Historical Significance
The Kinuyog Festival is an annual celebration in Calatagan, Batangas held in mid-December (around December 14–16). It commemorates the town’s rich coastal heritage, particularly the dried rabbitfish known locally as “kuyog,” and reflects the community’s tradition of fishing, drying and sharing this local produce. As the name suggests (“kinuyog” meaning “gathered” or “to gather”), the festival brings together residents and visitors alike to celebrate Calatagan’s collective identity and bounty.
Unique Traditions
During the festival, the streets come alive with parades, colorful costumes, floats and dance performances that highlight Calatagan’s seaside culture and the “kuyog” fish specialty. Local vendors present the dried rabbitfish and other seaside products, while participants don attire inspired by the sea, fishing, and local craft. The event is a joyful mix of culture, food, community-gathering and entertainment—an embodiment of both tradition and recreation.
Video from Cesus gaming(ashiana)
Cultural Impact
The Kinuyog Festival strengthens community ties in Calatagan by celebrating a shared heritage and inviting younger generations to participate in traditions linked to the sea, fishing and local gastronomy. At the same time, it supports local livelihoods by giving visibility to small-scale producers of the “kuyog” fish and other coastal products, and helps boost tourism by positioning Calatagan as a destination for folk culture, seaside festivity and local flavor. The festival thus becomes not only a moment of celebration, but a marker of identity, economy and culture for the town.