The Filipino in Different Faces

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2011-10-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

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Philippine Events and Festivals

2011-09-20T03:11:00.000-07:00

JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

2011-09-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

Paraw Regatta of Iloilo City and Guimaras
February

The Paraw regatta is a race among seafarers on colorful sailboats called Paraws in the straits between Guimaras Island and the city of Iloilo. The present-day paraw managed to maintain its original design from the sailboats of the first settlers from Borneo who were in search of a peaceful home in 1212 A.D. Surviving the centuries, the paraws have become a vital part of the Filipino seafaring life.

The first race started in 1973 with the mission to preserve the historic value of the paraws. It is held every 3rd weekend of February at Tatoy’s Manokan, Sto. Nino Sur, Villa, Iloilo City. Today, the event has grown from being a boat race to a festival with various interesting and exotic activities.

And as Ilonggos take pride of their history and culture, so do the sailors and the boat makers who have inherited a legacy that became synonymous to the birth of a province and the Hiligaynon-speaking region of the country.

Come to Iloilo and marvel at the sight of colorful paraws!

Halaran festival

2011-09-09T16:18:00.000-07:00

Halaran Festival
Roxas City, December 4 to 8

The Sinadya sa Halaran Festival is celebrated the first week of every December in commemoration of the founding of the city followed by the Diwal Festival signifying the city's importance as the country's "Seafood Capital" along with the Aswang Festival that symbolizes the rich heritage of myth and folklore in the province. There used to be two separate and distinct festivals, the Halaran ("Offering") and the Sinadya ("Celebration"), the former is celebrated by the Province of Capiz and the latter by the City of Roxas. The Sinadya was formerly held at the same time as the Feast_of_the_Immaculate_Conception, which was celebrated by the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral. The Halaran was usually held by the last week of October each year (A prelude to All Souls Day and All Saints Day. However, because of the costs of holding two separate festivals year, the two festivals were merged, with both the Province of Capiz and the City of Roxas contributing to the expenses.

It is a mixed festival in that it is celebrated for both cultural and religious reasons. It is celebrated every first weekend of December in commemoration of the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate Concepcion who also happpens to be the patroness of the City of Roxas. Sinadya Halaran boasts of colorful activities like the grand parade of festivals, the fluvial parade, the lighted river floaters. There is also the traditional food festival and the grand pyrotechnic display.

Sinadya sa Halaran is one of Roxas City’s most important annual events and is fusion of two festivals – “Sinadya” (City) and “Halaran” (Province) which literally means joy in sharing and thanksgiving. It is celebrated on December 4-8 to commemorate the religious activities that embody the true Capiceño spirit. The highlights of the celebration are the Dancing Parade, ”Higantes”, Fluvial Parade, Fireworks display, Mutya sa Halaran beauty pageant, Coronation of the Fiesta Queen, and Agri-Aqua Trade Fair.

Araw ng Dabaw

2008-10-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

Araw ng Dabaw

Davao City, March 16

Araw ng Davao is a vibrant feast, which means celebrating oneness of our multi cultural city. Davao celebrates its birthday in a grand gala fashion befitting the largest city in Mindanao. The Araw ng Dabaw festivities come complete with a jam-packed, seven-day schedule of trade fairs and cultural presentations. There is also a colorful civic-military parade and a citywide beauty pageant, featuring the smartest, most charming ladies this side of the islands.

Highlights of the festival includes the "Parada" (socio-civic parade), "Bandahan sa Kadalanan" (band parade), "Piging sa Dan" (food street party), "Kasikas" (part extravaganzas), along with other spectacles along the major city streets, and the much-anticipated search for the "Mutya ng Dabaw", the city's Ambassador of Goodwill. Other events, such as "Huni" (pop music song writing competition), concerts, arts and culture presentations, various sports competitions are also held during the festival.

Kalilangan Festival

2008-10-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

Kalilangan Festival
General Santos City, February 27

Each year, General Santos City marks its foundation anniversary on February 27 with various activities culminating the weeklong celebration of Kalilangan Festival. The anniversary celebration commemorates the landing of the city's founder, General Paulino Santos, along with the first settlers from Luzon, at the shores of Sarangani Bay.

As the "Generals" (as General Santos City residents proudly call themselves) mark Gensan's 69th Foundation Anniversary on Wednesday, they are expected to flock the city's major thoroughfares to witness anew the Kadsagayan, one of the highlights of the colorful Kalilangan Festival.

Kalilangan is derived from the root word "kalilang" which typically means celebration or commemoration in the Maguindanaon dialect. In a broader perspective, Kalilang projects a positive and dynamic meaning for it engulfs the artistic, humane and altruistic aspects of social interaction that takes place in any occasion or celebration. Kalilangan means festival, festivity or jubilee. It is a social gathering marked by exchanging of amenities among traditional leaders, elders, allies and subordinates in varying tones.

It is also a pageantry of unique and colorful ethnic rites, rituals and traditions like marriage celebrations, religious ceremonies, anniversaries, funerals, enthronement of royal dignitaries, thanksgiving and other forms of social, political and economic activities.

It is not just an economic activity, but a continuous season of merriment, gaiety and merrymaking accentuated by sharing of gifts, traditional sports competition, dancing, singing and instrumental rendition and other forms of exhibition games, entertainment and amusement.

Kalilangan is a noble tradition. It is a complete work of art nourished and nurtured by rich cultural heritage that has withstand the test of time from generation to generation. General Santos is a part of this tradition. Let us enshrine the "Kalilangan sa Heneral Santos" in the golden pages of its history.

Tinalak Festival

2008-10-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Tinalak Festival
Koronadal City (Marbel), July 12-18

The Tinalak Festival, named after a woven cloth popularized by the province's T'boli tribe, is slated on July 12-18. This festival is celebrated during the foundation anniversary of South Cotabato. Most of the activities are done in the city of Koronadal, being the provincial center of administration.

A grand showcase of South Cotabato's cultural heritage and socio-economic successes will be held next week when the province celebrates its 38th foundation anniversary and 5th Tinalak Festival. South Cotabato Vice Gov. Eliordo Ogena said they have prepared a bigger and better celebration that would highlight the province's development as a thriving cultural and economic center in Southern and Central Mindanao.

"This is one of the best celebrations that we had and we would certainly invite everyone to come and celebrate with us and discover South Cotabato," he said in a press conference. The Tinalak Festival, named after a woven cloth popularized by the province's T'boli tribe, is slated on July 12-18. Among the highlights of the celebration is the Region-12 Agro-Industrial Trade, Technology and Eco-Tourism Expo or Lunay S'bung 2004, Madal Be'Lan and Kasadyahan sa Kapatagan, Mutya ng South Cotabato, Excellence Awards for Most Outstanding South Cotabateño, Mindanao Modern Dance National Invitational Challenge and the Bikini Open and Body Building Competition.

The Lunay S'bung 2004 would be the first ever for Central Mindanao or Soccsksargen Region. Central Mindanao is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and General Santos. Lunay S'bung is a T'boli term whose essence once described the gathering of ancestors in a place of abundant trees that provided a precious sap responsible for fueling light for the ancestors to use in their daily activities. In time, this place becomes a meeting ground for people to discuss different matters and to conduct various activities.

The exposé's highlights are the jobs fair, linesmen rodeo skills competition, travel mart, fruit and allied industries conference, technology and investment forum and exhibit and an agri-industrial, trade, technology fair and exhibit. Miniature tourist spots from the different provinces and cities in the region would be displayed at the Protech center to enable visitors to see the beautiful natural spots n Central Mindanao.

Danilo Supe, Tinalak Festival executive director, said the provincial government has allocated at least P3-million for the festival, down from its almost P4-million budget last year. "We are very optimistic that we could still provide a celebration that we can all remember despite a lesser budget," he said. He cited that for this year, the provincial government tapped various private entities to help fund some of the festival's activities.

Tuna Festival

2008-10-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

Tuna Festival
General Santos City, Sept.1-5

One of the more interesting fiestas in the Philippines is the Tuna Festival in General Santos City. Most probably, this celebration was inspired by the fact that this particular city is referred to as the country’s Tuna Capital. The city’s contribution to the overall revenues of the government deserves to be honored as it operates a prosperous tuna industry. The tuna trade is responsible for generating at least 100,000 employment opportunities, either direct or indirect for its local populace including the nearby vicinities.

A parade normally opens the festivity to begin this fiesta. The students in General Santos, from elementary to high school levels, energetically perform dancing to upbeat music. The floats displayed during the parade are giant replicas of tuna together with its fellow creatures from the sea. After enjoying the visual delights, you should then try to satisfy your taste buds with the various tuna delicacies prepared by the people there.

The Tuna Festival is something you would find pleasure participating as there are many activities designed to make sure that everyone has a memorable time. You can attend the parties, join in the contests and watch the free shows that the committee in charge of this fiesta has planned for its numerous visitors. Mindanao celebrates the king of all tinned creatures. There are contests for the best-dressed tuna, a parade of fishing floats and a sashimi night.

Fishing is the fastest growing industry in the city. It is in fact largely responsible for the economic boost enjoyed by the city today. Coming close to Navotas' daily fish landing volume, the city's fish port ranks first in terms of high value fish. The city proudly ships sashimi-grade tuna to Japan, Canada, United States, Hong Kong and leading hotels in Metro Manila.

It is also home to seven of the biggest tuna processing firms in the Philippines with a combined canning capacity of 570 metric tons a day. The city has now over 50 commercial fishing companies landing a collective volume of 8,000 metric tons of sashimi grade tuna per month. All these statistics and more add to the fore of the concept, that of building a trademark for General Santos City.

The Tuna Festival is not merely a spectacle but a venue to showcase the city's pride and meaning. In its entirety, it is a celebration of the ocean's bounty. Moreover, it is fortifying the tangible strength of the city, wherein collective spirit is the inspiration that underscores the leadership of the city's affairs. September 5, 1968 marks the inauguration of General Santos from a municipality into a city without changing its name.

December

2008-10-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

Giant Lantern Festival
Shariff Kabunsuan Festival
Halaran Festival

November

2008-10-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

Higantes Festival
Pintaflores Festival

October

2008-10-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

Hermosa Festival
Ibalong Festival
Lanzones Festival
Masskara Festival

September

2008-10-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

Bonok-Bonok Festival
Peñafrancia Festival
Tuna Festival

August

2008-10-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

Kadayawan Festival

July

2008-10-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

Kinabayo Festival
Sandugo Festival
Tinalak Festival

June

2008-10-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

Mudpack Festival
Parada ng Lechon Festival
Pintados Festival
Pinyahan Festival sa Daet

May

2008-10-21T17:43:00.002-07:00

Pahiyas Festival

March

2008-10-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

Kaamulan Festival
Araw ng Dabaw

February

2008-10-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

Panagbenga Festival
Kalilangan Festival
Paraw Regatta of Ilo-ilo and Guimaras

Lenten Season

2008-10-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

CUTUD LENTEN RITES
Moriones Festival

January

2008-10-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

Ati-Atihan Festival
Feast of the Black Nazarene
Dinagyang Festival
Sinulog Festival

Ibalong Festival

2008-10-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Ibalong Festival
Legazpi City, Albay
October 25-31

A celebration depicting Bicol's early beginnings as portrayed in the "Ibalong" epic that tells of super heroes Handiong, Batlog and Oryol and villains and wild animals that roamed in the ancient times. In music and dances, revelers parade on the main streets wearing masks of these heroes and villains. Festival activities include tours, trade fairs, exhibits and beauty pageants.

The Ibalong Festival will be celebrated on October 25-31 in Legazpi City, Albay --- the Bicol region's center of commerce, industry and tourism. The festival takes its inspiration from the 18th century epic about life in the Bicol peninsula long before the Spanish colonizers came to our shores.

Adapted from "Ibalong", the book on Bikol folk epic by Dr. Merito Espinas, the epic tells of the exploits of three mythical Aryan heroes --- Baltog, Handyong and Bantong --- who came to a rich land called Ibalon, fought several ferocious monsters and wild beasts, safeguarded the mountain crops, brought joy to the villagers and transformed the rich land into what is now the bustling civilization of Bicol. More than the festival events, the Ibalong is a celebration of the resiliency and indomitable spirit of Bicolanos amid daily challenges.

The street theater's theme is a recreation of the epic's important chapters including the arrival of the three mythical heroes, their conquests and the Ibalong folkways. Performers, mostly youth from the schools in the entire region and only from Legazpi City, will be clad in their indigenous, colorful abaca-inspired costumes and grotesque masks while doing choreographed dances along Legazpi City's main thoroughfares with the world's most perfect-cone shaped volcano, Mt. Mayon, as dramatic backdrop.

There were about twenty contingents from different schools in the Bicol region, which participated in last year's street presentations. Sorsogon's Donsol National High School was the champion for Best in Exhibition as well as in Costume and Props. Camarines Norte State College won for Best in Street Dancing. Albay's Matacon National High School got the Best in Music and Sound award.

Other events during the week-long Ibalong Festival include band concerts, street parties, smart nights, fireworks, an ecotrek, drag race, ballet workshops, art shows and exhibits, golf tournaments, midnight madness and mall wide sale among others. There will be food fests and cooking demos of Bikolano cuisine like the pinangat, Bikol express and their own version of dinuguan as well as the making of the delectable pili desserts.

Giant Lantern Festival

2008-10-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

Giant Lantern Festival
San Fernando, Pampanga, 3 December

San Fernando makes the biggest, most spectacular lanterns, at around 40 feet in diameter and bearing thousands of light bulbs a piece. Watch them all in their twinkling, blinking, flashing glory in this grand Christmas exhibit.

Most only see the finished product. The dynamic interplay of lights and color that precisely moves with the rhythm of a brass band, the magnitude of size and their intricate designs, and so much more which spectators only get to appreciate as the giant lanterns of San Fernando are pitted against each other on festival night. No one can dispute the fact that the Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando is the event that the province of Pampanga is most known for. And it is sad that we rarely acknowledge the tremendous preparation and investment the makers put in each of these giant lanterns. It is because of these giant lanterns and the San Fernando lantern-making industry that the City of San Fernando has been dubbed the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines."

The San Fernando lantern industry evolved from the Giant Lantern Festival of San Fernando. The festival, which is held every December, finds its roots in Bacolor where a much simpler activity was held. Following the transfer of the provincial capital from Bacolor to San Fernando in August of 1904, this parul event followed as well. "Ligligan Parul" was said to have started in San Fernando in the year 1904. But some say that the "Ligligan Parul" did not happen immediately after the transfer and in fact began in 1908.

This predecessor of the modern day Giant Lantern Festival was actually a religious activity which we know today as “lubenas.” The lanterns measured just two feet in diameter, a far cry from the fifteen feet that we see today. These were created in each barrio from bamboo and other locally available materials. During the nine-day novena before Christmas, which coincided with the simbang gabi from December 16 to 24, these paruls were brought around each barrio in procession to their visita. Before the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the lanterns were brought to the town church together with the barrio patrons.

This tradition gradually evolved as the lanterns became bigger and the designs more intricate. Later, one big lantern was made for each barrio, which was created through a cooperative effort. Each resident contributed to its construction, from the concept and design, to the materials and labor. In the end, these lanterns became a symbol of unity for the barrios.

Shariff Kabunsuan Festival

2008-10-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Shariff Kabunsuan Festival
Cotabato City, 15-19 December

Cotabato City's Moslem population celebrates the arrival of Islam to the region with a series of fun-filled activities. No need to go native to enjoy these - there's a fluvial parade, an outrigger boat race, as well as various musical and athletics events.

Shariff Kabunsuan Festival it is a colorful festival celebrating the arrival of Shariff Kabunsuan via Rio Grande de Mindanao more than 500 years ago to introduce Islam to the natives. The festival, which will be held from Dec. 15 to 19, will feature SK trade fairs, battle of the bands, Mindanao business forums, cultural presentations, street dancing competitions, and Kanduli (thanksgiving banquent). A celebration of Islam, the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival is a display of Muslim religion and culture. Cotabato City's Sharif Kabunsuan Festival is very popular among foreign and local tourists who visit their families and relatives during this holiday season.

Shariff Kabunsuan Festival is a very significant event in Cotabato City and people look forward to various activities lined-up for the week long festivity. Events include cultural presentations, Alimango Festival, Culinary Arts Competition featuring Muslim delicacies, cultural musical showdown, Kulintang Ensemble Competition, Philippine Legend Acrobatic Show, Inaul Fashion Show, and Photo Exhibit Contest. Water sports, boat racing, ethnic sports competition, cultural dances, and a week-long trade fair, add color to the Kabunsuan Festival.

Other highlights of the Kabunsuan Festival include fluvial parade along Rio Grande de Mindanao, the Kuyog Street Dancing Parade, the Guinakit and re-enactment of the arrival of Shariff Kabunsuan, Banca Race, Kuyog Showdown and Pagana sa Maguindanao. The highlight is the "Guinakit" which is the colorful fluvial parade of colorful decorated bancas along the Rio Grande de Mindanao.Capping the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival is the "Pagana Maguindanao,' a traditional way of dining among Maranaos and Maguindanaons in honor of special guests. This is a solemn gathering for the guest.

The visitors are served with traditional Muslim cuisine like tinadtag, plil, putrid mandi, sininang baka among others followed by a cultural presentation. Traditionally the guests sit barefooted on the floor during dinner. The lavish meal begins with a thanksgiving prayer. At the end of the meal, the host will give a token to the honored guests.

Cotabato City had witnessed more history than any other place in Mindanao. Its history dates back to the 16th century when Shariff Kabunsuan, an Arab missionary from Johore, landed along the banks of the Masla Pulangi now known as Rio Grande de Mindanao. Shariff Kabunsuan introduced Islam to the natives which lead to the establishment of the Sultanates of Maguindanao, Rajah Buayan and Kabuntalan.

During the golden age ushered in by Sultan Dipatuan Qudarat in the 17th century Cotabato became the first capital of Mindanao.The introduction of the Christian faith in 1870 by the Jesuits and the ruling of Sultan Makakua gave rise to the birth of the modern-day Cotabato with the construction of roads and bridges and wharves. Today, Cotabato City is the only Tagalog speaking city in Mindanao, the only place where both seeds of Islam and Christianity grew and flourished. Some the city's historical sites are the Takumi Butai Shrine, Kutwato Cave, Shariff Kabunsuan marker, Old Capitol Building at PC Hill, City Hall, and Immaculate Conception Church at Tamontaka, Rio Grande de Mindanao, Maguindanao Motif, PC Hill and Timako Hill.

The Kutawato Caves is a network of caves and tunnels found at the foot of Tantawan. These caves are located right in the heart of the city with four major entrances offering various natural attractions like rock formations, salt water ponds, and underground river. The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Tamantoka is historically linked to the Jesuits in 1871 during the conversion days. The Church is a living witness to the harmony that exists among Muslims and Christians. The statue of the Lady of Lourdes Grotto is a replica of the original in France.

Incidentally, Cotabato has the longest river which is estimated to be 182 kilometers long and 96 meters wide. The river is used for the fluvial processions of the Feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia, the Shariff Kabunsuan Festival and the annual Guinakit or river festival.Cotabato City is also dubbed as the Land of the Crabs and local tourists usually go to the in the market for cheap crabs and prawns.

Higantes Festival

2008-10-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

San Clemente/Higantes Festival
Angono, Rizal, 23 November

A fiesta of "gigantic" proportions, this one is highlighted by a grand procession featuring the higantes, ten-feet papier-mâche puppets, surrounded by a crowd of drenched, water-fighting revelers. Better bring your squirt gun if you want to join the fun. It is a water-logged event that is sure to leave you wet n' wild - and wanting for more.

Adding color and gaiety to Angono town fiesta, celebrated early the 23rd of November, are the "Higantes", paper to mache to giants measuring four to five feet in diameter and ten to twelve feet in height. Philippine Rizal Angono's joyous major festival in honor of San Clemente (patron saint of fishermen) whose image, glorious in papal vestment, is carried by male devotees during a procession accompanied by "pahadores” (devotees dressed in colorful local costumes or fishermen’s clothes, wooden shoes and carrying boat paddles, fish nets, traps, etc.) and “higantes" (giant paper mache images). The street event finishes in a fluvial procession in Laguna de Bay amidst revelry that continues until the image is brought back to its sanctuary.

The “higante” tradition began last century, when Angono was a Spanish hacienda. The hacienda owners concerned about costs prohibited all celebrations except for one annual fiesta. The townspeople concerned about enjoyment decided to make the best of a bad situation. Using an art form brought from Mexico by Spanish priests, they created larger-than-life caricatures of their Spanish landlords. In typical Filipino fashion, the fiesta become in equal parts, a stunning spectacle and a tricky inside joke. There too was a story that a French man happened to pass by this coastal town of Laguna de Bay as he cruised from Manila Bay. Captivated by the town being divided by a river, he predicted that someday giants would come out and become famous. True to his words, Angono can show off of two national artists - Carlos "Botong" Francisco in the field of visual arts and Professor Lucio D. San Pedro in the field of music. There are other Angono sons and daughters who are becoming big or giants on their chosen field of endeavor. Paper mache making is an art that is known back during the Spanish Era. The head of the giants is fashioned from a mold made of clay, which is dried under the heat of the sun.

With the advent of modernization and technology clay is changed to plaster of Paris and resin. The mold is then pasted with lots of newspapers then split into the middle and sun-dried, after which it is then pasted with the brown paper (the slit being covered) then sun-dried again and painted. The body is made of bamboo, but other materials like yantok (rattan) and thin iron bars can also be used. Yards are yards of clothing materials and accessories complete the costume of the "Higantes". Before, Angono town fiesta features a "Mag-anak" (family) Higantes consists of three figures, the father, the mother and the son. In 1987, Mr. Perdigon Vocalan visualized the idea of having a Higante Festival wherein all the barangays in Angono(13 of them) are to be represented by two to four Higantes symbolizing the industry or the personality of the barangay. This idea materialized with the funding given by the Dept. of Tourism and Provincial Tourism Office thus in a year after a seminar and a workshop in Higante Making , the fiesta was flooded with thirty-nine different Higantes. In that year too, there was a contest among the Higantes, thus one can see them a Higante with a duck on its head and another one a basketful of duck eggs representing a barangay that known for its fried itik and balut-making.

Pintaflores Festival

2008-10-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Pintaflores Festival
San Carlos City, 3-5 November

This city in the sugar-producing island of Negros Occidental honors its patron saint, San Carlos Borromeo, with a pageant where participants with floral painted bodies dance in rhythmic beat as they wind through the major streets. The Philippine Festival is inspired by the tattooed Negrenses of pre-colonial times.

The Pintaflores Festival shall be considered as the official festival of the City of San Carlos, Province of Negros Occidental which is being held every 5th of November on the same day of the commemoration of the historic “Al Cinco de Noviembre” which is declared a provincial holiday of Negros Occidental. The festival must be characterized with a vibrant and festive mood of merrymaking as a thanksgiving for the bountiful blessings of the Almighty to our beloved city and its people.

The Storyline: “The Tale of Nabingkalan and her Dances of Flowers”

In the mid-eastern coastline of the Buglas (Negros), facing the island of Zubu (Cebu) a lush and green valley is left uninhabited and untouched by human civilization until such time that a princess named Nabingka rom a flourishing tribe somewhere in the neighboring island was destined to reach the plains as she fled away from the warring tribes of her place.

Aboard in a balsa (bamboo raft) with her warriors Princess Nabingka sailed across the deep trench of Tañon Strait and reached the plains now called San Carlos City. In her favor, the first inhabitants named the place Nabingkalan (coined from Nabingka, the name of the princess and lan, a suffix of Visayan origin which means “in honor”).

It was believed that after the princess landed her new abode, Nabingkalan, she was melancholic and afflicted with an incurable disease perhaps caused by her remorse due to loneliness being away from her family. Princess Nabingka, became weak and the tribesmen with their families wept for almost a year until such time that a babaylan implored the nature spirits and predicated that the Princess was saddened due to the absence of flowers in the place. The babaylan then ordered that all tribesmen should plant flowering shrubs, vines and trees. But the humid weather of the plains, the flowers didn’t bloom and the babaylan this time summoned all tribesmen including women to have their bodies tattooed with flowers. In magnanimity all tribe members tattooed their bodies with flowers endemic to her hinterland to remind the Princess of her bountiful and glorious days with her family.

The news about the plight of the princess reached her family’s tribe and the chieftain who is his father decided to follow the journey of her daughter. The chieftain accompanied by a priest sailed to Nabingkalan bringing the image of San Carlos de Borromeo as a traditional Christian gesture of spirituality on journeys. As he reached the place of the princess he couldn’t believe what he saw as the princess was alive and now back in her vigorous health.

Due to the glee on what he saw, the chieftain then threw a bangaw (food party) to signify his happiness. He ordered a hudyaka-pahalipay (merrymaking – thanksgiving) in honor of San Carlos de Borromeo, the patron saint of his journey. The journey that led him to the discovery that indeed her beloved daughter has now a place and a people of her own.

Sunflower as the city’s symbolic flower

Sunflower “The sun always shines in Negros. In a way, there is always hope in San Carlos….”

This metaphorical statement underscores the strong disposition of resilience among the people of San Carlos that despite the storms in life still Carloseños are looking forward to a brighter and more vibrant future. Amidst the people’s quest of cultural and historical identity as symbolized by a flower, in an unknown origin, the Sunflower seemingly emanated as her symbolic flower. To give justification, the City Tourism Office conducted a brief research to the culture of Carloseños and discovered two major significant values among others. Surprisingly, these values equivocate to that of a common characteristic of a sunflower.

The people of San Carlos are known to be hardworking and resilient, values that connote to a strong grip of hope and being optimistic amidst life’s crisis, whereas, a sunflower is known to be a symbolism of the sun and it is believed that sunshine connotes hope.

Another justification, that sunflower is known to symbolize adoration which the Pintaflores centers on the theme of the adoration of flowers as ritual of thanksgiving.