La Castellana Banana Festival

Bunches of Banana

Gone lately to a festival especially this month of April? That's good. What about attending some more festivities?

Well, try La Castellana, Negros Occidental? Visit this progressive town and witness her annual Banana harvest festival that opens on the first day of April and ends on the 5th of April, wherein you can see different varieties of banana which abundantly are growing in the municipality.

This festival coincides with the annual feast day of the town's patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer.

You can also appreciate their agricultural trade that exhibits her bountiful harvest, not only limited to banana produce, but other farm produce and root crops.

A parade of beautiful young girls in a float decorated with banana and other agricultural produce, is one of the highlight activities in the said festival which you could admire.

La Castellana Town Seal
La Castellana Town Seal

 La Castellana Town

La Castellana is a first class municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines with . 71,013 people according to the 2010 census.

It is situated at the base of Kanlaon Volcano, known for its natural springs, water falls and scenic spots. It is named after the famous "Paseo de la Castellana" in Madrid, Spain. It is an agricultural town engaged in sugarcane, rice and banana farming. It is home of many festivals namely Bailes de Luces, Banana Festival and Senior San Vicente Ferrer Feast Day where devotees far and near attend to for healing.

It has 13 barangays: Biaknabato, Cabacungan, Cabagnaan, Camandag, Lalagsan, Manghanoy, Mansalanao, Masulog, Nato, Puso, Robles (Pob.), Sag-Ang, and Talaptap.

It could be reached by car, bus, PUV by traveling 67.3 kilometers via San Enrique from Bacolod, the capital city.

La Castellana Map
La Castellana Map

 How La Castellana Got Her Name?

The town used to be known as “Lapak”, and was then under the jurisdiction of Marayo, now Pontevedra.  How Lapak was formed into a village was not definitely known, but the old belief was that early people of Marayo have cut their way inland through dense forests to search for their subsistence, realizing that life in their coastal settlement was hard.

In the latter part of the 18th century, “muscovado” sugar mills known as “De Agua” were constructed.  The huge water wheel in Hda.Grande and the rusty iron ruler between the hill of Canticbel and the eastern bank of Camansi River were indications of the existence of these mills.  Sugarcane planting was then encouraged during the period, and immigrants upon hearing of the rich potentials of the area came in and settled down.  The place became progressive and on January 5, 1918, La Castellana was inaugurated as a town.

Festivals

Bailes de Luces is a street dancing competition  held every 5th of January to celebrate the charter anniversary of the town. The participants are clad in colorful costumes using light emitting materials as props and moving to the fast Latin beat . This is followed by fireworks display and night-long merrymaking and dancing.

Banana Festival is a harvest festival held every April showcasing the different variety of banana found abundant in this town. Booths, floats and costumes made of banana are displayed during this festival.

Comments

  1. RUSSApril 3, 2015 at 1:01 AM

    Negros Occidental is one of the places that I intend to visit. I have a couple of friends who've been to Negros and say that the place boasts of beautiful beaches. The Banana Festival at La Castellana would be another good reason to go. I'm sure there's a showcase of various dishes that have bananas as part of their ingredients.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 3, 2015 at 3:13 AM

      It is nice to hear that Russ. I know for sure you won't regret if you pay a visit to our place and you will be enjoying the beautiful beaches here.

      Delete
  2. Julianne CaparosApril 3, 2015 at 3:47 AM

    I've never been to Negros Occidental but I've heard it's a great tourist destination and I'd love to visit this place someday especially to be able to witness the festivals :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 3, 2015 at 4:29 AM

      Sooner or later, you may not know that you've already been in our place and enjoy to the max the festivals which our province here in Negros Occidental could offer you. See you then.

      Delete
  3. Yesha (G-A-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S)April 3, 2015 at 8:08 AM

    Haven' been to any province but this one is interesting to visit. Thanks for sharing! I'm excited to see banana booths and floats yay!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 5, 2015 at 10:22 PM

      You will surely do like them if you see them personally. I know someday you will be visit La Castellana especially on their Banana Festival.

      Delete
  4. May PalacpacApril 3, 2015 at 7:19 PM

    I'm pretty sure my kids will love this festival if there's going to be an abundant supply of banana.

    Very interesting to note the history too, of people who forded through forests for survival.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 5, 2015 at 10:23 PM

      Kids like yours will love seeing bunches of banana of different variety. Banana is very nutritious and it is to delicious to eat.

      Delete
  5. TeriApril 3, 2015 at 8:28 PM

    Maybe this is just new? I've never heard of banana festival before even if it's a well known crop. They should cook a a lot of banana que yum yum ^_^ Negros Occidental is very far in our place. Maybe a boat or plane is needed to go there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 5, 2015 at 10:25 PM

      Negro Occidental if you're in the Philippines could be reached via plan and ship. Banana Festival in La Castellana is not new. It becomes already a tradition among the residents of La Castellana.

      Delete
  6. theresaApril 3, 2015 at 8:39 PM

    I was thinking where I always heard La Castellana. I found out that my Dad's talking about that town always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 5, 2015 at 10:28 PM

      Probably your dad has already known La Castellana and he heard a lot of worth-visiting places in La Castellana in which the nature could offer for there many of natural scenic places there to visit.

      Delete
  7. FrancApril 4, 2015 at 11:01 AM

    I've gone to appreciate bananas because of its health benefits. This would be a great festival to witness live.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 5, 2015 at 10:29 PM


      a truckload of banana is coming over to be displayed or exhibited during the so-called Banana Festival.

      Delete
  8. AnonymousApril 4, 2015 at 3:13 PM

    Love your wonderful suggestions about festivals in April. In April in my country we only celebrate Easter but I would love to attend the banana festival and the other celebrations in the Philippines as well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 5, 2015 at 10:31 PM

      You won't regret visiting our country Philippines for there a lot of beauty spots which need to be visited by tourists.

      Delete
  9. April-Perez.comApril 5, 2015 at 6:44 PM

    It's the first time that I've heard about this banana festival and for someone like me who goes crazy over this fruit, I might enjoy attending this festival!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 5, 2015 at 10:33 PM

      I am indeed happy that you've been informed about this annual Banana Festival in La Castellana. There are also some provinces that they've the same festival being celebrated. I think somewhere in Luzon provinces.

      Delete
  10. werdstyleApril 5, 2015 at 9:59 PM

    first time i heard about the banana festival thing! good thing i came across to your page..bananas are excellent source of potassium! hope i can visit this festival next year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gil CamporazoApril 5, 2015 at 10:35 PM

      It's nice to hear that our Banana Festival here in La Castellana could be visited by you next year. Hope you could make it. Good luck!

      Delete
  11. PeachyApril 6, 2015 at 9:56 AM

    I haven't attended a Banana Festival yet. What are the activities during this festival?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Patricia CuyuganApril 10, 2015 at 1:09 AM

    One of the things I really hope to do is check out as many festivals as I can with my son. Thanks for writing about this one. I don't think I would have found out about it if not for your post. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. AlvinApril 22, 2015 at 4:14 PM

    This sounds lie a great festival to participate in.

    ReplyDelete
  14. January ZeleneSeptember 23, 2015 at 8:03 AM

    My mom is from Cadiz City, and sad to say I never been there or in any part of Negros Occidental except Bacolod City. I wish to visit Negros and experience their festivals.

    ReplyDelete

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