The La Loma Lechon Festival 2014

Proving that La Loma, Quezon City still holds the title of Lechon Capital of the Philippines, on this year's festivity, La Loma offered more than just the typical lechons in costume parading down the street - they offered the start of a new beginning for La Loma Lechon Festival!

This year, the Tourism Board of Quezon City injected more activities to this filling celebration that gives guests and locals a reason to smile and weigh more. From the traditional Lechon Parade, last Sunday's festivity also includes Drums and Lyre Parade, Boodle Fight, Culinary Competition, Street Dance, Band Performances, Fireworks and more that made 2014 La Loma Lechon Festival more memorable.

I got there around lunch time, where I witnessed a crowd all gathered up at N.S. Amoranto Street. With drums and dragon dancers entertaining some of the town's guests, La Loma Lechon Festival also host a cooking contest that gave a new meaning to lechon eating.

Dinagyang 2014: The First Day to My Dream Philippine Festival

Funny it may seem that it took me a year to prepare for this and yet I'm still unprepared to what I'll be doing here. One thing I'm sure of, I'm excited to experience one of the most colorful and celebrated festivals in the Philippines - Dinagyang Festival.

Happening every fourth weekend of January here in Iloilo City, Dinagyang is celebrated with tons of fun and excitement together with some faith as the Señor Sto. Niño of Cebu brought into a procession on the streets of Iloilo along with a great number of street dancers all dressed in shinning and shimmering costumes and swaying to unique drumbeats made by different band groups.

This year, there are about 16 contingents from different parts of Iloilo and of the Visayas are vying to be the Dinagyang 2014 champion. And on the first day of my Dinagyang vacation here in Iloilo, January 23, I am welcomed by not just some drumbeats and colorful masks and costumes but also genuine sweet smiles from Ilonggos, who made the festivity more memorable and worth-experiencing.

The 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

As it celebrates it 18th year of showcasing world-class exhibition of Pinoy talents, as well as its international guests, Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta made this year flying season more extravagant and more exciting as it moves back to its original venue the Omni Aviation Complex at Clark, Pampangga, Philippines.

This is my third year to attend this exciting event where everything flies, and this is my first time that I'm about to experience all myself, well, that was until I found some friends who happen to be there too! So, yeah, my day at the first Fiesta Day or the 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta started nicely and just fun.

I arrived at the event's ground at around 5 in the morning and unlike the past three years, I was obliged to walk probably a kilometer before finally reaching the main entrance. Since the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is back to its old home, the Omni Aviation Complex, visitors of this colorful and fun fiesta have to endure the "Death March to the entrance" before you get a glimpse of the exciting things that they have here.

Feast of Sto. Nino de Tondo 2013: Viva Santo Nino!

From Kalibo to Cebu, from Pandacan to Tondo, I guess, there's really no reason to doubt how many people believe and keep their faith to the young Jesus brought by Spaniards centuries ago. And this year, as I celebrate the Feast of Sto. Nino in my hometown once again, Tondo - after that memorable and wonderful experience I had last year in Ati-atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan, I guess, there's still no place like home! Happy fiesta, Sto. Nino de Tondo!

Compared to the provinces from the south, Sto. Nino here in Manila has completely changed its image, but despite of that, the devotion given to the holy child was very evident to the number of people flock to its churches to celebrate his festivity.

And yesterday, together with my aunts who are devotees too of the Sto. Nino, I visited once again the first district of Tondo to see how the celebration was kept alive and how the people of Tondo show their unique way of thanking the miraculous image that started Catholicism in the country.

We had fun in Balayan!

This may not be that typical festival where the streets are filled with beautifully dressed people dancing through the drum beats. This may not be that typical festival where roads are closed because gigantic floats are passing by the streets. And this may not be that typical festival where people are soaked in sweat to see their favorite artists joining the fun. But despite of all of that Balayan, Batangas Festival is one festival that I'm sure you'd love to experience because it'll not juts fill you tummies with delectable lechons, but it will also soaked you in watery fun through their annual "Parada ng Lechon."

Celebrated every 24th of June, Balayan, Batangas, another province in the Philippines that's famous when it comes to lechon or roasted pig, held their yearly "Parada ng Lechon" or Roasted Pig Parade in celebration of the town's fiesta. And alongside this delectable and truly mouthwatering parade was a pure squelchy fun splash of excitement as they give thanks to one of the town's patron saint St. John the Baptist.

This is my first time to witness this festival, and even though I have this little point of comparison, since I've been to La Laoma, Quezon City's Lechon Festival and San Juan City's San Juan Day, I know that this is gonna be special because I'm with my favorite officemates, Rio and Danica a.k.a Puka Girls. Hehe.

La Loma, QC's Lechon Festival 2012!

Here in the Philippines, fiestas or festivals wouldn't be complete without the famous roasted pig locally known as lechon. Its crispy golden brown skin and juicy, tender meat just make the whole town go crazy once it is served on the table. But here in La Loma, Quezon City, lechon is not just some dining table masterpiece, it is also the star of town's most anticipated parade of the year!

Boys and girls, let's dig in to La Loma's Lechon Festival!

Dubbed as the country's Lechon Capital, La Laoma has been celebrating their town fiesta for years now in honor of their patron saint. And since, we, Filipinos celebrate festivals to give thanks to our God for a bountiful harvest or something, La Loma, Quezon City do this "celebration" thing by parading lots of roasted pigs in a very unique and funny way!

A Day Before Tsinelas Festival

Before heading to Lucban, Quezon, part of our itinerary before seeing the colorful Pahiyas Festival was to drop by first at the Tsinelas Capital of Laguna - Liliw.

It was Tita Marissa's idea (our companion, Abe's aunt) to dropped by here, and of course, since I love to travel, I don't mind stopping by here. It was my first time to see this place and I barely know anything about it, except maybe that they sell good quality and very affordable slippers. Hehe.

The Pahiyas Festival 2011

One of my lifelong dreams is to visit Lucabn, Quezon and witness its' very colorful and vibrant Pahiyas Festival. Thanks to my blogger-friends Abe, Cathie, Flow and Ohmski for tagging me along to enjoy an overnight stay at this small but very happy city.

Pahiyas Festival is celebrated every 15th of May to give thanks to their patron saint San Isidro. And that week I and my friends drove down there to fee, see and taste this wonderful festivity.