The province of Nueva Ecija, which is one of the provinces in Central Luzon or Region III, is one of the most historic provinces in the country. As a matter of fact, it represents one of the 8 rays of the sun on the Philippine flag. It is the largest province in Central Luzon and is widely known as the “rice granary of the Philippines” because it has the largest rice production in the entire archipelago because of its fertile land which is supported by large rivers that provide water supply.

How do you celebrate “fiesta” in your hometown? Different places have different culture. One way of knowing or learning the culture of a particular place is to attend or witness their “festival”. In doing so, you’ll gain knowledge of their culture which includes their local history, foods and drinks and many others. Here is a List of Traditionally Celebrated Socio-cultural & Religious Festivity per Locality in the Historic Province of Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon in the Philippines.

Name of

Town/city

Festivities/activities

Date of Celebration

Remarks

(Importance, Patron Saint Worshipped or Leader admired

Aliaga

Taong Putik Ritual/Festival

June 24

The patron saint of Aliaga is St. John the Baptist. This ritual is celebrated annually to depict the peoples devotion and faith to Saint John the Baptist and to commemorate the survivors of World War II during the Japanese occupation where all male population of Bibiclat were about to be executed by Japanese invaders but they miraculously survived and escaped with the aid of heavy rains that suddenly pour.

Bongabon

Sibuyas/Sibuyasan Festival

-Santor Festival

-April 9-10

-November 25

Saint Francis de Assisi. Sibuyas Festival is celebrated as a form of thanksgiving and a way to show that Bongabon is one of the largest producers of onion in Asia.

-Patron Sta. Catalina. Thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine/image every year because it is believed to be miraculous.

Cabanatuan City

-Camp Pangatian Shrine

-Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival

-January 30

-July 1-7

-The shrine was constructed to honor WW II Heroes/Prisoner of War Memorial Shrine

-To promote the importance of milk and to promote products made of milk.

Cabiao

Kabyawan Festival

May 15-16

The event is celebrated every year as a form of thanksgiving like many other festivals in the province. The name "kabyaw" originated from the term "kabyawan", the name of a stone device operated by means of a carabao and which was used to crash sugar cane to get the juice which is use in the production of molasses, sugar and others.

Carranglan

Gintong Butil Festival

2^nd week of April

Holy Mass and other religious activities are held in honor of Saint Nicholas. It is annually conducted to celebrate and give thanks for bounty harvest.

Cuyapo

Water Lily Festival

April 19, 20 & 21

Its patron is San Roque. Because of the abundance of water lily in this town, they staged this festival by selling and promoting products made of water lily such as bags, baskets, tsinelas and others. It is the source of livelihood of “kababaihan” and OSY or out of school youth.

Gabaldon

Feast of San Pablo Apostol

January

Holy Mass and other religious activities are held annually to honor San Pablo Apostol or Saint Paul the Apostle

Gapan City

-Pastores Festival

-Tsinelas Festival

-April 26-May 1

-August 25

-Nuestra Señora Dela Virgen Divina Pastora is the town’s patron saint. She is believed to be miraculous. The festival is celebrated annually to strengthen their faith and devotion to their patron saint.

-It is celebrated to showcase the many different forms of “tsinelas” and to promote them as a source of livelihood of the people of Gapan. The city is regarded as tsinelas capital of the country.

Gen. Mamerto Natividad

Our Lady of Fatima

May 13

Celebration of Holy Mass and other religious activities are conducted in honor of Our Lady of Fatima- the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Guimba

Mushroom Festival

February 20

This festival was started and celebrated annually since its introduction a few years ago in support to the “one town, one product” program.

General  Tinio

Feast of San Isidro de Labrador

May 11

Holy Mass and religious activities are celebrated to honor the town's patron saint, San Isidro de Labrador. It is highlighted by parades of numerous brass bands around the town.

Jaen

Feast of San Augustin

August 28

San Agustin (Saint Augustine) is the town’s patron saint. It is also the town’s old name. The town celebrates its annual “town fiesta” to honor San Agustin and as a sort of thanksgiving. One of the highlights of the celebration is the famous “Karera ng Kalabaw” (carabao race).

Laur

Salagubayasan Festival (Salagubang and Sibuyas)

3^rd week of April

Their patron saint is San Esteban (Saint Stephen). A form of thanksgiving for the good harvest of onion and the season for the coming or appearance of thousands of salagubang (beetle) which is a native delicacy. The event is highlighted by street dancing.

Licab

Kariton Festival

March 28

A festival that displays the importance of “kariton” to the lives and history of the people of Licab especially the farmers. One of the very first settlers and founders of the town arrived in Licab from Ilocos region by means of “kariton” (cart).

Llanera

Kapagayan Festival

May 7-11

The people of Llanera celebrate this festival because their primary source of livelihood is farming. Kapagayan means “rice field”.

Lupao

Baybayanting Festival

July 25

Señor Santiago is the town’s patron saint. This is a unique cultural tradition that depicts battles between the Moors and the Christian where performers used real bolos.

Nampicuan

Feast of Immaculate Conception

December 8

Celebration of Holy Mass and religious activities in celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s birthday.

Palayan City

Palayan Festival

December 1-5

Being the “rice bowl” of the Philippines, the city celebrates annually the Palayan Festival to showcase the importance and bounty harvest of rice. Palayan means rice field.

Pantabangan

Pandawan Festival

April 28

It is a fishing festival emphasizing that Pantabangan is one of the largest fish producing town in the area

Peñaranda

Araquio Festival

1^st & 2^nd week of May

The festival is focused on the search for the Cross and the battles between the Moors and Christians

Quezon

Patimyas Ani/Town Fiesta

1^st week of February

It is celebrated annually to give thanks for all the blessings for the whole year. The town’s patron saint is the “Holy Family” and is highlighted by street dancing and other socio-cultural and religious activities.

Rizal

Harvest Festival

3^rd week of April

The town’s patron saint is Saint Joseph. A celebration for good harvest just like many festivals in the province.

San Antonio

Feast of Saint Anthony

January 16

Holy Mass and religious activities are held during the Feast of Saint Anthony

San Isidro

Carabao Festival

May 15-16

San Isidro Labrador (Saint Isidore the Worker is the town’s patron saint. The festival is highlighted by the parade of carabaos or water buffalo. Carabaos kneel in front of the church to be blessed. It is also a form of thanksgiving.

San Jose City

-Tanduyong Festival

- Pagibang Damara Festival

3^rd week of April

-May 1

Saint Joseph the Worker is the city’s patron saint. This festival is celebrated as a form of thanksgiving because onion, aside from rice, is the main product of the city; hence, it is tagged as the “onion capital of the Philippines”.

-It is celebrated to give thanks for a bounty harvest. Damara is a makeshift bamboo house or bahay kubo.

San Leonardo

Kalamay Festival

August 24

San Bartolome or St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of San Leonardo. Thanksgiving for the abundance of harvest using rice as main ingredients of kalamay is the town’s major cultural activity during the celebration of Kalamay festival. Kalamay is the native delicacy and is one of the major products of San Leonardo.

Santa Rosa

Feast of St. Rose (Pista ng Santa Rosa)

August 23

Holy Mass and religious activities honoring Saint Rose of Lima are conducted during her feast day.

Santo Domingo

Tupig Festival

September 29

The patron saint of Baloc is Saint Jerome. Tupig Festival is celebrated annually to display the town’s popular native delicacy and it is also a form of thanksgiving for the annual bounty harvest of rice specifically glutinous rice which is the major ingredient of “tupig”.

Science City of Muñoz

Tilapia Festival

2^nd week of January

It showcases that Muñoz is the “tilapia capital” of the Philippines. BFAR or Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is located in this city. Being home to BFAR, the city celebrates the festival to showcase and promote their large production of tilapia and to give thanks to the Creator.

Talavera

Hugas Kalawang Festival

- Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival

Last week of August

-May 12-15

This is in celebration for a bounty harvest. It signifies that planting.

--It is celebrated with the objective of encouraging and promoting carabao’s milk as nutritious food source. It is highlighted by parades of carabao around the town and the popular carabao race.

Talugtug

Timpuyog  Festival

1^st week of February

A festival that emphasized unity. In unity there is progress. The event is celebrated with different cultural and religious activities.

Zaragoza

Harvest Festival

April 5

Celebrated for thanksgiving due to abundance of harvest. It is similar the festival of Rizal town.

References:

Alamani, Venus D, personal na komunikasyon, guro at mamamayan ng Quezon, Nueva Ecija.  

Kinapanayam noong ika-30 ng Enero 2013.

Bermosa, Nobert Soloria 2010, Baybayanting: A one-of-a-kind cultural tradition of Lupao.  Orihinal na isinulat noong ika-4 ng Hulyo 2010.

Bermosa, Nobert Soloria 2010, Popular and Notable Nueva Ecija Festivals. Orihinal na isinulat noong ika-5 ng Hulyo 2010.

Directo, Rodrigo L., personal na komunikasyon,ulong-guro at mamamayan ng Talugtog, Nueva Ecija. Kinapanayam noong ika-29 ng Enero2013.

Discover Nueva Ecija Pamphlets: Nueva Ecija Provincial Government

Fernandez, Clarissa A., personal na komunikasyon, punong-guro at mamamayan ng San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. Kinapanayam noong ika-29 ng Enero2013.

Ladores, Lilibeth.., personal na komunikasyon, guro at mamayan ng Carranglan, Nueva Ecija. Kinapanayam noong ika-30 ng Enero2013.

Museo Novo Ecijano, Palayan City

Nueva Ecija Provincial Tourism Office, Palayan City

Pascual, Digna.., personal na komunikasyon, ulong-guro at mamamayan ng Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. Kinapanayam noong ika-30 ng Enero2013.

Salva, Walter.., personal na komunikasyon, guro at mamamayan ng Laur, Nueva Ecija. Kinapanayam noong ika-28 ng Enero2013.