Every May the streets of Boac burst into a kaleidoscope of color as the Bila-Bila Festival takes flight. Held in honor of the town fiesta and Marinduque’s proud title as the Butterfly Capital of the Philippines, this vibrant celebration transforms the municipality into a living garden of wings and rhythm. Five competing districts parade through town—each showcasing dazzling choreography, massive contingents, and costumes that shimmer like the butterflies they represent.
Marinduque’s bond with butterflies goes far beyond spectacle. The island is home to about 600 species—locally called bila-bila—and has been a center of butterfly culture since the 1960s. Today, it supplies 85 percent of the country’s butterfly and pupae exports, sending live butterflies to collectors and exhibitions across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Europe, and the Middle East. With eleven thriving butterfly farms, mostly in Boac and Gasan, the industry has become both tradition and livelihood for many Marinduqueños.
The Bila-Bila Festival celebrates this unique heritage with every beat of the drums and every flutter of fabric. It is a joyful reminder that in Boac, butterflies are not just symbols of beauty—they are part of the community’s heart, history, and identity.
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