2nd Sunday of January | Lambunao, Iloilo The Binanog Festival is an exhibition of the Lambunaonons deeply rooted culture. The festival centers on the native's binanog dance. The dance replicates the mating ritual of the hawk or banog birds.  The soul and dignified nature of the natives or bukidnons is evident in the calm movement of the arms and various footwork in rhythm to the heartbeat of the gong. The dance depicts courtly pastime and stories that have been handed down from generations. Read more about Lambunao and the Binanog Festival.     

3rd week of January| Aborlan town proper  For the Tagbanuas, it is a dance ritual comprising the observance of the Pagdiwata. For the Batak tribe, it is a form of war dance. Source:Tourism Government Flyphilippines.net

Third Sunday of January | Cebu City The Sinulog Festival is considered the most important Cebu festival in the Queen City of the South. Held every January in the provincial capital, the festival attracts thousands of tourists a year with its trademark street dancing.  Like Aklan's Ati-Atihan, this Cebu fiesta honors the Santo Nino, with revelers shouting “Viva Santo Nino!” at regular intervals throughout the parade, as soot-covered, costume-clad celebrants dance to a two-step forward, one-step back rhythm. While most revelers troop to the Basilica Minore where the centuries-old image of the Baby Jesus – a gift to Cebu's Queen Juana by Spanish explorers - is on display, many agree the real fun comes with the boisterous parade of this Cebu festival, which ends with a grand finale at the sprawling Cebu City Sports Center.   The feast is in honor of the holy image Senor Santo Nino de Cebu. Fiesta Senor as it widely known, is the most celebrated among Cebu's festivals where people converge along the route of a grand solemn procession and partake in the gaiety amidst a mardigras parade immersed in vivid colors and the constant drums of the Pit Senor.  Source:CebuCentral.com

Cadiz City | Every January   Festival in honor of the Sto. Nino, patron of Cadiz City believed to have created miracles protecting the city from the invading pirates a long time ago. Source:FlyPhilippines

Every January | Ilog, Negros Occedental Re-enactment of the battle between the Christian forces and the invading Moro pirates in the Ilog river; commemorates the defiance of Datu Manyabog against the conquering forces of Gov. Emilio Saravia. Source:FlyPhilippines

Kabankalan City | Every January  Re-enactment of the battle between the Christian forces and the invading Moro pirates in the Ilog river; commemorates the defiance of Datu Manyabog against the conquering forces of Gov. Emilio Saravia.  Source:Fly Philippines

Cadiz City | 4th Sunday of January  A revelry from sunrise to sunset, with ceaseless and rhythmic beating of drums. A sea of humanity in cadence with black soot “ati” performing rituals, all in honor of El Señor Sto. Niño.  Source:FlyPhilippines  

4th weekend of January | Iloilo City Dinagyang Festival is the biggest and most colorful religious and cultural festival in Iloilo, Philippines, and is held on the fourth Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan. It is held both to honor the Santo Niño and to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the natives.  Dinagyang began after Rev. Fr. Ambrosio Galindez of a local Roman Catholic parish introduced the devotion to Santo Niño in November 1967. In 1968, a replica of the original image of the Santo Niño de Cebu was brought to Iloilo by Fr. Sulpicio Enderez as a gift to the Parish of San Jose. The faithful, led by members of Confradia del Santo Niño de Cebu, Iloilo Chapter, worked to give the image a fitting reception starting at the Iloilo Airport and parading down the streets of Iloilo.  The Dinagyang is divided into three Major events: Ati-Ati Street Dancing, Kasadyahan Street Dancing and Miss Dinagyang.  Today, the main part of the festival consists of a number of “tribes”, called “tribus”, who are supposed to be Ati tribe members dancing in celebration. There are a number of requirements, including that the performers must paint their skin brown and that only indigenous materials can be used for the costumes. All dances are performed to drum music.  Many tribes are organized by the local high schools. Some tribes receive a subsidiary from the organizers and recruit private sponsors, with the best tribes receiving the most. The current Ati population of Iloilo is not involved with any of the tribes nor are they involved in the festival in any other way.  Dinagyang was voted as the best Tourism Event for 2007 by the Philippine government. Know more about the Dinagyang Festival.   The photos here are photos of the Ati-Ati Street Dancing in the Dinagyang Festival 2010. For more photos of Dinagyang 2010, join the LocalPhilippines Group on Facebook.

3rd Sunday of January | Arevalo, Iloilo City   Held in Arevalo, Iloilo City. Highlights of this District Fiesta of Arevalo are the multicolor fireworks. The skyline becomes a celebration with the dazzling display of sparkles and blazing lights.  Source:Corporate.mozcom.com

2nd Saturday of January | San Joaquin, Iloilo    For centuries the Pasungay or bullfighting has brought excitement and lavishness to the celebration of Bayluhay Festival. The setting of gladiator-like event is traditionally held in the seaside of the age-old Augustinian built town church wherein people of all walks of life gather to witness, cheer and enjoy the ferocious display of power and motions by male carabaos (Water Buffallo ), bulls and stallions (horses) to win the fight.   Source:The News Today