This week’s festivals (Dec. 11 to 17)

Dec. 15 to 19

Shariff Kabunsuan Festival

A celebration in Cotabato City in honor of Shariff Kabunsuan, a Muslim missionary who arrived in the city to preach Islam. Activities include fluvial parade, banca race, cultural street parade contest, ethnic sports and reenactment of the arrival of Shariff Kabunsuan.

Dec. 15 to 20

Belen Festival

Also called “Paskuhan sa Sariaya,” this festival in Sariaya town in Quezon province features a belen-making contest. Participants use only materials sourced from Sariaya in building their Nativity scenes.

Dec. 16 to 23

Inugyunay Festival

A weeklong Christmas party at the Tacurong City Hall grounds in Sultan Kudarat province. Nightly festivities are sponsored and participated in by schools, organizations and government agencies.

Dec. 17

Giant Lantern Festival

“Ligligan Parul” in Kapampangan, giant lanterns light up the City of San Fernando in Pampanga province, also known as the “Christmas capital of the Philippines,” to mark the Yuletide season.

Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research: Sources: Historical Calendar (1521-1969),DOT, gov.ph, Inquirer Archives