From Intramuros tours to fashion hunts: Fun ways to celebrate Filipino culture this August
As the country celebrates Buwan ng Wika, Buwan ng Kasaysayan, and Araw ng mga Bayani this August, the month is filled with opportunities to reconnect with Filipino culture, stories, and traditions.
Honoring our Filipino roots can entail different activities, like trying new activities that bring our culture to life.
If you have no clue where to start, here are some activities and experiences worth adding to your calendar:
Watching 'Liyab' at The Metropolitan Theater
History takes center stage in Liyab!, an original musical play that brings the stories of some of the Philippines’ most influential historical figures to life.
Presented by Teatro Kaugnay, the production explores themes of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism through interconnected narratives inspired by the lives of Gabriela Silang, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan, and Brigadier General Vicente Lim during the Defense of Bataan in World War II.
Tying these stories together is Sisa, who serves as the narrator and symbolic personification of the Filipino Motherland.
You can catch Liyab! on Aug. 13 and 14 at The Metropolitan Theater in Manila, with performances scheduled at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. You can secure your tickets on Ticket2Me, with prices ranging from P800 to P1,800.
Going on an Intramuros walking tour
There’s no better way to immerse yourself in Philippine history than by wandering through the cobblestone streets of Intramuros.
If this sounds right up your alley, you can join a free walking tour that's organized every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The tours will be open for walk-ins only, with 25 slots available per batch. It's on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure to get to the venue early.
To secure a slot, register at the Intramuros Visitors Center for the one-hour Fort Santiago tour and at the stairway entrance of Casa Manila for the 30-minute museum tour. It costs P75 for regular customers and P50 for children, senior citizens, students, PWDs, and government employees.
Film showing, workshops, more at Parañaque City Public Library
You can also hang out at the Parañaque City Public Library, which is gearing up for a wide array of activities to celebrate Filipino culture.
On Aug. 12, they will be organizing a Buwan ng Wika DIY activity as well as a riddle competition in the Children's Section. Then on Aug. 13, there will be a documentary film showing about Filipino history and culture in the library's Reference Section.
The fun doesn't end there, as there will also be a competition on idiomatic expressions on Aug. 19 at the Filipiniana Section.
Shopping local fashion
For those who want to add a Filipino touch to their wardrobe can visit the Bench x Katutubo Pop-Up Market in Bonifacio Global City.
Here, shoppers can discover locally made fashion pieces and handcrafted finds from homegrown makers.
The pop-up market will run from Aug. 14 to 16, from 10:-00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Bench Tower in BGC. What's even better is that entry is completely free for all visitors.
Making art
You can unleash your creative side while putting your own spin on what it means to be Filipino through PITX’s LikhArt 2026.
The art competition invites participants to use traditional art to showcase the experiences, challenges, achievements, and values that shape Filipino identity. The final product must be in line with the theme, "Biyahe ng Buhay: Kuwento ng Bawat Pilipino."
"Layunin ng temang ito na ipakita na ang bawat Pilipino, anuman ang pinagmulan o katayuan sa buhay, ay may kuwentong mahalagang marinig at maipagmalaki. Sa pamamagitan ng sining, hinihikayat ang mga kalahok na ilarawan ang mga karanasan, hamon, tagumpay, at pagpapahalagang Pilipino na nagbibigay-buhay sa ating pambansang pagkakakilanlan," PITX explained.
To join, participants must follow PITX’s official social media accounts, post their entries on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok as a public post, and include a caption explaining the meaning behind their artwork and its connection to the theme. Entries must also use the official hashtag #LikhArt2026 and tag the PITX Facebook page.
Participants can also take home exciting prizes, including a hotel voucher stay for two for the first-place winner, a P4,000 gift certificate for second place, and a P2,000 gift certificate for third place.
The competition will run from Aug. 3 to 31, with winners to be announced on Sept. 5.