International Living, Marriage & Travel

This kind of festivity is a religious in nature. It's so-called Pasalamat in our dialect which means thanksgiving.

It's a week-long merrymaking which kicks off on the first day of the last week of April.

During the culmination which falls on Sunday, there's a grand mardigras street dancing. However on Saturday, the search of Pasalamat festival queen is held at the festival plaza.

This festival is a grateful gesture of the people to thank God for a peaceful and a bountiful harvest during the year.

Most of the religious festivities in the Philippines are amusing and interesting. Aside from the prayer for the color of religion there is the parade or procession with music sometimes. When it is a feast day there will be parlor games with sponsors for the prizes. Incidentally yesterday June 24 was the feast day of St. John the Baptist. A city in Metro Manila and a town in Batangas province usually celebrate the day with water that is doused on anyone in the street. Everything was for fun including the parade of lechon which is the roasted pig.

Pasalamat or thanksgiving is not the festival to be celebrated here. However, we have a festival similar to thanksgiving. The festival is marked by various tribes in the country and they have different names for it. It is celebrated in November when the moon shines full. The festival is marked with a family gathering and a lot of eating.

When it comes to local festivals I only know of Ati-Atihan and Santacruzan. I haven't heard of Pasasalamat yet until I read your post. Seems like it's not that popular here in Manila.