Cebu Province Festivals : CEBU SOUTH

 The Philippines is a home of spectacular and colorful festivals that tourists, both local and international are excited to witness. From the Sinulog Festival of Cebu to the Masskara Festival of Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, it is truly a wonderful and amazing event to be part of. It showcases cultural relativity and human diversity. 

Thus , here are some list of Cebu South's Festivals that you may find interesting to visit and attend:

1. KABKABAN FESTIVAL - Carcar City, Cebu

Source: https://thecarcarcity.wordpress.com/festival/

Kabkaban Festival is an event celebrated annually by Carcaranons on November 24-25.  The festival is presented by performing ritual dances that are supposed to drive away bad spirits in the surroundings.  The festival also presents various resources and traditions of Carcar including its history, arts, and locally-produced products.  Since Carcar is known for its inexpensive but durable shoes, bolos (wide-bladed knives), baskets, and cottage industries the locally-produced products are part of the festival by showcasing during the celebration and festivities .  

2. BONGA FESTIVAL - Sibonga, Cebu

Source: https://www.facebook.com/InsideSibonga/posts/bonga-bonga-bonga-sa-sibonga/2328268717384876/

The  Bonga Festival of Sibonga is a thanksgiving celebration among residents of the town for the blessings they received in the past year.  The town also celebrates the abundance of the food and other resources

in the town.  The festival is also held in honor of the patron saints of the town, St.  Filomena and Our Lady of Pilar.  It also falls on the feast day of its patron saints, August 9. The term “bonga” is the Cebuano word for fruit or harvest.  The festival originated from the time of the Spaniards when each town celebrated the feast day of their patron saints.  A solemn parade is typically held on the feast day of the patron saints.

3. LA TORTA FESTIVAL - Argao, Cebu

Source: https://www.driftstories.com/pasigarbo-sa-sugbo-2019/

It is a new name to the old Pitlagong Festival, held every September 29, during the feast of the Argao's patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel.  The  La Torta Festival is a celebration of the famous Argao torta, a rich sponge cake of Spanish origin, which has been a home industry in the town since way, way back.  Torta is produced in abundance in the homes at fiesta time, to serve to guests and to give to visitors to take home.

4. UTANON FESTIVAL - Dalaguete, Cebu

Source: https://queencitycebu.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/51771358_2204452689611497_2647764041388261376_o-1.jpg

Utanon Festival celebrates the culture, food, and agriculture in Dalaguete, a southern town of Cebu, Philippines every February 10. Founded by Mayor Andrade H. Alcantara, considered the father of Utanon Festival, it is an annual thanksgiving for abundant harvest of agricultural produce that the town is known for.  It is also organized in conjunction with the feast of the patron saint of the town, San Guillermo de Aquitania (St. William of Aquitane).

5. SILOY FESTIVAL - Alcoy, Cebu

Source: https://m.facebook.com/i.am.filipino/photos/a.10150618272346939/10150737471236939/?comment_id=10155444333606939

The  Siloy Festival culminates circle on the last Saturday of August and advances the Mag-abo Forest, with its popular dark shama flying creature, and in addition the town's grand white shorelines and plunge spots.  It likewise praises the town's patroness, Saint Rose of Lima. 

6. BOLHO FESTIVAL - Boljoon, Cebu

Source: http://cebufestivals.blogspot.com/2009/11/bolho-festival-2009-winners.html

The 2nd district of the province of Cebu celebrates the  Bolho Festival every 13th of November. The annual fiesta is the offering of the Boljoanons to their town patron saint, St. Nuestra Señora Patrociñio de Maria. A fiesta celebrations were all boljoanons will gather and celebrate with thanksgiving and dance.    

7. TOSLOB FESTIVAL - Oslob, Cebu

Source: https://www.thepinoytraveler.com/2019/02/celebrating-all-year-round-famous.html

The town of Oslob commemorates the  Toslob Festival every 8th of December, on the Marian feast of the Immaculate Conception.  It is also a feast of thanksgiving for bountiful catches and harvests.  Despite its religious roots, the Toslob Festival is anything but overly solemn;  like many Cebuano festivals this is also celebrated with street dancing and pageantry the whole town gleefully participates in. 

8. TOSTADO FESTIVAL - Santander, Cebu

Source: https://mingsworld.com/santander-cebu

Tostado Festival was first celebrated in 2006 to symbolize and highlight the town's abundance of farming and marine resources.  T he festival's celebration coincides with the town fiesta with St Gabriel Archangel as patron, a common religious practice among Cebuanos who are mostly Catholics by religion. 

One of the highlights of this festival is the vibrant and dazzling street dancing competition that showcases tostado, a famous local cookie.  The dancers' costumes and props reflect the theme as well as their choreography.

Disclaimer: For educational purposes only.  The images/videos were used for a project course only.

Submitted by:

Sacno, Aljun

Villamora, Kiana

Maquiling, Kriz

Sandoval, Desiree

Apura, John Niño

Sarona, Annalyn

Bolamabao, Lyka

Racho, Renalyn