The night market was just a prelude to the actual Tagum City durian festival. The festival grounds were swarming with people by the time Rob and I arrived, early so as not to miss anything.

The Tagum City durian festival doubles as the “Culinary Olympics.” Local culinary school students compete to make the best durian cakes, pies, coffee, and even a durian cocktails. This last event surprised me; in every country we’ve visited so far mixing durian and alcohol is taboo. Apparently fun-loving Filipinos don’t mind mixing sins.

Giant Lantern Festival, San Fernando City Pampanga

Giant Lantern Festival is an annual festival celebrated in December, on the Saturday that precedes Christmas Eve in San Fernando, Pampanga. The festival features a competition of gigantic lanterns whose grand structure is an attraction in itself. Today, the festival is home to innovative designs that display creativity and are infused with originality. Because of this annual event, the city of Pampanga has been christened the ‘Christmas Capital of the Philippines’.

 Christmas at Mana Davao

Mana Davao or Mana Casa de Artes y Antiguas is one of the most anticipated, most flocked, and a must-see Christmas attraction in the city of Davao. Every year at Christmas, thousands of artistically crafted lights in gigantic Christmas Trees and red Christmas Houses into an ever-changing theme and design each year are on a massive glittering display at their shop's facade from dusk 'til midnight which draws thousands of Dabawenyos, foreign and domestic tourists alike, oftentimes happily causing a little traffic as passersby, cars, jeepneys, and other vehicles halt or slow down to take even a sneak peek and appreciate at this uniquely wonderful sight every night. There are also mascots of different cartoon characters that would entertain visitors. 

Kahayag Festival of the Municipality of Carmen 

Ang pasko ay isa sa pinakamasayang selebrasyong ipinagdidiriwang kada taon kahit sang lugar ng mga Pinoy. This has been our tradition every year and we are known to have the longest Christmas celebration in the whole world.

Sa probinsya ng Dabaw del Norte, one town celebrates the Holiday Season beyond the usual Christmas Celebration. The celebration is grand and has become the town’s signature event staged every year. This is the Kahayag Festival of the Municipality of Carmen which is now on its 6th year.

Basking in those enormous sea of lights, Mana Davao has in some ways brought magical cheer and spirit of Christmas in every one's heart. The compound has become somewhat of a "mini park" call it as you will, where a large crowd of families with kids, groups of friends, colleagues from the office, and shutterbugs queue excitedly every night like little moths to a flame to have their souvenir photos taken before the massive display of Christmas lights and decors. 

Kahayag Festival of the Municipality of Carmen 

Ang pasko ay isa sa pinakamasayang selebrasyong ipinagdidiriwang kada taon kahit sang lugar ng mga Pinoy. This has been our tradition every year and we are known to have the longest Christmas celebration in the whole world.

Sa probinsya ng Dabaw del Norte, one town celebrates the Holiday Season beyond the usual Christmas Celebration. The celebration is grand and has become the town’s signature event staged every year. This is the Kahayag Festival of the Municipality of Carmen which is now on its 6th year.

Kahayag Festival of the Municipality of Carmen 

Ang pasko ay isa sa pinakamasayang selebrasyong ipinagdidiriwang kada taon kahit sang lugar ng mga Pinoy. This has been our tradition every year and we are known to have the longest Christmas celebration in the whole world.

Sa probinsya ng Dabaw del Norte, one town celebrates the Holiday Season beyond the usual Christmas Celebration. The celebration is grand and has become the town’s signature event staged every year. This is the Kahayag Festival of the Municipality of Carmen which is now on its 6th year.

MONTEVISTA, Compostela Valley province -- Have you ever been to Disneyland or entered the castle of the "Beauty and the Beast" or of "Sleeping Beauty?" What about meeting Snow White and her seven dwarves, that adorable fawn Bambi, Pocahontas, the Little Mermaid, Winnie the Pooh, Lilo and Stitch, or Donald Duck? And of course, who wouldn't miss Minnie and Mickey Mouse? They're all here--and more! This time, they are adorned with Christmas lights only on this year's 16th Diwanag Festival celebration here.

Diwanag Festival is one of the much anticipated events every Christmas season in Compostela Valley province that showcases different concepts every year. It officially opened on December 14 as "Diwanag goes...Disneyland on Christmas" bearing the theme, "Tatak Montevistahanon, atong mahalon, atong amumahon, behikulo aron ang lungsod magmalamboon." 

"Kahit maliit ang lungsod, at kahit 3rd class municipality lang ito, kilala ito sa buong Pilipinas dahil pangarap natin na makilala " Mayor Eutropio Jayectin said".

The Diwanag festival already made its mark and is a consistent National Pearl awardee on best tourism practices under the municipal category conferred by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines and the Department of Tourism.

With the Disneyland theme, the dazzling lights will amaze you no end as it offers a wide array of Christmas lights display at the sprawling municipal plaza. The amazing displays are actually part of the Christmas lights competition from the 20 participating entries under the inter-barangay category, four teams from the inter-LGU offices, and the six entries in the inter-school category.

As if the stunning display of lights are not enough, nightly presentations will also entertain you to no end. 

Starting December 15 until 26, variety shows sponsored by different agencies will be showcased such as Educators Night, Live concert, Women's night, Broadway show, D'Voice singing competition, Dance craze, comedy show, and congressional night.