Image courtesy Martyn Willes

The Biniray Festival in Bulalacao, Or. Mindoro, is probably the most colourful festival in Mindoro Island. The two-day Biniray Festival celebrates the bounty of the sea, rivers & land, and indigenous culture with parades, dancing, feasts and displays.

Starting with the parade of boats, the Biniray Festival, takes visitors on a tour of the history and culture of southeast Mindoro, without ever leaving Bulalacao town. The boats are decorated each year according to a theme proposed by the fishermans’ association and almost every fishing boat in the community participates in a parade around Bulalacao Bay; upon returning to the town pier a feast of freshly caught seafood is offered along with dancing and merriment.

Photo courtesy Martyn Willes

The Commodore’s Cup (5th - 6th December) at Caliraya Lake, Cavinti/Lumban, Laguna, is organised by the Philippine Windsurfing Association and brings the best windsurfing and kiteboarding practitioners from around the Philippines and across Asia together for the final event of the 2009 Philippine Windsurfing Series. The Commodore’s Cup event is open to all national and international windsurfing and kiteboarding enthusiasts.

The Commodore’s Cup is an annual event designed to close out the Philippine Windsurfing Series racing season, that this year started in Puerto Galera way back in February. At Caliraya Lake the 2009 Philippine windsurfing and kiteboarding champions will be crowned.