival traces its roots as a thanksgiving celebration in honor of Senyor
Santo Niño.

• The root word “dagyang” means to “make happy”

Santacruzan
• Celebrated every month of May

• Santacruzan or Flores de Mayo, which means “flowers of May”. Usually, it is also celebrated with flower offerings for the Blessed
Virgin Mary in Catholic Churches.

Some of the famous characters in Santacruzan:

 Reyna Mora (Queen Moor) – represents Muslim Filipinos

 Reyna Ester (Queen Esther) – seen carrying a scepter
 Sta. Veronica – the woman who wiped the face of Jesus with her veil
 Reyna Fe (Queen Faith) – seen carrying a cross to symbolize faith
 Reyna Esperanza – (Queen of Hope) – she carries an anchor, to symbolized hope
 Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) – always the last member of the procession
 Constantino – the escort of Reyna Elena representing the Emperor Constantine, who is always played by a small boy in princely
raiment.
Non-Religious Festivals
• Panagbenga
• Masskara
• Kaamulan
• Kadayawan
Panagbenga
• held in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines,
• its English name is the blooming flowers festival, which means, “season of blooming”
• celebrated in the month of February.
• The floats are decorated for weeks before the unveiling on the day of the parade, and the flowers that are
mostly included are Chrysanthemums, Orchids, Astrobelias, Roses, and what are called Baguio’s original
flowers, Everlasting.
Masskara
• From the combination of the English word “mass” and the Spanish word “kara” (which means face)

• celebrated every 3rd weekend of October, or on the closest weekend to October 19, it dramatizes the
steadfast character of the Negrenses and symbolizes what the City of Smiles, Bacolod City, do best, putting
on a smiling face even when faced with challenges.
Kaamulan

• Held annually in Malaybalay City, Bukidnod from the second half of February to March 10

• From the Binukid word “amul” which means “to gather”

• An ethnic festival that celebrates the customs and tradition of the seven tribal groups that originally
inhabited Bukidnon region, the Matigsalug, Tigwahanun, Higaunu, Umayamnun, Manobo, Bukidnon, and
Talaandig;
Kadayawan
• celebrated in Davao City, is a festival of thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, and the
bounties of harvest and serenity of living

• derived from the Dabawenyong word, “madayaw” or good, valuable and superior in English.

• Held every August

Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao
• Pahiyas L
• Obando Fertility Rite L
• Moriones Festival L
• Ati-atihan V
• Sinulog V
• Dinagyang V
• Panagbenga L
• Masskara V
• Kaamulan M
• Kadayawan M
Religious or Non-Religious
• Pahiyas R
• Obando Fertility Rite R
• Moriones Festival R
• Ati-atihan R
• Sinulog R
• Dinagyang R
• Panagbenga NR
• Masskara NR
• Kaamulan NR
• Kadayawan NR
Multiple choice
• MASSKARA
• KIPING
• AMUL
• DAYAW
• CEBU CITY
Art quote
• Bye