Agawan Festival

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Religious & SpiritualSariaya
DatesDates TBA · Usually MayCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageAgawan, Tagalog for the act of snatching
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: PHP
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Agawan Festival in Sariaya

Agawan Festival takes place in Sariaya, Quezon Province every May 15, the feast of San Isidro Labrador, and centers on a food-scrambling ritual: bamboo poles strung with kiping, delicacies, fruit, and money are hung for crowds to snatch as the patron saint's procession passes through heritage-house-lined streets.

San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers, is honored across several towns in Quezon Province on or around May 15, and each town has developed its own distinct way of marking the occasion.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Agawan, Tagalog for the act of snatching, was formally named and branded as a tourism festival in the late 1990s by a parish priest and tourism council figure, Fr

02

The mystery stays covered

Raul Enriquez, around Sariaya's 1999 quadricentennial, though the underlying custom of townsfolk scattering harvest bounty during the San Isidro procession is older

03

The city starts moving

Its signature ritual object is the bagakay, young bamboo poles strung with kiping, the same colored leaf-shaped rice-flour wafer used in nearby Lucban's Pahiyas Festival, alongside native delicacies, fruits, candies, and money, all of which crowds scramble to catch as the procession passes

04

The water draws everyone in

House facades are decorated with buntal hats, bananas, and sitaw string beans, set against Sariaya's National Historical Commission-declared Art Deco and heritage houses, and the town's turtle-shaped pinagong sweet bread has become a signature festival food

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's central tradition is the agawan

Water and renewal

Living ritual

or scramble

The sacred route

Living ritual

in which crowds snatch kiping

The local code

Living ritual

native delicacies

Tradition 5

Living ritual

and money hung from bagakay bamboo poles or thrown from house windows during the San Isidro Labrador procession

Tradition 6

Living ritual

alongside house-facade harvest decorations using buntal hats

Tradition 7

Living ritual

and string beans

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually May

Getting around

Base the route around Sariaya; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.

What to wear

Light, breathable clothing suited to Quezon Province's humid climate, closed shoes for standing in scrambling crowds, and a hat for sun protection during the outdoor procession.

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near Sariaya or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

PHP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map13.96 N, 121.53 EOpen in Google Maps

Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines

Nearest airportMNL — Ninoy Aquino
TransportBase the route around Sariaya; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.
Stay areaStay near Sariaya or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Sariaya via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Sariaya, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for May.Compare faresFestival gearLight, breathable clothing suited to Quezon Province's humid climate, closed shoes for standing in scrambling crowds, and a hat for sun protection during the outdoor procession.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Philippines and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Agawan Festival?

Agawan Festival is listed for May. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Agawan Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Sariaya, Philippines. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually May
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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