As posted by the Philippines Department of Tourism (DoT), see below the list of events for the year 2008:

PANAGBENGA/BAGUIO FLOWER FESTIVAL
Baguio City; February 1 to March 5
(074) 4465793, 4421007

SIBUG-SIBUG FESTIVAL
Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; February 1 to 16
(062) 3335557

BICOL ARTS FESTIVAL
Legazpi City, Albay; February 1 to 28
(052) 8206315

MUSIC & THEATER FESTIVAL
De Lara Park (Capitol Grounds), Cagayan de Oro; February 1 to 29
(08822) 726394, 723696

SALAKAYAN FESTIVAL
Miag-ao, Iloilo; First week of February
(033) 5091260, 3209505

CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR
Baguio City; February 2
(074) 4422855

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF CANDLES
Jaro, Iloilo City; February 2
(033) 5091260, 3209505

PAMULINAWEN
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; February 2 to 10
(077) 7731676

FIESTA TSINOY
Legaspi City, Albay; February 3
(052) 4820712

DINAGSA
Sto. Nino Plaza, Poblacion, Muntinlupa City
(02) 5230820

BURDAHAN FESTIVAL
Taal, Bocaue, Bulacan; February 4 to 13
(044) 6926720, (0920) 4008240

CHINESE NEW YEAR
Manila; February 7
(02) 5281134

BURGOS TOWN FIESTA/BUYBUY FESTIVAL
Burgos, La Union; February 9 to 11
(0912) 2081227, (0918) 2134618

CHINESE NEW YEAR
Downtown Iloilo City; February 9
(033) 3372172, 3367572

BABAYLAN FESTIVAL
Bago City, Negros Occidental; February 9
(034) 4610540, 7328362

PAGODA SA DAAN
Pateros, Metro Manila; 2nd Saturday of February
(02) 5424346

FERTILITY RITES/FEAST DAY OF STA. CLARA
Sta. Clara Parish, Pasay City; February 10
(02) 5510523

BODBOD KABOG
Catmon, Cebu; February 10
(032) 4309196

TINAGBA FESTIVAL
Iriga City; February 11
(054) 6551397

ROKYAW FESTIVAL
Aquinas University, Legaspi City; February 11
(052) 8208747

ULLALIM FESTIVAL
Tabuk, Kalinga; February 12 to 14
(074) 4427014, 6191127

FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROVINCE OF APAYAO
Kabugao, Apayao; February 14
(074) 4427014, 6191127

LAGUIMANOK FESTIVAL
Padre Burgos, Quezon; February 14 to 17
(0920) 9075812

SAROK
Consolacion, Cebu; February 14
(032) 3441246

TRAVEL TOUR EXPO
SMX Convention Center, SM Bay City, Pasay City; February 15 to 17
(02) 5520026 to 29, 8451324

GOV. CUP 2008 - A HORSE SHOW COMPETITION
Cube Boardwalk, Mandaue City; February 15 to 17
(032) 2341643

SAYAW PINOY
Liceo de Cagayan University, February 16
(08822) 723696

SORTEO GRAND FESTIVAL
Carmona, Cavite; February 16 to 22
(046) 4301611

ILOILO PARAW REGATTA
Villa Beach, Sto. Nino Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City; February 16 to 17
(033) 3372172; 3367572

TAWO-TAWO
Bayawas City, Negros Oriental; February 18
(035) 5310743

KAPYAAN FESTIVAL
Davao del Sur, February 18 to 19
(0920) 3136792, (082) 4411472

KAAMULAN FESTIVAL
Bukidnon, February 18 to March 10
(08822) 726394, 723696

PASAYAW
Canlaon City, Negros Oriental; February 19
(035) 4140004

SAMPAGUITA FESTIVAL
San Pedro, Laguna; February 21 to 22
(02) 8686623

MUSIKAHAN
Tagum City; February 21 to 27
(084) 4003788, 3710659

KALILANGAN FESTIVAL
General Santos City; February 21 to 27
(083) 5538338, 5538448

33rd BAMBOO ORGAN FESTIVAL
Las Pinas Church, Las Pinas City; February 21 to 29
(02) 8741440

WOW ARAW NG CARAGA
Caraga; February 22 to 23
(085) 8156040

INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINE MARATHON
Manila - Marikina; February 24
Registration: February 17; Orchidarium, Rizal Park
(02) 5276376, 5276378 to 79

CEBU CHARTER DAY
Cebu City; February 24
(032) 4124355

ANI NG SINING
Municipal Gym, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; February 25 to 28
(0920) 3136792, (082) 4411463

The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is an annual event that occurs between January and February at the Omni Aviation Complex in Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga. It features multicolored hot air balloons with more than a hundred balloon pilots from around the world. This three day hot air balloon event is the biggest aviation sports event in the country.

The festival also features a number of events in skydiving, flag jumps, micro light and rocketry demonstrations, small plane fly-bys and fly-ins, remote-control airplane and helicopter flying exhibitions, freestyle aerobatics, precision maneuvers, light airplane balloon bursting, ultra-light flying formation and bomb dropping, kite-making and choreographed kite-flying, hi-start launch gliding, pylon racing, banner towing, aero-modeling symposium and races between ultra lights and motorcycles.

I grew up in a small town in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras and every Sunday our family would go to Alubihod beach which my grandparents own. Alubihod is just 4 kilometers from town so all five of us would take our family motorbike and spent the entire Sunday swimming or taking boats rides.

I still have old pictures of me (7 or 8 years old) running across the sandy beaches. The sand is almost as white as that of Boracay’s but less fine. The beach front was still empty with just a couple or huts or cottages we’d use to eat out during lunch. About 20 years ago, only small family houese of our relatives are standing just a few meters away from the shore. (Mostly cousins to the second degree.)

Haven’t been back there for years now though. I frequently invite my high shcool classmates to take a vacation over there. Guimaras is just a few kilometers from Iloilo City by boat. It usually costs Php5.00 but I think it could already be Php10.00 - Php15.00 per head. Once you dock at the Jordan pier, you take a Nueva Valencia jeep to town about 30 kilometers south. Another tricycle ride from Poblacion town to Alubihod would cost about Php 25 - Php 50 depending on the number of passengers.

Alubihod is now sub-divided into several resorts, the bigger one would be Raymen Beach resort which is owned by my mom’s cousins and Rico Beach Resort, owned by my uncle, the youngest of my mom’s siblings.

I will definitely take a lot of pictures once I get to visit back home.