Polanco's El Toro Festival, to kick-off December 1

A grand and colorful costume parade will kick-off the El Toro Festival on December 1 marking for the formal opening of  Polanco's 60th Founding Anniversary's week-long celebration.

The costume parade will be participated by the local government unit, other national government agencies stationed in the municipality, DepEd, barangay officials including non-government and people's organizations. To add more attraction and festivity of the occasion,  also at stake are the El Toro Float Contest and the Drum Corps   competition.

After the parade, opening program and the Ribbon-cutting of the Agri-Tourism Booth will follow at the festival site.

Other activities to highlight the opening of the El Toro festival will include Booth Contest, Pinaka contest and LGU Sports fest. In the evening, more merry-making and spectacular events are slated to be witnessed by the Polanqueños and visitors such as the Switch On of the Light a tree program, Fireworks Display and Live Band. Also, as an added attraction for the evening will be the presentation of the 30 candidates for the Mutya sa Polanco 2011.

Why El Toro?...

The place named Polanco  prior to its creation as a distinct municipality was in the beginning, only a small settlement inhabited by the native tribe known as the SUBANEN.

In the passing of time, people from other neighboring provinces like Negros, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor and other nearby places, have fallen captive to the beauty of the place and resettled in and ventured for a greener pasture.  The early inhabitants were responsible for the beauty of the place as they laboriously cultivated the land, thus giving them abundant harvest.

Since then, a substantial time of each and every Polanqueño revolves around farming as it become their way of life. Blessed with agricultural land and  favorable climate suited for farming, local folks continuously enjoy heaven's gift of agricultural resources and the overflowing abundant harvest of agricultural products like palay, corn and copra.

Amidst the abundance and agricultural success, Polanqueños come together in a fitting and festive occasion to offer thanksgiving or PASALAMAT.

Through the passing of time, this activity of thanksgiving was translated into a majestic, glaring and rightful colorful festival where it recognizes the contribution of the ever loyal and ever-reliable TORO or CARABAO behind all the agricultural bounty, thus, the festivity of EL TORO lives on.

Polanco's El Toro Festival reflects the cultural, social, and spiritual interactions as it showcase the life of a Polanqueño that transformed the municipality from a humble beginning into a simple yet bountiful place.

EL TORO FESTIVAL...truly an expression of Polanqueños cultural pride preserved thru the passing of times...

Polanco's 60th Founding Anniversary...a celebration of fun and excitement...