July is Nutrition Month! Every July, schools and organizations all over the country create programs to celebrate and appreciate the healthy food available to us.
It’s also a month where different areas of the Philippines celebrate the abundance of their local specialty. Here are the agricultural related festivals for the month of July.
Lubid Festival | Malilipot, Albay
July 8-16
In Albay, lubid, or rope, is usually made from abaca. The municipality of Malilipot is the region’s provider of abaca hemp, and a festival was established to celebrate the town’s specialty.
The festival lasts for a few days and is filled with various activities. However, the highlight of the festival is the street dance parade which the locals call “Sayaw Paralubid.” Dancers are dressed in colorful abaca costumes, and liven up the streets with their talents.
Sayaw Paralubid is one of the highlights of the Lubid Festival. (CG Photography via Malilipot Tourism / Facebook)
Sinarapan Festival | Buhi, Camarines Sur
2nd Week
Buhi, Camarines Sur is home to one of the smallest fishes in the world. It’s the Mistichthys luzonensis, or sinarapan. It thrives in Lake Buhi, and the Sinarapan Festival was made to showcase the locals’ pride in their local fish.
The Sinarapan Festival was first held in 2005 and is annually celebrated during the second week of July in San Buenaventura, Buhi. During the festival, dancers adorn themselves in costumes that represent the town’s culture and perform exciting street dances. The festival also holds a Sinarapan Cookfest where cooks of the town showcase unique ways of preparing Sinarapan.
Sinarapan is the pride and main source of livelihood of Buhi, Catanduanes. (Free2barredo / Wikimedia)
Kinis Festival | Panganiban, Catanduanes
July 25
Kinis is a type of crab known to be the most delectable in Catanduanes, and Panganiban known to be the province’s major supplier of this crab.
As the “Kinis Capital of Catanduanes,” Panganiban holds a festival every 25th of July to celebrate their local specialty that gives nutrition and livelihood to the people.
A float parade is held on the streets, which feature the town’s Princess of Crab and street dances with the crab as the highlight of their costumes and props. The town also holds an eat-all-you-can foodfest of their seafood menu, especially their steamed and cooked crab.
Performances of the Kinis Festival are accompanied by crab-themed props and costumes. (LGU Panganiban, Catanduanes / Facebook)
Libon Paroy | Libon, Albay
July 19-25
Libon is known as the “Rice Granary of Albay,” which is indicative of the town’s main source of livelihood and specialty. Rice is locally called “paroy,” and Libon celebrates a festival annually to give thanks to an abundant harvest.
Libon Paroy is celebrated with the typical festivities such as street dances and parades, but it also includes sports fests, a competition for the longest tilapia and corn grill, and more.
As the Rice Granary of Albay, Libon holds an annual festival to celebrate the harvest of paroy. (Libon Albay Rising / Facebook)
While Nutrition Month is typically understood to raise awareness and appreciation for healthy foods, festivals in July can shed light on the nutritiousness of different local specialties that you just have to try.
Nevertheless, make sure to always have a healthy food trip!
