Festivals

A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is enshrined in Pakil in Laguna and every year between the Friday before Palm Sunday and Pentecost Sunday, the women of Pakil carry the image into the city and commemorate the ‘Seven Sorrows of Our Lady’ by performing seven ‘Turumbas,’ which are wild dances performed in homage to her.

This week-long celebration is one of the few ethnic cultural festivals in the country. Held in Malaybalay, it commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of Bukidnon as a province and honors the culture of the tribal groups in the region. Traditional tribal costumes are worn and the people perform their native dances in the streets.

This week-long festival takes place throughout Holy Week on the island of Marinduque. Locals dress in colorful Roman armor and costumes and parade in the streets. Stories are reenacted and on Good Friday, the men march through the streets, whipping themselves to reflect the suffering of Christ in order to absolve themselves of sins.

This traditional religious ritual takes place annually on Good Friday. In a rice field outside the city of San Fernando, repentant sinners are tied and nailed to a cross with stainless steel, disinfected nails, in a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ. Penitents take part in order to cleanse themselves of their sins.