january-2011

The Buling-buling in
Pandacan honors
the Child Christ,
Santo Niño
Bring on the “Buling”
In the district of Pandacan, the year’s
fi rst fi esta is called the Buling-buling.
The Buling-buling honors the Child
Christ — the beloved Santo Niño, a
popular and pervasive image. On the
15th, Pandacan residents take their
Santo Niño statues onto the streets.
Hundreds of men, women and children
make their appearance dressed in
colorful Spanish-era costumes. They
groove to the jumpy notes of a marching
band, stepping left and right, in faithful
adherence to the moves of the classic
Buling-buling dance. This gracefully
waving parade starts at one end of town,
makes its way past the bandarita-strewn
main avenues and into the area just past
the old church. The people recite a series
of prayers which is then followed by a
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mass blessing of the Santo Niño images.
This fi esta may last only a few hours,
but what it lacks in duration, it makes
up for in good-natured gaiety. This is a
slice of the rural in a thoroughly urban
district — and a pocket-sized fi esta that’s
literally at your doorstep!
Cebu Pacifi c fl ies to Manila from across
the network. www.cebupacifi cair.com