Witness the talent of Cebuanos at the following upcoming local Philippine festivals!
What are Philippine festivals all about?
Most Philippine festivals are highlighted through their festivities. Not only do they reflect the country’s rich cultural heritage, but it’s also a way for Filipinos to celebrate their identity.
Cebu alone hosts a number of Philippine festivals throughout the year to illustrate the devotion of fellow Cebuanos in accordance with various religious beliefs and practices.
One example is the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival. This initiative is an opportunity for countryside festivals to showcase their cultural roots through dance performances or by selling beloved products and delicacies from their respective towns.
The street parade which is held in Cebu City is the festival’s main spectacle. It features around 20 contingents from all around Cebu, usually taking place in August.
That being said, if you’re looking for exciting Philippine festivals to take part in, we’ve rounded up a list of cultural celebrations worth checking out in Cebu this coming May.
PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS WORTH CELEBRATING
- Panagtagbo Festival in Mandaue City (May 6th)
Previously known as the Mantawi Festival, this is celebrated days before the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of Mandaue City.
The month-long festival is capped off with a street parade inspired by a local biblical story.
“Panagtagbo” is a Bisaya phrase that means “meeting”, as the festival recreates the meeting of the Holy Family, wherein the image of the Senior Sto. Niño meets with Mother Mary and St. Joseph.
It is inspired by the Traslacion, an important event during the Fiesta Señor celebration of the Sinulog Festival, wherein the image of the Sto. Niño is brought on a motorcade from the Guadalupe Church in Cebu City to the National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Centro, Mandaue.
The dance recreates the fateful event through music and roleplay. This is performed during a street parade, as well as during the ritual showdown held at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
- Kagasangan Festival in Moalboal (May 16th)
Moalboal also has the Kagasangan Festival, whose name comes from the Bisaya word for corals. This southern Cebu town is famous as a diving spot abundant with marine resources, especially at its internationally acclaimed beaches.
The festival features ocean-inspired performances, with props men carrying massive cardboard cutouts and dancers adorned with dazzling pearl necklaces. It also serves as a tribute to their patron saint, St. John Nepomucene.
The 2025 celebration is the second iteration of the festival since it made a comeback in 2024 after a six-year hiatus. This was due to financial constraints and some logistical issues.
Despite the cancelation, the festival has been featured at the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo hosted by the Cebu provincial government since it returned in 2022.
- Kuyayang Festival in Bogo City (May 26th)
Bogo is located in the north, around 100 kilometers away from Cebu City. It is one of the fastest developing cities on the island with a pursuit for agriculture.
In 2008, the local government started the Pintos Festival, a thanksgiving celebration for the abundance of sugarcane and corn. It is named after a popular dessert made in the area, which is one of Cebu’s most popular rice-based desserts as well.
The festival is inspired by the tedious process of farming, especially the sowing and the harvesting. It also uses a traditional folk dance called the Kuyayang, which has been practiced by residents since the 1960s.
In 2023, the city government aimed to revive it for modern generations, renaming it and using the dance as its main focus.
Kuyayang is a courtship dance, portraying men and women in a playful and flirtatious manner. Its name in Bisaya means insect larva, which is where the characteristic hip movements of the dance come from.
- Rosquillos Festival in Liloan (Fourth Saturday of May)
At the end of the month, the municipality of Liloan welcomes thousands of viewers to the Rosquillos Festival, which is inspired by the sweet ring-shaped delicacy that helped put the town on the map.
The performances of the festival recreate the story of Margarita “Titay” Frasco and how she came up with her famous Rosquillos recipe that has become the town’s most popular product.
The bakery Titay started is now one of the oldest businesses on the island, becoming the go-to place for Cebuano delicacies.
Since starting in 2008, the festival has become an avenue for Liloan natives to showcase their talents through dance and song. Subsequently, the town also hosts various social events like a mass wedding and medical missions.
Aside from its lively street parade and exciting ritual showdowns, the festival is an opportunity for small-scale businesses to showcase their products, as the local government usually hosts a local food strip.
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Philippine festivals are a fun and exciting way to learn about the history and culture of Filipinos. With many arriving in the coming months, there are plenty of reasons to get out and explore the island’s countryside.
As some of the most recommended activities to try out in Cebu, festivals are not limited to the likes of Sinulog and Kadaugan sa Mactan. Each provincial city or town has something to liven up their otherwise peaceful streets every year.
So, which of these festivals are you planning to add to your May 2025 calendar?
