This week’s festivals

Dec. 18

Patupat Festival

The event features a famous delicacy of the town of Ballesteros in Cagayan province called “patupat,” which is steamed sweet glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves.

Honey Festival

The annual town fiesta of Bacnotan in La Union province highlights “diru,” Ilocano for honey, one of the town’s industries and major sources of income.

Dec. 18 to 23

Pamitinan Festival

Formerly called Montalban, the town of Rodriguez in Rizal province celebrates its founding anniversary along with the festival named after the Pamitinan Caves. The event aims to raise awareness in preserving the caves, known as the secret headquarters of the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio.

Dec. 19-20

Panagyaman Festival

The town of Balaoan in La Union province looks back at its traditional songs in a street dancing event. The ingenuity and creativity of locals are also on display at a trade fair where native products and food are sold.

This week’s HISTORICAL milestones

(Dec. 18 to 24)

Dec. 18

The municipality of Tuguegarao in Cagayan province is converted into a city in 1999.

Dec. 21

The construction of Benguet Road (now Kennon Road) is approved in 1900. The road starts in Rosario in La Union province and ends in Baguio in Benguet province. This project by the Americans connects the Manila-Pangasinan railway to Baguio.

Dec. 23

President Emilio Aguinaldo signs in 1898 the Malolos Constitution

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