Metro Manila readies 1st quarter festivities

MANILA, Philippines –  The festival line-up for the first quarter of 2011 for Metro Manila’s 16 cities and lone municipality will showcase Filipino culture and tradition to promote Metro Manila as a prime destination. Manilans annually begin the New Year festivities with the Feast of the Black Nazarene today.

The Feast of the Sto. Niño festivals take centerstage on the third Sundays of January. The 399th celebration of the Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish has the Buling-Buling Festival, held every third Saturday, a day before the feastday. Likewise on the third Sunday are the celebrations of the Lakbayaw Festival in Tondo, Manila, the Pajotan de Sto. Niño in Maypajo, Caloocan City, and the Bambino Festival in Pasig City. The exhibition of more than a hundred images of the Sto. Niño commences on the third week until the end of January at the PNB Building highlighted by the grand procession.

On the second week of January, Navotas commemorates its founding with the Pangisdaan Festival. Makati pays homage to Mother Nature through the Caracol Festival on the third Sunday of January.

February is Philippine International Arts Festival “Ani ng Sining.” spearheaded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. It consists of lectures, exhibits, film showings, and writing workshops, among others.

Pasay City honors the feast of Sta. Clara with the fertility rites at the Parish Church plus the Serenata and Tiburin Race. These cultural activities coincide with the 18th Travel Tour Expo on February 18-20 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.

Mandaluyong City marks its Liberation Day and Cityhood on Feb. 9. The 35th International Bamboo Organ Festival is staged at the St. Joseph Parish in Las Piñas City throughout the third week. Summer comes early for the residents and visitors of Pasig City with its Summer Music Festival at the city museum complex. Meanwhile, the town of Pateros commemorates the feast of its patron, St. Martha, with the Pagoda sa Daan and Pandangguhan Festival.

Details on Philippine festivals can be accessed through www.tourism.gov.ph.