Location: Gamu, Isabela, Philippines

Date: July 1-2

Reason to Celebrate: Homage to Our Lady of the Visitacion of Guibang

The Feast of Our Lady of Guibang is an annual fiesta held in Gamu, Isabela, Philippines. The church of Guibang was elevated to a national shrine in January of 1986 by the Catholic Bishop's Conference in January 1986. Additionally, Our Lady of Guibang was canonically crowned by apostolic Nuncio Carmine Rocco in May of 1973. Her official title is Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang, a barrio of Gamu in Isabela.

The history of the festival dates back in 1905 when a certain young man brought the Lady of Guibang to the hut of a poor couple named Francisco Noble and Maria Noble. They were asked to pray the Rosary and offer good works of mercy in honor of the image. After devotion to the lady, the couples' wishes came true. They were granted miracles.

Location: Badian, Cebu City

Date: July 3

Reason to Celebrate: Thanksgiving and showcase of the locales quality products

From the data of the Department of Tourism, 53 festivities are celebrated in the whole nation every July. In Cebu, the Badian town celebrates Banig Festival every 3rd of July. This festival is intended to celebrate the industry of Banig in the municipality.

Banig are hand-woven mats that are native in the Philippines. They are usually made from buri, anahaw, or pandan leaves. These mats are used in sleeping, especially in provinces. Each mat is meticulously woven from strips of leaves. The banig industry is another significant part of the culture that shows how creative Filipinos are. Art is evidently displayed by the colourful designs and patterns of the mats that make them ideal for modern use. The same industry gives life to Badian. As a major agricultural site, many families earn living from farming. Most of the women on the other hand depend on weaving mats. It is never an easy process because it involves different stages. In Badian, pandan leaves are used to produce mats. They are gathered and cleaned to remove thorns, dyed and then dried. The weaving process also requires craftsmanship in order to produce pleasing designs.

Due to famous and colourful banigs, the Badian province is always proud of their products. The Banig Festival shows the importance of the weaving industry in the town and in the province of Cebu as well. It also features local cuisines, delicacies and native products the Badianos are proud of. But the highlight of the event is the colourful parade of banig and its different uses. Dancers parade all over the town, wearing colourful costumes made from the authentic product. Some also portray the pandan plant as well. The parade also features floats that are prepared by different barangays. Of course, there a whole lot more of activities for everyone to enjoy like sports fest and beauty pageant. Throughout the day, all the visitors and locals enjoy the pride of the town and art of thanksgiving.

Banig Festival of Badian, Cebu City

Location: Libon, Albay

Date: July 22-25

Reason to Celebrate: To honor Saint James the Greater, the town's patron saint.

A visitor rich province, Albay has many great things to offer for you to have a visit. This province with different ports, and a domestic airport on the City of Legazpi gives a better access for visitors and traders from Manila and different parts of the Philippines. Mayon makes the province more popular because of it perfect cone that attracts local and foreign tourists. There are also other places to visit on Albay namely: Cagsawa ruins, Bacman Eco-park, Batan Island, Misibis Beach, Daraga Church, Camalig town with several caves, Busay falls, and diving sites in the island of Rapu-rapu. These places to visit give the tourists the best options for their vacation. Aside from these tourists attraction in the province of Albay, it is also rich in festivities.

A first class municipalty of Albay, Libon’s industry focuses on agriculture. It also has Pantao port, a regional level port that serves Masbate and other parts of Visayas. As one of the major producers of rice in Albay, Libon has been known to be the Rice Granary of Albay. Rice crops are the foundation of Libon’s economy. Devoting 35% of its land for rice production, the farmers should be credited for their hardwork and good harvest.

This situation on rice economy of Libon makes way to hold a yearly festival known to be as Libon Paroy Festival. It is also called as Katallingkasan which means renaissance and freedom. This celebration in honor of their patron, Saint James the Greater, has the intention of reviving the rich culture and heritage of Libon. The town officials make sure that every barangay participate on this occasion. Different games and contest are prepared, joined by different barangays to make the celebration more fun and exciting. These activities prepared are ways of bonding among different residents of every barangays. This unique way to bring every residents of the town together is held for four days from July 22-25 every year to show their gratefulness on rich harvest and productive economy of rice.

Libon Paroy Festival of Libon, Albay

Location: Socorro, Oriental Mindoro

Date: July 26

Reason to Celebrate: For their bounty and fruitful harvest

Festivals are held every year in honor of the town’s saints and to commemorate a meaningful event that happened and shaped their history, culture and civilization. Since the Philippines is one of the most well- shaped and culture-rich country, great numbers of festivals are held every month. Provincial, municipal, or even barangay levels for festivals are visited by different local and even foreign visitors.

The second class municipality of Socorro industry relies on agriculture. Rice, sweet potatoes, fruits and coconut products and other root crops are harvested to sustain and make the lives of its people productive. This municipality has remote areas where tribes and groups of indigenous people live. There are groups of Mangyan’s that inhabit the remote parts of the town. The largest among them is the group of Tadyawan Mangyan, who, unlike other indigenous tribes, wears a civilized outfit and has the agricultural way of swidden farming for their crops.

For their bounty and blessed harvest, they show their gratefulness and thanksgiving through a festivity called Pakapya-Agtike. This is celebrated every 26th day of the month of July and features lot of activities such as cultural shows done by people of Socorro, parade of colorful floats. The highlight of this celebration is the street dancing competition showing how blessed they are in terms of agriculture done by group of Mangyan Tribes, students, schools’ faculties, and barangay residents and officials. This festivity is for thanksgiving to the rich harvest of Socorro’s farmers offered and celebrated in honor to the town’s patron saint the Holy Family. As they believe that they owe all of the fruits of their crops to them, they do this ritual yearly to achieve better harvest for each and upcoming years. What matters most on this celebration is that they celebrate what their tradition is and it gives smile to the visitors who travel extra distance to witness this culture-rich event.

Pakapya-Agtike Festival – Socorro, Oriental Mindoro

Location: Tanjay, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Date: Starts July 23

Reason to Celebrate: To honour Saint James who helped the Christians by slaying hundreds of Moros.

The Filipinos are well accustomed to numerous festivities held in the different parts of the Philippines. Their roots trace back to hundreds of years ago and the spirit continues to persist as the tradition is passed from one generation to another. Not only first class provinces and towns celebrate festivals. Even less prosperous municipalities prepare for colourful celebrations.

Tanjay is a fourth class city in Negros Occidental. It celebrates a unique religious tradition. Sinulog de Tanjay is more wide known as Saulog de Tanjay to distinguish it from the Sinulog Festival of Cebu. It is held every July 24, preceding the city’s fiesta. The celebration depicts the battle between Christians and Moros in Granada, Spain centuries ago. It is also meant to honour Saint James who, according to the legends, descended from heaven riding on a white horse. He helped the Christians by slaying hundreds of Moros.

Sinulog de Tanjay is the original Sinulog and it dates back to 1814. It reached its milestone in 1988 when Tanjay mayor Arturo Regalado gave emphasis to the celebration. He initiated the Sinulog contest which until now serves as the highlight of the event. It is a competition that shows the true meaning of the festivity. The participating groups portray the religious battle and incorporate it with graceful dance movements. With the colourful costumes and lively accompaniment of percussions, the dancers bring the cheerful spirit of art and festivity.

The festival is usually opened by a Sinulog Merry-Making Contest on July 23. The whole day of July 24 is made lively by endless street dances and endurance contests. On the eve of the festival, a parade is held to honour the town patron Señor Santiago. It also serves as a kick-off for the fiesta the next day. Due to the tireless dances and thanksgiving of the Tanjayenos, the festival never fails to attract tourists. It also gives pride not just to the citizens of Tanjay, but of the whole nation as well.

Sinulog de Tanjay