Siquijor is known of its fine beaches, falls and scenic views. You can do so many things in the island in one day and find yourself doing another thing the next day because there are still a lot to discover and a lot to experience. Aside from mentioned above, there’s one more thing people shouldn’t miss in this beautiful island – FIESTA .
Fiesta is a Spanish word for “feast”, “festival”, or “party”. It is a day in celebration of a certain place’s patron saint. Most fiestas starts with a mass, then followed by the traditional activities – street parades and performance, dances, home owners open their house offer food for everyone and of course, party at night.
It is just a one-day celebration but there are a lot of activities prior to the major event. Example of these activities are basketball and volleyball tournaments and beauty pageants. These activities are well-planned by the organizers (mostly LGU) and is something to look forward to.
The day before fiesta is called the Vesperas. This is when the preparations, such as decorations and cooking of food, are made. Also, some locals already open their house for visitors and offer buffet meal.
Street parades mostly include LGUs (Local Government Unit) and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), schools’ drum and lyre band and festival dance contingents. Festival dances are cultural dances performed by locals in honor of a Patron Saint or in thanksgiving of a bountiful harvest.
If you get the chance to attend a fiesta and you are a party-lover, it is recommended to experience a dance or disco (locally known as “bayle”) which is mostly held in basketball courts and capital square where everyone is dancing through the lively music.
Below is the list of Festivals in Siquijor and when it is celebrated:
- Dilaab Festival (Siquijor) * October 3 – 4
- Bugwas Festival (San Juan) * August 27 – 28
- Saging Festival (Lazi) * May 14 – 15
- Lubi Festival (Maria) * May 20 – 21
- Pamukad Festival (Enrique Villanueva) * July 15 – 16
- Canoan Festival (Larena) * May 2 – 3
Siquijor, also known as “Isla del Fuego”, is named such not because there are a lot of volcanoes or anything related with that, but because of the island’s mystic fireflies, thus giving birth to the island’s capital town fiesta – the Dilaab Festival.
Fiesta Celebrations Around Siquijor Island
| Municipality | Barangay | Main Fiesta | Segunda Devoto |
|
Siquijor (October 3-4) |
|||
| Sabang | August 15-16 | ||
| Luyang | August 15 – 16 | ||
| Cang-Agong | April 14-15 | ||
| Banban | August 15-16 | ||
| Pili | August 15-16 | ||
| Canghunoghunog | May 14-15 | ||
| Luzong | September 26 | ||
| Olo | August 15-16 | May 13 | |
| Tacloban | August 15-16 | ||
| Cantabon | June 12-13 | December 30 | |
| Cangmatnog | September 26 | ||
| Cang-atuyom | September 9-10 | ||
| Cang-asa | September 9-10 | ||
| Ponong | Septmeber 29 | ||
| Tebjong | 2nd Sunday in Nov. | ||
| San Antonio | June 12-13 | ||
| Cang-inte | May 14-15 | ||
| Cang-isad | January 23-24 | ||
| Tacdog | October 3-4 | May 2-3 | |
| Pulangyuta | October 3-4 | 1st Saturday in Sept. | |
| Ibabao | January 24 | ||
| Lambojon | September 9-10 | ||
| Cangmohao | October 3-4 | February 11 | |
| Songculan | October 3-4 | ||
| Cang-adieng | September 26-27 | ||
| Bolos | October 3-4 | Last Saturday in May | |
| Caipilan | May 14-15 | ||
| Tambisan | Deccember 17-18 | ||
| Pasihagon | January 14-15 | June 17-18 | |
| Cang-alwang | January 14-15 | ||
| Tongo | January 14-15 | ||
| Tinago | January 14-15 | ||
| Caticugan | January 14-15 | September 13 | |
| Dumanhog | October 3-4 | January 5-6 | |
| Calalinan | October 3-4 | April 14-15 | |
| Canal | October 3-4 | Last Saturday in Nov. | |
| Poblacion | October 3-4 | ||
| Pangi | October 3-4 | May 6-7 | |
| Candanay Sur | October 3-4 | April 29 | |
| Candanay Norte | October 3-4 | March 18-19 | |
| Caitican | October 3-4 | Last Saturday in May | |
| Panlautan | January 23-24 | ||
| Larena ( May 2-3) | |||
| Nonoc | May 2-3 | ||
| Cangbagsa | May 2-3 | January 14-15 | |
| Poblacion Sur | May 2-3 | ||
| Poblacion Norte | May 2-3 | ||
| Helen | May 2-3 | ||
| Bagacay | May 2-3 | ||
| Canlambo | May 2-3 | ||
| Taculing | May 21-22 | ||
| Cangmalalag | June 29 | ||
| Sandugan | June 29 | ||
| Cabulihan | May 15-16 | ||
| Ponong | Oct 11-12 | ||
| Balolang | March 18-19 | ||
| Canlasog | January 14-15 | ||
| Bontod | May 2-3 | ||
| Calunasan | November 27-28 | ||
| Bintangan | November 27-28 | ||
| Basac | November 27-28 | ||
| Catamboan | November 27-28 | ||
| Cang-apa | November 1 | June 13 | |
| Candigum | January 9-10 | ||
| Sabang | May 2-3 | ||
| Cang-allas | May 2-3 | ||
| Enrique Villanueva ( July 15 – 16 ) | |||
| Bitaug | August 15-16 | ||
| Lomangcapan | July 15-16 | ||
| Tulapos | July 15-16 | May 3 | |
| Poblacion | July 15-16 | ||
| Mananao | October 12 | ||
| Bolot | July 15-16 | ||
| Bino-ongan | July 15-16 | ||
| Camogao | July 15-16 | August 30 | |
| Balolong | March 18-19 | ||
| Parian | July 15-16 | ||
| Olave | July 15-16 | September 10 | |
| Cangmangki | July 15-16 | ||
| Lotloton | July 15-16 | ||
| Maria ( May 23-24) | |||
| Bogo | May 24 | ||
| Olang | May 24 | ||
| Poblacion Norte | May 24 | ||
| Poblacion Sur | May 24 | ||
| Looc | May 24 | ||
| Cantaroc A | May 24 | ||
| Cantaroc B | May 24 | ||
| Sawang | May 24 | ||
| Candaping A | May 24 | ||
| Candaping B | December 12 | ||
| Nabutay | November 25 | ||
| Liloan | March 19 | ||
| Minalunan | January 15 | ||
| Saguing | January 15 | ||
| Logucan | September 10 | ||
| Cangtugbas | May 24 | ||
| Calunasan | December 8 | ||
| Pisong A | May 24 | ||
| Pisong B | May 3 | ||
| Cabal-asan | February 11 | ||
| Bonga | August 15 | ||
| Licoan | August 15 | ||
| Lazi (May 14-15) | |||
| Simacolong | December 8 | ||
| Tigbawan | May 14-15 | 2nd Sunday of Jan. | |
| Catamboan | May 14-15 | June 27 | |
| Gabayan | June 24 | ||
| Talayong | October 7 | ||
| Lower Cabangcalan | October 7 | ||
| Upper Cabangcalan | December 4 | ||
| Campalanas | December 4 | June 10 | |
| Ytaya | December 4 | ||
| Tignao | September 20 | ||
| Kinamandagan | October 20 | ||
| Cangclaran | May 15 | ||
| Kimba | November 20 | ||
| Po-o | November 17 | ||
| Cangomantong | February 11 | ||
| Capalasanan | January 3 | ||
| Tagmanocan | May 15 | ||
| Nagerong | September 10 | ||
| San Juan ( August 27 – 28) | |||
| Tambisan | December 18 | ||
| Paliton | April 25 | ||
| Solangon | August 28 | October 7 | |
| Lala-o | August 28 | May 3 | |
| Poblacion | August 28 | June 24 | |
| Maite | August 28 | December 8 | |
| Tubod | March 19 | ||
| Tag-ibo | February 11 | ||
| Can-asagan | August 28 | ||
| Candura | April 5 | ||
| Cansayang | April 5 | ||
| Napo | May 16 | ||
| Catulayan | October 13 | ||
| Timbaon | September 29 | ||
| Cangmunag | September 8 |
