Below is the list of Philippine Calendar of Festivities for the month of November 2011. You might want to join the local celebration while on 3 day holiday. So, if you're planning to have a short beak this month, you have a lot of choices from November 1 to 30. Lets go!
Source: Department of Tourism
BANAAG FESTIVAL | Anilao, Iloilo | November 1
This “dance of lights” is the first of its kind in the region. Banaag is a celebration life and spirit; beauty and artistry using fire in tribal performances that mesmerize and enchant spectators. A dance-drama competition using light and all its forms as a medium .
BELEN SA MAKATI | Makati City | November 1- December 16
Façade of buildings along the City business district particularly Ayala and Buendia Avenue are decorated by crėches and complemented by locally made lanterns in celebration of Christmas on the birth of Jesus Christ.
PASKUHAN | Luneta Park & Surigao City | November 1- December 24
A month long Christmas bazaar display and activities which include: Light –up a tree, lanterns/Christmas tree making contest. Lantern parade, display of all winning entries of Lanterns and Chirstmas trees and Rondalla contest. Painit sa Pasko is also held during the Misa de Galleon on the 16th to 24th of dec. Mass goers converge at the park to buy and eat Surigaonon delicacies.
SAN CARLOS CITY FIESTA | San Carlos City, Negros Occidental | November 4
A three-day religious festivity honoring the patron saint, San Carlos Borromeo, featuring Pintaflores Festival, fluvial parade, processions, sports exhibitions, body painting contest and concerts.
NEGROS DAY / EL CINCO DE NOVIEMBRE / KANSILAY FESTIVAL | Negros Occidental | November 5
A historical festival that commemorates the victory of the Negrenses’ bloodless revolt against the Spaniards in 1898 popularly known as Al Cinco de Noviembre or Negros Day
PINTAFLORES FESTIVAl | San Carlos City, Negros Occidental | November 5
The emerging festival of San Carlos City, highlighs the traditional fiesta celebration in honor of its patron Saint San Carlos Borromeo on the first week of November. It features street dancing by "tribes" dressed in colorful ethnic-inspired costumes, their bodies painted with flower designs reminiscent of the tattoed Visayans of the Pre Spanish Negros
ANGONO ARTS FESTIVAl | Angono, Rizal | November 5- November 25
The festival aims at creating awareness and appreciation of Philippine Art and Culture; and promoting arts and culture as vital attraction for local and foreign tourists. Rizal has the potential of becoming a tourist destination particularly in the field of arts and crafts. It is known as the home of various national artists, musicians, and other equally creative artists.
SANDUROT FESTIVAL | Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental | November 9-15
Is a joyful celebration of the people of Dumaguete, their innate hospitality, friendliness, and their propensity to live harmoniously with people of different race, religion, and cultural beliefs. Through the course of history and to the present time, the people of Dumaguete have always been known to welcome strangers from different shores and countries, and to live with them in complete peace and understanding.
HELOBONG FESTIVAL (T’BOLI) | Lake Sebu, South Cotabato | November 9-15
One of the prettiest places in the Philippines becomes even more attractive this month, as its native residents celebrate a week-long cultural fiesta.See the T''Boli culture in its colorful best through the natives'' traditional songs, dances and crafts.
VISAYAS-MINDANAO DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS | Mindanao Area / Cagayan de Oro City | November 9-15
Drum and bugle competition from different schools / civic organizations from the Visayas and Mindanao.
TAW-ANAY GUGMA | Dumalag, Capiz | November 11
A cultural and fiesta celebration.
MARIKINA CHRISTMAS FESTIVAl | City Hall-Riverbanks Mall | November 15
One of the major events included in this years' Christmas Celebration.
LA UNION SURFING INVITATIONAL/SURFING FESTIVAl | Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union | November 17-19
An all Filipino managed surfing competition. A community based tourism activity where surfers from around the Philippines are invited to compete and have fun at one of the best surfing destinations in the country.
KAHILWAYAN FESTIVAL/CRY OF STA. BARBARA | Sta. Barbara, Iloilo | November 17
Anchored upon the Cry of Santa Barbara Celebration, Kahilwayan Festival is a cultural festival in a dance-drama form which is a reenactment of sort of the struggle for freedom by our very own local folks led by the heroic Gen. Martin G. Delgado. Aptly dubbed as Kahilwayan Festival, Kahilwayan being an Ilonggo/Hiligaynon word which means Freedom or Liberty, it highlights the quest of the Ilonggos to attain freedom through their fierce independent spirit.
URUKAY FESTIVAl | Anini-y, Antique | November 18- November 19
It is inspired by a local custom whereby a wedding feast is observed no matter how poor or humble the bride and groom are in this celebration, there is much fun and good nature teasing.
P’YAGSAWITAN FESTIVAl | Maragusan, Compostela Valley | November 18- November 25
The municipality of Maragusan, Compostela Valley celebrates its foundation day with a trip to the outdoors—quite literally—as its residents highlight their hometown’s ecotourism potential..
BAGUIO ARTS FESTIVAL | Baguio City | November 18
An exhibit of the different artworks and art pieces of the various Cordillera artists in different art media.
INILUSAN | Mambusao, Capiz | November 20- November 25
A cultural and fiesta celebration
LAPU-LAPU CITY FIESTA | Lapu-lapu City, Cebu | November 21- November 22
Join in colorful rites to honor the Virgin of the Rule, patron of Lapu-lapu City.
KALIMUDAN FESTIVAl | Isulan, Sultan Kudarat | November 21
It is another tribal fiesta down in Mindanao, with just about every major ethnic group joining in the fun. Cultural sharing is the theme here, its message clearly displayed in the timeless songs and dances of these native folks. One need not be a Manobo, Tiruray or T’boli to take part in the fun—all you need are the right clothes, the right moves, and a genuine desire to go totally tribal!
CORDILLERA FESTIVAL | Baguio City | November 22
A showcase of the various tribal dances, rituals and songs of the Cordilleras.
HIGANTES FESTIVAL | Angono, Rizal | November 22-23
Angono’s joyous fiesta in honor of San Clemente whose image, resplendent in papal investment, is borne by male devotees during a procession accompanied by parehadoras devotees dressed in colorful local costumes, wooden shoes and carrying boat paddles and higantes, giant paper mache effigies. The street event culminates in fluvial procession at the Laguna de Bay amidst revelry that continues until the image is brought back to its sanctuary.
BENGUET FOUNDATION DAy | Benguet | November 23
The Ethnic Igorots make their presence felt once again in Benguet as they hold a grand canao (the local word for “party”) at the Benguet provincial capital grounds. Ritual sacrifices are made, followed by a series of chants and prayers made in the native language. Tribal performances come next. No touristy stuff here, just a healthy dose of of traditional Cordillera culture.
KABKABAN FESTIVAL | Carcar, Cebu | November 23-29
The festival is not just a religious fanfare in honor of the town’s patroness, St. Catherine of Alexandria, but a cuLtural catalogue of the town’s historical periods and industry like shoemaking, as well as their arts that is showcased through street dancing and parade .
BAGUIO TOSSED SALAD FESTIVAL | Baguio City | November 26-28
A record breaking attempt to showcase the heaviest tossed salad and served to the public
FEAST OF SANTA CATALINA | Mansalay, Mindoro, Oriental | November 26
Palarong Lahi, an array of games very native to Mindoreños and Filipino, joined in by all games enthusiasts.
PANANGEDAYEW | Dagupan City | November 27
Panangedayew, Pangasinan word meaning to uplift. Acitvites include garden show beside the Dagupan Astrodome, trade fair of Pangasinan’s pride like Bonuan bngus, bgoong, peanut brittle, quilted products housewares and locally made Christmas decors.
ANNUAL PINATUBO TREK | Brgy. Sta Juliana, Capas Tarlac | November 30
A annual event to commemorate the world-famous eruption of Mt. Pinatubo heralded the world over as the biggest and geologic uphearal of the20th century.
PANDAG-KITAB | Calapan City | November 14
Pandang-Gitab was coined from Pandanggo (Fandango) and Dagitab which is synonymous to “light”, adapting basic steps of Pandanggo sa Ilaw (Dance of Lights) which was told to have originated in Lubang, Mindoro Island. The style of Pandang-Gitab is the traditional “sway-and-balance”, with graceful shallow gyrating of hips and torso, complemented with a side-to-side gentle swing of hands, careful not to drop the candle-on-glass on both palms and on the head of the dancer. Props and other materials are being utilized for added attraction and modifications are allowed but must not affect the fundamental pattern of the dance (pandanggo) itself. The Pandang-Gitab Oriental Mindoro was launched as a street dancing competition and became a much applauded attraction as it was danced in Calapan City’s main avenue.
