The Philippines is home to dozens of festivals scattered all over the archipelago, each one trying…read moreto one up the other with pomp and parade. You've got Cebu's Sinulog, Iloilo's Dinagyang, Bacolod's Dinagyang, and Aklan's Ati-atihan just to name a few. They've all got their own character and it's sad not being able to see them all. One way you can get a little taste of all those colorful festivals from the provinces is with the annual Aliwan Fiesta. The gist of the whole thing is that Aliwan aims to proudly showcase the different cultural festivals from across the Philippines, whether they are from big or small cities. Held every April or May, Aliwan is a city dweller's chance to see what all the fuss about fiestas is about. Just watching the participating contingents give their heart and soul is really inspiring. Don't forget to bring your camera and make sure your battery's fully charged. With all that color and all that action going on, you're going to be shooting for a while.

I think majority of Filipinos don't even have the luxury of time to be able to appreciate the arts…read more For some, living is a day-to-day struggle, and even for the educated masses, it is far too common to be stuck with a 9-5 that sucks the soul out of our idealism and desire for beautiful things. I think much of my local culture experience mainly comes from the once-a-year event that is Pasinaya, the Cultural Center of the Philippines' open house event, and kickoff to the show season. During Pasinaya, performers from all over the country gather at the CCP's grounds to stage different shows -from folk arts to Western classical music and art performances. The different stages and theaters in the CCP complex plays host to different forms of art and expression, such as poetry,film dance, music, drama, theater and visual art. What is interesting though is they have a pay all you can, see all you can system with minimum donations to the performers ranging from anything as low as P50, to special VIP fast passes for P3000. Last year, I was able to catch performances by such high profile performance troupes Bayanihan Dancers and the Madrigal Singers. I also attended workshops for intaglio printing, flamenco music and a performance anthology of Cordillera dances -- all in one day, so you can imagine how exhausted I was after the days' events. I just wish the CCP would extend this event to more than just one day, because there is simply way too much going on and it is impossible for one to experience all the great offerings of this open house festival. Some acts and performances are too good to miss.

If you're looking to be inspired by how vibrant and alive the Philippine arts scene is, be sure to…read moreattend the Pasinaya Open House Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)! The festival was established to bring in more audiences to the CCP, especially those who don't usually go to the venue or who have no idea what it is for; as well as to showcase what its resident companies and artistic groups have to offer for the year. Usually held ever February, you can have your fill of different performances from WORLD-CLASS FILIPINO GROUPS such as the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Ballet Philippines, and Bayanihan Dance Company, among others, for as low as Php 50 to Php 300. Those who regularly attend know that lines get ridiculously longer each year, so come early. Prepare to spend the whole day if you want to immerse yourself in as many performances as you can. Yes, you may bring your kids, family, and or your barkada--this is best experienced with a group, to chat with while moving from one venue to another.

Celebrate the most festive of seasons the best way you can imagine with a parade of lights, floats…read moreand every single extravaganza UP students could practically think of. Particularly famous for the crazy floats and costumes that go along with it, UP's famed annual lantern parade is something you definitely should put into your list during the holiday season. What to expect? Well, tons of creativity to begin with. UP Diliman is home to some of the most creative minds our nation can probably develop, that said you can truly expect some crazy and cooky ideas for floats and themes here. From transforming lanterns to those presenting a more socially conscious ideology, expect it all here but with a dash of color at the UP Lantern parade!

What a wonderful experience. Thank you and I enjoyed those exotic food. Marvelous! I will always…read morereturn and refer you all for those who's seeking the best customer service and fun.

Oh I cannot begin to express my love for balloons!!! Ever since I was a kid, I have always been…read moreattracted to balloons and amused by hot air balloons. There's something about them that makes me all giddy and happy when I see them. I was thrilled when I heard of the Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival. I first went in 2011 and have been going almost every year since then. The main event here, of course, would be the hot air balloons from different countries... some in the usual balloon shapes, while others in unique forms like a house, a dog, a rocket, etc. I was also lucky enough to get to ride one myself in 2013 when my (now) husband arranged for us to get on one balloon where he ended up proposing to me all the way up in the sky. What an experience!!! Besides the hot air balloons, there are many other shows to watch here too. Some of my other favorites include the Skydiving exhibition and aircraft formation flight. Clark is just a short drive away from Manila, making it easy to get to. They have lots of food vendors there, so don't worry about bringing food with you. Just make sure to go early in the day or later in the afternoon to get parking and spot to sit. (Tip: bring a mat in case you run out of seats to sit in. It's actually better to sit on a mat on the field so you have a better view of the exhibits in the air).

If you want to know what event in the Philippines can gather 5 million Filipinos in one day? It is…read moreneither a concert nor a bazaar. It is actually the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the largest procession of the country. During these days, the whole city of Manila shuts down to give way to the bi-annual feast. Since the procession would also cover major roads, it is just good that classes and office works are suspended. Just some tips: 1. If you would join the vigil, do bring water and food 2. Know that you would not get enough sleep so be ready 3. Bring a jacket, just in case it rains and also to keep you warm during the vigil 4. Do not bring a lot of valuables

When it's Chinese New Year, the sleeping dragon comes to life in a rather majestic way as Chinatown…read moreis filled with everything red, and everything round. I have been celebrating Chinese New Year in Chinatown for 3 years now and I would daresay that this is definitely something you shouldn't miss when you are in the metro! Chinatown in Manila is the oldest one in the world, I mean, that should count for something right? Anyway, just a few tips: 1. Know the schedule of events, these would usually be posted via newspapers or online news sources 2. Eat something before you leave the house. Chinatown will be packed with people so it will be hard to find a place to eat 3. Bring water 4. Know that you'll be standing almost all the time, so bring a lot of leg strength! See you there!

Every Chinese New Year, Ongpin Street comes more alive (it is already alive during ordinary days,…read morewith vendors peddling their colorful wares), bursting with color and festivities. Ongpin Street is quite literally painted in red, as red Chinese decorations and people in red celebrate. Lion and dragon dances are held at almost every corner along the entire street, and more vendors are peddling lucky charms, and of course, the ubiquitous tikoy, for Chinese New Year. Having been to Chinese New Year celebrations here for two years, I can say that it is definitely worth experiencing. Expect a lot of people, though - yes, there are human traffic jams in Ongpin, but don't let this deter you from going, as it's really worth it. For lunch or dinner, reserve a spot at a restaurant ahead of time as the restaurants are usually crowded. This is what we did on my first Chinese New Year here. Or, get well away from Ongpin Street to eat to avoid the crowds, which is what we did on my second time.

One of the most celebrated and well known festivals in the Metro is San Juan's Fiesta. Being a…read morepredominantly Catholc country, festivals celebrating saints is commonplace. San Juan for instance, commemorates the birth of St. John the Baptist, who is known in the bible as the one to baptize Jesus Christ. The fiesta is celebrated on June 24th of every year. If you were to describe the San Juan Fiesta in one word, it would be 'wet'. Or would 'drenched' by a better term? Either way, since you're commemorating John the Baptist, the tradition is to baptize other people as well. This entails dousing passersby and commuters with generous amounts of water. Games involving the use of water are also common during the festival, which include but are not limited to water balloons, water guns, and even plain pails. If you do business in the area and have no plans of getting wet, avoid going here at all costs on June 24.

The annual Metro Manila Film Festival has got to be the most popular film festivals in the…read morePhilippines. It did after all start in the 1970's. I feel like this film festival is already like a holiday to us Filipinos because it's nationalistic to the core. It promotes and supports solely Filipino films running from December to January the next year in all theaters nationwide. But for others who still want to watch foreign films, 3D and IMAX theaters are excluded (if you didn't know). During the start of the festival, there's a parade of floats that represents each film included in the festival. It's quite an event for the masses since the actors and actresses greets people from their respective floats. The traffic gets pretty heavy so don't pass by Parañaque and Roxas Boulevard where the parade takes place this year. Important to know first hand! It's usually chaotic and super crowded since Filipinos love their celebrities. XD During this festival season, I usually watch comedy, documentaries or historical movies as I seem to be drawn towards them and I always highly enjoy them. Most of their films are also highly commercialized so if you're into those kinds of films, this festival is for you. There's also an awards night which is great to give due credit to the filmmakers that deserve the recognition.

My trip to the Philippines wouldn't have been complete without visiting Intramuros…read more We took a rideshare and our driver dropped us off on Soriano Ave & General Luna St. As soon as we got out of the vehicle, a tour guide approached us. He had one of those pictorial cards and pointed to the photos of where his stops would be. His tour price was reasonable. We signed up with him right on the spot. It was half walking and half riding around in an e-cart. He was a seasoned tour guide and knew his way around Intramuros. The e-cart driver was a safe driver too. We stopped by top destinations like Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, and Baluarte de San Diego. I'm glad there were interpretive signs at each spot. We saw some kalesas too. Our guide was accommodating and flexible with our time. He also directed us to restrooms as needed. It was a good private tour. Right place, right time. We took a lot of photos. We were able to pay him in cash money Philippine Pesos after the tour ended. Something to think about when touring Intramuros is that it gets pretty hot. I would recommend bringing a handheld electric fan and/or an electric neck fan, a power bank to charge electronics, a UV umbrella, water and snacks. Wear good shoes, light clothes, and put on sunscreen as well. If it's your first time Intramuros, there is a lot to absorb. You can always return and explore on your own, at your own pace once you know the lay of the land. Intramuros was a good place to visit for Philippine history, culture, and architecture.

Considering I was stationed @ Clark AFB for about 5 years and having been back numerous times over…read morethe years I had driven by but never stopped. Considering this maybe my last time to make this (omg so long trip) vacation spot. So we went to various places I had never been before, this area is adjacent to Ft Santiago and has some "hawkers" but not really too many (try going to Draculas castle they have people selling stuff from the parking lot to the castle door) they have a few things that are the usual tourist kitch but you can usually get some fridge magnet or straw hat etc but the area is absolutely gorgeous and very little if any entrance fees. The church is absolutely stupendous. I have been to many magnificent cathedrals form Italy to England to Japan & now the Philippines. Truly an amazing area to spend 1/2 a day and to understand philippine history. A great place overall.