Niyogyugan Festival 2025 Funds Farmers’ Kids To College!

Lucena City is alive with colour, music, and the sweet aroma of coconut treats as Niyogyugan Festival 2025 begins. This week-long celebration is more than just a feast. It is a heartfelt tribute to Quezon’s coconut farmers, with proceeds helping send their children to college.

This year, the festival carries a bigger purpose. Five percent of all sales from the booths will go to the Niyogyugan Foundation Incorporated, which will provide college scholarships to the children of coconut farmers. The foundation will start with ten scholars, funding any course they choose.

Image credit: Dra. Helen Tan Facebook Page

Governor Helen Tan and Department of Tourism Calabarzon Regional Director Marites Castro led the opening ceremony at the Capitol grounds, where 39 stunning agri-tourism booths now stand. Each booth is built entirely from coconut tree materials and represents a town or city in Quezon.

Visitors can wander from one booth to the next, sampling kalamay wrapped in banana leaves, crumbly uraro biscuits, tangy coconut vinegar, sweet coco jam and even a shot of the iconic lambanog. The famous puto-bao, with its fluffy rice cake and coconut filling, is also a crowd favourite.

Also read: 10 Lucena Airbnbs For Vacations in Quezon Province

Image credit: Quezon Provincial Tourism Office Facebook Page

The Niyogyugan Festival is Quezon Province’s annual tribute to its coconut industry, which remains the main source of livelihood for thousands of locals. The name “Niyogyugan” comes from the Filipino word niyog (coconut) and yugyog (to dance or sway), a nod to both the swaying coconut trees and the lively celebrations.

It’s not just a fair. It is a platform for local pride where towns and cities compete to design the most creative coconut-themed booths, sell their best coconut-based delicacies and crafts, and highlight the cultural traditions that make Quezon unique.

Also read: 10 Idyllic Beaches in Quezon Province for a Laidback Tropical Vacation

Image credit: Quezon Provincial Tourism Office Facebook Page

The festival began as a way to honour coconut farmers and highlight the coconut’s vital role in the province’s economy. Quezon produces 20 percent of the country’s coconuts, making it the top producer in the Philippines.

For locals, the coconut is more than a crop. Every part of the tree, from its leaves to its trunk and fruit, is used for food, crafts or income. It is a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness, and celebrating it each year helps keep traditions alive while boosting tourism.

According to DOT’s Marites Castro, Quezon is now climbing the ranks in tourist arrivals. “It’s not just about agriculture anymore. Quezon is also a tourism hotspot,” she said.

Image credit: Leynard Guardacasa Facebook Page

Image credit: Leynard Guardacasa Facebook Page

The Niyogyugan Festival is more than just an Instagram-worthy trip. It is a food adventure, a cultural deep dive and a chance to support a cause that directly impacts farming families.

You will get to taste authentic Quezon delicacies, shop for coconut-based products that are not sold in malls, and see how a local festival can transform lives through education. Whether you go for the food, the music, the vibrant booths or the chance to give back, this Quezon tradition will leave you full both in stomach and in spirit. Add it to your list of must-visit festivals in the Philippines this year!

Featured image credit: Quezon Provincial Tourism Office Facebook Page