Oriental Mindoro 

 

Sto. Niño de Calapan Festival

Calapan City celebrates its Fiesta on New Year’s Day. For religious tourism, the city holds the Sto. Nino de Calapan Festival at the start of every year, January 1. It is a month-long celebration starting as early as December until it reaches its pinnacle through a series of different religious activities to honor the city's patron, the young child Sto. Nino and to reflect the people's religiosity. The celebration extends towards the Christmas season laced with nightly cultural presentation, yuletide activities topped by the lighting of the giant Christmas tree and fireworks, as well as agro-industrial and tourism fairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basudani Festival

Bansud, Mindoro Oriental
A thanksgiving ritual for bountiful harvest which coincides with the town fiesta. It features dances and cultural presentations by schools and barangay communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feast of the Divine Savior

Bansud, Mindoro Oriental
Highlight is an agro-trade fair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sipag Festival 

Roxas, Oriental Mindoro Description The municipality of Roxas serves as the center of trade and commerce in the southern part of Oriental Mindoro because of its bountiful products – palay and fruits like bananas, rambutan, lansones, mangoes, aquatic harvests and the different vegetables that abound in its farms. Sipag Festival is basically a product festival featuring the various produce of the locality. S stands for saging (banana); I for isda (fish); P is for prutas (fruits); PA for palay; and G for gulay (vegetables). The term “sipag” embodies the industriousness and ingenuity of the people for which Roxas is proud of. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feast of the Sacred Heart

Bansud, Mindoro Oriental
Highlight is an agro-trade fair.

 

Adyawan Festival 

San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro Description This festival displays the many uses of coconut – from its leaves, trunks, down to its root. Adyawan is one variety of this “tree of life” that is common among the Iraya-Mangyans of San Teodoro. The festival further highlights the culture and tradition of this indigenous group. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival

The Mangyan Cultural Festival 
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro 
Description The Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival is an annual celebration of music, arts and nature. Coinciding with the full moon, the festival will be held outdoors at the foot of Mount Malasimbo, overlooking the Puerto Galera Bay, selected as one of “The Most Beautiful Bays in the World”. 
The festival aims to blend traditional arts and performing styles with contemporary expressions in the arts and showcase the culture of the Manyan tribal communities while working towards the protection and sustainability of the environment in the environs of Puerto Galera. 
The Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival is a project of VU Entertainment headed by Miro Grgic and Hubert d’ Aboville who are coordinating their efforts to boost inbound tourism into Oriental Mindoro and Puerto Galera, the indigenous culture of the Mangyan communities, reforestation, marine preservation and promote Philippine arts, music and culture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banana Festival 

Baco, Mindoro Oriental
A celebration of the abundance of bananas. It features a banana cookfest and a "saba"-(type of banana)-inspired street dancing competition and beauty pageant. This coincides with the town fiesta in honor of St. Joseph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sulyog Festival 

Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro
A religious festival in honor of St. Joseph. It is celebrated by way of the Sulyog (Suli and Niyog) Festival through dances, floats, and cultural shows. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kalap Festival

The Kalap Fest. Launched only in 2009, the Kalap Festival is a celebration of culture and history. Participated by various sectors of Calapan's broad citizenry, the people walk the city streets moving as one. It is intended to be a yearly celebration packed with performances, colorful floats, and most significant of all, history. Along the main streets, floats detail the defining moments of the city's past, an insight into the Calapan of today.

Description As historians say, Calapan comes from the word “kalap” which is believed to be a kind of tree. Others say “kalap” means the process of gathering woods’. From this research, it developed into a deeper analysis and interpretation of the word “kalap” which became the basis of the festival celebration to gather series of historical facts about Calapan anchored on values of discipline, unity and God loving citizenry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bahag-hari Festival

Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro
A colorful celebration highlighted by street dancing, a parade of colorful floats, and a different kind of Moriones Festival. 

Description According to an old story, the early settlers of Pinamalayan came from Marinduque. While on their way to Mindoro using their boats, they encountered turbulent weather and lost their direction. They prayed to God Almighty for deliverance and guidance so the weather cleared and a rainbow appeared on the horizon. The crew shouted ipinamalay meaning “it was made known”. They followed the direction of the rainbow and landed at what is now Barangay Lumangbayan and established the first settlement which they named Pinamalayan. The rainbow became the historical landmark of the town. The yearly Bahaghari Festival is a colorful commemoration of the importance of the rainbow in the history of the town of Pinamalayan. The celebration includes a street dancing competition, cultural presentations, religious and cultural activities, products and trade fair. Like the rainbow which rises to give color in the sky after the torrent of rain, the Bahaghari Festival is a reflection of the continuing effort of the people of Pinalamayan that there is truly paradise at the end of the rainbow. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sabutan Festival and Mini- Trade Fair

Mabitac, Oriental Mindoro
It showcases the different native products of the province, mainly from Sabutan.

 

De Galera Festival

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro 

An annual event showcasing Puerto Galera’s rich historical heritage, culture and abundant natural resources. The highlight of the event is a fluvial parade at the sea joined by devotees of Our Lady of Fatima. The wooden boats are elaborately decorated in a tropical setting. All barangays of Puerto Galera showcases their talents and creativity in street dance competition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sab’uyan Festival / Feast of St. John the Baptist 

Pola, Oriental Mindoro Description Legend says that a long time ago, a fisherman saw the statue of St. John the Baptist which became Pola’s patron saint. Sab’uyan Festival takes place every June 24th in honor of St. John the Baptist whose image is taken from the church and carried on procession accompanied by a band and set on a beautifully decorated boat to the sea where it was first found. The Sab’uyan begins. People in the boat throw seawater to one another chanting “Viva San Juan Bautista”. After the procession at the sea, the image is carried around town. Dancers from various groups follow the image. The Sab’uyan continues. The splashing of water is received with good humor for the people believe that being doused brings good health, luck and happiness. The procession ends at the church plaza. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lechon Festival and Gabi ng Pakulo

Pola, Oriental Mindoro

A religious festival in honor of St. John the Baptist, coupled with a festive social affair, usually, a banquet, preceded by a pagoda and the parade of lechon (roast pig).

At the Lechon Festival, or Parada ng Lechon, in local parlance, roast pigs or lechon garbed in creative costumes are paraded around the town to the accompaniment of gay chanting and "buhusan" – a customary practice during the San Juan Bautista feast, which involves water dousing. A selection of the best from among the lechon entries follows, along with a free-for-all banquet open to the townsfolk and visitors alike. 

Its most interesting feature is the Gabi ng Pakulo, a combination of street dancing and all sorts of cultural entertainment, performed by different barangays on the streets of Pola.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biniray Festival 
Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro 
The festival is being held to honor the town’s patron saints Peter and Paul,  A grand pagoda show as a way of thanksgiving for the blessings from the sea. The celebration starts in the early hours of the morning, with a flotilla of intricately decorated boats that encircles Bulalacao Bay and met by the townsfolk at it lands on the shore. 
Marching continues on the streets with icons of the two saints greeted by the devotees in religious manner. A procession is done later at twilight and ends at the church ground. The traditional putong (crowning) of the patrons complete the final rituals amidst songs and dances by adults and children alike. 

Other highlights are street dancing, also staged during the day participated mostly by students in indigenous costumes.a parade of spectacular floats, and cultural presentations of schools and communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mangyan Festival 
Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro 
The second largest municipality of Oriental Mindoro has a total of 13,000 to 15,000 highly cultured and civilized ethnic group called the Mangyans. 
It is every July 24th when the Mangyans showcase their expertise in making and weaving baskets, beadworks, mats and bags. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pakapya-Agtike Festival 
Socorro, Oriental Mindoro 
The festival is being held annually to commemorate the town fiesta. It is a ceremonial tradition practiced by Tadyawan Mangyans as a thanksgiving ritual to praise the Almighty for bountiful harvests. 

This festivity features cultural shows, a parade of floats, and street dancing on the last day, showcasing agricultural bounty. Schools, barangays, and tribal communities participate. The festival is a thanksgiving offering to the town patron, the Holy Family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sayaw Lahi Festival

Naujan, Oriental Mindoro
A festival featuring all native dances performed on the streets by different schools and barangay communities. Other highlights are the school band competition, live-band concerts, and awarding of outstanding Naujenos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DaBaLisTiHit Festival 
Naujan, Oriental Mindoro 
DaBaLisTiHit Festival features different fresh water species found in Naujan Lake through props and costumes in a street dance. 
DaBaLisTiHit is an acronym meaning DA for dalag; BA for banak; LIS for bangles; TI for tilapia and HIT for hito.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kapakyanan Festival

Victoria, Oriental Mindoro
Kapakyanan is a Mangyan term which means ‘kasaganaan” or abundance. The festival focuses on the bountiful harvest of fruits and crops. Its highlights are street dancing and a beauty pageant with agriculture as the central theme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pamugu-an Festival

Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro
It is a festive reunion of different Mangyan tribes. There are sports events, such as the Palaro ng Lahi, cultural presentations, product demonstrations, and "Barakalan" or "baratillo" or sale of native products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Founding Anniversary of Oriental Mindoro 
Provincial Capitol 
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro 
It is an annual celebration and the major activities are exhibition of Agri-Trade Fair, culinary arts competition, Search for Ms. Oriental Mindoro, Job Fair, Mahalta, Parangal ng Bayan and Boodle Fight, Bamboo Arch-Making Contest, 

Photo Exhibit, launching of provincial coffee table book, Araw ng Sandugo, Sandugo Cultural Dance Competition, TESDA Skills Competition and Mimaropa Festival of Festivals and Search for Mimaropa Festival Queen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sanduguan Festival

Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
It revives the barter trade between the Mai natives and the Chinese traders. This week-long festivity features an agro-trade fair. There is a historical parade, re-enactment of the barter trading, and the Indakan sa Sanduguan, a street dancing competition. Considered as the biggest and the most innovative festival in the province, it also features art and historical contests, workshops, and contemporary and ethnic cultural shows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feast of Santa Catalina

Mansalay. Oriental Mindoro
Highlight is the Palarong Lahi, an array of games very native to Mindoreños, and Filipinos, joined in by all game enthusiasts.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
Highlight is an agro-trade fair.
San Teodoro Founding Day and Immaculate Conception Feast

San Teodoro
Highlight is the Tiyakad, a dancing event wherein stilts masters systematically march and sway to the delight of the viewers; a very funny and entertaining event.

Coco Festival

San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro
It is a religious festival honoring the Immaculate Conception. It features street dancing, a parade of floats, and other activities centered on the town's agricultural bounty, the coconut.

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Mahalta Festival

The Mahalta Festival honors the three most famous landmarks of the province of Oriental Mindoro - Mount Halcon, the Tamaraw and the Mangyans.

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Palayan Festival

Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro

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& Others

 

For more information, Contact:

- Tourism.gov.ph

- City Tourism Office ,Calapan City

- Municipal Tourism Office

- Provincial Tourism Office 

  Province of Oriental Mindoro