September is a festive month in Luzon, the Philippines’ most significant and populous island. The region is famous for its colorful and vibrant celebrations highlighting its rich culture and traditions. From religious processions to music festivals, there is always something to look forward to in Luzon during September.
The region offers an array of festivals that will spoil travelers and locals looking for fun and unique experiences. So get your cameras ready and prepare your appetite for an adventure. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most exciting September festivals in Luzon that you won’t want to miss. So prepare to engage yourself in the beauty and diversity of Filipino culture!
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September Festivals in Luzon: Hin-ay Festival (September 28 – 29, Irosin, Sorsogon)
The festival celebrates the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, the town’s patron saint, and serves as an opportunity to rediscover the town’s cultural heritage. In addition, the festival showcases the efforts and struggles of the people of Irosin throughout its history and aims to reignite the spirit of community building.
The festival offers a variety of activities, such as Mardi Gras, which depicts the triumph of the Archangels over the Black Angel, a cultural show, an agro-trade fair, a beauty pageant, a food festival, and other events.
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Am-Among Festival (September 7 – 16, Bontoc, Mountain Province)
Bontoc celebrated its 106th establishment day and Am-Among Festival on Tuesday morning with a social parade showcasing the town’s way of life, featuring 16 barangays. The city opened an agro-modern exchange between good and conventional game rivalries. The weeklong celebration includes school society move rivalry, indigenous games recreations, artistry workshops, and abstract rivalries.
September Festivals in Luzon: Busig-on Festival (September 7 – 8, Labo, Camarines Norte)
The Busig-on Festival is a celebration held in Labo, Camarines Norte, every September 7 to 8. The festival highlights the town’s distinct historical values and beliefs through skill and talent competitions that showcase the town’s attractions. The festival is about the Busig-On epic, representing chivalry and Bicolano values. This event commemorates the town’s unique historical values and beliefs and features skill and talent competitions that highlight the town’s places of interest.
Panagdadapun Festival (September 8 – 10, Cabarroguis, Quirino)
People do not commonly discuss the province of Quirino in daily conversations. However, the Panagdadapun Festival takes place every September, bringing the region into the national spotlight. Panagdadapun, an Ilocano term meaning assembly, is fitting for the festival as it unites the people of Quirino to exhibit their culture and traditions through a week-long celebration.
Singkaban Festival (September 8 – 15, Malolos, Bulacan)
The Singkaban Festival is an annual week-long celebration in Bulacan that showcases the cultural expressions of the Bulakenyo people. It features traditional arts such as the “Balagtasan” literary form, folk dances, and kundiman songs. The festival’s highlight is the singkaban, a local art form that uses bamboo to create decorative materials such as archways. The festival’s main event is a street dance and float parade in which representatives from different Bulacan towns participate.
The Singkaban Festival is an opportunity to exhibit Bulacan’s rich cultural heritage and creativity. The singkaban bamboo arts are a prominent festival feature, especially in Hagonoy. Other towns also participate in the festival with their unique celebrations, such as Guiguinto’s Halamanan Festival, San Ildefonso’s Gulay Festival, Pandi’s Baro’t Saya Festival, Plaridel’s Goto Festival, San Jose del Monte’s Camotes Festival, Bustos’ Minasa Festival, and Baliwag’s Buntal Hat Festival.
Peñafrancia Festival (3rd Sunday, Naga City, Camarines Sur)
The Penafrancia Festival is a religious celebration in the City of Naga. It is the country’s biggest and most well-known religious event, centered around Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia. The festival has become essential to the city’s identity and is often called the “pioneer city” in promotional campaigns. The Porta Mariae, a massive triumphal arch with a gold image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia on top, is located in the city.
While religious activities are the main focus of the Peñafrancia festival, several civic events occur during the weeks leading up to the principal feast days. The people of Naga often view these seemingly “ordinary” events as genuine expressions of their devotion to Ina. Participants in these events usually wear headbands or carry flags printed with Viva la Virgen or Viva el Divino Rostro.
September Festivals in Luzon: Burdang Lumban Festival (September 21, Lumban, Laguna)
Lumban, a usually peaceful town, transforms into a vibrant and lively hub of festivities every third week of September for its Burdang Lumban Festival. In addition to the traditional fiesta celebrated in January, the town has embraced a recent trend in the Philippines of creating festivals to attract tourism, bring joy to locals, and showcase unique products, industries, or heritage.
For Lumban, the festival highlights its centuries-old tradition of hand embroidery, known as burda in Tagalog. Lumban is renowned for its hand-embroidered barong Tagalog, wedding gowns, and other intricate designs found only in this Laguna town. In addition, the festival aims to promote further Lumban’s reputation as the Embroidery Capital of the Philippines.
Hand embroidery remains the star attraction of Lumban, and the festival vividly showcases it. The street dancing competition is the festival’s highlight, featuring school children in bright and vibrant costumes inspired by the barong Tagalog and adorned with favorite embroidery designs.
Final Thoughts
If you plan to travel within the Philippines, consider adding these September festivals in Luzon to your itinerary for a more enriching experience. But, of course, seeing them in person is always better, especially if you enjoy taking travel photos to preserve the memory of each cultural immersion.
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