Although it’s already your usual foray of flair, pomp and pageantry, still, Caracol Festival drew some interest as it stands out for its advocacy of protecting and preserving the environment.

Hundreds of students from the City’s public and private schools paraded one Sunday afternoon along Ayala Avenue, surprising pedestrians, who stopped to see what the commotion was all about. Hordes of colorful interpretations of various land and sea creatures delighted foreign tourists who instantly grabbed their cameras and took photos of the festivity, including some 30 Korean students from the Rotary Club’s Youth Exchange Program, who were the special guests at the said event. Pinoys, meanwhile, started clicking away with their camera phones.

The Festival was conceptualized in 1986 to usher in the "Fiesta Islands" program of the Department of Tourism (DoT) in 1989.

"Caracol", the Spanish term for snail, alludes to the snail’s shell, which supposedly "many of us wear to shield us from life’s harsh realities". During the festival, revelers discard this so-called "shell" to join the merrymaking and celebrate the beauty and bounty of Mother Earth.

Being the official festival of the country’s Financial District by virtue of Resolution No. 351 signed in Jan. 21 1991, the private sector represented by tourism-oriented entities like the hotels and food chains send in representative groups and mascots to join in the parade that precedes the competition.

The new presentation veered away from the original concept of the festival when it featured the three major festivals — Sinulog of Cebu, Dinagyang of Iloilo and Ati-Atihan of Kalibo in one presentation. DoT-NCR Director Reynato Chua explained that the new format gives emphasis on the preservation and conservation of the country’s natural heritage and the need for the youth’s awareness and involvement in the protection of our ecology. It will also underscore the commitment of Makati, as the "International City of the New Millennium," to the global campaign for safeguarding our environment and natural resources.

Participating schools were: Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School; Rizal Elementary School; Gen. Pio del Pilar Elementary School; Maximo Estrella/F. Benitez/Nicanor Garcia and Jose Magsaysay Elementary Schools; Nemesio I. Yabut Elementary School; San Antonio Elementary School; Bangkal High School; Benigno Aquino High School; Fort Bonifacio High School; Gen. Pio del Pilar National High School; Makati High School; Makati Science High School; San Antonio National High School; San Isidro National High School; Centro Escolar UniversityMakati Campus; Mapua Institute of Technology-Makati Campus; and University of Makati.

Emerging as winners in the streetdancing competition are: Makati IV - selected students from Estrella/ N. Garcia / J. Magsaysay & F. Benitez Elementary Schools as the Over-all Winner and Elementary Division First Prize winner; Gen. Pio del Pilar National High School, First Prize-High School Division; University of Makati - Eagle Group, First PrizeCollege Division; University of Makati - Tamaraw Group, Best in Costume and Best in Choreography.

The winners in the three categories were awarded with trophies and cash prizes of R30,000; R25,000 and R20,000 each. Special awards of R10,000 were given to the Best in Costume and Best Choreography. A special photo contest was also held, participated in by both amateur and professional photographers.

Elena Ruiz, Schools Division Superintendent of the Department of EducationMakati, hopes that through the Caracol Festival, they will instill appreciation and respect for the beauty of Mother Earth to the youth and make them active participants in the protection and conservation of nature.