Behold and be captivated by the colorful and beautiful festivals of Eastern Visayas. All year long you will be entertained from all towns and cities of Region 8.
Fiestas of Region VIII
JANUARY
Kadayaw Festival- January
Pambujan, Northern Samar
Thanks giving for God’s blessings during the first full moon.
MARCH
Homonhon Landing- March 16
Homonhon, Eastern Samar
Reenactment of the Ferdinand Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines in 1521
Karayapan Featisval- March
Guiuan, Eastern Samar
A thanks giving for their Patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mother.
Pamalandong Ha Palo- Holy Week
Palo,Leyte- Reenactment of Passion and Death of Jesus Christ.
Turugpo Festival- Holy Week
Brgy. Camansi, Carigara, Leyte
Carabao Fight (Pasungay) an horse fight (Paaway) on Black Saturday.
Sunduan ha Carigara- Holy Week
Carigara, Leyte
Easter Sunday festivities highlighting the rich history of Carigara-once the capital of Leyte.
Sinugdan- March 31
Limasaw, Southern Leyte
Commemoration of the First Catholic Mass in the Orient.
MAY
Sanggutan Festival- May 18
Barugo, Leyte
Honoring the age-old process of tuba (coconut wine) making.
Pahoy-Pahoy Festival- May 25
Calbiga, Samar
Parade of colorful scarecrows and street dances to celebrate a good harvest.
Santacruzan festival- May
Whole Region VIII
Month-long nightly procession that depicts the search for the cross by saintly Reyna Elena.
JUNE
Manoglaya Festival- June 12
San Antonio, Northern Samar
Manoglaya from Mano nga Paraglaya (literally means fisherman using net), is the ancient name of San Antonio.
Lingganay Festival- June 19
Alang-Alang Leyte
The festival features the Legend of the lost ‘golden bell’.
Pintados Kasadyaan Festival- June 27
Tacloban City
A famous festival of Tacloban that commemorates the past in where their ancestral links use body paint and tattoos and when they accepted and honored Sto. Niño. Kasadyaan, also known as the “Festival of festivals”, unites the villages and municipalities of Leyte in a dance and folklore celebration.
Sangyaw Festival- June 29
Tacloban City
Sangyaw showcases the Warays’ zest for life and care free nature.
Balyuan- June 29
Balyuan Ampitheater, Tacloban City
Ceremonial exchange of images of the Holy Child between Tacloban, Leyte and Basey, Samar.
Sto. Niño de Leyte Fiesta- June 30
Tacloban City
Fluvial procession, social, cultural and religious activities are held in commemoration on the recovery of Tacloban’s patron saint which was lost at sea in 1955.
AUGUST
Kadlawan han Samar- August 11
Catbalogan City, Samar
A week-long celebration of Samar province’s Foundation Day.
Pasaka Festival- August 15
Tanuan, Leyte
A festival that celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Mother into Heaven.
Buyogan Festival- August 29
Abuyog, Leyte
A festival in the coastal town of Abuyog on the island of Leyte every year. The locally known “buyog” (or bees) are the centerpiece of this feast and where the town’s name originated from.
SEPTEMBER
Sarakiki-Hadang Festival- September 1-8
Calbayog City
A festival showcasing a ritual dance inspired by the movement of the rooster.
Padul-ong- September 7
Borongan City, Eastern Samar
A mythical presentation of how the image of the Blessed Virgin was mysteriously transported to Borongan from Portugal.
Balangiga Incident- September 21
Balangiga, Eastern Samar
A commemorative event of the famous Philippine-American encounter in 1901.
OCTOBER
Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary- October 20
Abuyog, Dulag, Palo and Tolosa, Leyte
Commeorates the landing in Leyte of the Allied forces of Liberation.
DECEMBER
Alikaraw Festival- December 31
Hilongos, Leyte
Alikaraw a festival where the people of Hilongos thank God through dances, songs and prayers for a bountiful year ahead.
Reference:
Facts from 8 Magazine
AIRRA MAE ASTILLA DACUT
LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY ABCOM INTERN
