Puerto Galera Events and Festivals

Chinese New Year: while there's not a strong Chinese presence in Puerto Galera, there is nonetheless a strong tradition owing to centuries of trading with Chinese merchants. The Chinese New Year is observed in pockets throughout the Philippines.

Bansudani Festival: observed in Bansud, Mindoro in mid-January, a ritual of thanksgiving acknowledges the year's harvest with dancing, staged performance and an agro-fair that is held in community marketplaces and schools. The Feast of the Divine Saviour is also held during this time.

People Power Day: this important national observance honours the EDSA Revolution that took place on February 25, 1986. On this date, citizens all over the Philippines banded together in defiance of Ferdinand Marcos’ military dictatorship and ultimately overthrew his 20-year regime. Today, the holiday testifies to the undying Filipino spirit that refuses to be unjustly ruled.

Banana Festival: this event is one-of-a-kind, held locally in Baco every year on March 18^th and 19^th. As the name suggests, the festival is given in honour of Puerto Galera's abundant bananas and is held concurrently with St Joseph's Festival. Activities include banana cook-offs, dancing competitions and a beauty pageant.

Senaku: or Holy Week, is observed in Puerto Galera and across the Philippines. Asia's only Christian nation takes great pride in its religious ceremonies, and this week leading up to Easter Sunday is no exception. Each city has its own distinct way of observing Senaku, with most of Mindoro's larger towns hosting the Stages of the Cross along with a processional leading to the town's Catholic church.

Flores de Mayo: the Flowers of May Festival serves as a coming of age marker for local children. Young girls are dressed in white and join regular parades to a local shrine to the Virgin Mary, where they place wreathes of flowers. It isn't uncommon to see other townspeople joining in the processional, usually dressed as Biblical characters.

Independence Day: the official day for celebrating Philippine independence with festivities including parades and parties throughout Puerto Galera and the rest of the country.

Lechon Festival: this observance commemorates John the Baptist. The event includes plenty of street performance and a parade of roasted pigs that have been dressed up in costumes. Everything comes to a close with a lavish feast for the whole community, along with the ceremonial naming of the best-dressed pig.

Pakapya-agtike Festival: takes place in Socorro and lasts for three days. Several communities around Oriental Mindoro join in the celebration, and activities include a parade with floats, cultural exhibitions and a final round of street dancing on the third day.

National Tourism Week: this festival takes place the third week of September and places the Philippines international visitors on centre stage. The areaa around Sabang, White Beach and Big and Small La Laguna beaches come alive with a number of activities and fairs where tourists can peruse local products and acquaint themselves with the region's cultural prowess. A specific theme (reflected in the activities) is decided upon each year by the Department of Tourism.

La Naval Festival: this observance is most popular in Manila, though it takes place in any number of Filipino cities and celebrations often reach Puerto Galera's commercial districts. All eyes are on the Virgin Mary during this festival, and a processional usually carries her image through the city streets.

Kapakyanan Festival: this festival takes place in Mindoro's town of Victoria, and focuses on the bounty of the annual harvest. Street performance, beauty pageants and a number of other events showcase the region's agriculture and produce.

Immaculate Conception Feast: the city of San Teodoro in Oriental Mindoro celebrates this feast (also known as the Coco Festival) with dancers on stilts, a parade and plenty of food that features the region's primary agricultural product, the coconut.

Paskuhan: the Filipino version of Christmas is a grand event. The airways become congested as people return home from other cities in the Philippines and abroad to spend time with their families and enjoy the yuletide celebrations. Parades, grand banquets and the singing of Christmas carols are regular activities throughout Puerto Galera and the surrounding towns at this time.