PHILIPPINES FESTIVALS & SEASONS
Philippines Festivals & Seasons - Luxury Travel Magazine
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The Festivals and Seasons of the Philippines | |||||
| By: Megan Cuthbert, Issue 42 – Autumn 2010 | |||||
| (Philippines) | |||||
| WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOU TO VISIT THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT? MEGAN CUTHBERT HELPS YOU DECIDE. | |||||
| The relative cool of January brings respite from the hotter and more humid weather of the Philippines tropical climate. It also marks the beginning of the high tourist season, which lasts until May. The first foreign travellers flock to the region between January and March, while the Filipinos wait until April and May to enjoy their holidays. Holy Week, the week leading up to but not including Easter Sunday (March 28 to April 3 in 2010), should be avoided because hotels are booked out months in advance, and accommodation prices skyrocket. The country’s pervasive Catholicism is one of the most steadfast remnants of the Spanish colonial influence in the Philippines. Eighty per cent of the Filipino population is Catholic, and many of the nation’s festivals are rooted in Catholicism. Each region brings with it a distinct set of traditions and language, which means there are dozens of district festivals, known as barrio fiestas, to commemorate the feast days of the Catholic patron saints. One of the best known local festivals is the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City, which is held on the third Sunday of January. The festival honours the Holy Image of Senyor Santo Niño de Cebu. The Sinulog is a dance ritual that moves to the rhythm of drums, which symbolically resembles the current of the Pahina River. The dance is seen as a bridge between the country’s pagan past and Christian present, and the parade during the festival tells the history of the dance. Meanwhile in Kalibo in the province of Aklan on Panay Island, locals celebrate Ati-atihan, a festival that also commemorates the Santo Niño, and concludes on the same day as Sinulog. During the week-long street party, dancers dress as the aboriginal Atis, and there are community masses and religious processions. With the fifth longest coastline in the world, the Philippines has plenty of white sandy beaches and clear waters. It has the highest density of coral species in the world and a wide variety of marine life so the country provides excellent scuba diving and snorkeling locations, but perhaps the biggest drawcard for visitors is the diving. Islands like Bohol and Palawan offer some of the country’s best dive sites. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in the western Philippines has been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its astonishing variety of marine life, which divers can witness from March until June. One of the country’s best known marine animals is the mammoth Whale Shark. Found in the nearby seas of south-east Luzon, the whale shark can most easily be sighted in December and January, when warm currents bring plankton close to the shore. Whale shark tourism is a well-supported industry, and there are numerous ways tourists can observe and interact with these docile creatures, until the season ends in June. The country’s rainy season is from June to October, with July to September characterised by typhoons. The Philippines on average has eight to nine typhoons annually that make landfall, while the typhoons at sea generally wreak havoc on the weather. This time of year is the low tourist season for obvious reasons. Accommodation prices decrease making for great value if visitors are prepared to take their chances on unpredictable weather. When it comes to the weather, it’s best to do your homework, as seasonal conditions are not standard throughout the islands, and some regions offer more moderate weather. Once November starts, the country returns once again to cooler, often more moderate weather, and the end of year festivities begin. The popular San Fernando Giant Lantern Festival runs from the 14th to 20th of December and features lanterns that are 14-18 metres in diameter. This time of year is usually filled with celebration, and there are many festivities and observances in the lead up to Christmas and the New Year. | |||||
| NEW FIVE STAR PHILIPPINES | |||||
| With several new five-star hotels and resorts opening over the past year, the Philippines is becoming a popular destination for luxury travellers. Beyond urban destinations, more and more resorts are also branching out into the lesser-known regions. The first stage of the new Resorts World at Manila is complete with the opening of the Manila Marriott Hotel in October (This year or last?). The new gigantic world-class entertainment complex is also home to the new all-suite Maxims Hotel. The Hotel H20 in Manila Bay opened in May last year. The funky design and unique aquarium rooms offer guests a modern Manila accommodation experience. Boracay has long been a popular destination for travellers looking for warm sandy beaches and a fun atmosphere. The Shangri-La Boracay Resort’s opening in March 2009 made it the first five-star resort on the island. Affectionately known as the Santorini of the Philippines, the Mediterranean-styled accommodation of Bellarocca Resort and Spa became fully operational at the end of the year, following a soft opening in early 2009. | |||||
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