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.