If you are ever in Calamba, Laguna, and someone invites you to a festival that sounds like it involves kitchenware, you are not being pranked. That is the Calambanga Festival, and yes, it is very much named after a clay water jar. Welcome to local history with a twist.
So, what is the deal with the jar?
Well, legend has it that the name Calamba originated from a misunderstanding between Spanish colonisers and locals. When the Spaniards asked for the name of the place, they were accidentally told the names of the items the locals were carrying — a “kalan” and a “banga.” Fast forward a few centuries, and now there is a giant concrete water jar in the town plaza, along with an entire festival built around the story. Classic.
The Calambanga Festival is held every first week of February, and it is the city’s way of celebrating its identity, culture, and yes, its unusual but iconic name. You will see parades, street dancing, and students dressed as, you guessed it, clay jars. There are complete choreographies based on tasks such as carrying water and cooking rice. It sounds strange, but once you see it in action, it works.
Of course, there is a civic program. There always is. The mayor speaks, a few cultural groups perform, and awards are presented to individuals who have been teaching or planting trees for the past few decades. Local government units, schools, and civic groups all get involved. Even barangay-level beauty pageants pop up because no Philippine festival is complete without one.
[Photo by Gian Marco]
