Buling-Buling Festival 2020 Revisited

Buling-Buling Festival 2020 is festive but overcast weather did not dampen the mood of the people, pilgrims and visitors at the annual festival.

Vice Mayor Maria Sheilah Honrado Lacuna-Pangan MD, FPDS along Labores corner Central street

This is not our first time at attend the festivities. Went to Buling-Buling festival almost every year and covered the event for some online travel and lifestyle sites.

former 6th district councilor Mr. Luciano Mariaño “Lou” Veloso ( in white Barong Tagalog) together with residents of Pandacan in their colorful orange floral kimona.

postal heritage tour participants

We left Manila Central Post Office past 11:30 am together with a small number of participants. We just tried to walk past Arroceros Forest Park , Adamson University and San Marcelino church.

Adamson University

Our small group walked until the far end of San Marcelino street and took a taxi cab on our way to Pandacan. Most of the major through fare leading to the district were already closed by 12:00 noon and our taxi cab driver had to drop us off near Caritas, Manila ground along Jesus street.

Santa Ana Hospital staff and medical workers

Among the special guests of honor includes Mayor Francisco “Isko ” Moreno Domagoso , Vice Mayor Maria Sheilah Honrado Lacuna-Pangan MD, FPDS, former councilor Lou Veloso, councilors of the 6th district of Manila and Barangay officials.

Vice Mayor Maria Sheilah Honrado Lacuna-Pangan MD, FPDS (left portion) serves as Hermana Mayor for the Aglipay church procession.

Aglipay church or Philippine Independent Church procession

Hermana Mayor holds the Santo Niño de Pandacan statue (processional image) for the salubong parade

residents and pilgrims in traditonal terno and barong tagalog attire

Santo Niño de Pandacan

Buling-Buling Festival 2020

The festival schedule was well publicized and shared via several social media sites such as FB, Instagram, twitter and websites.

participants wore the finest modern Filipiniana dress

emcees

Santo Niño de Pandacan Parish marker

Majorettes

Higantes

colorful buntings decorate the main facade of the Pandacan Catholic church

Street Dancing and Parade

Street dancing commenced past 1:00 pm with Santo Niño images procession, grand parade and salubong started quite early.

participants in colorful costumes

Santo Niño de Aglipay and Santo Niño de Pandacan ( Catholic statue)

I have to visit 3 events Santo Niño de Bago Bantay festival , Postal Heritage Walking tour and this was the last event for the day.

Places of Interest

Pandacan had a lot of interesting places, old ancestral houses, folklore and carinderias. We were not able to fully tour all the narrow streets since the weather is overcast and just focused on the main parade.

Ladislao Bonus ancestral house with marker and bust

Mr. Ladislao Bonus was a composer, conductor, contrabass player, and teacher. His pioneering work on musical drama earned him the title as the “Father of the Filipino” opera. He was buried in Manila North Cemetery

Daniel Romuladez Ancestral House

Daniel Romualdez Ancestral House is located along Jesus corner San Luis street which is near the Catholic church. Daniel Romuladez was the Cabeza de Barangay in Pandacan. He was the paternal grandfather of former Leyte Congressman Daniel Romualdez.

Former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, a distant cousin of the younger Romualdez, was last seen by the residents of the Pandacan during the 2016 festival.

Plaza Zamora

PNR-Pandacan ( Beata ) Station

We have to leave around past 3:00 pm and rode PNR train going north bound. My companion take off at PNR Laon-Laan station in Sampaloc while i took off at PNR Blumentritt station.

Santo Niño replica

Some of my friends arrived past 3:00 pm at the site and continued joining the street dance and afternoon mass.

It was a good decision to leave the festival and parade early , Arrived past 7:00 pm due to heavy traffic.