Carabaos or water buffaloes are the farmers' workhorse.

So it is only fitting that as the town of Pulilan in Bulacan gives thanks to the town's patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, the farmers parade their own beasts of burden around town, culminating in the kneeling of the animals in front of the church.

The festival is held every year in Pulilan as a traditional way of thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest celebrated by the farmers.

This year, thousands of residents and visitors lined up on a stretch of the Pulilan provincial road all the way to the front of the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church where the festivities culminated.

It is a unique festival held in the municipality every 14th of May and participated in by farmers from nearby provinces, all converging in Pulilan with their beautifully decorated carts and colorfully adorned carabaos.

This parade was first observed in the 1930’s as a simple gesture of the local farmers to give thanks to San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.

They would bring their carabaos in front of the church and try to make them kneel down in thanksgiving. Farmers, who are themselves devotees of the saint, train their carabaos from childhood by using hand gestures to make them kneel.

This year over 270 carabaos participated in the parade.

Despite the searing heat of summer, preparations started early before the parade started at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and went on until early evening.