March 17 to 19: Sulyog Festival
A festival at Bongabong town in Oriental Mindoro province in honor of St. Joseph as well as in celebration of the town’s main agricultural products — “suli,” or banana, and “niyog,” or coconut.
Performers in a street dance enact the process of harvesting, sorting and offering of coconuts and bananas.
March 17 to 19: Sinigayan Festival
A call for residents at Sagay City in Negros Occidental province to save and protect the environment, the festival’s theme this year is “Making Sagay a Better Place.”
Activities include a junk art contest, cultural presentation, bonsai lecture, wood and bamboo carving lecture and body painting contest.
March 17 to 23: Pintados de Pasi
A festive parade showcasing indigenous music, dance and culture at Passi City in Iloilo province. The city also celebrates its 21st anniversary.
Among the festival’s highlights are the “pintados” tribe competition, motocross, beauty pageant and thanksgiving Mass.
March 17 to 29: Strawberry Festival
Known as the “Strawberry Capital of the Philippines,” La Trinidad town in Benguet province celebrates its main product, strawberry, with the theme “La Trinidad: My Home, My Pride.”
Among the activities are a job fair, flower arrangement contest, street dancing, float parade, concert and barangay night.
Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research; with Alex Palacio, Christabelle Abad and Patricia Gamboa, Inquirer junior interns