List of Festivals and Events in Eastern Visayas

Here are the Festivals and Events in Samar and Leyte for the Year.

• Kadayaw Festival - January

Pambujan, Nothern Samar - Thanksgiving for God’s blessings during the first full moon.

• Sinulog ha Malitbog - January 15
  

Malitbog, Southern Leyte - Religious streets pageant as homage to the Holy Child Jesus.

• Homonhon Landing - March 16

Homonhon, Eastern Samar- Reenactment of the discovery of the Philippines in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan.

• Karayapan Festival - March

Guiuan, Eastern Samar - A colorful festival depicting how the early Guiuan Townsfolk enjoyed nature’s bounties, rich marine life, fertile land, verdant forest. It is also a thanksgiving to their Patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mother.

• Pamalandong Ha Palo -Holy Week
  

Palo, Leyte - Dramatic reenactment of Christ’s suffering on the cross on Good Friday.

• Turugpo Festival -Holy Week

Barangay Camansi, Carigara, Leyte - Carabao Fight (Pasungay) and horse fight (Paaway) on Black Saturday.

• Sunduan ha Carigana - Holy Week

Carigara, Leyte - Grand Homecoming and festivities on Easter Sunday highlighting the rich history of Carigara, once the capital of Leyte.

• Sinugdan - March 31 (First Mass)
  

Limawasa, Southern Leyte - The First Catholic Mass in the Orient is commemorated with the anniversary program and festive activities.

• Sanggutan Festival - May 18

Barugo, Leyte - Honoring the age-old process of coconut wine making. a dance of “tuba” lovers.

• Pahoy-Pahoy Festival - May 25

Calbiga, Samar - Grand Parade of colorful scarecrows and street dance to celebrate a good harvest.

• Santacruzan/Flores de Mayo -May

Month long nightly procession to depict the search for the cross by saintly Queen Helena.

• Manoglaya Festival - June 12

San Antonio, Northern Samar - Cultural Tourism Festival. Manoglaya is the ancient name of San Antonio. “Mano nga Paraglaya” literally means fisherman using net.

• Lingganay Festival - June 19

Alang-alang, Leyte - Street pageant depicting the legendary and mythical story of the bells.

• Bagulan Festival - June 19

Paranas, Samar - Marry-making after a good coconut harvest.

• Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival - June 27

Tacloban City, Pintados showcases the ancient practice of body painting and how Tacloban’s ascendants came to accept Christianity and develop a great love fo the Senor Sto Nino.

Kasadyaan is a pageantry of colorful and diverse festivals of the municipalities of Leyte depicting their culture, history and way of life.

• Subiran Regatta

Tacloban City - Exciting Race of native sailboats with outriggers displaying seamanships.

• Sangyaw Festival - June 29

Tacloban City - Sangyaw showcases the tapestry of culture of the Warays who are described as the essential Visayans becauseof their zest for life and carefree nature.

• Balyuan - June 29

Balyuan Ampitheater, Tacloban City Ceremonial exchange of images of the Holy Child between Tacloban, Leyte and Basey, Samar.

• Sto Nino de Leyte Fiesta - June 30

Jubilation on the recovery of Tacloban’s patron saint which was lost at sea in 1955. Fluvial procession, social, cultural and religious activities are held.

• Kaadlawan han Samar - August 11

Catbalogan City, Samar - Week-long celebration of Samr Province’s Foundation Day.

• Hulatan, Festival

Julita, Leyte - Depicts the historical events which led to the creration of the municipality.

• Pasaka Festival - August 15

Tanauan Leyte, Legend has it that Tanauanons witnessed the assumption of Blessed Mother into Heaven. After seeing this great Miracle, they rejoiced and celebrated the event with dances.

• Lubi-lubi Festival - August 15

Calubian, Leyte - A lively festival focusing on the coconut three and its uses.

• Buyogan Festival - August 19

Abuyog, Leyte - "Buyog" (bees) dancers, depict the origin of the town's name in a well choreographers dance.

• Bankaton - August 20

Lavezares, Northern Samar - Exciting motorboat race.

• Sarakiki - September 1-8

Calbayog City - A dance inpired by the movement of the cock.

• Padul-ong -September 7

A mythical presentation of how the image of the blessed Virgin was mysteriously transported to Borongan from Portugal and its connection to the Lady in White who frequented the Hamorawan Spring and caused its water to miracuously heal the locals.

• Balangiga Incident - September 21

A commemorative pageant on the Philipine-American encounter in 1901. A reminder of the Filipinos’ quest for freedom.

• Banigan Festival - September 28

Basey, Samar - Street dance showcasing the banig (mat) a truly unique to Basey.

• Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversay - October 20
  

Abuyog, Dulag, Palo and Talosa Leyte - Commemorates the landing in Leyte of the Allied Forces of Liberation.

• Karisyuhan han Pasko ha Palo - December 6 to first Sunday of January
  

Palo, Leyte - A festival to preserve the beautiful old-fashioned Filipono traditions of celebrating Christmas.

• Kaadlawan Festival in Tanauan - December 21

Tanauan, Leyte - A nightly presentation evoking the true spirit of Christmas.

• National Skimboarding Competition - December 27-30

Tanauan, Leyte - National event for skimboarder in the shorline of Tanauan hailed as the Skimboarding Capital of the Philippines.

• Alikaraw Festival - December 31

Hilongos, Leyte - Alikaraw means happiness in the midst of disorder. Despite chaos and tribulation, the people of hilongos find time to thank God for their blessings through dances and songs and pray for a bountiful year ahead.

Tanauan Holds PASAKA Festival

The people of Tanauan, Leyte once again held their annual PASAKA Festival, with five contingents coming from different schools and districts of Tanauan.

This year's PASAKA Festival in honor to the patroness of Tanauan, Our Lady of Assumption, was graced by Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla.

In an interview with Tanauan Mayor Roque Tiu, he revealed that according to some information it is only their town that holds an annual festival. He also added that only the PASAKA Festival that represent the region in the Aliwan Festival had bagged the 2nd place award.

The winner of PASAKA Festival will represent Tanauan in the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival in 2009.

Mayor Tiu added that PASAKA is more than making the people specially the young children, know the culture and history which is uniquelly Tanauan , it is also a reflection of unity and cooperation among the townfolks.

The PASAKA was conceived and initiated in 1992 by Mayor Roque Tiu and his wife PIA Regional Director Olive Tiu as the Chairperson.

The PASAKA prides itself in being one of the town Festivls in the Region which has been consistently holding annual contests. The other festival is Pintados Festival, founded by Mayor Tiu, the first President of the Pintados Foundation.

Mayor Tiu also admitted that this year's PASAKA Festival participants wanted to decline due to financial problems, but still they are happy because even with the said problem they were able to showcase the festival and the people of Tanauan, together with some tourist enjoyed their presentation.

Tanauan is classified as one of the progressive towns in Leyte and tagged as one of the most business friendly municipality in the country.