Colorful Festivals in Zambales

COLORFUL FESTIVALS

Olongapo Grand Mardi Gras

Photo from: subicbaynews.blogspot.com

Olongapo Grand Mardi Gras celebrated every October 27 – 29 in Olongapo City (Central Business District). This is a festival featuring street-dancing along Magsaysay Ave. with acoustic bands and stand-up comedians playing to the merriment of residents. Highlight of the event is the Halloween parade participated in by SBMA officials and employees, locators and school students garbed in the scariest costumes on board Halloween-themed floats.

Paynauen ‘Duyan’ Festival

Phtoto from: iba-zambales.blogspot.com

Paynauen ‘Duyan’ Festival is held every April 25 – May 1 in Iba, Zambales. It commemorates the provincial capital’s founding anniversary (founded in 1611) traces its origin from a Zambal word which means rest or pahingahan – the ancient name of Iba before the Spanish conquistadores founded the village on the shore of the Bancal River in 1611. The festival features photo competition and exhibit, sand sculpture competition, skate boarding, 2-cock derby, carabao race, beauty pageant, kite flying, banca race, boxing tournament, street dancing / Duyan Parade, among other activities.

Sibit-Sibit Summer Festival

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Sibit-Sibit Summer Festival is held every 4th Week of April in Olongapo City (Brgy. Barreto). The name Sibit-Sibit was derived from the name of small paddle-driven bancas used for fishing during the early days when Brgy. Barreto was yet called Sitio Maquinaya. During fiestas, fisherfolk hold banca race using pure human strength to win the competition. Today, the festival competition includes motorized banca race and sail boat competition to add fun and excitement to the activity. In the summer of 1996, the idea came to mind when a barangay kagawad set sail to stage the 1st Sibit-Sibit Festival at Driftwood Beach. It was held yearly but later was shelved for various reasons. The event was revived by the city Government in 2006.

This 3-day event is an annual city affair that aims to reminisce the glorious saga of Olongapo as an ancient fishing village while at the same time promoting a friendly tourism alternative. The name Sibit Sibit is derived from an ancient term called “small paddle banca” used for fishing, as the city was born from being one of the ancient fishing villages of the country. Highlights of the event are: banca races, fluvial parade and sail show, beach volleyball, bangkang buhangin sculpting competition, bingo bonanza, summer dance craze, among others.

Subic Karakoa Festival

Subic Karakoa Festival Date TBA Venue Subic Bay Freeport, Zambales Description In honor of the warship Karakoa, a warship built by the Pintados tribe, SBMA sets the stage for a unique festival filled with colorful floats, parade and motorcade called Subic Karakoa Festival. It is meant to complement the annual Philippine Motorsports Festival and the Karakoa Food Festival.

Zambales Mango Festival Date Month of April Venue Iba, Zambales Description The event is a celebration of a bountiful harvest of mangoes and other agricultural products which the province is so known for. It is aimed to highlight the must-see attractions and places of interest in all its towns. Among the activities during the event include Hataw Saya Street Dancing Competition, trade fair and exhibit, Lakbay Zamables Cycling Competition, PINAKA Product Display, Mango Fruit Stand Competition, Agri-Karera ng Kalabaw, Huli Mo, Biik Mo, Alaga ko si Bantay Competition, Sand Sculpting Competition, Mango Mixing Bar-tending Competition, Mango Ultimate Dance Showdown, Mango Jam and Pie Making and much more.

Caracol Boat

Caracol Boat is held during the second Sunday of May of every year. It coincides with the barangay fiesta of Calapandayan, Subic. An image of the town patron, San Roque, is paraded at sea on a basing or big boat with a band.

Binabayani

Photo from: zambalesict.blogspot.com

Binabayani, a festival held every November 30th. The Zambales version of the world-famous Ati-Atihan. It is a war dance between the Christians and Aetas that is performed on the feast day of San Andres, patron of the town of Masinloc. The townspeople believe that, by performing the Binabayani, they are assured of a bountiful harvest.

Feast of Ina Poon Bato in Botolan

Photo from: flickr.com

Jan 23 -24 is the Feast of Ina Poon Bato in Botolan. This is one of the biggest Religious Festivals in Zambales, attracting over 300,000 devotees every year.

Dinamulag Mango Festival

Photo from: http://www.pranxer.com/Event/Details/18

In April, the Mango Festival is held in Iba, Zambales. You will witness a spectacular display of Local Foods and specializes based around the “Zambales Mangos” which are rated in the Guinness Book of Records as “The sweetest Mangos in the World”. There is also “Street Dancing” and many competitions such as “Sand Castling” also large and comprehensive agricultural displays.

Domorokdok Festival

Photo from: govisitzambales.com

May 3 & 4 Domorokdok Festival in Botolan This Festival is fast becoming one of the most popular in Zambales, also incorporating “Miss Botolan” and “Miss Botolan Tourism” beauty quests, this is a 2 day spectacular of Street Dancing, Bands, Beauty contests all culminating in the competition of the “Best and most colorful Street Dancing group” in the Municipality.

Sources: visitmyphilippines.com, zambalesresorts.com, flyphilippines.biz

Zambales is Found in Region III in Central Luzon

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The Sweet Mango Province of Zambales

Interesting Places in Zambales

Colorful Festivals in Zambales

Fun Things To Do In Zambales