MIDTERM PROJECT

IN
WORLD CULTURE

DIANNA ROSE S. TERCIÑO BLOCK 5 ( 8:AM – 11:30AM)

BSA – IV MR. KRISTOPHER NGILANGIL

 Brunei Darussalam

Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah

Head of the government

GOVERNMENT The government of Brunei can be classed as an absolute

monarchy in which the Sultan of Brunei is the head of state as
well as the head of government. The Sultan is advised by five
councils, and they are the Council of Ministers, Council of
Succession, Legislative Council, Privy Council, and the
Religious Council
 FOODS
Pulut Panggang Nasi Lemak

A mixture of dried shrimp, coconut and a wonderful
combination of spices is encased by glutinous rice and
wrapped inside a Pandan leaf.
Nasi Lemak is a classic Malay dish that encompasses some
of the most common ingredients found in South East
Asian cuisine. Comprising of fragrant rice cooked in
coconut milk served with Sambal (a spicy sweet chilli
paste), anchovies and fried chicken wrapped inside a
Pandan leaf.

BAJU KURUNG and BAJU CARA MELAYU

The traditional Bruneian women’s costume
includes the baju kurung (a long tunic over a long
skirt).

CLOTHES Bruneian men wear the baju cara melayu (a tunic

and long pants).

Bruneian men traditionally wear a simple black

hat called a songkok or a folded scarf called a
dastar especially with ceremonial outfits.
 Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Hari Raya is a time for celebration after the fasting month of Ramadhan.
Prayers are held in the early morning of the first day at every mosque in the
country. This day is usually an occasion for. The second day normally
means open house; an invitation for all to visit. Special festive dishes are
made, including ketupat (rice cakes), satay (beef and chicken kebabs),
rendang (spicy marinated beef) and many others.

His Majesty the Sultan also throws his doors open to the people at the Istana
Nurul Iman. This gives the people and visitors a chance to meet His Majesty
and other members of the Royal Family, in order to wish them Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. This is defintely an offer which should not be
missed. When visiting you should dress conservatively.

Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day

FESTIVALS The formation of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces is commemorated every
year on the 31st of May, and the event usually takes place at the Taman Haji
Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien in the heart of the city. It consists of a military parade
and displays, such as a parachuting show or battle demonstration. In other
districts, units of the armed forces organise local parades and displays for
the public.

His Majesty the Sultan's Birthday 15th of July

This joyous occasion is one of the most important events in the
national calendar, with events and festivities taking place across
the whole country. It usually starts when the people gather at the
Taman Haj i Sir Muda OmarAli Saifuddien, in the centre of
Bandar Seri Begawan. His Majesty meets his subjects there and
delivers a titah, or speech, to mark the occasion. Afterwards
there is an investiture at the Istana Nurul Iman and, for the next
two weeks or so, a series of processions, parades and
celebrations. Fireworks displays take place and night markets - pasar malam - open up to sell food and drinks to the crowds.
 CAMBODIA

Prime Minister Hun Sen

Head of the government
The politics of Cambodia takes place in a framework of
a constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister
GOVERNMENT is the head of government and a Monarch is head of
state. The kingdom formally takes place according to
the nation's constitution (enacted in 1993) in a
framework of a parliamentary, representative
democracy. Executive power is exercised by the
government. Legislative power is vested in the two
chambers of parliament, the National Assembly and
the Senate
 FOODS
Fish Amok
Probably the most popular Cambodian dish. This dish is
composed of a rich and creamy curry like sauce that is the
perfect balance of ginger, lemongrass, turmeric and
coconut milk. When cooked correctly, the fish is silky
smooth, almost melting in your mouth with each bite. This
is usually served wrapped in a banana leaf and isn’t too
spicy
CLOTHES
Khmer Red Curry
Unlike its Thai counterpart, Khmer curry doesn’t have the
tendency to blow a hole through your mouth. Often made
with either chicken, beef or fish, this dish is made with
potatoes, coconut milk, lemongrass, and a special
Cambodian ingredient, kroeung.
Cambodian men typically wear either cotton or silk
shirt with short sleeves. With this they also wear
cotton trousers. The Cambodian women wear a
sarong which is a long fabric piece commonly
wrapped around the waist and worn by both men
and women.
 INDONESIA

President Joko Widodo

Head of the government

Indonesia is a democratic country that applies a presidential system

GOVERNMENT and Pancasila is the soul of the Indonesian democracy. Pancasila is
the philosophic fundamentals of the state. Pancasila consists of five
principles that are interrelated and inseparable, namely:
 FOODS Sweet Martabak
One of our favorite desserts would be Indonesian Sweet
Martabak. It is an Indonesian version of a pancake. The
interesting thing is, Martabak is only sold in the evenings.
You can choose mix fillings from chocolate, cheese and
peanuts.
CLOTHES
Pempek
Last but not least, Pempek. Pempek or empek-empek is
made of fish and tapioca. It is a Palembang specialty in
South Sumatra. Pempek comes in a variety of shapes and
sizes. The most popular one is called, kapal selam
(submarine), contains an egg in the middle. Pempek is
sprinkled with shrimp powder and served with cuka, a dark
dipping sauce made from vinegar, chill and sugar.
Women
wear kain batik and kebaya with selendang (sash),
while men wear jas and dasi(western suit with tie)
with peci cap.
 Pasola
During February or March, Pasola will be celebrated in various locations across East
Nusa Tenggara. Every year there will be an announcement on where and when the
celebration will be held. It is one of the most exciting Jousting Festival, well known
around the world, where people on horseback without saddles will throw spears (know
as hola) at each other to unseat the opponent. It is a traditional Sumba ritual sport to
keep the spirits happy and to bring a good harvest.

Galungan

FESTIVALS This important Hindu festival in Bali, it is celebrated for the coming of the
gods and the ancestral spirits to dwell in the home of their descendants.
During this festival, Hindus will drive off evil spirits with incantations and
firecrackers, while express gratitude to their Gods by inviting them down to
earth by celebrations of offerings, dancing and new clothes.

Bali Arts Festival

Largest annual celebration of art and culture in Indonesia, with a full
month (between June-July) of daily performances, arts exhibitions,
dances, food and other cultural offerings. Read more about this
famous Bali Arts Festival. It is important to search for a cheap Bali
hotel a couple of months before this festival since they will increase
their rates a few weeks to a month before.
 LAOS

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith

Head of the government

Laos is a communist state with the president as the head of state and
the prime minister as the head of government. The one party
socialist state gained independence from the French in 1949. The
GOVERNMENT country was established as a communist People’s Republic in 1975
after the abrogation of the 1957 constitution. Under the 1957
constitution, Laos existed as a constitutional monarchy. The Lao
People’s Revolutionary Party is the only legally recognized political
party in Laos, whose powers in the government are not stated in the
constitution.
 Minced Pork Salad (Laab Moo)
FOODS While famous in Thailand’s Isaan region this fiery, minced
pork salad originates from Laos. Easily one of my favourite
foods in Asia and a must try for any visit to Laos (or Isaan).
While Laab does have variations the most popular dish
comes with stir-fried minced pork cooked with shallots,
coriander, chillies and mint leaves. Salty of fish sauce and
sour of lime for seasoning
Lao Noodle Soup (Khao Piak Sen)
This top-notch noodle dish is probably the most common
of Lao food and is a staple not so different to Pho which is
synonymous with their Vietnamese neighbours. While
common as breakfast Khao Piak Sen also makes good for
lunch and pretty much anytime of the day. This tasty soup
bowl generally comes as Beef or Chicken served in like
broth over flat rice noodles and flavourings of fresh herbs.

A Lao woman in traditional costumes

The Sinh is a traditional garment worn by Lao women. It

is a simple tube skirt made of silk or cotton and it can
identify the women who wear it in a various ways. Sinh
have many different textures and designs in the foot.
A Lao man wearing traditional costumes to perform in a

CLOTHES
contest

Different from Sinh of Lao women, Lao men wear

“Salong” as the Laos traditional costumes. “Salong” are
big pants or the peasant pants. Lao men wear Salong to
attend important events or ceremonies
 Boun Khao Phansa
The July full moon brings on the rainy season and the start of
Buddhist lent. Weddings are put on hold until October, monks
return to their home temples and hundreds of young men take up
the cloth as novices, to earn merit for their families and show their
devotion to the Buddhist tenants.

Boun Bung Fai

The date of Boun Bung Fai, or the Lao Rocket
Festival varies by region and sometimes by village.

FESTIVALS
Festivals take place in May, June and July. Villagers
ask the spirits to end the hot season and bring on the
rains by launching homemade rockets. Winners are
those whose rockets fly highest and burn brightest.
Losers are thrown in the mud. Spectators watch the
show, hear the judges remarks and eat and drink

Boun Ock Phansa

Boun Ock Phansa is celebrated in
October as the end of Buddhist lent. This
festival is celebrated with boat racing,
especially in Mekong River towns like
Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Parades
are held in the streets with elaborate
floats that are eventually taken to the
river as offerings to the naga, or mythical water serpents. Alms are given to the monks who resume
their social duties outside the temple.
 MALAYSIA

The Honourable Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister

Head of the government

Politics of Malaysia takes place in the framework of a federal representative

democratic constitutional monarchy, in which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is
head of state and the Prime Minister of Malaysia is the head of government.
GOVERNMENT Executive power is exercised by the federal government and the 13 state
governments. Federal legislative power is vested in the federal parliament
and the 13 state assemblies. The judiciary is independent of the executive
and the legislature, though the executive maintains a certain level of
influence in the appointment of judges to the courts.
 Mee goreng mamak
Nasi kerabu

FOODS

This Indian Muslim dish is the complete package. Yellow

noodles. Beef or chicken. Shrimp. Soy sauce, veggies and
eggs. A bit of chili tossed in for an irresistible jolt.
If the blue rice doesn't spark your curiosity, the lines of
people around the country waiting to order this favorite
Kelantanese dish should.
From the state of Kelantan in northern peninsular
Malaysia, nasi kerabu gets its eye-grabbing color from
telang flowers, which are crushed and mixed into flour.

Malays: For Malay women, they wear the baju kurung; Malay men
wear the baju melayu with a songkok on the head. Alternatively, the
men wear batik shirts with trousers.

Indians: Indian women wear the sari. The salwar kameez or Punjabi
suit is popular with northern Indian ladies. The kurta is the traditional
CLOTHES attire for men on formal occasions.

Chinese women: The traditional clothes for Chinese women is

the cheongsam (literally 'long dress') or qipao.

Peranakan ladies: Also known as Baba Nyonya, they are Chinese

immigrants who married Malay partners. They wear the
elegant kebaya that can be described as traditional high fashion.
 Thaipusam
Traditional drum brigade accompanying Thaipusam
devotees

This is one of the most colourful Hindu festivals in

Malaysia. Although a religious festival, its gaiety
sometimes reminds one of the “Mardi Gras” in Rio De
Janeiro. It is said that on this day, the stars, Pusan and
Brihaspati, are united into one. The Hindus believe
that by celebrating Thaipusam, the

Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday

Muslims in Labuan celebrating Maulidur Rasul

The birthday of the Prophet Muhammad or Maulidur Rasul

FESTIVALS is an important event in the Muslim calendar marked by
processions to demonstrate solidarity of believers. Prayers,
sermons and religious discussions are held at this time to
strengthen the faith and consolidate the spirit of the
Muslim community.

Sabah Ka’amatan Festival

Ladies from the Dusun Remanau Leboh tribe showing off
their bamboo musical instruments during the harvest
festival
Known locally as Tadau Ka’amatan (Harvest Festival),
this native festival of the Kadazan-Dusun, the largest
ethnic group in Sabah is the grandest in the state. The
annual festival in May is a timeless tradition in honour
of Bambaazon, the spirit of the rice padi.
 Choul Chhnam Thmey or Khmer New Year
This is one of the biggest festivals in Cambodia during which
Cambodians with Khmer roots stop working for a whole 3
days and return to their homes to celebrate the end of the
traditional harvest season. It is a time when the farmers, who
have toiled the whole year in their farms for harvesting food,
take some leisurely time off.

Pchum Ben or Ancestor’s Day

FESTIVALS Pchum Ben means “to gather together a ball of food” and this day,
also known as the “Hungry Ghosts Festival” and “Festival Of The
Dead” is the day when the Cambodians pay respect to all their 7
generations of ancestors. It is believed that on the first day of this
festival, the gates of the hell are opened and all the ghosts are let
out, some of them being ancestors to the people.

Magha Puja Day or Meak Bochea

This is the most important festival of the monks in Cambodia and

hence tops the list of Cambodia festivals. On this day, monks all over
Cambodia celebrate that time in history when Lord Buddha
delivered his sermon to the 1250 monks who had spontaneously
gathered at Rajagaha Valuwan Vihara, which is the place where Lord
Buddha had retreated. This marks the beginning of all the religious
festivals in Cambodia.
 MYANMAR

WIN MYINT
Head of the government

Myanmar (also known as Burma) is a unitary parliamentary

republic under its constitution of 2008. The Economist
Intelligence Unit has rated Myanmar as "hybrid regime" in 2016.
GOVERNMENT The military of Burma holds a large amount of power in the
government, despite the end of the last Burmese military
dictatorship
 Tea leaf salad
Shan-style rice

FOODS
Known as fish rice, this Shan dish is among the most
typical Myanmar food. It combines rice that's been
cooked with turmeric and topped with flakes of
freshwater fish and garlic oil. This cuisine becomes a
delicious snack when served with leek roots, raw garlic
and deep-fried pork rinds. When staying at Sanctum Inle
Resort Myanmar you can try this rice.
This is the most popular Myanmar food. To make the
dish, the sour, slightly bitter leaves are mixed by hand
with shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes, nuts and
peas. The dish can be a snack, an appetizer or,
coupled with a plate of rice.

Burmese women’s traditional clothes are Burmese men in Inle Lake

Thummy.
The traditional costume of the men is called Longchy
Thummy is
(sewing pants and tight pants) combined perfectly with
similar to
the shirt or jacket called Taipon (traditional clothes).
Laos or
Thailand’s
CLOTHES dress. Both
Burmese
women and
men wear
flip-flops.
Besides the
traditional costume, Myanmar people wear
European clothes in many occasions and when
they wear suits, they wear shoes.
 Kachin Manaw Festival
Location: Myitkyina
Manaw Festival is usually held in Kachin State and is
held every year in January to welcome the New Year.
During the festival, you will see Manaw poles that are long,
artistically designed, and erected at the centre of the festival
area.

Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Festival

Location: Taunggyi
FESTIVALS The most popular festival held in the Shan State is the
Taunggyi Tazaungdaing, also known as the Festival of Lights,
which usually happens around November. During the festival,
you can see many hot air balloons of varying shapes and sizes
that are launched to the sky as an offering to the heavens, and
to fight off evil spirits.

Taungbyone Nat Festival

Location: Mount Popa

Although the majority of Burmese people believe in

Buddhism, there is still a significant population that
believes in Nats. Nats are said to be terrestrial spirits that
influence human activity. Taungbyone Nat Festival is
held in celebration of these spirits and is usually held
around July and August. You will see people drinking
and dancing during this lively festival.
 PHILIPPINES

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

Head of the government

The Government of the Philippines (Filipino: Pamahalaan ng Pilipinas) is

the national government of the Philippines. It is governed as unitary

GOVERNMENT state under a presidential representative and democratic and a

constitutional republic where the President function as both the head of
state and the head of government of the country within a pluriform
multi-party system.
 FOODS
Lechon
Lechon baboy is one of the highlight of Filipino festivities,
birthdays, wedding, family reunion and christmas parties.
the dish was introduced by the Spaniards centuries ago
while some evidence link it to Chinese immigrants. the
most favorite part of Lechon is its crispy skin then dip into
a liver base sauce yum.
.
Women's national costume.
Barong tagalog is as well used by
women. But there are many much
more feminine and beautiful female
CLOTHES clothing. For example, mestiza
dress. It is a formal dress made
from lace and embroidered richly.
It has butterfly sleeves
ISAW
Isaw is a street food from the Philippines, made from
barbecued pig or chicken intestines. The intestines are
cleaned, turned inside out, and cleaned again,
repeating the process several times. They are then
either boiled, then grilled, or immediately grilled on
sticks.
Men's national costume.
Barong tagalog (a formal
garment, often made from
thin fabric and richly
embroidered) is used both by
men and women. It looks like
a tunic or shirt with long
sleeves and is worn over a
usual shirt.
 SINULOG FESTIVAL, CEBU
What is it? SINULOG is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous
image of the Santo Niño. The name pertains to the strong current
movement of the Cebu River which is re-enacted in the dance.
Type of Festival: Religious, Cultural, Dance Ritual, and a
Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: 3rd Sunday of January (Feast Day of Santo Niño)
Main Highlights:

 Santo Niño procession on Sunday (all day after the first Sunday
Mass)
 Sinulog Fluvial Parade on Saturday (Early Morning)

PAHIYAS FESTIVAL, LUCBAN, QUEZON

FESTIVALS What is it? A Harvest Thanksgiving Festival to San Isidro
Labrador, the Patron Saint of Farmers
Type of Festival: Religious, Cultural, Harvest Festival and a
Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: Every 15th of May
Main Highlights:

 Early Morning Procession in honor of San Isidro Labrador

 Walking along the procession route, where all the houses are decorated with kiping and their harvest.

PANAGBENGA FESTIVAL, BAGUIO

What is it? A Flower Festival whose name “Panagbenga”
comes from local Kankana-ey term in Cordillera meaning “a
season or time for blossoming”
Type of Festival: Flower Festival, Modern Festival and a
Spectator-Type Festival
When is it Held: Last Sunday of February
Main Highlights:

 Grand Flower Float Parade along Session Road on Sunday 8am

 Grand Street Parade along Session Road on Saturday 8am
 SINGAPORE

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Head of the government

The Singapore Government Directory is an online information

GOVERNMENT service to facilitate communication between members of the
public and the public service. It includes a listing of ministries,
statutory boards, organs of state and public services.
 HOKKIEN ROASTED CHICKEN RICE AT HUP HONG CHICKEN
MEE IN RICE
SINGAPORE
Located at
Yuhua
FOODS Along with Village
Market &
Char Kway
Teow Food
(coming up Centre,
soon), Hokkien Mee is one of the most popular fried this place
noodle hawker dishes in Singapore. It’s a dish that is well
has roots in China’s Fujian province (which is known in
where the Hokkien people are originally from), that the
has now been adopted into Malaysia and neighborhood for their roasted chicken rice. The
Singapore. chicken had a firm silky texture, and the sauce was
nice and garlicky.

Baju Melayu
The Buju Melayu is the
The Nivi-style Sari
name for the tradional Malay
If you've been to garment. It is worm by men
Singapore for a significant and consists of a shirt for a
period of time, you may top, sarong, worn over a pair
CLOTHES have noticed many Indian
women dressed in their
of trousers, complete with a
cap know as the songkok. The
traditional garbs, draped songkok is a religious hat
with a long, flowing and which originated in the
glamorous-looking piece of 13th Century with the rise of
cloth. This piece of
Islam in Muslim countries.
unstitched cloth is known as
the sari.
 The Lantern Festival 2019

Also known as Mid-Autumn festival, Lantern festival is one

of the most popular Singapore festivals. It celebrates the
legend of Chang Er – the lady who, apparently floated to
the moon after swallowing the elixir of eternal life and now
resides on the moon. Be a part of this exciting festival in
Singapore.

Singapore Art Festival 2019

A must for culture buffs, the Singapore Art Festival is

home to ensembles, music, theater acts, international

FESTIVALS dances and art installations. With great talent to be

seen and heard around for almost an entire month
from May, it is among very few fests which celebrate
such diverse range of art forms on one platform. This
deserves to be your one of the must attend festivals
in Singapore 2019.

Spicy evenings for Deepavali

Indian connection, folks! Singapore

celebrates Diwali like nobody does it outside
India. Like India, Singapore celebrates it on
the 15th day of the Kartik month.
Interestingly, Singapore Deepawali lasts for a
week. With vivid hues of warm golden
lights, the Hindu community all over Singapore celebrates the festival spreading joy and cheer.
Indian festivals in Singapore are celebrated with full pomp and show
 THAILAND

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha

Head of the government
The Government of Thailand, or formally the Royal Thai
Government (RTG) (Thai: รัฐบาลไทย; RTGS: Ratthaban
GOVERNMENT Thai), is the unitary government of the Kingdom of Thailand.
The country emerged as a modern nation state after the
foundation of the Chakri Dynasty and the city of Bangkok in
1782. The Revolution of 1932 brought an end to absolute
monarchy and replaced it with a constitutional monarchy.
 VIETNAM

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

Head of the government
The first constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, adopted in
1980, established a Council of State as a collective presidency and a
GOVERNMENT Council of Ministers. In 1992 this document was superseded by a
second constitution, which, in addition to replacing the Council of
State with an elected president and otherwise reforming Vietnam’s
government and political structure, also outlined major shifts in
foreign policy and economic doctrine.
 FOODS
Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)

Som Tum (Spicy Green Papaya Salad) The quintessential Thai aroma! A bold, refreshing blend of
fragrant lemongrass, chilli, galangal, lime leaves, shallots,
Garlic, chilies, green beans, cherry tomatoes and shredded lime juice and fish sauce shapes this classic soup, giving it
raw papaya get dramatically pulverized in a pestle and
its legendary herbal kick. Succulent fresh prawns and
mortar, so releasing a rounded sweet-sour-spicy flavour
that's not easily forgotten. Regional variations throw straw mushrooms lend it body.
peanuts, dry shrimp or salted crab into the mix, the latter
having a gut-cleansing talent that catches many
newcomers by surprise!

Thai Dusit
Suea Phraratchathan
This style of outfit is registers This top was design in
visually as the most modern. It is 1979 for the king and was
clearly a mix of Thai and Western popularized by the Minister of
influences and is intended to be Defense, General Prem
Tinsulanonda. look like.
CLOTHES worn to events that would usually
call for Western-style evening wear.
It is a slim-fitting dress made with a
brocaded silk and accessorized with
either traditional Thai or Western
jewelry.
 Banh xeo
Goi
These
enormous, cuon
cheap and
FOODS filling
Vietnamese
Vietnam’s
most
pancakes
famous dish: translucent spring rolls packed with
translate
greens, coriander and various combinations of
(banh
xeo means “sizzling pancake”) pancake contain minced pork, shrimp or crab. In some places
shrimp, pork, bean sprouts and egg, which is then they’re served with a bowl of lettuce and/or mint. A
fried, wrapped in rice paper with greens and dunked southern variation has barbecued strips of pork
in a spicy sauce before eaten. wrapped up with green banana and star fruit, and
then dunked in a rich peanut sauce – every bit as
tasty as it sounds.

AO DAI FOR MEN

AO DAI FOR WOMEN
Ao Dai, the Traditional
With the intention of changing the way people dress in
Dress in Vietnam for
order to eradicate ancient habits, the 18th century lords
MenThe traditional
and mandarins in Hue created the Ao Dai.
Vietnamese dress for

CLOTHES men is known as the

Ao Dai. It is a long silk
tunic with a
conventional looking
snug collar and is
buttoned down on the
left side. The male
tunic falls to the knees
and is generally worn with loose pants underneath.
 Ghost Festival (Phi Ta Khon) Dan Sai, Loei Province – June or July

ombining religious traditions, local handicrafts and fun-loving party

atmosphere, Phi Ta Khon is a three-day festival that’s renowned for the
colourful masks worn by thousands of locals. The masks are ghastly,
stretched faces with phallic noses, decorated in bright, gaudy colours.

Lantern Festival (Yi Peng) Chiang Mai - November

Chiang Mai’s lantern festival takes place every November and is truly
a remarkable sight. Down by the banks of the Peng River, thousands
of paper lanterns are released into the sky to float away on the
evening breeze.
FESTIVALS

Rocket Festival (Boon Bang Fai) Yasothorn Province – June or July

In the farming communities of Issan (north-eastern

Thailand), rocket festivals are important events attended by entire
villages as they’re considered the last big ‘knees-up’ before the
planting season begins. The rockets are meant to encourage the
gods to send plentiful rains to help the precious rice crops grow,
with teams building ever more elaborate rockets.
 Hue Arts Festival
If you consider yourself somewhat of a culture vulture, Hue
Arts Festival is a must. As a celebration of customs
practised during the Nguyen dynasty, it’s a great insight
into the vibrant art scene and fascinating heritage of this
historical town. There are impressive showcases – from
theatre and live music to film screenings and street
performances – as well as activities including boat races,
kite flying and human chess games. Note: The festival
takes place every two years.

.Hoi An Lantern Festival

As perhaps Vietnam’s most famous festival, the Hoi An
Lantern Festival draws huge numbers of visitors. This

FESTIVALS
charming town is a firm favourite amongst visitors
anyway, but when the lights go out, and those twinkly
lanterns are sent down the river it’s particularly special.

Wandering Souls Day/Ghost Festival (Trung

Nguyen)
The story behind Wandering Souls Day, the second largest
festival after Tet, is one of the most interesting of Vietnam’s
festivals. This Buddhist celebration is built on the belief that a
person’s soul is sent to heaven or hell when they die.
 PHILIPPINES

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

Head of the government

The Government of the Philippines (Filipino: Pamahalaan ng Pilipinas) is

the national government of the Philippines. It is governed as unitary

GOVERNMENT state under a presidential representative and democratic and a

constitutional republic where the President function as both the head
of state and the head of government of the country within a pluriform
multi-party system.