The Philippines has a tradition of celebrating "fiesta" or festivals right through the year. The fiestas are generally held to celebrate the date of birth of the patron saints of the particular provinces and cities. These celebrations are usually started with a procession of the images of the patron saints, followed by a Mass in church, a community get together where a program of entertainment is showcased, and households offer lunches to share.
Through the series of Fiesta Filipinas - a series of online events introduce Philippine festivals, culture and traditions to viewers around the globe, to rise above the challenges of the pandemic. This initiative is undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and the National Commission on Culture and Arts.
For the month of June, we celebrate the Lami-Lamihan Festival of Lamitan in Basilan, which means "merry making" in Yakan. This is a celebration of the culture of the Yakan tribe and a way to promote cultural harmony among the people from the Yakan, Tausug, Muslim and Christian communities in the province.
The online presentation which offers the virtual experience of Lami-Lamihan will be streamed on Saturday, June 26 at noon (Sydney time0 and can be viewed on the Philippine Consulate General FB page: (6) Philippine Consulate General in Sydney NSW | Facebook and the Sentro Rizal FB page: (6) Sentro Rizal Sydney | Facebook