CalumpitLibad Festival (Calumpit)
June 23-24
Ang Calumpit Libad Festival ay isang taunang selebrasyon na idinaraos sa Calumpit, Bulacan tuwing ika-dalawampu’t tatlo ng Hunyo. Mayroong paradang mahigit tatlumpung pinalamutiang pagoda na tinatawagna ‘’kasko’’ sa ilog ng Calumpit. Ang mga sasakyang pantubig na ito ay ginagamit sa pagdadala ng asin at iba pang bagahe pero tuwing may kapistahan, tao ang lulan nito. Bawat barangay ng bayan, may bangkang kalahok sa prusisyon. Dumaraan ang prusisyon sa ilog ng Angat, Bagbag at Pampanga.
Ang pista ay ipinagdiriwang isang araw bago ang aktuwal nakapistahan ng bayan bilang pagbibigay-pugay kay St. John the Baptist. Masayang nagkakantahan at nagsasayawan ang mga residente. Mayroon ding ritwal ng pagbabasa sa mga dumaraan bilang simbolo ng pagbibinyag. Maaaring ang tubig ay nakalagay sa isang plastik o di kaya’y sinasalok sa ilog gamit ang kamay ng mga lulan ng pagoda.
Walang taong umuuwi ng tuyo.
Santa Cruzan ( Malolos City)
May 1-31
Santa Cruzan – (Held during May 1-31)Flores de Mayo (English: "Flowers of May") is a Catholic and Aglipayan festival held in the Philippines in the month of May. Lasting for a month, it is held in honor of the Virgin Mary. The Santacruzan refers to the pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo, held in honour of Helena (known as Reyna Elena) and Constantine finding the True Cross in Jerusalem.
Singkaban Festival (Malolos City)
September 8-15
Singkaban Festival (Sining at KalinanganngBulacan), a festival of arts and culture in honor of Capitol's patron saint, "Our Lady of Victory", showcasing the traditional arts of "Balagtasan," "Kundiman" and folk dances amidst of the "Singkaban" arches. The festival is celebrated in every second week of September which is in conjunction with the "LinggongBulacan". LinggongBulacan (Held during September 8–15), A province-wide, week-long celebration consisting of various colourful cultural presentations, art and culinary exhibits, arts and skills contests, and the prestigious annual DangalngLipi Awards Night. Yearly, its activities vary depending upon the chosen theme for the year.This festival is named after the special "BAMBOO ART" abundantly known to the Bulacan province especially in Malolos and Hagonoy where Singkaban Art originated.
Obando Fertility Dance (Obando)
May 17-19
The Obando Fertility Dance is a festival where couples who hope to be blessed by children perform street dances in a long procession. The Fertility Dance of Obando is both a festival and a prayerful appeal for devotees. Obando has hosted this festival since pre-Spanish times. The festival is also mentioned by the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal, in one of his epic novels Noli Me Tangere. Obando, a small town in Bulacan, has held to this age-old tradition of Fertility Dances to the present day and has attracted a lot of tourists the world round.
The Fertility Dance of Obando has been part of tradition even before the Spanish conquest of the Philippines. The month of May has always been the season for the Fertility Dance. Initially, the native childless couples dance in front of idols to request that they would soon have children. When the Spanish took over, they convinced the natives that they can keep the Fertility Dance but would instead dance in front of images of saints instead of idols.
Nowadays, the Fertility Dance is celebrated in Obando in honor of Santa Clara, San Pascual de Baylon, and NuestraSeñora de Salambao. The prayers are offered to these three saints for the childless, for religious virtue, and a bountiful catch since fishing is the main industry of Obando, Bulacan. The Fertility Dance most of the time is offered for Santa Clara, patron saint of the childless. Others dance to the saint in hope to find a mate. Single men and single women often pariticipate in the Fertility Dance festival on separate dates since the festivities usually last three days long.
Parents who take part in the Fertility Dance do it to give thanks to their patron saint to give thanks. The fishermen and farmers of the locality of Obando participate in the Fertility Dance to pray for a good catch and a good harvest. Most of the townsfolk participate in the street dancing and merry making during the three-day long Fertility Dance. Veterans and so-called experts of the Fertility Dance insist that the dance be performed with gyrating hips in time with the music and must be done with the belief of prayers being answered. You’ll be amazed at the huge number of childless couples, thankful parents, and grateful fishermen clad in colorful costumes. One proof the locals would claim would be the population growth as evidence of the efficacy of the said Fertility Dance.
Whether it works or not, the Fertility Dance is a timeless tradition that bids a prayer of request or thanks and draws in a lot of curious visitors from all over the country. Whetheryou believe it or not, take part of the festivity and enjoy both a solemn and a joyful celebration of life.
PULILAN CARABAO FESTIVAL (Pulilan)
May 14-15
Pulilan Carabao Festival is celebrated in May, and is held in honour of the water buffalos. These animals are a prized possession in Philippines.
The water buffalos, locally known as carabao, is the national animal in the country. Some locals refer to this animal as the ‘kalabaw’, so do not be perturbed when you notice variations in the name of the water buffalo.As the national animal in the country, the locals hold a reverence for this powerful animal. Perhaps there is no better indication of this than the sheer enormity of the Carabao festival. The event is scheduled for May each year, and is held in multiple locations that include San Isidro, Angono and Pulilan.
The story behind PulilanCarabao Festival is that a farm worker by the name San Isidro was a very effective individual. So effective was he that his manager often wondered to himself how it was possible to get such work done. His curiosity led him to discover that the farm was actually cultivated by angelic creatures. For curious tourists, this fascinating folklore certainly has close similarities to Philippines’ colonial history. In the colonial era, the Spanish masters had great influence on the locals, and this festival is one of the events that is representative of this.
Prior to the event, the locals will clean and scrub the water buffalos to make them presentable for the parade. They will even go ahead to oil the hide of the water buffalos, and the more enthusiastic will place colourful ribbons on the horns. Up to 20 water buffalos are lined up for this remarkable festival. Pulilan Carabao Festival is a must-attend if you love the thrill of Philippines’ culture.
