Just sharing with you my awesome calendar based on the awesome events I witnessed in the past and the events that I plan to experience this year. Plan your vacations as early as now and you can use this as your guide. It took me a while to compile these so I do hope you enjoy!
2008 Awesome Calendar of the Philippines
The Definitive Guide to Philippine Holidays, Philippine Festivals, Philippine Fiestas, Liturgical Events, and Awesome Events!
Copyright 2008. Our Awesome Planet (www.OurAwesomePlanet.com)
U.P. Centennial Year Celebrations (100 Years)
Best Time to Climb Mt. Pinatubo!
1 NEW YEAR’S DAY | Tuesday | Solemnity of Mary Mother of God | HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
9 FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE | Quiapo, Manila
An intense, day-long festival highlighted by a mammoth procession through the streets.
13 42k CLARK MARATHON | Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga
18-19 ATI-ATIHAN | Kalibo, Aklan | Ati-Atihan Festival 2008
Commemorates the 13th century land deal between 10 migrating Bornean chieftains and the aboriginal Ati King Marikudo. It also honors the town patron, the infant Sto. Nino.
18-19 SINULOG | Cebu City | Sinulog Festival 2008
Cebu’s biggest and most popular festival in honor of the Holy Image of Senyor Sto. Niño
20 42k SUBIC MARATHON | Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City | Subic Marathon
25-26 DINAGYANG FESTIVAL 2008 | Iloilo City | Dinagyang 2008
Street dancing characterized by frenetic stomping of feet and hypnotic drumbeating. It is a colorful whirl of thousands of people dressed in unique costumes dancing & chanting all day and night.
Best Time to go to Binondo, Manila!
2-3 BIG BINONDO BOWL – SPECIAL CHINESE NEW YEAR WOK| Binondo, Manila | Old Manila Walks
A Special Chinese New Year Big Binondo Wok Tour by Ivan Man Dy
6 ASH WEDNESDAY | Philippines
The First Day of Lenten Season in the Philippines
7 CHINESE NEW YEAR – THE YEAR OF THE RAT | Binondo, Manila
The Chinese community celebrates the Chinese New Year with pomp & color through a dragon dance.
9-10 HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA | Clark, Angeles, Pampanga | 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
Watch the awesome hot air balloons fly out as the sun rises in the horizon.
14 HAPPY VALENTINES’ DAY!
Filipino lover’s most romantic event of the year!
24 42k PASIG RIVER HERITAGE MARATHONS | Pasig City
25 EDSA REVOLUTION ANNIVERSARY | Metro Manila | People Power Revolution
Commemorates the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that Filipinos came to known for.
25-26 PANAGBENGA – BAGUIO FLOWER FESTIVAL | Baguio City | 13th Baguio Flower Festival
Also known as the Baguio Flower Festival, it will be the 10th holding of this annual event which will showcase the City of Baguio as a City of Flowers.
Best Time to go watch and shoot the awesome Manila sunset!
Start of the Donsol Season in Bicol!
17-23 MORIONES FESTIVAL | Marinduque
Re-enact the story of Longinus, a Roman centurion who speared the crucified body of Jesus Christ.
17-23 HOLY WEEK! | Philippines
Philippines’ most sacred week!
20 HOLY THURSDAY!
Commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.
21 GOOD FRIDAY!
Commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus at Calvary.
23 EASTER SUNDAY
Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
29 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
China (2nd World Pyro Olympics Awardee) vs. 
Germany
30 FEAST OF THE DIVINE MERCY | Philippines | Plenary Indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday
The soul that will go to confession and receive holy communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment!
The Peak Time in Boracay.
5 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
Korea vs. 
Canada
7 BATAAN DAY (ARAW NG KAGITINGAN) | Monday
In lieu of April 9, Bataan Day
12 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
Japan vs. 
Australia (1st World Pyro Olympics Champion)
19 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
Italy vs. 
Venezuela
26 WORLD PYRO OLYMPICS! | Mall of Asia, Pasay City | 3rd World Pyro Olympics
France vs. 
Philippines! The Grand Finale
National-wide celebration of Flores de Mayo / Santacruzan.
1 LABOR DAY | Thursday
National Labor Day!
15 PAHIYAS | Lucban, Quezon
An annual celebration held to usher in a bountiful harvest and smashing good times.
17-19 OBANDO FERTILITY RITES | Obando, Bulacan
Massive numbers of men and women dance towards the town church praying for a wife, husband or a child.
28 NATIONAL FLAG DAY | Manila
Start of the designated flag days where all government offices, business establishments, and private homes are also encouraged to display the flag.
Time to show your love for the Philippines by putting a flag on your home, car, and shirts.
9 PHILIPPINE’S INDEPENDENCE DAY | Monday
Rainy Season in the Philippines.
20 42k MILO MARATHON ELIMINATIONS | Manila
The Best Time to go on a wild river ride.
15 ASCENCION OF MOTHER MARY INTO HEAVEN | Friday | HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
20-24 KADAYAWAN SA DABAW | Davao City
This festival give thanks to the bounty of fruits and flowers as the waling-waling orchid blooms.
21 NINOY AQUINO DAY | THURSDAY
Commemorating the Death of Ninoy Aquino
25 NATIONAL HEROES’ DAY | MONDAY
In lieu of
The Best Time to go to Divisoria for Christmas shopping and preparations.
8 MOTHER MARY’S BIRTHDAY | Monday
20 PENAFRANCIA VIVA LA VIRGEN | Naga City
Bicol Region’s biggest celebration is highlighted by a fluvial parade of Lady of Penafrancia carried through the river aglow with floating candles.
Surfing Season in the Philippines.
2 END OF RAMADAN | Thursday (potentially a holiday)
18-19 MASKARA FESTIVAL | Bacolod
The festival that made Bacolod famous began as an event to inspire the locals to face the hard times with a smiling face, thus masks with smiling faces are worn by revelers who join the parade.
18 NATIONAL THANK YOU DAY | National Thank You Day Philippines
28 DIWALI FESTIVAL | Tuesday | The Festival of Lights
Indian New Year Festival
Halloween Parties.
1 ALL SAINT’S DAY | SATURDAY
2 ALL SOUL’S DAY | SUNDAY
16 42k MILO MARATHON FINALS | Manila
22-23 HIGANTES FESTIVAL | Angono, Rizal
Male devotees carry the image of San Clemente in a procession that features pahadores, clad in colorful garb and wooden shoes, and carrying boat paddles and higantes (giants) 10 feet tall papier mache puppets.
28-30 KERYGMA CONFERENCE | Manila | Kerygma Conference
Awaken the Miracle Within You
Christmas Season in the Philippines.
1 BONIFACIO DAY | MONDAY
In lieu of November 30, Sunday
8 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION | Monday | HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
13 ULTIMATE KAPAMPANGAN SHOW-OFF/ GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL | San Fernando, Pampanga
A Show-Off of Kapampangan Pride culminated with a display of Giant Lanterns measuring 18 feet in diameter.
16 SIMBANG GABI
Start of early morning vigil 9 days before Christmas
25 CHRISTMAS DAY | Thursday | Holy Day of Obligation
Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ
29 RIZAL DAY | Monday
Commemorating the Death of Jose Rizal, in lieu of December 30
This is soooo useful! I’m passing it on to my friends..THANKS much Anton!
Great information! Will you do the Kapampangan tour during the Hot Air Balloon Festival?
Thanks so much for the effort! was waiting for this. Didn’t know if you were going to do another one after last year. Greatjob!
feb 25 is not a holiday?
I hope it is never to late to wish you a Happy New Year! I wish you all the best for 2008!
Another baby? 😉
Very useful calendar. Will update mine with your information. Thanks!
A busy year ahead!
thanks for this. will link this page to my blog 🙂
May pyro Olympics this year?! wow, i thought wala na! =)
Thanks for the info, anton. I thought you came up with a planner na parang starbucks/belle de jour type. na-excite pa naman ako, bibili sana ako. hehehe! =)
Anton,
Thanks for this…However, please check the note you posted for May 1 (“In lieu of April 9, Bataan Day”).
I’m surprised to see that there will be World Pyro Olympics this year. We’ll be looking forward to details for that event. Last year’s was amazing except for the mega-traffic!
Anton,
Thanks for this…However, please check the note you posted for May 1 (“In lieu of April 9, Bataan Day”).
I’m surprised to see that there will be World Pyro Olympics this year. We’ll be looking forward to details for that event. Last year’s was amazing except for the mega-traffic!
Thanks for this, it’ll be useful for planning trips. You might want to add — sorry, but I’m such a fan of this — the season for whale shark encounters in Donsol, Bicol is from now till summertime. 🙂
Truly an awesome calendar. I hope you could do a downloadable PDF of this. 🙂
Thanks for this calendar ;P
Okay I’m surprised may Pyro ulit. I guess they delayed it because there are so many ongoing activities and events at the MOA area. Lagot na naman tayo sa traffic, but I’m looking forward to the fireworks!
salamat 🙂 i was actually waiting for this! very helpful indeed 🙂
wow! i didnt know they’ll do another round of the Pyro this year 😛 btw, will you be joining Ivan’s special CNY food wok on Feb 2? see you there and in pampanga for the hot air balloon fiestaaaa!!
Hi Anton,
Thanks for this calendar. Im so glad that you include the Holy Day of Obligation. Can you add in your calendar Sept 8 as the Birthday of our Blessed Mother. It may not be a Holiday of Obligation but there are lots of blessings being poured on this day as our Mother celebrates her birthday. Also, Rizal Day should be Dec 30 not 29th. Happy New Year to you and your family! God bless.
Bubut
hi anton! thanks for posting this! we would be going to the hot air balloon festival and we are so excited about it!
Awesome indeed! Sadly we’re not going home this year. I’ll look forward na lang for 2009 calendar!
hi there, thanks for this useful calendar! is feb 25 a non-working holiday? usually it is! just looking forward to another long weekend … please let us know if it is a holiday or not. thanks again for the effort!
Thanks for this kuya. BIG BIG BIG HELP talaga ito.=)
hi anton! thanks a lot for this! very useful to! more pwer and God Bless! 🙂
Thank you so much for the infos..
I’m wondering how the ALIWAN FIESTA will not be celebrated this year?
Is there any updates about Aliwan Fiesta 2008?
Wow thanks for sharing this calender to us. big help ito para maupdate or maremind kami sa mga upcoming activities. BTW im planing to go to the the hot air balloon fiesta in clark, do i have to register pa ba? or punta na lang ako basta doon?
Hi Anton! you might wanna add:
* Philippine Travel Tour Expo 2008 – date: 15 to 17 February 2008 at Halls 3 & 4, SMX Convention Center, MOA
Thanks and God Bless! 🙂
hi anton! i browsed your calendar, i saw your november sked may kerygma conference. have you attended na the kerygma feast i was telling you about? its held every week at valle verde country club. hope to see you there!
This is awesome, Mr. Awesome Planet. I’ve visited your site a number of times but never felt the urge to comment because I am no food expert. But your tips are really useful to the point that I check out your blog when my family tries out a new place. When I saw this calendar I thought I really have to commend you by dropping a note. Keep it up.
read an article about viaje del sol in a coffeshop and decided to google it, so i came across your pages. am glad i did. your reviews are really good.. although walang negative comments.. heehee.. something that i would appreciate also. my family and i (husband, 2 boys and a dog) also love to go around places here in the phils during weekends. our motto is: work hard and play harder.. corny and not original but more or less, that’s what we do. more power to you.
hi sir, hope you still remember me. =) i’ve been waiting for this post so i could file and prepare for my vacation leave. =) i’ll link this post in my multiply site. thanks! regards to achi rache & aidan!
thanks Anton for all the information. you are doing God’s work, cuz you are encouraging and boosting the local tourism. thanks.
….WOW!….2008 our awesome planet calendar should add in the future the NEW school class year opening….hopefully FILIPINOS WILL CELEBRATE in their respective towns barrios baranggays communities neighborhoods this GREAT-GOOD NEWS THAT….’all’…..6 YEARS OLD CHILDREN in the philippines can NOW JOIN-GO-STUDY IN ANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE FOR ‘FREE’ NO SCHOOL FEES WHATSOEVER OMG! WOW….lol!….i also heard about those government public DAY CARE CENTERS NATIONWIDE for all 4-5 years of age na super future producers of parang mga new modern ala MARAI CLARA WOW! talaga so exciting for the local filipinos and guests lol!….
OAP calendar hopefully will help remind filipinos around the world when is new JOURNEY rock band with new rock lead band singer PINEDA will perform concert in araneta coliseum this november nga ba? we hope philippines has already the new JOURNEY’S released cd’s kasi a lot of people here in u.s. are upset kasi mostly they’re ALL SOLD OUT here in united states i am a bit upset too about that..now i have to ask my distant relatives there in philippines to buy journey’s cd’s as many as possible if journey will really perform there this november sana naman totoo at much better if your new calendar set up will show new journey concert schedules lol..
I enjoyed reading your article. It makes a lot of sense.
-Ashley