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 of planning a trip, experiencing and delving deeper into unfamiliar places, people and culture are paramount.
Expand your horizons and set your sight to the Philippines, an off the beaten path travel site! An undiscovered paradise made of thousands of islands and white sand beaches all around! A tiny dot in the map of the world, and yet a haven for travelers, backpackers, retirees and even passersby.
It offers awesome tourist attractions, magnificent beaches, hot spring resorts, colorful festivals, hundreds of scenic spots and world-class hotels and facilities. Not to mention the tropical climate, the affordable prices as well as the friendly and hospitable, English-speaking people! You will be glad you came, and we’re sure, you WILL come back for more FUN in the Philippines!
FESTIVALS IN ILOILO
Iloilo is a province of festivals, widely known in the Philippines and internationally for the Dinagyang Festival. Ilonggos are fond of hosting festivals and fiestas. In testimony if this is that fact that nearly all places in Iloilo hold a big town-wide celebration every year. It could be in the form of a cultural festival, a religious fiesta that honors a patron saint, or the town or city’s founding day. Read More http://www.exploreiloilo.com/guide/iloilo-festivals-events/
Photo from: https://ibpofficial.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/iloilos-summer-festivals/
Iloilo has its own beautiful traditional Lenten celebration. Throughout Lenten season, many towns have precious and moving traditions played out every year during Holy Week or Semana Santa, part of a tradition celebrated throughout the country.
Many towns spend all year planning for the spectacle and is home to some of the biggest Lenten traditions. For visitors and tourists here in time for the Lenten spectacle, towns offer plenty of other things to do.
Visita Iglesia is a Lenten base for exploring Iloilo. It is a popular activity among families and friends where they go from one church to the other pausing at each station for quiet meditation and prayer.
Theatrical dramatization of the Passion of Christ brings to life the death of our Lord. Annually celebrated in the town of Barotac Viejo the Taltal is this town’s way of maintaining devotion and traditions today. Read More: http://www.iloilo.gov.ph/tourism/category/festivals/
Photo from: http://www.iloilo.net.ph/events/taltal-festival-jordan-guimaras/
Every Good Friday pilgrims troop to the town to climb the peak of Balaan Bukid following the 14 Stations of the Cross. After the Balaan Bukid trek, pilgrims and tourists then proceed to the town of Jordan to witness the Ang Pagtaltal sa Guimaras.Ang Pagtaltal sa Guimaras is a lenten presentation on the hillside of Jordan. The play is patterned after the famous Oberrammergau Passion Play in West Germany. The play shows the story of Christ’s Passion, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Death of Christ on the Cross with the locals as actors. The increasing number of spectators and devotees yearly shows as proof that Pagtaltal is already gaining its popularity. If you are one of them, make sure to protect yourselves from the scorching summer heat by bringing enough water and food along with you. Read More: http://www.iloilo.net.ph/events/taltal-festival-jordan-guimaras/
Photo from: http://mapio.net/s/75471408/
Tultugan is an indigenous Ilonggo bamboo drum used centuries ago by the natives of Panay to communicate with each other. The drum was used by the natives to send messages of distress to the community by making fast beats. Upon hearing, the beats neighbors will then follow the pattern. The transference of beats is crucial to the evoking the immediate action of everyone in the community.
Tultugan Festival held in Maasin every December 26th is the main tourist attraction of the municipality. It gives tribute to Panay’s rich culture. The festival features a competition between tribes wearing costumes with bamboo as dominant material and dancing to the beat of bamboo musical instruments. Also in the festival is the Gwapo-Gwapa Carabao, a contest of carabaos dressed in fancy costumes. Read More: http://www.localphilippines.com/events/tultugan-festival
