ON CARABAO’S KNEE A carabao (water buffalo) kneels in front of San Isidro Labrador Church in Pulilan town, Bulacan during the annual “Kneeling Carabao Festival” on Saturday. PHOTO BY NAZZI CASTRO
ON CARABAO’S KNEE A carabao (water buffalo) kneels in front of San Isidro Labrador Church in Pulilan town, Bulacan during the annual “Kneeling Carabao Festival” on Saturday. PHOTO BY NAZZI CASTRO

About 500 carabaos (water buffalo) took to the streets of Pulilan town in Bulacan for a grand parade of the annual “Kneeling Carabao Festival” on Saturday.

This year, only 100 carabaos out of the 500 participants made the traditional kneeling in front of the town’s Parish Church of San Isidro Labrador.

Pulilan tourism officer, Sandy Santos, said all participants with their water buffalos gathered in the village of Lumbac for the yearly grand parade of the kneeling carabao, which is the highlight of the festival.

“The festival is celebrated as tribute to the country’s national animal – the carabao or water buffalo – and in honor of the San Isidro Labrador,” Santos added.

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San Isidro Labrador is the farmers’ patron saint.

The participants came from nearby towns of Pulilan, and the parade started in Lumbac, showcasing their colorful floats, decorated carts with traditional dances and processions. It passed through the 2-kilometer long stretch spanning the villages of Poblacion, Paltao and Cut-cot (Pulilan Public Market).

The carabao feast is celebrated yearly, with thousands of Pulilenyos (Pulilan folk) and local and foreign tourists witnessing the parade.