Higantes Festival Guide: Angono's Giant Papier-Mâché Parade
The Higantes Festival in Angono, Rizal is held every 23 November, the feast of San Clemente, and it is one of the easiest major Philippine festivals to reach from Metro Manila — roughly an hour east, depending on traffic. The draw is the higantes themselves: papier-mâché giants, two to four metres tall, worn by a single person inside and paraded through the town in their dozens.
Angono is also the country's self-declared Art Capital, birthplace of National Artists Carlos "Botong" Francisco and Lucio San Pedro, so the craftsmanship is not incidental.
When it happens
| Date | 23 November, every year |
| Where | Angono, Rizal |
| Honours | San Clemente, patron of fishermen |
| Signature | Higantes — giant papier-mâché figures |
| Also | A fluvial procession on Laguna de Bay, and a great deal of water |
| From Manila | ~1 hour east by road |
Where the giants came from
The origin story is a good one. Under Spanish colonial rule, Angono's residents were tenants of hacienda owners who permitted them only one fiesta a year. The story goes that the townspeople made enormous caricature figures of the landlords — exaggerated, unflattering, unmistakable — and paraded them, an act of mockery the owners could not easily punish.
Whatever the precise history, the caricature quality survives. Traditionally the higantes came in threes representing a family — father, mother, child — and the figures still lean toward the comic and the outsized rather than the reverent.
What happens on the day
- The procession of San Clemente, carried by devotees, with the image of the patron accompanied by the parehadoras — women in colourful dress carrying wooden paddles.
- The higantes parade, with figures from every barangay, plus entries from schools and local groups.
- The fluvial procession on Laguna de Bay, taking San Clemente onto the water in a flotilla of decorated boats.
- Water, everywhere. Because San Clemente is the patron of fishermen, dousing is part of the celebration. Buckets, hoses and water guns are used freely and nobody is exempt.
Come prepared to get wet
This is the single most important practical point. You will be soaked, probably within minutes of arriving, and there is no polite way to opt out.
- Wear clothes you do not mind ruining, and bring a dry change.
- A waterproof phone pouch is essential, not optional.
- Leave anything valuable behind or in a genuinely sealed dry bag.
- Closed shoes you can walk in wet.
- Cash in a sealed bag, in small notes.
Getting there from Manila
Angono is about 30km east of Manila, in Rizal province on the shore of Laguna de Bay.
| Route | Notes |
|---|---|
| By car | ~1–2 hrs via Ortigas Extension or Marcos Highway; heavy on the day |
| By jeepney/UV | From Cubao or Crossing (EDSA-Shaw) to Angono |
| Combined | Drive to Antipolo or Taytay, then local transport |
Expect road closures in the town centre and severe congestion on the approach. Going early is the standard advice; parking near the route is effectively impossible by mid-morning.
Make a day of it in Angono
Since you have travelled, the town rewards a few extra hours:
- The Angono Petroglyphs — the oldest known artwork in the Philippines, rock carvings estimated at around 3,000 BC, in a shelter on the edge of town. A National Cultural Treasure and genuinely remarkable.
- Blanco Family Museum — the work of a family in which every member paints.
- Nemiranda Arthouse and other working artist studios open to visitors.
- Balaw-balaw — a restaurant and gallery known both for its art and for adventurous local dishes.
Angono pairs naturally with Antipolo nearby, for the Pinto Art Museum and the view over the metro.
FAQ
When is the Higantes Festival? 23 November every year, the feast of San Clemente, in Angono, Rizal.
What are higantes? Giant papier-mâché figures, roughly two to four metres tall, carried by one person inside and paraded through the town.
Why are they made? Tradition holds they began as caricatures of Spanish-era hacienda landlords, paraded as mockery during the one fiesta tenants were permitted.
Will I get wet? Yes. Dousing is part of the celebration because San Clemente is the patron of fishermen. Bring a dry change and a waterproof phone pouch.
How far is Angono from Manila? About 30km east, roughly one to two hours by road depending on traffic.
What else is there to see in Angono? The Angono Petroglyphs — the oldest known artwork in the country — plus several artist museums and studios.
Is it family friendly? Yes, though everyone gets soaked and the crowds are dense.
Last verified: August 2026. Routes, road closures and the fluvial schedule are set locally each year — check with the Angono municipal government closer to November.
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