Colorful Festivals in Northern Samar

FESTIVALS IN NORTHERN SAMAR

Celebration of life and all the blessings received are the central themes of Samar festivals and for those who like watching Filipino merrymaking, nothing compares to how the inhabitants of this region celebrate. It is said that the best of all the Samar festivals are held mid year, in between the start of the summer in March until the rainy season August. Read More: https://www.philippinesinsider.com/visayas/samar/samar-festivals-and-events/

Embajada Festival

Photo from: https://wondersofnorthernsamar.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/festivals/

The Embajada Festival is celebrated every second week of January in Catarman and Catubic, Northern Samar. The festival remembers the conflict between Christians and Muslims that was brought about by the Spanish occupation. The celebration is highlighted with a fluvial procession.

Bankaton Festival

Photo from: http://philippinestravelsite.com/august-festivals-philippines/

If there’s something to look forward to in Lavezares, Northern Samar this month of August aside from its beautiful beaches and islets, that would be the Bankaton Festival. The Bankaton Festival is usually celebrated every August 20.

Just like the Paraw Regatta Festival in Iloilo which has a sailboat race as its main event, the Bankaton Festival of Northern Samar is a boat-racing contest. “Bankaton” was derived from “bangka” which is the Filipino word for “boat.” These small boats are used by local fishermen in fishing as their main source of livelihood. Be amazed that during the festival, it transforms into colorful boats and are all geared up by competitive fishermen that join the racing event.

The annual Bankaton Festival is a thanksgiving celebration in honor of the town’s patroness, Nueva Señora de Salvacion. Read More: http://www.choosephilippines.com/do/festivals/4491/bankaton-festival-bancas

Manoglaya Festival

Photo from: https://mapio.net/pic/p-3135065/

The Manoglaya Festival is a cultural-tourism festival held in the town of San Antonio on Dalupiri Island from the 9th to the 12th of June annually, celebrating the fishing skills of the townfolks.

The festival composed of cultural performances, street dance, beauty search and exhibit complemented with “sugod-sugod sa plaza”, a nightly entertainment of music and other performances from leading local performers in the community.

Because of Dalupiri Island’s pristine white sand beach, in May 2007, San Antonio, together with the island towns of Biri, Capul, and San Vicente, were declared as eco-tourism zones. With its coral reefs, Dalupiri island is ideal for scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, yachting, jet skiing, para-sailing and marine life observation. Read More: http://greedypeg.org/northern-samar/Manoglaya-Festival-on-Dalupiri-Island.html

Parayan Festival

Photo from: http://estenews.org/n-samar-town-showcases-parayan-festival/

The Parayan Festival is a grand celebration of the Earth and one of its primary products – rice. This annual celebration is the town’s ultimate gesture of thanksgiving to the Almighty and will pay tribute to the role of the hardworking rice farmer in national economy.

“Parayan“, a Waraynon word which means plentiful rice harvest is depicted through a dance ritual in honor of the Patron Saint of the farmers, Señor San Isidro de Labrador. The dance moves to the sound of the drums and this resembles the fluid swaying of the rice stalks being directed by the wind blow. The rice stalks with its leaves and the grains of golden rice create a tingling sound when blown by the wind which in harmony with the tweeting of the birds, the leaping of the frogs and the sound of all other creatures come a magnificent chorus of a hundred ensembles. Read More: https://sanroquensamar.wordpress.com/parayan-festival/

Agta Festival

Photo from: https://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/photos/7544301/

Agta Festival of Bobon, Northern Samar, Philippines is an annual cultural and religious festival held usually on the second Sunday of January and is the center of the Santo Niño Catholic celebrations in the Philippines. Other places have their own version of the festival in honor of the Santo Niño. The Agta Festival contingents are dressed in bright coloured costumes dancing gracefully to the rhythm of drums and other musical instruments. Read More: https://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/photos/7544301/

Kinis Festival

Photo from: http://www.ethical-fashion.org/mud-crabs-one-of-popular-seafood-dishes/

The Municipality of Rosario prides itself on being home to the best, tastiest ‘kinis’, or mud crabs, in the Philippines. These ‘kinis’ are fattened and exported to Manila and beyond. I can personally attest to just how savory these creatures are.

As part of an effort to encourage tourism to the area, Rosario has endeavored to stage an annual ‘Kinis Festival’, as part of the founding anniversary of their municipality every June 21st. The focal point of this festival is to be the dance of the ‘kinis’. Read More: http://milesosky.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-kinis-festival.html

Northern Samar is in Region VIII

Mesmerizing Scenic Northern Samar

Where is Northern Samar and How to Get There

Best Places to Visit in Northern Samar

Colorful Festivals in Northern Samar

Fun Activities in Northern Samar

Northern Samar Photo Gallery

Northern Samar Video Collections