Higantes Festival

Higantes Festival is a major cultural event and parade held annually in the municipality of Angono, Rizal, located near the Angono Petroglyphs.

• Exact Barangay/City: Barangay San Pedro / Poblacion, Angono, Rizal
• Best For: Cultural parades, street photography, local festival experience
• Average Spend: Free (street viewing); ₱100 - ₱300 for local street food
• Power Outlets & Wi-Fi: Public cellular data is available; no public Wi-Fi on the parade routes.

Paper-Mache Giants Mocking Landlords

The Higantes Festival is celebrated every November in Angono, Rizal, the art capital of the Philippines. The highlight of the festival is the parade of giant paper-mache puppets, some reaching over ten feet tall, representing different characters and local caricatures. Historically, the festival started as a form of agrarian protest during the Spanish colonial era, where locals created giants to mock their wealthy landlords. Honestly, the festive chaos of the street parade, complete with water splashing and marching bands, is an incredibly lively and uniquely Filipino experience.

The town gets packed with tourists, and artists showcase their work in galleries throughout the municipality. Street food vendors line the routes, selling local favorites like fried itik (duck) and native rice cakes. Be prepared to get wet, as spectators and participants carry water guns and throw water to celebrate the feast of Saint Clement. Keep your electronics in waterproof bags if you're planning to join the street crowd.

Congestion and Narrow Roads of Rizal

Commuting to Angono during the festival is a massive logistical challenge. You can catch a jeepney or a UV Express from Shaw Boulevard (Crossing) or Cubao bound for Angono or Binangonan. The main highway through Rizal gets heavily congested, and Angono's inner streets are completely closed to vehicles. You will likely have to walk a long distance from the highway to the town center. Tricycles are available but will navigate through tight crowds slowly, so walking is often faster. If you drive a private car, parking is next to impossible, so transit is definitely the wiser route.

Updated on Jun 19, 2026 by George Gemson