JANUARY

Black Nazarene Procession
Black Nazarenois celebrated on the second Tuesday of January. It is the feast day of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church. After the main mass, the famous statue of the Black Nazarene, carved in Mexico during the 18th century, is placed ona gilded carriage and borne in procession around the Quiapo district, with thousands and thousands of devotees participating.
The Black Nazarene Procession, probably known as the largest procession of the country takes place on 9 January each year. This procession starts early in the afternoon at the Quiapo Church in Quiapo. On this day, thousands of Catholics flock the streets in this part of Manila to catch a glimpse of the 'Black Nazarene'; a life-size statue of Christ carved from blackwood as it is being carried through town.

Ati-Atihan
Ati-Atihan, a festival that takes place in Kalibo, Panay happens to be the most famous festival in the Philippines held on the 3rd weekend of January. Ati-Atihan means 'making like Atis' - the black Negrito aborigines, original settlers of Panay. This fiesta goes way back to the year 1212, when 10 Bornean families fled religious tyranny, sailing northwards to Panay. In Panay, the inhabitants called Ati allowed the Borneans to settle on a piece of land. To show their appreciation, the Bornean immigrants threw a lavish fiesta for their Ati neighbors. During this event, the newly arrived settlers blackened their faces and enlivened up the festival with cymbals, gongs as well as dances in merry imitation of the local Atis. It was not until years later when the Borneans defeated Muslim attackers that the figure of Santo Nino, the child Jesus, was introduced.
Ati-Atihan is a spectacular festival when the towns dances, sings and play drums for 3 days. This 'round the clock' festival of madcap fun shows thousands of people outrageously costumed and masked while a lengthy procession of thrilled participants joins in the festivities.

Sinulog
Cebu City's fiesta of fiestas. Characterized by its peculiar two-steps-forward-and-one-step-backward shuffle, thus simulating the Holy Child of the shores, the Sinulog is a century-old tradition observed in the part of Visayas region. The prayer-dance is synchronized to the beat of drums and shouts of "Pit Seņor! Viva Sto. Niņo!" Feel free to dance with the best of them, grooving all the way to the grand final presentation at the Cebu City Sports Center.