JANUARY 2015
Long Weekend #1: January 1 to 4 (4 Days)
1 NEW YEAR’S DAY | Thursday (Every 1st of January) | Philippine Regular Holiday.
Solemnity of Mary Mother of God HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
2 NEW YEAR LONG WEEKEND | Friday | Special Non-Working Holiday.
Solemnity of Mary Mother of God HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
9 FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE | Friday | Quiapo, Manila
An intense, day-long festival highlighted by a mammoth procession through the streets.
(Flickr Photo by Ronald Hilton)
18 ATI-ATIHAN 2015 | 3rd Sunday |Kalibo, Aklan
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. Niño.
#3 in the 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
Related post: KALIBO: What to Expect in the Sto. Niño ATI-ATIHAN Festival in Kalibo?
For more information, visit the official website: http://www.kaliboatiatihan.ph/
18 SINULOG 2015 | 3rd Sunday | Cebu City
Cebu’s biggest and most popular festival in honor of the Holy Image of Senyor Sto. Niño
#2 in the 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
Related Blog Posts: Sinulog Fluvial Breakfast! and The Sinulog’s Grand Parade
For more information, visit the official website: http://www.sinulog.ph/
25 DINAGYANG FESTIVAL 2015 | 4th Sunday | Iloilo City
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.
#1 in the 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
Related Blog Post: Iloilo’s Dinagyang: Hala Bira! Viva Señor Santo Niño!
For more information, visit the official website: http://dinagyangsailoilo.com/
31 FEAST DAY OF ST. JOHN BOSCO | Saturday (Every 31st of Jan)
Celebration of the feast day of the Father and Teacher of Youth who founded the Salesian Society.
FEBRUARY 2015
2 FEAST OF OUR LADY OF CANDLES | Monday(Every 2nd of Feb) | Jaro, Iloilo |
Western Visayas celebrates the Patroness of their region.
11 FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES | Wednesday (Every 11th of February) |
Celebration of the Our Lady of Lourdes’ Apparitions to Saint Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France
12-15 HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA | Thursday to Sunday | Clark, Angeles, Pampanga |
Watch the awesome hot air balloons fly out as the sun rises in the horizon.
#8 in 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
Related Blog Posts:
- I ❤ Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta!
- Balloon Fiesta – 11th International Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
For more information, visit the official website: http://www.philballoonfest.net/
14 HAPPY VALENTINES’ DAY! | Saturday (Every 14th of Feb) | Philippines
Filipino lover’s most romantic event of the year!
(Image credit: alenkasm / 123RF Stock Photo)
Related Blog Posts:
- Manila’s 10 Most Romantic NEW Restaurants for Valentines 2014!
- NORTHERN EATS: Manila’s Top 14 Romantic Restaurants in the North!
- SOUTHERN EATS: Manila’s Top 14 Romantic Restaurants in the South!
18 ASH WEDNESDAY | Wednesday | Philippines
The First Day of Lenten Season in the Philippines
Long Weekend #2: February 19 to 22 (4 Days)
19 CHINESE NEW YEAR – WOOD SHEEP | Thursday | Special Non-Working Holiday
The Chinese community celebrates the Chinese New Year with pomp & color through a dragon dance.
Related Blog Posts:
- DISCOVER BINONDO: Chinese New Year + Ramada Hotel + 168 Shopping,
- Binondo Chinese New Year
- Kiong Hee Huat Tsai is Happy New Year in Binondo
28 PANAGBENGA FESTIVAL 2015 | Sunday | Baguio City |
Also known as the Baguio Flower Festival which showcases the City of Baguio as a City of Flowers.
#7 in 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
Read More: BAGUIO’s PANAGBENGA Flower Festival
25 EDSA REVOLUTION ANNIVERSARY | Wednesday (Every 25th of February) Special Holiday
Commemorates the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that Filipinos came to known for.
For more information, visit the official website: http://edsapeoplepower.com/
MARCH 2015
5-8 & 14-15 Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival 2015 | Thursday to Sunday | Puerto Galera
The festival is held outdoors in a natural amphitheater at the foot of Mount Malasimbo overlooking Puerto Galera Bay, a member of the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World” club.
Read Related Blog Post: Malasimbo Time!
For more information, visit the official website: http://malasimbofestival.com/
7-8 KAAMULAN FESTIVAL | First Weekend of March | Bukidnon
The KAAMULAN FESTIVAL is an annual fiesta of the 7 Ethnic Tribes in Bukidnon — the Matigsalug, Tigwahanun, Higaunu, Umayamnun, Manobo, Bukidnon, and Talaandig. It is a cultural celebration of the tribes’ legendary stories, ancient rituals, ethnic music, and traditional dances.
Related Blog Post: KAAMULAN Festival: Why is it hailed as the Most Authentic Festival in the Philippines?
25 FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION | Wednesday | (Every 25th of March)
Feast commemorating the announcement of Angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. This is celebrated 9 full months before Christmas.
28 EARTH HOUR 2015 | Saturday 8.30pm-9.30pm | Philippines
Cities and towns all over the world will switch off their lights for one hour—EARTH HOUR—sending a powerful global message that it is possible to take action on global warming.
Read More: Earth Hour 2008 – See The Difference You Can Make
For more information, visit the official website: http://www.earthhour.org/celebrating-earth-hour
APRIL 2015
Long Weekend #3: April 2 to April 5 (5 Days)
2 MAUNDY THURSDAY | Thursday | Regular Holiday
Commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.
3 GOOD FRIDAY | Friday | Regular Holiday
Commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus at Calvary.
3 MORIONES FESTIVAL | Friday | Marinduque
Re-enact the story of Longinus, a Roman centurion who speared the crucified body of Jesus Christ.
3 CUTUD CRUXIFIXIONS | Friday | Pampanga
The old tradition of dramatizing the passion and death of Jesus Christ (called Via Crusis) was played out on the streets leading to the crucifixion site before the 1pm Crucifixion.
#5 in 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
Related Blog Post: Cutud Crucifixions: Good Friday Traditions of San Fernando, Pampanga
4 BLACK SATURDAY | Saturday | Special Non Working Day.
5 EASTER SUNDAY | Sunday | Philippines
Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
7 ST. JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE FEAST DAY | Sunday (Every 7th of April) |
Celebration of the feast day of the Patron Saint of Teachers and Founder of Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
9 ARAW NG KAGITINGAN (BATAAN DAY) | Thursday (Every 9th of April) | Regular Holiday.
12 FEAST OF THE DIVINE MERCY | Sunday | Plenary Indulgence Divine Mercy Sunday |
The soul that will go to confession and receive holy communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment!
Read More: Falling In Love with His Divine Mercy and Now Is The Time Of Mercy
22 EARTH DAY 2015 | Wednesday (Every 22nd of April) | Philippines
A day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment
For more information, visit the official website: http://www.earthday.org/
MAY 2015
Long Weekend #4: May 1 to 3 (3 Days)
1 LABOR DAY | Friday (Every 1st of May) | Regular Holiday. National Labor Day!
10 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! | 2nd Sunday of May | Philippines
An annual celebration to pay tribute to all the awesome mothers!
15 PAHIYAS 2015 | Friday (Every 15th of May) | Lucban, Quezon
An annual celebration held to usher in a bountiful harvest and smashing good times.
#4 in 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
Related Blog Posts:
- PAHIYAS FESTIVAL: Don’t Miss the FUN in Lucban!
- PAHIYAS: 8 Tips for an Awesome San Isidro Labrador Fiesta!
- Pahiyas, Lucban – 8 Things We Love About Pahiyas
17-19 OBANDO FERTILITY RITES 2015 | Sunday – Tuesday (Every 17th for St. Paschal, 18th for St. Clare, 19th of May for the Our Lady of Salambao) | 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 | Thursday (Every 28th of May) | Manila
Start of the designated flag days where all government offices, business establishments, and private homes are also encouraged to display the flag.
JUNE 2015
Long Weekend #5: June 12 to 14 (3 Days)
12 PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY | Friday (Every 12th of June) | Regular Holiday
Commemorates the Independence Day of the Philippines from the Spaniards
21 HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! | 3rd Sunday of June
An annual celebration to pay tribute to all the awesome fathers!
19 DR. JOSE RIZAL BIRTH ANNIVERSARY | Friday (Every 19th of June)
24 FEAST DAY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST | Wednesday (Every 24th of June) |
Feast of St. John the Baptist where it is celebrated with showering people with water
24 PARADA NG LECHON FESTIVAL | Wednesday (Every 24th of June) |
Balayan, Batangas. A Lechon Parade celebrating the Feast of St. John the Baptist in Balayan Batangas
29 PINTADOS/ KASADYAAN FESTIVAL 2015 | Sunday (Every 29th of June) | Tacloban. Feast of the Señor Santo Niño de Leyte
Related Blog Post: Tacloban Fiesta
JULY 2015
11 FEAST DAY OF ST. BENEDICT | Friday (Every 11th day of July)
Celebration of the feast day of the Patron Saint of Europe and the Students, and the Father of Western Monasticism.
Long Weekend #6: July 17 to 19 (3 Days)
17 EID’L FITR | Friday | A Muslim holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan.
(Note: Calculated date for 2015 pending proclamation)
26 FEAST DAY OF SAINT ANNE | Sunday (Every 26th of July)
Celebration of the feast day of the Mother of Mama Mary
25-26 BOHOL SANDUGO FESTIVAL 2015 | Sunday | Tagbilaran, Bohol
This festival commemorates the treaty of friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a native chieftain and the Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi, representing the king of Spain.
31 FEAST DAY OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA | Friday (Every 31st of July) |
Celebration of the feast day of the Father General of the Jesuits. A 30-day retreat follows the celebration.
For more information, visit the official website: http://www.boholsandugofestival.com/
AUGUST 2015
15 ASSUMPTION OF MOTHER MARY INTO HEAVEN | Saturday (Every 15th of August)
16 KADAYAWAN SA DABAW 2015 | Sunday | Davao City
This festival gives thanks to the bounty of fruits and flowers as the waling-waling orchid blooms.
#9 in 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
Read More: KADAYAWAN DAVAO: Indak Indak sa Kadalanan (A Photo Essay)
Long Weekend #7: August 21 to 23 (3 Days)
21 NINOY AQUINO DAY | Friday (Every 21st of August) | Special Non-Working Holiday.
Commemorating the Death of Ninoy Aquino
For more information, visit the official website: http://www.ninoyaquino.ph/
28 KAGAY-AN FESTIVAL – FEAST DAY OF ST. AUGUSTINE | Friday (Every 28th of August) |
Cagayan de Oro City. Feast of St. Augustine in Cagayan de Oro City
Long Weekend #8: August 29 to 31 (3 Days)
31 NATIONAL HEROES’ DAY | Last Monday of August | Regular Holiday.
Commemorates the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” by Filipino revolutionaries called the Katipunan
SEPTEMBER 2015
8 MOTHER MARY’S BIRTHDAY | Tuesday (Every 8th of September)
13 HAPPY GRANDPARENT’S DAY! | Sunday (Every 2nd Sunday of September)
An annual celebration to pay tribute to all the awesome grandparents!
14 FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS | Monday (Every 14th of September)
Public exposition and Veneration of the RELIC OF THE TRUE CROSS OF CHRIST at the Servants of the Risen Christ Monastery in Tarlac.
19 PENAFRANCIA VIVA LA VIRGEN 2015 | Saturday (Every 3rd Saturday of September) | 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.
23 FEAST DAY OF PADRE PIO | Wednesday (Every 23th of September)
Feast of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
23 EIDUL ADHA | Saturday
Muslim Holiday celebrating Abraham’s obedience when he was willing to sacrifice his son Ishmael. (calculated date for 2014 pending proclamation)
29 ILIGAN FIESTA – FEAST DAY OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL | Tuesday (Every 29th of September) | Iligan City
Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Celebration in Iligan City
Related Blog Post: The Best of Iligan
OCTOBER 2015
1 THE FEAST OF ST. THERESE OF CHILD JESUS | Thursday (Every 1st of October). Feast of Saint Therese of the Little Flower.
4 THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI | Sunday (Every 4th of October)
Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals. Pet blessings are held to celebrate his feast.
5 WORLD’S TEACHERS DAY | Monday (Every 5th of October)
Happy Teachers Day to honor the noble profession of teaching.
18 MASSKARA FESTIVAL 2015 | Sunday (3rd Weekend of October) | 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.
#6 in 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
24-25 LANSONES FESTIVAL 2015 | Last Weekend of October | Camiguin
A grand celebration of the lanzones fruit in the island of Camiguin.
NOVEMBER 2015
1 ALL SAINT’S DAY | Sunday | Special Non-Working Holiday
2 ALL SOUL’S DAY | Monday
11-15 DIWALI FESTIVAL 2015 | Thursday to Sunday
Indian New Year Festival of Lights
19-21 KERYGMA CONFERENCE 2015 | Thursday to Sunday | Manila | | The Biggest Catholic Charismatic Event in the Country
For more information, visit the official website: : http://kerygmaconference.com/
22-23 HIGANTES FESTIVAL 2015 | Sunday (Every 22nd & 23rd of November) | Angono, Rizal
Male devotees carry the image of San Clemente in a procession that features parehadoras, clad in colorful garb and wooden shoes, and carrying boat paddles and higantes (giants) 10 feet tall papier mache puppets.
26 HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY! | Thursday (Every last Thursday of November)
Long Weekend #9: November 28 to 30 (3 Days)
30 BONIFACIO DAY | Monday (Every 30th of November) | Philippines
Regular Holiday. Birth Anniversary of Andres Bonifacio
DECEMBER 2015
8 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION | Monday (Every 8th of December) | HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
12 GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL 2015 | Saturday | San Fernando, Pampanga
A Show-Off of Kapampangan Pride culminated with a display of Giant Lanterns measuring 18 feet in diameter.
#10 in 10 Most Awesome Fiestas of the Philippines
Read More: Giant Lantern Festival – Awesome Lantern Competition, Only in the Philippines!
16 OBLATION RUN | Tuesday (Every 16th of December) | University of the Philippines
The annual naked run of the full-pledge members of Alpha Phi Omega society is a tradition that started in 1977 to protest the banning of the movie, “Hubad na Bayani,” which depicted human rights abuses in the martial law era. The date honors their international founding day on December 16th, 1925.
16-24 SIMBANG GABI | (9 days before Christmas)
Start of early morning vigil 9 days before Christmas
Long Weekend #10: December 24 to 27 (4 Days)
24 CHRISTMAS EVE | Thursday (Every 24th of December) | Additional Special Non-Working Day
25 CHRISTMAS DAY | Friday (Every 25th of December) | Regular Holiday
Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ. Holy Day of Obligation
Long Weekend #10: December 30 to January 3 (5 Days)
30 RIZAL DAY | Wednesday | (Regular Holiday)
Commemorating the Death of Jose Rizal
31 NEW YEAR’S EVE | Thursday | Last day of the year (Special Non-Working Day)
1 NEW YEAR’S DAY | Friday (Every 1st of January) | Philippine Regular Holiday.
Solemnity of Mary Mother of God HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
PS. If you have tips on awesome food and travel destinations, please email me at anton@diaz.ph.
thanks for this awesome calendar as usual, Anton!!!
Hi Anton,
Seeing these men nailed to the cross – your image above – always amazed me. Talk about devout followers of Christ. That’s something else, and it’s make me appreciate how much these folks believe in their cause.
I need to get to Boracay. I’ve heard so many great things about the beaches, the beauty, and the people. For now, I’m in Fiji until Late October than I’m off to Bali. Then I head to New Jersey for Christmas with my family, then maybe Central America. After that, I’d love to head back to Asia again, and perhaps a visit to your beautiful country.
I had so many friends from the Philippines who lived in New Jersey when I was a kid. Between following your blog and speaking to my friends I know I can find some great spots in addition to Boracay, when I visiting.
Thanks so much for sharing.
I’ll tweet this in a bit.
Ryan
Let me know if you are in town so that we can meet up one of these days. Thanks for the comment!
Anton
Thanks Franny for the appreciation 🙂
ANTON
Thanks for putting all the holidays together Anton! This is making me excited to start holiday planning!! 🙂
Thanks for the appreciation Joey 🙂 Youre welcome!
ANTON
Hi, Anton
Thanks for putting this calendar of events and holidays together with vivid photos. Very helpful!
Just a quick comment, there is typo error on description of Father’s Day:
21 HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! | 3rd Sunday of June
Commemorates the Independence Day of the Philippines from the Spaniards
This is the one I noticed because I was checking out the date this year. Big thanks!
very informative. Thanks.=)
Hello!
I hope you don’t mind but our Grandparents Day is based on the US Grandparents Day. It is NOT always the second Sunday of Sept. It is based on the US Labor Day which is the first Monday of Sept. So if Sept 1 falls on a Monday, Grandparents Day for that year will fall on the first Sunday. It would approximately happen every 8 years bec. of the leap year if l am not mistaken.
Thanks for this information! Very helpful 🙂
Anton