The month of May is the month of fiestas in Bohol. This is the time most Boholano's try to return home from wherever on the world they are, to celebrate with their relatives. Hardly a day passes by without a fiesta in one or another town, starting with the fiesta of Tagbilaran City on the first of May.In Bohol, every town and barangay (village or neighbourhood) has its own Fiesta in celebration of the patron saint. Once a year, the entire town is decorated for the annual feast, in which there will be plenty of free food and drinks for all. Preparations for the fiesta already start long before, preparing the decoration, and saving for food, and fattening the pigs -- because no fiesta can be complete without lechon baboy, roasted pig, and plenty of beer and tuba to match.
Everybody is welcome, no invitations required!Fiestas can take place in any part of the year, but especially the month of May is the month of fiestas. Not a single day will pass without a fiesta somewhere on the island. It is at that time that most Boholanos return home, coming from Manila, or from the other places where they have settled, both within and outside the Philippiens, to celebrate the fiesta in their native place in their native place. Often loaded with gifts for relatives, the famous Balikbayan boxes.
Even those who can't come will at least try to send such a box back home for the fiesta.Every year, Tagbilaran, the capital city also has the kick-off, and starts the Fiesta month on the first of May, with its own fiesta, in celebration of the city patron Saint Joseph the Worker. The whole city is then decorated, and all public life will come to a total standstill, to make place for a day of merry making.
