The "Bulak Festival" in San Ildefonso, Bulacan will start with a colorful parade of street dancers and floats decorated with various cotton-made shapes of vegetables, flowers, wings, and vestments of the image of patron San Ildefonso de Toledo this coming Sunday, Jan. 21.
San Ildefonso Mayor Fernando "Gazo" Galvez said the Bulak Festival is held every 23rd of January and is part of the 139th-year Feast celebration in honor of the town's patron San Ildefonso de Toledo.
Galvez shared that Bulak Festival gives honor to the "Kapok" plant known as "Bulak-Cotton" which played a very important part in the town's history.
He said Bulak, or cotton plant that grows abundantly in the heart of the town is San Ildefonso's old name when it was still just a barrio under the neighboring town of San Rafael.
Meanwhile, in connection with the Bulak Festival parade, San Ildefonso residents and commuters were advised that the national road in the town will be temporarily closed from Barangay Anyatam to Barangay Matimbubong on Jan. 21, starting 8 a.m.
The alternate routes are Palapala Bypass-Anyatam Highway; Matimbubong-Gracepark; Pinaod-Anyatam highway, and Saint John School (Makapilapil)-Calasag Road-Malipampang highway.
The San Ildefonso mayor is asking for everyone's cooperation and patience to successfully realize their Bulak Festival 2024.
Lt. Col. Russel Dennis Reburian of the San Ildefonso police said they will provide traffic assistance and police visibility with Barangay Tanods to be led by Captain Oliver M. Valdez.