Every year, each town and barangay or even sitio / purok celebrates its fiesta in honor their patron saints. [1] During this time, streets are often filled with colors, lights, and banners to signify the fiesta season. It's been a tradition for Boholanos around the world to return to their respective hometowns during fiesta for homecoming and family reunions. [2]
| Name of festival | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Agbunan | June 28 | The culture and traditions of the people of San Isidro are displayed. The festival is a great means for the promotion of tourism, of ecological and agricultural pursuits, the enhancement of folk beliefs and of the natural environment. The festival comprises a street-dancing and a showdown. Showcases of organic farm products from the different barangays of the town are also displayed. |
| Bohol Fiestas | May | Much of fiestas are celebrated on the month of May. |
| Bolibongkingking Festival | May 23–24 | For many years, Loboc has the music capital of the province. During this festival, local religious musical activities were exhibited where drums and gongs are played in various forms and rhythm. [3] |
| Calamay Festival | April 27–28 | Jagna is Bohol's Calamay capital, which is also the province's most iconic pasalubong. Started in 2015, festival activities include Calamay demo cooking, preparation, and exhibition, free calamay tasting, parade of public utility vehicles with calamay-inspired decorations, kite flying contests, poem and folk dance contests, sports activities, and as well the most-anticipated Miss Jagna beauty pageant. [4] |
| Enting-enting Festival | May 5 | Pariticipants took turns in parade of dances and presentations all focusing on a miracles and works made by St. Vincent Ferrer in Maribojoc. [5] |
| Hudyaka sa Panglao | August 28 | The Hudyaka sa Panglao takes place on August 28 every year in the grounds of its parish church. The ten barangays of the municipality compete fiercely with each other to see which is the best of the best. Its own dance festival brings back ex-Panglao residents from all over the world, and instead of making a day of it, the music and dance lovers of Panglao try and make a whole week of it…and more. Actually, they take nine days and the whole town has a festive atmosphere with parties all over the place. |
| Kasadyaan sa Napo of Loon | First Sunday of February | Started almost 20 years ago as a way of veneration of and thanksgiving to the Holy Child, this festival is a prelude to the May 25 fiesta of the barangay. The main feature of Kasadyaan is a street dancing competition participated in by its five traditional household clusters, namely, Inang-angan, Kabaybayunan, Tulay, Wawog and Tubig-Loon. In recent years, the participants have been grouped by “purok”. After the street dancing, the participants perform a tableau, which is also part of the competition. A “sinulog” to the Santo Niño culminates the celebration. |
| Katigbawan | June 17–24 | What distinguishes Catigbian from other towns is its annual festival, the Katigbawan. A week-long festival comprising various activities like carabao-racing, hog-catching, agrofair, motorcross and a search for Miss Katigbawan. This affair happens only in June. |
| Pana-ad sa Loboc | Holy Thursday and Good Friday | A Holy Week procession. |
| Pandayan Festival | February 27 | The Pandayan Festival is held at Barangay Lonoy, Jagna to celebrate the canonical erection or the parochial anniversary of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. All eight upland barangays of Jagna which is under the parochial jurisdiction of the Parish participates in the activities. Activities include a nine-day novena in honor of the patron saint, a procession of the image of St. Joseph the Worker, Carpentry and Handicrafts Fair, an inter - barangay basketball tournament and last but not least, the street dancing competition. |
| Sambat Mascara y Regatta Festival | first Saturday of December | Celebrated in honor of Loay's second patron, St. Francis Xavier, activities include agro-industrial fair, group masked street dancing, drum and bugle competition, boat racing, and fluvial parade along the river. [6] |
| Sandugo Festival | July 1–31 | This annual festival of the province commemorates the sandugo or blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel López de Legazpi. |
| Saulog Festival | May 1 | Saulog which means “celebration.” It is a festival of thanksgiving in Tagbilaran City in honor their patron saint, St. Joseph the Worker. [7] |
| SidlaKasilak or Festival of Lights of Loon | August 30 – September 8 | This annual festival of lights honors the "Birhen sa Kasilak" (Our Lady of Light), patroness of Loon. It also expresses the enduring qualities of the town. The Visayan words "sidlak" (rise) and "silak" (shine) best describe the character of Loonanons as they conquer life's adversities and make the best out of their inherent talents and capabilities. The various sectors of the community mount sociocultural activities during the ten-day celebration which was started in 2000. Highlighting the festival is a fluvial procession followed by street dancing and dance of lights competitions. Other contests, all requiring the use of light, are also mounted. SidlaKasilak was inspired by past religious processions in Loon when the faithful would light candles in colorful hand-held lanterns or “parow”, the local version of the “parol”. In fact, during the first few years of the festival, the dancers brought traditional lanterns wrapped in Japanese paper. Candles, however, are no match to the wind made even stronger with every sway of the hands that held the lanterns. The Japanese paper, too, could not withstand too much heat nor could it resist the rain. Thus candles were later replaced with permanent yet adjustable lights like flashlights, magic sticks, light-emitting diodes and others. Glazed paper, plastic wrap and cloth have been used instead of Japanese paper. The distinctive nature of SidlaKasilak is manifested in its being the only evening street dancing event in Bohol. In addition, it does not require lavish costumes and props that onlookers do not appreciate in the dark. In fact, participating schools are required to use only their respective student uniforms. Community-based delegations choose their own attire. The contest criteria revolve solely on the lights and have remained the same for many years, to wit: lights design, color harmony and brightness (20%); choreography or movement and formation of lights (40%); and dynamics or manipulation and synchronization of the lights with the music (40%). |
| Sinugboan | May 27 | Sinugboan Festival is celebrated every May 27 in the municipality of Garcia Hernandez. Sinugboan is a term closely related to the Cebuano word sugbo meaning to wallow. The use of the vernacular past tense "sinugbo" denotes an event of historical import. The festival highlights the town's annual commemoration of her foundation day. Activities include agro-industrial fair, recognition program for achievers, various games and street dancing competition where the storyline focuses on the creation and establishment of Garcia-Hernandez. |
| Sinu-og Estokada | September 21 | The Sinu-og Estokada Festival is celebrated at the town of Jagna in honor of their patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel where two groups, one coming from barangay Mayana and the other from Cabungaan, perform a native war dance during the vesper procession and also during the morning fluvial procession on the feast day itself which falls on September 29. This distinct cultural tradition has been observed for more than a century and shows the rich cultural heritage of the town. The native war dance is performed with the accompaniment of a drum depicting the battle between the early Jagnaanon Christians and the invading Muslims from Mindanao. The male dancers representing the Jagnaanons recite verses while mimicking the fight with bolos during the dance. The Sinu-og Estokada is a modification of the above sinu-og celebration. Here, the native war dance is portrayed as a fight between good and evil where the basic sequence of movements are modified conforming to a rhythm in marching and regular procedure. This festival is joined by the young adolescents of the town. It is believed that Saint Michael the Archangel rescued the people from the hands of the invaders at that time and this belief has been handed down to the present generation of Jagnaanons. Thus, Saint Michael the Archangel is much loved and revered by all Jagnaanons and the feast day is celebrated with much fanfare. |
| Suroy sa Musikero | December 25 – February 2 | In Cebuano language, Suroy is means “walk” or “parade” while musikero means “musician.” It literally means “parade of musician” done by homegrown musicians which usually carry and play brass trombones, percussions, bass horns, clarinets, and trumpets as they play Christmas songs and carols in Loboc. [8] |
| Tanda | May 6–15 | The Tanda Festival is an annual festival held in May at the town of Tubigon, Bohol in honor of its patron saint, Sr. San Isidro Labrador. Tanda is a unique local Tubigon name which means "short visit". Tanda Festival highlights three major events namely; Bulong-Imang Streetdancing and Showdown, Anyag sa Tubigon Beauty Pageant, and Agro-Technological Fair. Bulong-Imang, derived from the rhythmic sound pattern of the drums and gong used in dancing, is a dance of praise and thanksgiving to Sr. San Isidro Labrador. It is held in Holy Cross Academy open field. The Anyag sa Tubigon, features the beauty and wit of Tubigon’s pride ladies in a beauty pageant. And lastly, the Agro-Technological Fair is a display and exhibit of the bountiful harvest of the mountains, farmlands, and the shores of Tubigon set against the backdrop of trading and commerce. The Tanda festival highlights Tubigon’s legacy: from the town’s natural and historical treasures to its culture and history being celebrated in the unique Tubiganon way. The festival highlights the following:Bulong-Imang Streetdancing Competition, Anyag sa Tubigon, Agro-Technological Fair, Bangkarera, Sambunot sa Awit and, Lambay Jam. |
| Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) | July | Started in 1999, it is a yearly gathering of Boholanos worldwide initiated by Confederation of Boholanos in the United States of America and Canada (CONBUSAC) [9] |
| Ubay-Ubay Festival | January 29 | A series of street dancing parade and cultural presentations in honor of Sto. Niño held yearly during the town fiesta of Ubay. [10] |
| Ubi Festival | Every second week of January. | Festival in celebration of the ubi tuber, a vegetable ( Dioscorea alata ). [11] Ubi Festival showcases exhibits, crop competitions, agri-business investment opportunities seminars and cultural shows. [12] |
Bohol, officially the Province of Bohol, is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran. With a land area of 4,821 km2 (1,861 sq mi) and a coastline 261 km (162 mi) long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines.
Tagbilaran, officially the City of Tagbilaran, is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 104,976 people.
Alicia, officially the Municipality of Alicia, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 24,374 people.
Baclayon, officially the Municipality of Baclayon, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 22,461 people.
Balilihan, officially the Municipality of Balilihan, is a 4th class rural municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 18,694 people.
Cortes, officially the Municipality of Cortes, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 18,344 people.
Lila, officially the Municipality of Lila, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 12,240 people.
Panglao, officially the Municipality of Panglao, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 39,839 people.
Sierra Bullones, officially the Municipality of Sierra Bullones, is a third class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 26,095 people.
Talibon, officially the Municipality of Talibon, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 71,272 people.
Ubay, officially the Municipality of Ubay, is a fast growing 1st class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. Based on the 2020 Philippine Statistics Authority census, it has a population of 81,799 people which is projected to grow to 100,000 in 2030.
Datu Sikatuna was a Datu or chieftain of the Bool Kingdom in the island of Bohol in the Philippines. He made a blood compact (sanduguan) and alliance with the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi on March 25, 1565 at Hinawanan Bay, barangay Hinawanan, Loay. Their blood compact is the first Treaty of Friendship between Spain and the Philippines. The previous site of the pact was thought to have been at barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City but later a panel of historians concluded that the event actually happened at barangay Hinawanan, Loay, Bohol as ratified through Resolution No. 4, issued by the National Historical Institute in 2005.
Tagbilaran Airport(IATA: TAG, ICAO: RPVT) was an airport serving the general area of Tagbilaran, the capital city of the province of Bohol in the Philippines. The airport was built and opened in the 1960s until it was closed for scheduled passenger services on November 27, 2018, when it was replaced by the new Bohol–Panglao International Airport.
Bohol–Panglao International Airport, also known as New Bohol International Airport, is an international airport on Panglao Island in the province of Bohol, Philippines. The airport opened on November 28, 2018 after decades of planning and three years of construction, replacing Tagbilaran Airport to support Bohol's increased passenger traffic due to tourism. The airport serves as the gateway to Tagbilaran and the rest of mainland Bohol for domestic air travellers. It also is less than an hour's flight from Mactan–Cebu International Airport, which is a gateway to central Philippines for international tourists.
Jane Censoria Cajes-Yap is a Filipino politician who is known as a former president of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or Youth Council in the Philippines and the incumbent city mayor of Tagbilaran, Bohol since 2022. She is the wife of former Tagbilaran city mayor John Geesnell "Baba" Yap. After winning the SK presidency in Bohol, Philippines, Cajes was elected president in the National SK Federation and with her position, also earned her a concomitant role as the Ex Officio Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC).
Cecilio Kapirig Putong was a Filipino scholar, educator, writer, UNESCO fellow, author. In 1952, he became the Secretary of Education of the Philippines. He was one of the most brilliant minds from Bohol having a reported IQ of 138 based on Otis Intelligence Scale Test.
John Geesnell Lim Yap II, more known in Bohol as "Baba", is a Filipino politician and was the mayor of Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines from 2013 to 2022 until he was succeeded by his wife Jane Yap.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Central Visayas is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus reached Central Visayas on February 5, 2020, when the first case of the disease was confirmed in Bohol. As of May 2, 2023, there have been 210,549 cases in Central Visayas with 6,685 deaths.
The Governor of Bohol is the local chief executive of the provincial government of Bohol, Philippines. The governor holds office at the Bohol New Provincial Capitol in Tagbilaran City and its official residence is at the Governor's Mansion located along Carlos P. Garcia Avenue in Cogon District, also in Tagbilaran. Like all local government heads in the Philippines, the governor is elected via popular vote, and may not be elected for a fourth consecutive term. In case of death, resignation or incapacity, the vice governor becomes the governor. Along with the governors of Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, together with the city mayors of Cebu, Lapu-lapu, and Mandaue, the province's chief executive is a member of the Regional Development Council of the Central Visayas Region.