MT. MANUNGGAL

MT. MANUNGGAL
Central Cebu
March 16-17

Mount Manunggal is located in Barangay Magsaysay in Balamban, Cebu and rises to a height of 1,003 meters above sea level. It is the crash site of the presidential plane Pinatubo which carried and killed President Ramon Magsaysay and seventeen of his presidential staff and some news correspondents during that unforgettable event on March 17, 1957 where an annual trek is held to commemorate his death. It is accessible through many trails but the trail from Tagba-o and at Cantipla in Tabunan, Cebu City is the main route from which the yearly Pres. Ramon Magsaysay Death Anniversary Climb is held.

Mt. Manunggal is within the enclave of the Central Cebu National Park and is protected by Republic Act 8457, otherwise known as the “Central Cebu Protected Landscape Act”; which also covers the Mananga-Kotkot-Lusaran river system, the Sudlon National Park and the watersheds of Buhisan, Mananga and Lusaran.

The trail to Mt. Manunggal from the jump-off point at the river that separates Cebu City from Balamban is quite steep and could be achieved in about four (4) to seven (7) hours for first-timers, depending upon your physical conditioning, and about two (2) to three (3) hours to those who are now very familiar with its terrain. The trail to Mt. Manunggal from Tagba-o is absent of forest canopies and wildlife and traverses through many upland farms planted with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, eggplants, cabbage, carrots, etc. It is wide enough to let two persons pass by each other at its narrowest part and there are no prominent barriers which impede movement save for the lack of shady areas to rest from the penetrating heat of the sun.

Water sources abound within the foot of the mountain like rivers, springs and waterfalls and a cool spring near the camping site give visitors a respite from thirst which never falters in water volume even in extreme drought and the el niño phenomenon.

The camping site is wide, rolling and grassy where second-growth trees rimmed the area, a result of aggressive reforestation campaigns in the past and present. A spring is located nearby and there are concreted VIP buildings and a comfort room for both sexes provided by the Municipality of Balamban for the benefit of visitors and climbers which would swell to about 500 during the annual trek. The view from the campsite is wonderful and exhilarating especially on early mornings and sunsets. The fabled Mount Tabunan could be seen right across the camping area as well as the valleys in between, the neighboring mountain ranges, the islands of Bohol and Camotes, Camotes Sea and the rivers and roads below which wound around hillocks like serpents.

On the campsite is where the monument of Pres. Magsaysay is located and the cylinder block of the Pinatubo's main engine is housed to remind visitors of the historical value of Manunggal in Philippine history. A chapel is also erected nearby during the height of a communist insurgency in the '80s to guide the local inhabitants' spiritual yearning.

Mount Manunggal could now be accessed by vehicles through a road from Gaas, Balamban and it is four (4) kilometers long, more or less, one-fourth of which is concreted. Obviously, it is the easiest way to go to Manunggal. It is for this reason that the numbers of visitors have increased through the years.

Normally, on the average, we spend two (2) days and one (1) night on Manunggal and we set it on weekends. Preparing a climb to Manunggal entails only a minimal amount unless you are not from here. However, if you are already in Cebu you could follow the itinerary enumerated below:

HOMONHON LANDING

HOMONHON LANDING
March 16
Southeastern Samar

Homonhon, Eastern Samar- Reenactment of the discovery of the Philippines in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan.

Finally, on March 16, the activities will start with the offering of the Holy Mass and will be followed by a re-enactment of Magellan Landing and the commemorative program.

Eastern Samar had been a significant backdrop of the country’s rich colonial history through the island of Homonhon, where Ferdinand Magellan first set foot on Philippine soil in 1521 on his way to conquer the Philippines for the western world.

In his account, Pigafetta, the chronicler aboard Magellan’s ship, describes the island of Humumu, now Homonhon, as so: "We found two fountains of very clear water, we called it the `Waters of Good Signs,’ having found the first sign of gold in the said island. There also can be found much white coral and tall trees that bear fruits smaller than an almond and look like pines. There were also many palm trees, some of the good kind, some of the bad. Thereabouts are many neighboring islands. Hence, we called them the St. Lazarus Archipelago because we stayed there on the day and feast of St. Lazarus."

Pintados de Pasi Festival

PINTADOS DE PASI
March 14-16
Passi City, central of Iloilo province

The Pintados de Pasi Festival, in Passi City, central of Iloilo province, is perhaps one of the best known and established festivals of the Visayan region that have evolved through the years. It has played a big part in the lives of most Passinhons. It is the most popular spectator cultural event and the most popular for the community that has a large following. Theatrical-like street dancing performances are a celebrated part of the Pintados festivity that is characterized by heavy and aggressive body movements. Here, performers adorned in traditional body tattoo with elaborate geometrical designs in their body, including their arms, legs and torso dramatizes stories in which the towns’ ancestral beings laid down every feature of the area, especially, their way of life.

Characterized by heavy and aggressive body movements, the dances seem to have developed independent of any external influences, as in the combat dances, folk plays, ritual actions, or character types. Historical or cultural sources are essential materials in sustaining a festival such as theirs. The festivity changed over the years, though its cultural presentation remained popular up to this day, and has resurrected and form part in a celebration that reflected function and transition. It also represented a major change in style and subject matter.

ImageTourism, through this cultural celebration brings thousands of local and international visitors interested to know the city’s rich history, considerable scenic beauty, and a number tourism attraction. The Passinhon 2000 Incorporated devotes their efforts of promoting the festival in the local and national scene. These efforts focus on the cultural festivity—at least in the early promotional stage, is the best way to keep it alive, and a variety of innovative efforts are underway to do just that.
With the theme “Passinhon nga Kultura, Sakdagon Ta” on its 9th Foundation Anniversary, the people of Passi City led by their municipal mayor, Hon. ELYZER C. CHAVEZ is inviting everyone to come and witness their many other special events enjoyed during the week-long celebration, including Garden Show and Food Festival on March 11, its opening day; the Karosa Parada and Carabao-Painting Contest with the Grand Coronation Night of the Search for Bb. Pintados on March 16; Sinadya sa Suba and the Pinta Lawas Contest of March 17; and the much awaited Tribe Competition on March 18. With this wealth of unique cultural and recreational events, Pintados de Pasi is surely one of the country’s top tourism festivals.

Passi City has played an important role in reaching its peak of progress. Centrally situated in the province, Passi City is locally important as the District Agri-Industrial Center of Iloilo. It is rich with agriculture resources that have long formed the backbone of its economy and agricultural diversification produces crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, coconut, sugarcane and pineapple. Passi City has been an important pineapple producer for years, it has long been known for other industries including fruit processing, wallboard production, metalworking production and cut-flower propagation. Its locally produced pineapple wine, jam and fruit preserves have already established captured market with its exposure to various local trade fairs and exhibits such as the annual Fiesta in the City celebration during May; TUMANDOK in September; and WOW Philippines: the Best of the Region.

Passi, a component city (RA No. 8469, 1998) is bounded on the north by San Enrique; Dumarao, Capiz on the south; east by Calinog; and Lemery on the west. Predominantly a mountainous area, it is politically divided into 51 barangays. It is about 50 kilometers from the city of Iloilo and has an area of 25,139 hectares---the largest in the province.

According to the 2000 Census, Passi City had a population of 69,601. An influx of Cebuano and Tagalog-speaking businessmen and investors in the years increased their numbers and were added. The Passinhon people are predominantly Karay-a-speaking, with Roman Catholicism as the religion of 95 percent of its population.

It is said that the first Spanish settlement was established in the area in 1766, marking the onset of Spanish colonial rule. In the traditional story, Spanish explorers anchored in Ansig, a place located at the mouth of Lamunan River. The name of the city is probably derived from Pasi, a Hiligaynon word meaning “unhusked grains of palay.”

ARAW NG DABAW FESTIVAL

ARAW NG DABAW
March 10-16

"Araw ng Dabaw" is a vibrant feast held every March 16, celebrating the oneness of our multi-cultural city.

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.

SANDUGO FESTIVAL

SANDUGO
Tagbilaran, Bohol
Month-long (movable)

Bohol Sandugo Celebration or Sandugo Festival, also known as Blood Compact Commemoration, is an annual historical event that takes place every year in the island province of Bohol, Philippines. This festival commemorates the treaty of friendship between two people of different races, culture, religion and civilization: between Datu Sikatuna, a native chieftain and the Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi, representing the king of Spain. This treaty of friendship occurred on March 16, 1565 through a blood compact. This blood compact is the first international treaty of friendship between Filipinos and Spaniards and is known today as "Sandugo", meaning "one blood".

In honor of this occasion, the late Philippine President Elpidio Quirino established the Order of Sikatuna, a presidential decoration conferred upon diplomats.

ARYA ABRA FESTIVAL

ARYA ABRA FESTIVAL
Abra Province
March 7-10

ARYA! ABRA FESTIVAL, a week-long celebration that coincides with the founding anniversary of the Province of Abra, will be held from March 6-10. This year the Arya Abra Festival will feature the One-Town-One-Product program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to promote the products of the province. All the towns are expected to come up with their own booth where they would display their products in the trade fair.

Other activities include the usual karambola, horse race, the Tingguian Festival, youth day, farmers day and veterans day celebrations. This festival is a celebration of ABRA identity. ARYA ABRA which means "Onward Abra!", was originally coined by Governor Vicente P. Valera as his battle cry when he first sat as governor of the province. It later evolved into the ARYA ABRA Festival in celebration of ABRA Foundation day.

KAAMULAN FESTIVAL

KAAMULAN
Malaybalay, Bukidnon
March 3 - 7

Expect the Bukidnon to go tribal from the first to the second week of March, when the streets of Malaybalay take on that familiar fiesta theme. Banners, banderitas, and beer will be standard, as well as the sweet, haunting sound of native music. An early morning pamuhat ritual kicks off the festivities, to be followed by an ethnic food fest, trade fairs, and a lot of native dancing. The Festival is held in Malaybalay City from the second half of February to March 10, the anniversary date of the foundation of Bukidnon as a province in 1917,d to celebrate the culture and tradition of the seven ethnic tribal groups originally inhabited the province. It is the only ethnic festival in the Philippines.

Kaamulan started as a festival on May 15, 1974, during the fiesta celebration of the then municipality of Malaybalay. A town official thought of inviting some indigenous people to town and made them perform a few dance steps at Plaza Rizal to enliven the fiesta celebration. The celebration however proved very popular and together with national coverage the Kaamulan festival has become the regional festival of Northern Mindanao, as declared by the Regional Development Council of Region 10 on September 16, 1977. Kaamulan was formerly held on the first week of September but in 1996, it was transferred to the present date to synchronize it with the foundation celebration of the province.