If you are looking for a place to live, Palawan is one of the best locations to consider. Aside from being popular as a tourist destination, Palawan real estate is also a booming industry. Beachfront properties and condos for sale are all over the province to provide a wide range of options for those in search of a home. It is an ideal place to buy a home but not to be missed are the colorful Palawan festivals that can convince you further to live in this local and tourist-approved destination.
Palawan festivals: An overview
Palawan festivals happen all year round. Before the pandemic, these festivals are among the reasons why tourists flock to the province. Aside from the experience, these festivities also showcase the history and culture of Palawan. The events that take place also opens opportunities for the Palawenos to showcase their creativity and hospitality.
The Importance of Palawan Festivals
Palawan festivals are more than just celebrations. They play a role in keeping Palawenos connected to their roots and culture. Festivals offer opportunities to still preserve the origin of the inhabitants of Palawan in spite of the changing times. With the positivity that these festivities bring, an environment filled with unity, love and cultural harmony is established.
From colorful street parades to the most creative costumes, Palawan festivals are guaranteed crowd-drawers. Here are X festivals that will convince you to make Palawan your home.
10 Must-See Palawan Festivals
1. Tarek Palawan Festival
3rd week of January (Aborlan, Palawan)
An annual event celebrated by indigenous groups particularly those who belong to the Tagbanua and the Batak tribe. The Tarek festival is held in the municipality of Aborlan and celebrated under a full moon. It features tribal dances performed by people in woven clothing and handmade accessories. The dance is performed as a ritual to cast away evil spirits that may harm people. Aside from that, this festival is done to ask the gods for continued support and prosperity.
2. Arawedan Festival
January 23-24 (San Vicente, Palawan)
An event that takes place in Port Barton in San Vicente, Palawan, this Palawan festival highlights tourist attractions including beaches, marine reserves, and parks. Also included in the celebration are programs that pay tribute to the cultural wonders of Palawan.
3. Puerto Princesa Foundation Day and Balayong Festival
March 14 (Puerto Princesa, Palawan)
Known as the “City in the Forest”, the day when the cityhood of Puerto Princesa was declared is also celebrated in Palawan. Different activities are held to showcase teamwork, camaraderie, and skills. On this day, sports competitions, pageants, and quiz bees are held. There are also parades and street dances that are witnessed by locals and tourists.
Along with the celebration of the Puerto Princesa foundation day is the Balayong festival which is also officially celebrated every 4th of March. Balayong is also known as Palawan cherry and resembles the famous Japanese sakura tree or cherry blossoms with its spray of light pink blossoms. Traditionally, the festival starts with the Balayong tree planting ceremony.
FACT: In 2005, an ordinance has been approved to make March 4 the official Balayong day to commemorate the city’s founding.
4. Kulambo Festival
March 15 to 18 (El Nido, Palawan)
While El Nido is known for luxurious living and world-class destinations, one event that should not be missed in this part of Palawan is the Kulambo Festival. In this event, townsfolks are dressed in Kulambo and parade around the town. This celebration also showcases the town’s campaign to eradicate malaria.
FACT: Tropical forests bundle El Nido and other towns of Palawan. Its temperature and humidity also make a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes that carry malaria.
5. Pangalipay sa Baybay
April (Puerto Princesa, Palawan)
“Pangalipay sa Baybay” means merrymaking at the bay. It is a weeklong event organized by the Puerto Princesa City government which only started in 2019. This Palawan festival was done in partnership with the Association of Accredited Tourist Accommodation in Puerto Princesa (AATAPP).
6. Pasinggatan Festival
1st week of May (Taytay, Palawan)
Pasinggatan Festival is derived from a Cuyuno term which means luster or shine. It is an annual event that showcases the ethnic cultures, songs, dances, native games and local cuisine in Palawan. Its main events include a Street Dance Competition and a pageant wherein the festival queen will be crowned.
7. Baragatan Festival
May 22-June 2 (Puerto Princesa, Palawan)
Derived from a Cuyunon word which means “to gather”, Baragatan Festival is one of the events in Palawan that truly brings people together to witness what the province has to offer. In this Palawan festival, residents and tourists gather to taste the most delectable foods native to the place, attend trade fairs, witness a parade of colorful floats, and see different competitions including street dance, singing, and battle of the bands. Aside from those events, the Baragatan Festival aims to showcase its charming tourist spots and unique culture.
8. Cuyo Fiesta
August (Cuyo, Palawan)
This Palawan festival will remind you of the Ati-Atihan Festival in Aklan as its participants with blackened skin, soot-covered faces, and clad in colorful headgear dance to the beat of the drums. It celebrates the rich cultural heritage of this small island town in Palawan through colorful parades, dance and musical performances, and the reenactment of San Agustin’s confrontation with the natives.
9. Anihan Festival
Last week of October (Narra, Palawan)
Also known as the Palay Festival, the Anihan Festival is an event wherein the products of the municipality are being showcased. It is one of the most famous festivals in this southern part of Palawan and its celebration is one way to give thanks for its bountiful harvest.
FACT: Narra is a town which is also known as the “rice granary of Palawan”.
10. The Pagdiwata Tribal Ritual
December (Aborlan, Palawan)
In the municipality of Aborlan, a tribal ritual is practiced through the Pagdiwata Tribal ritual. In this Palawan festival, locals are able to perform a ritual as a form of thanksgiving to God for the bounties they continuously receive and for requests of healing residents with illnesses in the province. It features a spiritual ritual that is done under the brightness of the full moon. Once the ritual is done, people may go to the beaches around town to relax and enjoy.
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Finding the best places to live in is not just all about the actual structure. It is important to find a quality and well-built home in a good location but Palawan real estate offers more than that.
When you buy a condo in Palawan or a beachfront property, you will not just preserve and grow your investment. You will also be treated to a rich cultural experience and marvel at a colorful heritage that is unique to the different towns of this province. Whether you’ll choose to live in the city or the smaller islands of Palawan, you’ll be happy to find a home blessed with beautiful people and unique history.
CitiGlobal can help you on your search for luxurious yet affordable real estate properties in Palawan. Aside from Diamond Beach Residences that offers leisure properties, the company’s future projects include towns in the province of Palawan that you’d definitely want to call your home.
In search of a condo in Palawan or a beachfront property that can be your source of passive income? Our real estate experts can help you.