Around 30,000 people flocked to Pandacan, Manila to celebrate the Buling-Buling Festival on Jan. 13 and 14.
Buling-Buling is an annual religious and cultural event of Pandaqueños to honor Sto. Niño or the wooden image of the child Jesus Christ.
This year's celebration was themed "Pagkakaisa ng Pandacan, Busilak ng Kapayapaan sa Maynila (Unity of Pandacan, Immaculate Peace in Manila).
The streets of Pandacan were decorated with multicolored banderitas or flaglets used as town banners.
The festival was kicked off on Saturday and was led by Manila Mayor Honey-Lacuna Pangan and Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto.
From Liwasang Balagtas, the residents marched around their neighborhood carrying the images of Sto. Niño, drawing huge crowds.
Buling-Buling street dancers dressed in colorful costumes performed during the town parade.
According to the city government, it was only in 2007 when Buling-Buling and Sto. Niño Festivals were celebrated together.
"Noong 2007, sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay nagsanib pwersa ang dalawang simbabahan ang–Katoliko at Aglipay upang sa isang maringal na parada ay maipakita ang pagkakaisa ng ma mananampalataya sa Sto. Niño (In 2007, for the first time, the two churches of Catholic and Aglipay joined forces to show the unity of the faith to Sto. Niño through a grand parade)," said Mayor Honey.
The mayor cited the other Sto. Niño festivals being celebrated in other parts of the country as she welcomed the people to the Buling-Buling Festival.
Pandacan discouraged residents, devotees, and tourists who were unvaccinated of Covid-19 shots from joining the festival activities to avoid a surge of the virus.
Images of Sto. Niño placed in various colorful carousels were also paraded, while devotees danced and chanted "Viva Sto. Niño."
Elements of the Manila Police District (MPD) Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit (MDTEU), Manila Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), Manila Health Department (MHD), Manila Traffic And Parking Bureau (MTPB), Department of Public Services (DPS), and Manila Fire District (MFD) were also present to join the parade and ensure the safety of the Festival.
On Sunday morning, an Ati-atihan Mass was held followed by a drum and dance performance of the Buganda Tribe.
Buganda Tribe is a group of dancers and drummers based in Pandacan accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
It also celebrated its 45th anniversary last Saturday.
According to the Manila Police District (MPD), around 10,000 people joined the kick-off activities on Saturday, while 24,200 people lined up as of 9 a.m. on Sunday to join the blessing of Sto. Niño images.
A total of 300 elements of MPD were deployed in Pandacan to monitor the celebration.
No untoward incidents have been recorded, police said.
Meanwhile, the city government closed roads for the festival and advised motorists to detour to avoid traffic jams.
Police said crowds were expected to increase throughout the day.