in this festival are inspired by traditional clothes such as Filipiñiana for women and Barong Tagalog for men. The church's respective clergy together with its sacristans is the first to line up in the parade. They bring bottles of Holy Water to bless all Pandaqueños watching the festival outside their homes. Other participants are the city officials with the presence of the Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and 6th District Councilors of Manila. Barangay chairpersons usually hold the title of “Hermano Mayor” and “Hermana Mayor” — the main sponsors of this event. During the tercentennial celebration of the Pandacan's parish church, well-known people were invited to be the main sponsors who were capable enough to shoulder large amount of needed funds. The former Philippine's first lady Imelda Marcos, who has a townhouse in Pandacan and once lived here, was the Hermana Mayor while the famous businessman Joel Cruz, who grew up in this town and founded the Aficionado, was the Hermano Mayor. Historical Buling-Buling Ecumenical observances In 2007 the Catholic Church, which venerates a wooden image of Santo Niño and has long hosted the Buling-Buling, and the Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayans—which venerates an ivory image of the same—jointly participated in the festival for the first time in history. Through this festival, the long history of hostility between the two denominations, each vociferously claiming their Santo Niño is the authentic one, had finally ended. Moreover, the theme for that year was “Isang Higanteng Indak sa Pagkakaisa” ("One Giant Dance in Unity"). Fr. Lázaro Abaco, the Catholic vicar, and Fr. Ted Dimla, the Aglipayan vicar, also led a joint prayer and Bible service at the Liwasang Balagtas. Since then, the ivory and wooden images of the Santo Niño have been leading street dancers along with their respective parishioners in the festival. Lakbay-Dalangin In November 2011, 150 parishioners of the Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish Church joined a pilgrimage to Cebu and Bohol to widely spread the devotion to the Santo Niño and to appreciate more the country's cultural heritage. The Pandaqueños along with their priests Fr. Lazaro Abaco, Fr. Ikon Supremo, Fr. Russel Ocampo, Fr. Michael Villaflor, and Fr. Sol performed the Buling-Buling dance to the Holy Child of Cebu and to the parishioners of Loboc and Baclayon Churches in Bohol. The Buling-Buling dance, choreographed by Sister Myrna Verecio, was the highlight of every pilgrimage. Grand Buling-Buling Worship Dance Festival On November 24, 2012,