Special Events in Tarlac

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.

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!

SPECIAL EVENTS

All year through, many special events are happening in Tarlac, like:

Belenisimo Festival

Photo from: philstar.com

Tarlac, known as the “Belen Capital of the Philippines” holds the annual “Belenismo sa Tarlac”. It is a belen making contest which is participated by establishments and residents in Tarlac. Giant versions of the belen with different themes are displayed in front of the establishments and roads of Tarlac for the rest of the Christmas season. – flickr.com

Malatarlak Festival

Photo from: philja.com

The Malatarlak Festival takes its name from the a variety of grass that is native to the Luzon area. The plant is celebrated with sumptuous pageantry that’s characterized by schoolchildren dressed in grass-inspired costumes, who dance to the beat of traditional music. The Rice Cake Festival falls on the same day. Tarlac City’s annual Malatarlak Festival takes over the city during this fun and lively celebration that has a packed program of events and activities for visitors of all ages.

The week-long event begins with an opening ceremony, trade fair, food and drink stalls and live musical and dance entertainment. Additional events include numerous sport competitions, cooking demonstrations, markets, dance competitions and other live entertainment shows. The final day is concluded with a grand procession and a fireworks display.January 13 – 20, 2012 – kadmusarts.com

Aeta Forest Food Festival

Photo from: traveling-up.com

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself again in a community in Capas, Tarlac to witness an Aeta Youth Festival. Last year, I went there for the First Aeta Forest Food Festival, an event which highlighted the traditional food.

This time, the event dubbed “Pamilalamu” (the Aeta word for “pakikisama” or solidarity), organized by Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran ng mga Ayta, Inc. (KAKAI), focused on celebrating the culture of the Aetas and empowering the youth. The festival aimed to remind the younger generation of Aetas about their cultural practices and traditions, including rituals, crafts, songs, dances and folk games

The festival was held in Sitio Alunan, a community in the middle of the mountains of Capas, Tarlac. To get there, a handful of photographers and volunteers traveled by bus from Manila to Tarlac, transferred to a tricycle, then hitched on the back of a trailer pulled by a 4×4 jeep up to the mountains. traveling-up.com