So I've been seeing and looking at travel related shizz for months. Guess what, I still haven't booked any flight to anywhere at all.

Why?

1. I can't decide where to go.
2. I don't want to spend my money cause I should be making lots of money but...
3. I feel lazy even when I've been working online. 😢

How terrible eh? Why don't I join the relief operations for Taal eruption victims instead? Should make my life better right? (Will think more on that later...)

First let me tell you about the things I thought about regarding travel.

How/Why Can People Travel All Over The Place While I Don't Travel Often?

The problem is I recently developed what I will call "travel envy". Everytime I see people traveling to other countries I think, why can't I do the same? And you know how comparisons always never makes you feel good right? And yet I still continue to think of such thoughts.

But then again, the first time I was able to travel outside the country I didn't really feel happy about it. Hmmm. 🤔

_{(Come to think of it, I believe we have same as above Halong Bay "mountain like islands" in Palawan...? Coron/Puerto Princesa is another place I don't feel like visiting too. 😅)}

Maybe it's because I didn't really plan to go to those countries at all. Never in my entire life did I ever think of traveling to Vietnam or China. I would have been happier if it was S. Korea or Japan. Ah well. Beggars can't be choosers, eh?

I didn't want to lose the first chance to travel abroad (and on a cruise at that!) so I guess I just went with it.

Going back to my question, I just feel like I don't have the money to spend on traveling even though I want to. This means only two things:

1. I'm not working enough. 💔
2. I need to get a job. 😂
3. I should get another (new) gig. 💪

Places to Go To and Festivals to See This Month!

Yeah yeah I know I'm a real estate agent and selling mostly upscale or luxury properties is what I do but it can get tiring too. 😥 I guess I need a new source of inspiration like last time. 😅 And I need a break from working online all the time thus why I have travel envy.

Surely I will get my head on straight soon enough. For now I will blabber about this wish to travel to some pristine beach in the country. Too many choices out there... 🤦

And then I thought, why not go to any of the famous festivals in the country? I have never been to one except for the usual provincial town fiestas in just one place in our province when I was a kid. And so I check the Philippine festival list on Wikipedia.

Sad to say, Sinulog Grand Parade will happen tomorrow. Fck! I'm too late for it! WHY OH WHY is my timing so bad? 😛 How can I get to Cebu fast if I have to book a flight there tonight with no place to stay? Of course everything will be expensive and rooms fully booked. Uhhhm. 🤔

And so I search for another one, uy I see Ati-Atihan in Aklan! Shucks it's also going to end tomorrow! Both are feasts in honor of the Sto. Nino so why wouldn't it happen at the same time eh?

Man!!! What is happenin'? I'm so clueless with our own country's famous festivals. 🤦 Now what? Ok there's another one this month and it's called Dinagyang Festival. Hmmmm... 🤔

Heck I think I can go to this one! Check out the schedule from the official Facebook page:

Oh Lordy. If I don't get myself there I "don't know" what's wrong with me. 😂

Maybe I should make 2020 the year I go to my country's famous festivals? Hmmm? At least I won't need to go outside the country. I'd still need to buy plane tickets though. Or wait, I'll take the bus instead! 😛

Basic Info on the Three Sto. Nino Festivals

I read on a YouTube video, Sinulog is more about dancing centered around the queen while Dinagyang is focused more on native tribes. Meanwhile, Ati-atihan is focused on the Aetas/Malays. What do these three have in common? All are a celebration, devotion or feast to the Sto. Nino.

Thanks to the Spaniards who came to the Philippines, these have become centered on Catholic and religious beliefs. Celebrations once based on local tribal culture and beliefs became a religion related festival.

1 . Sinulog is originally a dancing ritual to honor the Sto. Nino which was a baptismal gift to Queen Juana, wife of Datu Humabon.

That happened in 1521 when Magellan first came to the Philippines. It only became this big of a festival when in 1980 the then Ministry of Sports and Youth division Regional Director David Odilao, Jr. organized it to be so. ¹

Based on this year's schedule, it is a 12 day celebration.

2 . Ati-Atihan is called the Mother of All Festivals and is celebrated in Kalibo, Aklan.²

It has inspired both the Sinulog of Cebu and the Dinagyang of Iloilo. Ati-Atihan also means "to be like or pretend to be an Ati or Aeta".³

_Source

This is also known as a form of penitence. There's also a Higante Contest and the festivities culminates every third Sunday of January.

3 . Dinagyang is the Most Awarded Festival in the Country⁴

To boost tourism, the Marcos government called for provincial festivals in 1977. Prior to that the festival was being handled by the local parish which was later on handed over to the city government of Iloilo.

Dinagyang has already become Iloilo's own version of Aklan's Ati-Atihan. Through the years they have made it distinct also by using dark brown body paint⁵ instead of the usual black.

Well, Will I Travel or Not?

Too bad I didn't look at the festival dates earlier. Tsk. This is what happens when we do not plan our life. 😂 Anyway I can go to them next time. For now I'll try to get to Dinagyang.

I say yes, but if my mind and body gets lazy on me again I think I shouldn't post about anything travel related anymore. Hahaha.

How about you? Will you be going to any festivals this month or next or anytime soon? What do you think of these and have you ever been to any of our festivals? Feel free to share below!

XOXO,
@artgirl

_{1 History of Sinulog | 2, 3 History of Ati-Atihan | 4, 5 History of Dinagyang}

_{Images from Pixabay unless otherwise noted.}

---

Also, don't forget I have a contest from my previous volcano story post!

The Mini Writing Contest (Just For Fun )

Anyway, how about you? Do you have any volcano related story? In case you do, write or make a video and post it here on Steemit. If I like it you'll win 1 SBI (Steem Basic Income)!!!

Who knows I might decide to give out MORE SBI as it deserves or if there are a lot of entries.

Rules:

• Just make sure it is a true story.
• If you can back it up with your own pictures/videos as proof that'd be great too.
• Post must be in English or Filipino.
• Comment your entry below.
• Deadline is in 7 days before this post pays out.

Good luck!

---

_{Read Philippine Condo Buying FAQs Here}

_{Spam or irrelevant comments will be downvoted if not revised upon warning.}

Written by @artgirl for Steemit.
© Art x Stephanie Rue

_{@artgirl is a freelance writer/artist, online seller and real estate agent. My Steemit posts may contain referral/affiliate/merchandise links.
Contact me for your art, Writing/Research & Metro Manila (NCR) property needs.}

For business inquiries, you can chat me up on Steem.chat, Telegram or send me a Facebook message. Link in my bio.

DeviantArt prints here.

_{One Opti Juice Order Form Here}

---

Like it?

Upvote, Follow and Resteem/Share for appreciation.

♥ Thanks! ♥