Planning a trip? Those who love to travel know the essence of all travel is about you and your enjoyment. Travelers know that the destination is a major part in planning a trip, experiencing and delving deeper into an unfamiliar places, people and culture is paramount.
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Traditionally, all the different folk festivals in Pampanga came from a culture that was born out of prosperity and abundance. In fact, the Philippine’s Central Luzon region used to be rich in natural resources suitable for all types of livelihood, from fishing to hunting and especially farming.
Owing to the economic hardships, not all the folk festivals in Pampanga are still widely observed. The remaining traditional celebrations are related to the observance of Catholic religious practices. Fewer folks engaged in merry-making activities for reasons of bountiful harvests and prosperity. In fact, many find it ironic that the most festive and largest crowd drawers are the Holy Week reenactments of Jesus Christ’s passion and sufferings.
The wealthy “hermano or hermana mayores” who used to sponsor the traditional festivities for bountiful harvests have since migrated to the U.S. or have relocated to Metro Manila. Nevertheless, traditional festivals held in the province of Pampanga during the holidays are still spectacular and exceptional, as well as worth the trip, in case one gets the chance to experience them.
Pampanga has few, but very prominent festivals, they are:
The El Circulo Fernandino is the annual reception and ball of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga to open the fiesta celebrations culminating on May 30. It is one of the most prestigious social events in Pampanga where, as in the olden days, women would flaunt their best jewelry, gowns and ternos, and men would elegantly dress in their best pina barongs, and dance the night away. El Circulo Fernandino is the oldest surviving social club in Pampanga. Formed sometime 1920, it was an organization for the social elite of San Fernando. Its precursor was the La Gente Alegre de San Fernando (The Merry Folks).
The Giant Lantern Festival is an annual festival held in December (Saturday before Christmas Eve) in the City of San Fernando in the Philippines. The festival features a competition of giant lanterns. Because of the popularity of the festival, the city has been nicknamed the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines”.
The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is an annual event that occurs between January and February at the Omni Aviation Complex in Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga. It features multicolored hot air balloons with more than a hundred balloon pilots from around the world. This three to four day hot air balloon event is the biggest aviation sports event in the Philippines.
As part of its aim to preserve the Kapampangan culture, the City of San Fernando, Pampanga organizes the Piestang Tugak to promote the various frog traditions of the province. Events include the paduasan – a frog catching competition using traditional methods, various culinary events featuring Pampanga’s unique frog cuisine such as betute or stuffed frog, and the frog olympics – fun games for young people. The festival was conceptualized in 2003 by three Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awardees namely Ivan Anthony Henares (City Tourism Officer, City of San Fernando), Rolan Quiambao (CSFP Arts and Culture Council Chairman), and Robbie Tantingco (Director, Center for Kapampangan Studies) and has been successfully held annually ever since.
A re-enactment Christs’s passion and death is done every year during the lenten season at Cutud, San Pedro, San Fernando, Pampanga. The re-enactment is complete with the passion play and culminates with the actual nailing of at least three flagellants on wooden crosses a top a makeshift calvary.
The Sinukwan Festival relives the Kapampangan spirit with a week-long calendar of cultural revivals capped by a grand street-dance parade in the streets of San Fernando, with towns outdoing each other to the tune of “Atin Cu Pung Singsing.” Organized annually by the Save Pampanga Movement, the festival memorializes Aring Sinukwan, god of the ancient Kapampangans.
A moro-moro feature of the Santacruzan that occurs at certain places. During the procession, the Goydo, said to be non-christian knight errand, confronts St, Helen and her handmaiden and tries to stop her search for the cross. After armed skirmies between the two groups and a series of drmatic dialogues in vernacular jousts, the Goydo and his men are converted into Christian faith.
The people of the entire Pampanga province celebrate its foundation day with various programs and festivities such as cultural shows, trade exhibits and other socio-economic projects.
Celebrated every June 27-29 of every year, the feast of St. Peter and Paul is observed with a fluvial parade with gaily decorated motorboats and colorful bancas roving up and down the Pampanga River. The 3-day celebration honoring Apung Iru starts on June 27 and culminates on June 29 when the image is brought back to its shrine at Capalanagan.
Pampanga – Culinary Center of the Philippines
Interesting Tourist Spots and Events in Pampanga
Colorful Festivals in Pampanga
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