Planning a trip? Those who love to travel know the essence of all travel is about you and your enjoyment. Travelers know that the destination is a major part of planning a trip, experiencing and delving deeper into unfamiliar places, people, and culture are paramount.

Expand your horizons and set your sight to the Philippines, an off the beaten path travel site! An undiscovered paradise made of thousands of islands and white sand beaches all around! A tiny dot in the map of the world, and yet a haven for travelers, backpackers, retirees and even passersby.

It offers awesome tourist attractions, magnificent beaches, hot spring resorts, colorful festivals, hundreds of scenic spots and world-class hotels and facilities. Not to mention the tropical climate, the affordable prices as well as the friendly and hospitable, English-speaking people! You will be glad you came, and we’re sure, you WILL come back for more FUN in the Philippines!

COLORFUL FESTIVALS IN LEYTE

One of the beautiful and fast-advancing provinces in the Visayas region, Leyte is famous for its various historic, vibrant, and highly entertaining festivals. Aside from their significance to the local residents of the area, these festivities also serve as serious attractions for local and foreign tourists alike. For years, many people continuously develop a great deal of interest to all these special occasions, which are characterized by colorful parades, eye-catching dance presentations, and other significant activities. Overall, these festivals are very important because they reflect the values, traditions, as well as diverse cultures of the different people living within the area. Read More: http://leyte.islandsphilippines.com/leyte_festivals.php

Alikaraw Festival

Photo from: http://blogs.sunstar.com.ph/festivals/2012/01/02/alikaraw-festival/

Held annually within the municipality of Hilongos in the province of Leyte, Alikaraw Festival is also one of the most interesting and highly entertaining special events in the area. This colorful festival never fails to amaze tourists and guests, particularly because it commemorates the ancient ritual of a local tribe in Leyte. At the same time, this event is a celebration of the rich natural resources of the place, which boasts of pristine forests and beautiful orchids. During the celebrations, people can witness enjoyable dance presentations, as well as outstanding concerts that feature many talented homegrown singers.

The people of Hilongos celebrate the Alikaraw Festival every December 31 — the end of the year. Read More: http://gracellecarmen13.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_10.html

Balyuan Festival

Photo from: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p985353/h1B137B1E#h1b137b1e

Balyuan Rites is a tradition done yearly a week before the Tacloban fiesta celebration. The ritual is the exchange of the sacred images of Senior Santo Niño between the town of Basey and Tacloban City. Historically, Basey used to be the capital and Tacloban was known to be a rapidly progressing town. During the fiesta month of June, the Basey town had to lend their sacred image to Tacloban. The sacred image is transported by a fluvial procession on the Cancabato Bay. Read More: http://www.xdayv.com/balyuan-rites-tacloban-philippines/

BatoBalani Festival

Photo from: https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/20521-photos-batobalani-festival

Batobalani Sa Gugma is the famous song or hymn dedicated and to honor of the Holy Child Sto. Niño. The song is sung in the middle of the mass in Sto. Niño Church every January of the year in celebration of the Sinulog Festival. The song is written in deep and old Cebuano dialect. Batobalani Sa Gugma literally means “Magnet of Love” in English. Read More: http://www.cebuwanderlust.com/religion/festivals/batobalani-sa-gugma-lyrics/