30 reasons to visit the Philippines

[jw5]

Sinulog Festival​

When: Third Sunday of January

Where: Cebu City

Another festival taking place during the third Sunday of January is the Sinulog Festival. Like Ati-Atihan, it is also celebrated in honor of Sto. Niño. The activities are almost the same as that of Ati-Atihan but with Sinulog, the dancers are not painted with black. They are instead dressed in colorful and intricately-designed costumes that make the mood more vibrant.

Considering that Cebu is one of the biggest and busiest cities in the country, street parties during Sinulog are popular all over the country. The festival attracts millions of people from all over the world annually.

 

[steffychun]

Thank maids for carrying FBO.

 

[jw5]

Thank maids for carrying FBO.

The maid is carrying the fullpack, which is only one component of the FBO.

 

[jw5]

Dinagyang Festival​

When: Fourth Sunday of January

Where: Iloilo City

Named after the Ilonggo term for merrymaking, Dinagyang is one of the biggest festivals in the country. It features a variety of fun activities such as street dancing, food festival, agro and industrial fairs, music festival, fluvial parade, and a pageant in addition to the main event which is the tribe dancing competition.

Like most festivals happening in January, Dinagyang is celebrated in honor of Sto. Niño. and to celebrate the arrival of Malay settlers in the city.

 

[jw5]

Panagbenga Festival​

When: February

Where: Baguio City

Panagbenga is a term of Kankanaey origin which means “season of blooming”. The festival was created to feature the abundance of flowers in the city and pay tribute to the city for surviving the 1990 Luzon earthquake which caused almost 30 collapsed buildings and landslides that disabled access to Baguio City from the rest of the Philippines.


The month-long Panagbenga Festival features a variety of activities such as exhibits, street dancing, and a float parade all showcasing the beautiful and colorful flowers of Baguio City.

 

[jw5]

MassKara Festival​

When: Fourth Sunday of October

Where: Bacolod City

While the highlight of the event takes place during the fourth Sunday of October, the festival usually kicks off as early as the first week of the month. A portmanteau from mass which means crowd or group and the Spanish word cara which means face in English, the festival features masks adorned with smiling faces. It is where the city got its nickname the “City of Smiles” from.

The highlight of the festival is the street dancing competition where masked dancers in colorful costumes dance to Latin musical beats. Other activities during the festival are MassKara Queen pageant, drum and bugle corps competition, food festivals, musical concerts, and exhibits.

 

[jw5]

Pahiyas Festival​

When: May 15

Where: Lucban, Quezon

Pahiyas Festival is a celebration of bountiful harvests and to celebrate the feast day of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.

Pahiyas comes from the word “payas” which means decorate hence the colorful decorations adorning the houses in Lucban. Decorations commonly used are agricultural products as well as Lucban longganisa ang Kiping, a traditional Filipino leaf-shaped wafer made from glutinous rice. Activities included during the festival are Pahiyas Festival dance, mass and procession, trade fairs and exhibits, and cultural shows. There is also a competition for the most beautifully-decorated house.

 

[jw5]

Moriones Festival​

When: Holy Week (March or April)

Where: Marinduque

While also colorful, Moriones is not a jovial festival like several other festivals in the country. This one is religious in nature and highlights the reenactment of the story of the Roman soldier in the Passion of the Christ and Stations of the Cross.

The festival is distinct for its colorful Roman costumes including painted masks, helmets, and tunics. During the festival, some devotees even inflict suffering upon themselves as a form of atonement for their sins.

 

[jw5]

Marine Life in the Philippines​

Whale Sharks​

Whale sharks thrive in the tropical oceans usually with water temperature not lower than 21 degrees C. They are known for being the largest fish in the sea with a size comparable to a bus. They thrive on plankton such as krill, fish eggs, and nekton such as squid and fish. Whale sharks are gentle creatures with some even swimming with humans. Locally called butanding, whale sharks are commonly found in Southern Leyte, Donsol in Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, and Batangas.

 

[jw5]

Starfish​

The stars of the sea are a common sight in several Philippine beaches. They vary in color – from various shades of red and orange to blue, grey, and brown. While they commonly have five arms, some species have more. They are mostly found on the seabed, be it tropical or polar waters.

 

[jw5]

Pelagic Thresher Shark​

Pelagic thresher sharks are commonly found in the tropical and sub-tropical open oceans. Their typical size is 3 meters in length and 69.5 kg. in weight with a narrow head and body which is wide in the middle and tapered at the ends. These strong swimmers have been seen in Malapascua Island.

 

[jw5]

Warty Frogfish​

This species has soft skin which is covered with wart-like bulges, hence the name. Their body color varies and can change within a few weeks to match its habitat. Also called clown frogfish, the warty frogfish’ known habitats are rocks and coral reefs.

 

[ginfreely]

Warty Frogfish​

This species has soft skin which is covered with wart-like bulges, hence the name. Their body color varies and can change within a few weeks to match its habitat. Also called clown frogfish, the warty frogfish’ known habitats are rocks and coral reefs.

Wow never know such fish with wart like bulges exists.

 

[jw5]

Corals​

The Philippines has approximately 10,000 square miles of reef systems therefore placing the country rank 3 in overall coral reef area. It boasts of 421 species of coral and many areas in the country are considered protected coral reef areas. Apo Reef Natural Park is the largest reef in the country and second largest in the world.

 

[jw5]

Dolphins​

This aquatic mammal known for its clicks and whistles is one of the most well-loved and popular sea creatures due to their intelligence and highly social behaviors. They’ve been featured in films and often kept in captivity to perform tricks and interact with humans in theme parks. While dolphins are accessible to public due to various dolphin facilities around the world, nothing beats the excitement when seeing them at their natural habitat. For dolphin encounters in the country, head to Bohol Sea, Tañon Strait (between Negros Oriental and Cebu), Babuyan Channel (Cagayan Province), Sarangani Bay, or Puerto Princesa Bay.

 

[jw5]

Clownfish​

Meet Nemo and his gang in their natural habitat – in sheltered reefs in the shallow seas or in shallow lagoons. But the clownfish isn’t just orange – some are reddish and blackish with the largest measuring up to 16 cm.

 

[jw5]

Crabs​

A trip to any islands in the Philippines isn’t complete without feasting on crabs. After all, they live in any sea in the world.

 

[steffychun]

Too many reasons: one simple is thanking maids.

 

[steffychun]

The maid is carrying the fullpack, which is only one component of the FBO.

Good enough.

 

[jw5]

Jellyfish​

Just like crabs, jellyfish are found in any sea in the world – be it in the surface water or deep sea. As of the moment, there is no record as to how many species of jellyfish found in the Philippines but the most common are Aurelia and Mastigias. The potentially deadly box jellyfish can be found in the country as well so be cautious upon seeing a jellyfish when swimming especially in areas where the creek meets the sea.