List of Bohol festivals

Locator map of Bohol

• Sandugo Festival (July 1-31)

Main article: Bohol Sandugo Festival

This annual festival of the province commemorates the sandugo or blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel López de Legazpi. The highlights of the festival are agro-industrial fair, cultural and historical showcase, sports events, a beauty pageant, balls and dances, entertainment shows, and streetdancing which culminates with the re-enactment of the blood compact or Sandugo between Datu Sikatuna and Don Miguel López de Legazpi.

• Tagbilaran City Fiesta (May 1).

The feast of Saint Joseph, patron saint of Tagbilaran City, starts the month-long fiestas in Bohol. It is one of the most exciting and fun-filled occasions of the year. During the novena, or nine days before the day itself, nightly entertaining activities are held, such as the "Mutya sa Tagbilaran" beauty pageant, literary musical shows, concerts, dramas and stage plays, and many more.

• Agbunan Festival (June 28)

The culture and traditions of the people of San Isidro are displayed. The festival is a great means for the promotion of tourism, of ecological and agricultural pursuits, the enhancement of folk beliefs and of the natural environment. The festival comprises a street-dancing and a showdown. Showcases of organic farm products from the different barangays of the town are also displayed.

• Bolibongkingking Festival (May 23-24).

This is a music and dance festivity depicting the history, folklore, and traditions of the Loboc, Bohol. Bolibong Kingking is a term applied to the drums and gongs and their rhythm used to accompany the supplication dance ritual in front of the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the 2nd Patron of Loboc, Bohol.

• Hudyaka sa Panglao (August 28)

The Hudyaka sa Panglao takes place on August 28th every year in the grounds of its parish church. The ten barangays of the municipality compete fiercely with each other to see which is the best of the best. Its own dance festival brings back ex-Panglao residents from all over the world, and instead of making a day of it, the music and dance lovers of Panglao try and make a whole week of it…and more. Actually, they take nine days and the whole town has a festive atmosphere with parties all over the place.

• Katigbawan Festival (June 17-24)

What distinguishes Catigbian from other towns is its annual festival, the Katigbawan. A week-long festival comprising various activities like carabao-racing, hog-catching, agrofair, motorcross and a search for Miss Katigbawan. This affair happens only in June.

• Pana-ad sa Loboc (Holy Thursday & Good Friday).

In observance of the Semana Santa or Holy Week, the Lobocanons read the "Pasyon" and do a penitential procession through the way of the cross that culminates at "Cruz Daku," a huge cross 80 feet in height which is on top of the highest hill of Loboc where one can view the neighboring towns, including Tagbilaran City.

• Pandayan Festival (February 27)

The Pandayan Festival is held at Barangay Lonoy, Jagna to celebrate the canonical erection or the parochial anniversary of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. All eight upland barangays of Jagna which is under the parochial jurisdiction of the Parish participates in the activities. Activities include a nine-day novena in honor of the patron saint, a procession of the image of St. Joseph the Worker, Carpentry and Handicrafts Fair, an inter - barangay basketball tournament and last but not least, the street dancing competition.

• Sambat Mascara y Regatta Festival (1st Saturday of December)

The festival is celebrated in honor of Loay town's second patron, St. Francis Xavier. Colorful activities are lined up, like the agro-industrial fair, group masked street dancing, drum and bugle competition, boat racing along the river, and many more. The event is highlighted by a fluvial parade of the image along the river.

• Kasadyaan sa Napo (Napo, Loon, Bohol; First Sunday of February)

Started almost 20 years ago as a way of veneration of and thanksgiving to the Holy Child, this festival is a prelude to the May 25 fiesta of the barangay. The main feature of Kasadyaan is a street dancing competition participated in by its five traditional household clusters, namely, Inang-angan, Kabaybayunan, Tulay, Wawog and Tubig-Loon. In recent years, the participants have been grouped by “purok”. After the street dancing, the participants perform a tableau, which is also part of the competition. A “sinulog” to the Santo Niño culminates the celebration.

• SidlaKasilak or Festival of Lights (Loon, Bohol; August 30 - September 8)

This annual festival of lights honors the "Birhen sa Kasilak" (Our Lady of Light), patroness of Loon. It also expresses the enduring qualities of the town. The Visayan words "sidlak" (rise) and "silak" (shine) best describe the character of Loonanons as they conquer life’s adversities and make the best out of their inherent talents and capabilities. The various sectors of the community mount sociocultural activities during the ten-day celebration which was started in 2000. Highlighting the festival is a fluvial procession followed by street dancing and dance of lights competitions. Other contests, all requiring the use of light, are also mounted. SidlaKasilak was inspired by past religious processions in Loon when the faithful would light candles in colorful hand-held lanterns or “parow”, the local version of the “parol”. In fact, during the first few years of the festival, the dancers brought traditional lanterns wrapped in Japanese paper. Candles, however, are no match to the wind made even stronger with every sway of the hands that held the lanterns. The Japanese paper, too, could not withstand too much heat nor could it resist the rain. Thus candles were later replaced with permanent yet adjustable lights like flashlights, magic sticks, light-emitting diodes and others. Glazed paper, plastic wrap and cloth have been used instead of Japanese paper. The distinctive nature of SidlaKasilak is manifested in its being the only evening street dancing event in Bohol. In addition, it does not require lavish costumes and props that onlookers do not appreciate in the dark. In fact, participating schools are required to use only their respective student uniforms. Community-based delegations choose their own attire. The contest criteria revolve solely on the lights and have remained the same for many years, to wit: lights design, color harmony and brightness (20%); choreography or movement and formation of lights (40%); and dynamics or manipulation and synchronization of the lights with the music (40%).

• Sinugboan Festival (May 27)

Sinugboan Festival is celebrated every 27th day of May in the Municipality of Garcia Hernandez. "Sinugboan" is a term closely related to the Cebuano word 'sugbo' meaning to wallow. The use of the vernacular past tense "sinugbo" denotes an event of historical import. The festival highlights the town's annual commemoration of her foundation day. Activities include agro-industrial fair, recognition program for achievers, various games and street dancing competition where the storyline focuses on the creation and establishment of Garcia-Hernandez.

• Sinu-og Estokada Festival (September 21)

The Sinu-og Estokada Festival is celebrated at the town of Jagna in honor of their patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel where two groups, one coming from barangay Mayana and the other from Cabungaan, perform a native war dance during the vesper procession and also during the morning fluvial procession on the feast day itself which falls on September 29. This distinct cultural tradition has been observed for more than a century and shows the rich cultural heritage of the town. The native war dance is performed with the accompaniment of a drum depicting the battle between the early Jagnaanon Christians and the invading Muslims from Mindanao. The male dancers representing the Jagnaanons recite verses while mimicking the fight with bolos during the dance.

The Sinu-og Estokada is a modification of the above sinu-og celebration. Here, the native war dance is portrayed as a fight between good and evil where the basic sequence of movements are modified conforming to a rhythm in marching and regular procedure. This festival is joined by the young adolescents of the town.

It is believed that Saint Michael the Archangel rescued the people from the hands of the invaders at that time and this belief has been handed down to the present generation of Jagnaanons. Thus, Saint Michael the Archangel is much loved and revered by all Jagnaanons and the feast day is celebrated with much fanfare.

• Suroy sa Musikero (December 25 - February 2).

This is when the town musicians of Loboc cover daily the assigned areas to partake of the food served by the host and to play music to the tune of Kuradang, Dalaga sa Baybayon, and others. This is also the period when carolers render Christmas songs to the families of the host area.

• Bohol Fiestas (month of May).

A hallmark of Bohol, this is when a fiesta is celebrated by a town or a barrio each day for the whole month of May in honor of its patron saint. Fiestas are characterized by plenty of food and merriment. This is also the time for family reunions when family members from places far and near gather to keep in touch with loved ones.

Traditionally, a novena is made each day for 9 days before the fiesta, and nightly activities or presentations are usually done. During the vesperas or vesper day, the day before the fiesta, a procession is made. A misa pontifica or pontifical mass is done at church during the day itself, followed by sumptous meals at each home.

• Ubi Festival (January).

For almost half a millennium, the ubi tuber has been venerated by the Boholanos. To this day, the respect for the plant is still stronger than ever. The festival institutionalizes the ubi crop as the agro-historical geographical-religious symbol of Bohol, giving the ubi the recognition it rightfully deserves in the market. The festival features an exhibit, ubi contest, an agri-business investment opportunities seminar, and a cultural show.

• Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan or TBTK - This summons all Boholanos from all over the world to gather and the name for such a grand event. This gathering of Boholanos from all over the world coincides with the Sandugo Celebration in July.

References

• Bohol Island Festivals