Filipino fiestas mark important historical or religious events, such as the founding of a community or the life of a prominent Catholic saint. The celebrations are a unique fusion of Spanish colonial-era influence and pre-colonial Filipino tradition. For example, one day of a fiesta might include a procession, or parade, to a nearby church before a traditional folk dance performance. Fiestas are also celebrated with cultural shows, street dancing, food stands, parades and artistic exhibits.
There are over 100 month-long fiestas in the country annually. I have been lucky enough to experience a fiesta in my province of Antique and another in Cebu City!
In my provincial capital of San Jose, the Binirayan Festival takes place every December. This festival celebrates the province’s indigenous Malay migrants who moved to the island prior to Spanish colonization in the 1500s. At the Binirayan festival, I watched large groups of colorful street dancers and tried some delicious street food! My favorite is called kwek-kwek, a bright orange, deep-fried duck egg. A fun Binirayan tradition I learned about was parades! I walked around the city in a large group with another Peace Corps volunteer.
