Lakas ng Pulilan
KNEELING CARABAO FESTIVAL
Pulilan, a humble town in Bulacan which only takes around two hours of travel time from Manila, welcomes with hardworking, smiling farmers all-set to show the rich culture and history the place has.
Celebrating with every hues of the color spectrum, Pulilan successfully pulled off their annual Kneeling Carabao parade which highlights an entire week of festive and activities. The celebration honored the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador, for a productive and fruitful harvest for the entire year.
Lavishly-decorated carts, though visually-appealing, were not the highlight of the parade. The carabaos were. With approximately 800 carabaos, these beasts stole the day and marched with Pulilan pride. After a two-kilometer walk, these carabaos kneeled in front of the church and apparently, the farmers taught these animals that trick way back its calf years. Don’t worry, their owners kept them cool by putting wet clothes on their backs and even dumping water on them to keep them cool.
This act of kneeling, an inherited tradition passed on from generation to generation, serves as metaphor that even the mightiest beats on the field knows how to show gratitude to whom it is due. The thought of it even makes the people of Pulilan proud that the practice is still alive and burning in everyone’s hearts.
Following the footsteps of Aliw Awards Hall of Famer Bambanti Festival, Pulilan Mayor Maritz Ochoa Montejo assured that next year will be grander than ever and bag a Guiness record they want to set.
Kneeling Carabao Parade at Pulilan, Bulacan
STREET DANCE COMPETITION
19 barangays participated and competed to the week-long activities the municipality prepared – from Street Dance Competition to Color Fun Run to Pulilan Fireworks Spectacle – all wrapped up with a variety show everyone hyped up for.
Adorned in beautifully crafted costumes, each barangay is accompanied by their own muses leading a troop of dancers towards the parish, gracefully dancing while holding a San Isidro tribute.
Kneeling Carabao Festival may not be as loud as big festivals like Bambanti Festival, Ati-Atihan, or even Maskara Festival but one thing is for sure: it is one of those rising festivals in the Philippines everyone has to watch out for as it integrates modern industrialization and tourism enrichment without losing its agricultural blood.
Also check out our video to satisfy your visual cravings! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bH3flGscO0
Experience Pulilan!
