The Pintados Festival—held every June 29 in Tacloban, Leyte—is one of the country’s most vibrant celebrations. Hundreds of performers with elaborate, painted tattoos and colorful costumes march to the beat of the drums while chanting “Viva Señor!” Sometimes, they break into staged sword fights or dance sequences with statues of Sto. Niño.

The street parade is just one of many activities you can enjoy during the festival. Immerse yourself in Tacloban’s rich history and culture with this guide to festival events and the city's must-see attractions.

Established in 1987, the Pintados Festival honors the region's pre-colonial heritage and the Sto. Niño de Leyte. Local legends credit the saint for protecting the region from disease, drought, and other natural disasters.

A decade later, it merged with the Kasadyaan Festival, creating the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival. Known as the “Festival of Festivals”, this cultural celebration showcases the diverse traditions of the Visayas region.

Central to the festival are the native Visayan people, who the Spanish colonizers named “Pintados” or the painted ones because of their body tattoos. “Pintar” also means “paint” in Waray-Waray, Leyte’s native dialect.

These body tattoos were an important rite of passage and a sign of social standing. More intricate designs were reserved for people in high positions or warriors who demonstrated bravery in battle. Even women wore tattoos that symbolize beauty or fertility.

Interested in getting a Pintados-inspired tattoo? Choose geometric shapes or incorporate nature symbols like the sun or animals. You can also try a low-commitment version with makeup or henna.

Find design inspo and body makeup tutorials on TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest. Low on load? Get 8 GB of open data access plus one discount voucher of your choice for just ₱99 with Go+99.

The colorful parade dances incorporate traditions of famous tribes like Tribu Mag Uruma (tribe of farmers), Tribu Mangirisda (tribe of fisherman) and Tribu Rayhak (tribe of celebrations).

The parade typically begins at the Capitol Grounds on Sen. Enage St., then winds through the city streets. Check the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival Facebook page for the latest route, then use Google Maps or similar apps to pick your spot. 

Go there early, but be prepared to wait. Bring cash or use GCash to buy food or bottled water from the street stalls. Ensure you have reliable prepaid data for your cashless transactions. Have kids in tow? Keep them entertained with educational shows and activities on your device while you wait for the parade.

The Ritual Dance Presentation of Pintados is one of the festival’s highly anticipated events where different municipalities face off in an epic tribal dance battle. The performances often incorporate local fables, historical events, indigenous rituals, or other elements of warrior culture like battle cries. You’ll be amazed by the fancy footwork and the over-the-top props. Everyone is going for the gold!

The competition is held at the Leyte Sports Development Center, also called the Grandstand.

Vacation calories don’t count! Indulge in binagol (a creamy custard made from mashed taro, coconut milk, and egg yolks) or the crunchy roscas cookies. Love chocolate? The moron, a sticky rice cake made with coconut milk and cocoa powder, is perfect with coffee!

You can buy binagol, moron, and roscas in street stalls in the downtown area. You can also go to the Tacloban Shopping Center on Zamora St., where you’ll find Aida’s Delicacies and Joedy’s Pasalubong—both known for good binagol.

But if you’re looking for pasalubong that won’t spoil immediately, go to Charito’s Delights (Level 1, Robinson’s Tacloban near Mercury Drug). Their bestsellers include the hopia de pili, mazapan de pili, and coriosos. You can ask the store staff to pack the items for hand-carry or check-in.

The former presidential palace is famous for its architecture and art collection. Each bedroom has a unique native motif, like sampaguita, banig, or coconut. The main rooms feature paintings by Amorsolo and international artists, religious sculptures, and antiques like Chinese porcelain jars. Even the fixtures are impressive—European chandeliers, Italian tiles, Argentine carpets, and more.

Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum:

Real Street Downtown, Tacloban; (053) 321 9775

Hours:

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Sundays

“I shall return,” said General Douglas MacArthur at the height of World War II. The Leyte Landing Memorial commemorates the day he fulfilled that promise at Red Beach: October 20, 1944.

The park has plaques that explain historical events and how they helped end the Second World War. If you have kids, grab this “teaching moment” to make their Araling Panlipunan classes come to life. Watch historical videos or ask them to imagine what people thought or felt when MacArthur arrived.

MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park:

Barangay Caduhag, Palo. It’s a short ride from Tacloban City. You can take a cab, hire a tricycle, or board a jeep that goes to Calempic.

Hours:

Open 24 hours daily

Fees:

Entrance is free!

The 2.6-kilometer bridge is one of the longest bridges in the Philippines. It offers a fantastic view of the San Juanico Strait and its islets, and the clear blue skyline is breathtaking.

San Juanico Bridge is just 10 minutes from downtown Tacloban. It’s accessible by car or public transportation.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño Parish Church houses what is believed to be the miraculous image of the Sto. Niño. 

The statue arrived in Tacloban in 1770, but in 1888, townspeople sent it to Manila for repairs. On the return voyage, the ship carrying it caught fire, and the statue sank to the bottom of the sea. The following year, searchers recovered it and sent it back to Tacloban. Coincidentally, a cholera outbreak plaguing the town ended upon the statue's arrival.

Shrine of Sto. Niño Parish Church:

P. Zamora St., between Juan Luna St. and Real St. Visit its Facebook page for mass and confession schedules and other events.

Schedule your stay a few days before the street parade. This way, you can catch some early festival activities, like concerts or cultural exhibits.

• Bus: The ride takes about 25 hours from Manila including stopovers. Fares range from ₱1,470 to ₱2,298, depending on the liner and pick-up points. Compare fares and book online at Bustickets.ph.
• Plane: Prices of plane tickets to Tacloban soar in the last week of June because of the festival. Roundtrip flights typically cost between ₱6,000 to ₱9,500.

• Ironwood Hotel

  This boutique hotel is conveniently located near the airport, Sto. Niño Church, and the Leyte Sports Development Center, where the festival dance competition is held.

  Ironwood Hotel

  , 

  Brgy. 34 Burgis Street corner Juan Luna Street, Downtown, Tacloban City, Leyte; (053)520-8888 or (998)857-1857

• Summit Hotel

  Looking for a hotel near Robinson’s Mall? The Summit Hotel is your best bet. Plus, Go Rewards cardholders get special discounts.

  Summit Hotel

  , 

  Brgy. 77 Marasbaras, Tacloban City, 6500 Leyte; (998)888-7788

• XYZ Hotel

  This hotel’s downtown location makes finding restaurants or getting public transportation very easy.

  XYZ Hotel

  , 

  P. Zamora Street, Tacloban City; (053)523-3888 or (917)773-8008

You’ll be walking a lot as you follow the festival parade or check out local spots. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring umbrellas to prepare for June’s sudden rains.

Before you go, ensure you have everything you need: chargers, power banks, and a good data plan. You’ll need a strong internet connection to navigate streets, look for restos, and follow festival event updates. Explore different postpaid plans and prepaid load to ensure you have the right one for your needs.

Traveling from abroad? Get a traveler eSIM that you can easily install on your phone—no physical SIM required! You can get yours through GlobeOne, which you can easily download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Now, you’re ready for the Pintados Festival and its celebration of history, faith, and the Filipino fighting spirit. Check the Globe Festival calendar for more cultural events that will make you feel proud to be Pinoy.