The Cebu Festivals

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippines in general is a place of many public celebrations. It seems Filipinos have every reason to celebrate. And Cebuanos tend to lead in the revelries.

Religious fervor is most alive in the country, and holy days as well as feast days of patron saints always call for festivals. In the Cebu towns, the festivals have since also taken a secular character aside from religious, upon encouragement by the provincial government. The secular festivals, though, are still timed with the religious fiestas of the towns.

Festivals promote social interaction. It allows for people to familiarize themselves with local cultures, to inquire, to think, and play. It is, thus, a way of promoting social and cultural heritage, to make a connection between the past and the present.

Festivals have an economic angle, too. The merrymaking draws visitors to discover the unique attractions of the place. As a festival runs, it enlivens the business activities of the place, from the sheer number of visitors that come.

In their festivals, the Cebu towns put forward their particular sources of pride – either a product or natural beauty or unique local tradition. A festival is a town’s way of breaking into public attention, exposing whatever the locality has to offer. The “Pasigarbo sa Sugbo,” as project of the Cebu provincial government gathers together the festivals of the towns as a peek into the various celebrations that take place in the province the whole year round.