Festivals of Bantayan Island

Palawod Festival

Are you Familiar with the word PALAWOD? Probably not, but its venue should ring a bell: Bantayan. For years, regarded as one of Cebu's best-kept secrets, the island is gradually finding its place among the Philippines' world-famous destinations.

Fishing is the main industry of Bantayan Island, and it is this that inspired Palawod, a festival celebrating the island's marine bounty. The word palawod means to go farther out to sea, (magpalaot in Tagalog), where fishermen go for the big haul. The festival takes place in Bantayan, the largest of the three towns and the center of trade, arts and culture. The date coincides with the feast of the town's patron saints, Peter and Paul, Christ's foremost fishermen.

The festival had townsfolk dancing in the streets, a la Sinulog but garbed in marine motif such as shell skirts, giant clam headdresses; chipboard jellyfish and colorful bilaos made to look as carapace.

Palawod is Bantayan's contribution to the Cebu government's efforts to promote the island more aggressively as a key tourist attraction in northern Cebu, following improved communication and transportation links to the rest of the region and the country.Held every June 29, during the annual fiesta in honor of Sts. Peter & Paul, the Palawod Festival, has gained national and international acclaim.  It holds the singular honor of being the 3-time Grand Champion of the province-wide Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals Competition.

                                                     Isda Festival

   Madridejos’ Isda Festival dancers, who placed second in this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals, perform at the 84th town fiesta.  The Isda Festival is the town’s honoring of the fish, the main source of livelihood for majority of the residents.  Madridejos in Bantayan Island, whose patron is the Immaculate Conception, celebrates its fiesta on Dec.8.

                                                             Kinhason Festival

Kinhason festival is one of the festivals in Bantayan Island. It is celebrated in municipality of Santa Fe, one of the municipalities of Bantayan Island. It is more similar to the Sinulog Festival of Cebu City. The only difference is the costume of the dancer which is the "kinhason" or " sea shell". It is celebrated during the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño, the patron of Santa Fe.