When the month of May comes around, the Philippines comes alive with a plethora of colorful and joyous fiestas. These celebrations showcase the country’s heritage through different events filled with music, dance, and culinary delights. CIMB Bank Philippines, the most awarded digital-only commercial bank in the country, shares a list of celebrations this month so you can add fiesta-hopping to your summer adventures:
Pahiyas Festival – a feast for the eyes
One of the most famous May festivals is the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon. Celebrated every May 15 and lasting around two weeks, it is a colorful harvest festival where homes are decorated with various produce to reflect the locals’ gratitude for a bountiful harvest. Visitors can also enjoy traditional foods like longganisa and pancit habhab to make their trip gastronomically delightful as well.
Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan – a celebration of faith and beauty
Another significant celebration in May is Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May), a month-long festival dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Communities gather to offer flowers to the Virgin Mary, accompanied by prayers and hymns. The culmination of Flores de Mayo is the Santacruzan, a grand procession held at the end of the month. Beautifully adorned young women, known as Reynas (Queens) parade through the streets, a spectacle of faith and beauty.
Balangay Festival – an homage to ancestral roots
Butuan City in Agusan del Norte celebrates the Balangay Festival throughout May, commemorating the arrival of the area’s early settlers in balangays (wooden boats). This month-long event features boat races, trade fairs, and cultural performances that highlight the maritime history and rich cultural heritage of the region, paying homage to their ancestors’ seafaring traditions.
Celebrating the rich culture of our country can be an unforgettable experience. To help you securely save up for your upcoming adventures, having a reliable savings account like CIMB Bank PH’s Fast Plus and UpSave savings accounts allows you to easily manage your finances while offering you better interest rates than most banks. You can also have 24/7 access to your funds wherever you may be via the dedicated CIMB Bank PH mobile app. You can also easily perform your usual day-to-day transactions such as fund transfers, bills payments, and prepaid load purchases anytime, anywhere.
Opening a CIMB savings account is also easy on the CIMB app, with no minimum deposit required. You can also open a GSave account if you’re an existing fully verified GCash user. These accounts give you access to the full suite of CIMB products and services offered on the CIMB mobile app.
Free fund transfers to other local banks as well as the option to sign up for a CIMB virtual debit card are other services in the app that can help you take charge of your finances. The virtual debit card can be used for safe and convenient transactions online, which is helpful when pre-booking things for your trip. Lastly, UpSave and GSave account holders are entitled to free life insurance, subject to certain terms and conditions, that gives them a cash benefit in case of death.
Be ready to see local traditions and participate in the different festivities with CIMB Bank PH. Visit cimbbank.com.ph to know more about CIMB’s products and services.