This week’s festivals Nov. 27 to Dec. 3

Kalingkingan Festival

A celebration of the culture of the Ibanag indigenous group in Peñablanca town in Cagayan province.

Named after the Ibanag courtship dance, Kalingkingan, is also a kind of bird that thrives in the town’s Callao Caves that goes out every night to look for food.

Nov. 28

MunaTo Festival

A B’laan term meaning “first people,” MunaTo festival in Alabel town in Sarangani province features the founding day of the province as well as cultural diversity and the journey of the locals through the years.

Dec. 1

Kaluskos Bamboo Arch Festival

In this festival in Cardona town in Rizal province, the arches and other decorations are all made of bamboo. Local artists produce the Kaluskos Bamboo Arch, a kind of folk art, during the town’s significant events.

Dec. 1 to 3

Fiesta de los Toros

This festival in Nasugbu town in Batangas province pays tribute to its patron, St. Francis Xavier of Spain. Activities that feature cows include Parada de los Toros, which highlights the domesticated animal and carromatas in a colorful parade, and the Bailar ala Toro, a dance competition participated in by students.

Dec. 2 to 28

Paskua mi Ditoy

Ilocano term meaning “our Christmas here,” the Yuletide celebration in Ilocos Norte province holds monthlong activities for the locals. Festivities include: Tupig cook-off, balikbayan night, food strip, concerts, Paoay sand dune adventure challenge and a cock derby.

This week’s milestones

(Nov. 27 to Dec. 3)

Nov. 28

Misamis Oriental province is created in 1930 by virtue of Act No. 3777. The province used to be a part of Segundo Distrito de Misamis, a district formed by the Spaniards in 1818.

Dec. 2

For more than five hours, General Gregorio del Pilar and around 60 of his men fought about 500 Americans in what would be known as the Battle of Tirad Pass in 1899.  The fighting in Tirad Pass, the narrow passageway in the Ilocos Sur province, gave Emilio Aguinaldo time to evade the Americans as he made his way through northern Luzon.

Dec. 4

Filipino forces attack the American base in Vigan, Ilocos Sur province in 1899.

Compiled by Kathleen De Villa, Inquirer Research

Sources: DOT, gov.ph, Official Calendar of the Republic, Inquirer Archives