The Santo Nino is the oldest and most popular religious image kept in almost every Catholic home and work places in the Philippines. The image played a significant role in the propagation of the Catholic faith especially at the start of Christianity in the country, the first image having been brought by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Many believe that the revered image has the power to heal the sick, grant one’s wishes and so it has attracted countless numbers of devotees.
January is the month of Santo Nino Festivals where many towns, cities and provinces pay homage to the Child Jesus through days of prayer that culminate in the holding of street dances. Prominent among these street festivals are Ati-atihan in Kalibo, Dinagyang in Iloilo and Sinulog in Cebu that over time have become major tourist draws.
Many barangays in Marinduque have likewise adopted the Sto. Nino as their patron and hold fiestas in honor of the Holy Child, but the town of Buenavista has honored the same as its patron for over a hundred years.
Last Saturday, January 19th students from Buenavista’s secondary schools staged their own version of the Sto. Nino Street Dance. Yook National High School and Buenavista National High School (BNHS) Main, with its campus annexes in barangays Bagacay, Sihi, Bagtingon, Daykitin and Lipata-Tungib came strong with a total of seven contingents.
Unlike most street dances Buenavista’s Sto. Nino Festival is not a competition but held only for the sheer fun of it and for sharing of youth creativity. For costumes and accessories, the Bagacay contingent apparently took off from their barangay-bred Tubaan festival that extensively utilized coconut leaf sheath, flowers, coconut leaf splinters and husks. Theirs were easily the most interesting festival costumes. The Lipata-Tungib contingent showed off abalone seashells that abound in those coastal barangays. Many girls wore skirts in various colors, textures and designs over black or beige tights and leotards or cycling shorts, while some wore Filipiniana. Most applauded for their tight, exuberant, clean choreography was the Daykitin group.
Many Buenavistans of all ages lined up the major streets of town to watch the performances. They cheered for their hometown boys and girls who all shouted the rallying cry that echoed throughout this fascinating town, “Viva Santo Nino! Arriba Buenavista! Viva Marinduque!”
The contingent from Bagacay with costumes and headdresses made of coconut leaf sheath, husks and leaf splinters.
The drummer boys from Buenavista National High School
The girls from Sihi and Timbo wore Filipiniana
Girl from Sihi with Santo Nino
Girls from Bagtingon wore butterfly-inspired costumes, that's where the biggest number of butterfly species in Marinduque could be found.
The performers from Yook National High School.
Tight, exuberant, clean choreography from the Daykitin contingent.
