Festival dances are cultural dances performed by communities to honor patron saints or bountiful harvests. They originate from pagan traditions but were incorporated into Catholic festivals under Spanish rule. Key Philippine festivals like Ati-Atihan, Sinulog, and Peñafrancia showcase vibrant costumes reflecting local culture and the festivals' religious or historical origins. Costumes often feature indigenous fabrics decorated with beads, flowers, and other symbols significant to the local community.

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5. Festival dance are cultural dances performed to the
strong beats of percussion instruments by a
community of people sharing the same culture
usually done in honor of a patron saint or in
thanksgiving of bountiful harvest. Festival dances
may be religious or secular (or non-religious) in
nature.
F E S T I V A L D A N C E

6. The origin of the word 'festival' can be traced to
the Latin 'festa' meaning 'a religious holiday'.
The adjective connected with 'festa' was
'festivalis', and that word came into English, via
French, as the adjective 'festival' ('relating to a
religious feast').
F E S T I V A L D A N C E

7. Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan Known as The Mother of
All Philippine Festivals, the Ati-Atihan serves as the
inspiration behind Cebu’s Sinulog and IloIlo’s
Dinagyang, among many other festivals in the country.
While it is also in honor of the Santo Niño, its origins
are more pagan in nature, dating some 800 years
ago.
F E S T I V A L D A N C E

8. Finding origins in pagan traditions, fiestas
became celebrated events under the Spanish rule.
When the first colonizers noticed the early
Filipinos’ love for celebrations, they used fiestas
as a way to entice the natives.
F E S T I V A L D A N C E

9. Religious
or
Secular
F E S T I V A L D A N C E

10. Religious
F E S T I V A L D A N C E
These are dances characterized by
movements showing reverence to a
religious icon believed to have
interceded in their personal lives.
This celebration is an expression of
thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest
and for a favor or request granted to
them through divine intercession.

11. F E S T I V A L D A N C E

12. Secular
F E S T I V A L D A N C E
These are the dances which are
celebrated by the different
communities to showcase their
different cultures and values of
industry and unity. They performed
along the streets as they celebrated
their bountiful harvest accompanied
by indigenous
instruments.

13. F E S T I V A L D A N C E

14. Religious
or
Secular
F E S T I V A L D A N C E

15. Festival Dances
in the
Philippines

17. The Magayon Festival comes
from the local legend of
Daragang Magayon. She is a
beautiful maiden whose love
story is said to have given birth
to the iconic Mount Mayon.

18. However, the modern incarnation of
the festival as an annual celebration
began in the 1990s. Initiated by the
provincial government of Albay, the
festival served to honor and preserve
the region’s rich cultural heritage. It
also aimed to promote tourism in
Albay.

19. the costumes usually feature a mix of
native Bicolano fabrics, such as
abaca, sinamay, and pina. They also
come with modern materials like
beads, sequins, and embroidery to
perfectly blend tradition and
contemporary fashion.

22. Kaogma Festival is a religious festival and a
founding anniversary celebration in
Camarines Sur, Philippines every May 27th.
It is a summertime province-wide festivity
that remembers the creation of Camarines
Sur as a province. A week-long celebration,
it is the biggest festival in Camarines Sur and
popular by its tagline, “The Hottest Festival
in the World.”

23. Kaogma Festival comes from the word
kaogma, a word in Bicolano language
that roughly translates to enjoy one’s
time or happiness. It was established
on May 15, 1989 in time for the fiesta
of San Isidro Labrador (St. Isidore the
Worker), who is regarded as the
patron of agricultural workers.

24. The costumes often incorporate elements of
nature, such as flowers, leaves, and animals,
which are significant in Bicolano culture.
Both men and women often wear
headdresses, called "sarok," adorned with
flowers, feathers, or other decorative
elements. These headdresses add an extra
element of festivity and cultural significance
to the overall costume

25. The women's costumes typically consist of
a long, flowing dress called a
"balintawak" or "patadyong." These
dresses are made of lightweight and
breathable fabrics, adorned with intricate
embroidery or beadwork. They are often
paired with intricately woven accessories,
such as "pandan" or "abaca" bags, which
add a touch of uniqueness to the overall
look.

26. For men, the traditional attire includes
a loose shirt called "barong Tagalog,"
paired with "patadyong" or "baro't
saya." These garments are usually
made from indigenous fabrics like
"piña" or "abel," and are often
embellished with intricate patterns or
designs.

28. The Peñafrancia Festival, the largest
Marian event in Asia, celebrates two
feasts: the Divine Face of Jesus on
September 2nd and Our Lady of
Peñafrancia the following weekend. It is
considered as the biggest and most
popular religious event in the Philippines

29. The Peñafrancia Festival is a
celebration of the devotion to the
Virgin of Peñafrancia and is known
for its vibrant and lively atmosphere,
with the dancers' costumes playing a
significant role in creating a visually
stunning display during the
festivities.

30. The Voyadores dancers sport a headdress
resembling the Peñafrancia crown,
symbolizing the sun. Their attire is a vibrant
yellow Filipino-style dress, reminiscent of
Peñafrancia's own style, and it's embellished
with elements that mirror Peñafrancia's grace.
Their props predominantly feature sea waves
and candles, which represent the Peñafrancia
procession, including the presence of the
Divino Rostro.

31. The headpiece for male Voyadores dancers
consists of a bandana, while their attire
draws inspiration from the 'mandaragat,'
who are male devotees responsible for
accompanying and carrying the Virgin's
image during the traslacion procession.
Their outfits are characterized by a rich and
lively color palette, emphasizing the
significance of grabbing the onlookers'
attention.

33. MassKara Festival is held every 4th
Sunday of October and is alternately
known as the 'festival of smiles' due to
the tradition of the masks that the
people wear donning smiles to
represent the message of happiness.
Because of the festival, Bacolod is also
designated as the 'City of Smiles'.

34. The festival began in 1980. It
was created in the context of a
series of difficulties and hardship
in the island of Negros and the
city of Bacolod in particular
under administration of
Ferdinand Marcos.

35. They wear masks with bright, colorful,
creative, and cheerful smiles. They
typically wear tropical or Hawaiian-style
with vibrant patterns and colors. They
also wear headpieces adorned with
feathers, flowers, or other decorative
elements. Accessories such as beaded
necklaces, bracelets, and anklets are also
worn.

36. They wear elaborate and brightly
colored dresses. These dresses are often
adorned with intricate embroidery,
sequins, and other decorative details.
Floral headpieces or crowns are
commonly worn creating tropical
appearance. They may accessorize with
jewelry, such as earrings, necklaces, and
bracelets.

38. The Kalibo Santo Niño—Ati-Atihan
Festival,also simply called Ati-Atihan
Festival, is a Philippine festival held
annually in January in honor of the
Santo Niño (Holy Child or Infant Jesus) in
several towns of the province of Aklan,
Panay Island. The festival is held during
the third Sunday of January in the town
of Kalibo, the province's capital.

39. The name Ati-Atihan means "to imitate
the Ati people". Ati-Atihan originated
in the 13th century as a pagan
festival. It began as a celebration of
peace between the Aetas (indigenous
people) of Panay Island and the
Malays from Borneo who arrived at
the island seeking a new place to live.

42. It is held annually on the third Sunday of
January in Cebu City, Philippines. It is a
colorful and vibrant celebration that
showcases the rich culture and traditions of
Cebu and the Philippines. It is the time when
people come together and pay tribute to the
Santo Niño, or Holy Child, the patron saint
of the city (believed to have miraculous
powers.) and celebrate the rich heritage of
Cebu.

46. FESTIVAL DANCE STEPS
1. First figure (Head)
2. Second figure (Sinulog)
3. Third figure (Lateral)
4. Fourth figure (Lateral turn)
5. Fifth figure (Wave)