Today's the Feast Day of Sto. Nino in Buenavista, Marinduque. Buenavista is the smallest of Marinduque's six towns, located on the southwestern portion of this island-province. Inhabitants of this town speak Marinduque Tagalog with a blend of Masbate and Romblon dialectic influences. Some of those living in the coastal areas trace their roots to Banton island in Romblon.
The 1,157 meter Malindig Volcano serves as its backdrop. 'Malindig' where 'Marinduque' was derived from means steep and elegant. This year, the municipal government, in cooperation with the Department of Education and all the barangays decided to hold a street-dancing festival inspired by the many Sto. Nino festivals staged throughout the country, particularly those in the Visayan region, like Sinulog and Dinagyang festivals.
Tourist arrivals and tourism interest in this picturesque and quiet town has increased with the opening of Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa, a luxury resort in what was once known as Elefante Island.
This street-dancing festival was participated in by costumed grade school students from the town's 15 barangays and public high schools who danced in the heat to the rhythm of all types of drums. It was not intended to be a water-dousing festival, this one, but parents, teachers and plain watchers took turns dousing and sprinkling water on the dancers as a remedy for the soaring mid-day solar heat.
