Moriones Lenten Rites "Execution of Christ" / Photo by Tristan Zandro Maaño Simon / Marinduquenews.com

Religious festivals in the Philippines have always been a very potent magnet for tourists. Both local and foreign visitors travel far and wide just to bear witness to the Filipino way of celebrating their deep faith and total surrender to the Lord God Almighty. From mere spectators to the most devout pilgrims, those who spend a great deal of resources – time, energy, money – to witness these religious festivals indeed contribute to the growth of tourism in the host locality.

Our country is famed for celebrating colorful fiestas in honor of several patron saints believed to be always keeping watch over us and sending our prayers to heaven. We have the world-acclaimed Sinulog Festival of Cebu, the Ati-atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan, and the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City, all held in honor of the Santo Niño. The Moriones Festival in Marinduque commemorates the passion of the Lord Jesus Christ and is staged during Holy Week. Flocked by couples either beseeching God for a child or thanking Him and the saints for having borne a child, the Obando fertility parade and dance are done in honor of Obando, Bulacan’s patron saints Santa Clara, San Pascual, and Nuestra Senyora de Salambao. The feast of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City and the Pista ng Poong Nazareno of Quiapo, Manila, are two of the most celebrated and heavily attended processions of all times. Undeniably, these processions and festivals bring together large crowds from various places and from all walks of life, united in prayer, thanksgiving and celebration.

Every year, millions of tourists flock to Cebu, Iloilo, and Kalibo to witness the festivals we have mentioned, and each visitor is sure to have prepared more than enough money for transportation, accommodation, food, and souvenir expenses. It is in this way that these festivals serve as instruments of tourism growth. The more tourists coming to join these festivities, the more beneficial it is to local economies as there will be added market for local products and services. These festivals also attract potential investors, which in turn are potential generators of local employment. These religious festivals likewise stretch the likelihood of local product development and enhancement as tourist arrival increase each year.

Apart from the economic and tourism gains that might be derived from these religious celebrations, they bring the people of the community together, unite them in attaining a shared vision, strengthen their faith in God and in one another, and deepen their commitment to contribute to community building. These gains are, after all, what truly matter. - Manila Bulletin

In an effort to address the challenge to create a citizenry of entrepreneurs, a public-private partnership between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Bayan Academy, and the social responsibility arm of global banking giant J.P. Morgan was formed with the objective of training Tesda trainers who can then teach ‘skillspreneurship’ or skill-based entrepreneurship to a broader population.

Tesda, through its National Institute for Technical Education and Skills Development (NITESD) chose trainers from all over the region to attend the “National Training of Trainers on Skillspreneurship”.

In an effort to address the challenge to create a citizenry of entrepreneurs, a public-private partnership between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Bayan Academy, and the social responsibility arm of global banking giant J.P. Morgan—was formed with the objective of training Tesda trainers who can then teach ‘skillspreneurship’ or skill-based entrepreneurship to a broader population.

Tesda, through its National Institute for Technical Education and Skills Development (NITESD) chose trainers from all over the region to attend the “National Training of Trainers on Skillspreneurship”.

“This program aims to introduce entrepreneurship to Tesda technical-vocational graduates to explore the path to entrepreneurship as a way to maximize their technical skills and promote family-based enterprises for employment generation in their own localities,” explained Philip S. Felipe, executive director of Bayan Academy.

Two ‘skillspreneurship’ trainings were implemented, the first batch having 44 participants while the second having 55.

The attendees who’ve come from all over the country some of them as far as Buyabod in Marinduque or Surallah in South Cotabato were identified by Tesda as trainers who have the potential to become skills-based entrepreneurs and who can later on help uplift their respective communities and bring employment opportunities to their localities.

For more information , visit Bayan Academy at 825 EDSA, Quezon City, call 920-5201 or email: bayanacademy@gmail.com. - Inquirer.net

MOGPOG, Marinduque - Isang pawikan ang nahuli sa lambat ng mga mangingisda sa barangay Ulong, Mogpog.

Ang pangyayari ay nasaksihan ng biker na si Macmac Naranjo. Ayon sa kanya, "Natutuwa ako sapagkat hindi nagdalawang isip ang mga mangingisda na pakawalan at ibalik ang pawikan sa karagatan."

Tinatayang aabot sa 30-50 ang kilo ng pawikan.

Pangalawa na umano ito sa nahuli at pinakawalan nilang pawikan sa loob lamang ng buwang ito.


Ang mga pawikan ay itinuturing na endangered species.

Larawang kuha ni Macmac Naranjo. - Marinduquenews.com

Local elections were held in the municipality of Buenavista, province of Marinduque on May 9, 2016 as part of the 2016 general election.

Various maps of the municipality of Buenavista, Marinduque

Hazard Map of Buenavista, Marinduque

Zoning Map of Buenavista, Marinduque

(c) 2017

About the year 1570, Juan Salcedo and Martin de Goiti were the first Spaniards to explore Marinduque. In 1581, Marinduque was assigned by the Spanish Government to be part of the new province of “Balayan” also called “Bombom” now known as Batangas. Early in the 17th Century, Marinduque was separated from Balayan (Batangas) and placed under the jurisdiction of the new corrigimento of Mindoro until 1898.

The Civil Province of Marinduque was first created on May 1, 1901 with its capital at Boac. On November 10, 1902, Marinduque was dissolved and annexed to Tayabas (Quezon) and after five years, Marinduque was made sub-province effective August 10, 1907, and became independent province on February 21, 1920.

Marinduque had four towns namely: The town of Boac, which was established in 1735, Sta. Cruz in 1790, Torrijos in 1871, and Gasan in 1800. Mogpog begun as a community in 1807 as a barrio of Boac, while Buenavista, formerly called “Sabang” was then the largest barrio in the town of Gasan. Buenavista, as a sitio of Gasan in 1850, and later as a barrio in 1870.

The first few years of the American regime was devoted to the establishment of the permanent autonomy of the two municipalities of Mogpog and Buenavista. In 1910, Mogpog regained her former status as a separate municipality, and Buenavista was elevated into a municipality in November 9, 1918 under the able leadership of Don Agaton Sarmiento and Don Ciriaco Arevalo who petitioned through then Lt. Governor, Don Pedro Madrigal of the sub-province of Marinduque.

The inauguration of the new town of Buenavista took place on January 12, 1919; on which date Don Agaton Sarmiento took his oath of office as Municipal President of Buenavista before Governor Madrigal. Likewise, the members of the Municipal Council of Buenavista were sworn into office. They were: Don Pablo Sevilla as Vice-President, Don Ciriaco Arevalo as Secretary, Leoncio Sadiwa, Narciso Verdote, Victorino Sumagui, Nicasio Castillo, Felix Soleta, Paulino Sumagui and Valentin Mercene as Municipal Councilors. Pedro Cayetano as Treasurer, Dionisio Padua as Chief of Police and Benito Sotto as Sanitary Inspector.

The town of Buenavista continued to remain as a progressing municipality headed by her famous and dedicated political leaders namely:


The Spaniards, formerly called Buenavista, “Sabang” when they were exploring that part of the island of Marinduque. It was reckoned that when the explorers were standing on the shores of Buenavista, they had a “good-view” (Buena-Vista) in Spanish; of the sea with the island of Mindoro yonder and the beautifully aligned three islets which they already called “Isla de los Tres Reyes” (Isles of the Three Kings) Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazar. Hence, the two words “Buena-Vista” joined together formed the name Buenavista, which had remained a beautiful name of the municipality up to the present day.

Buenavista now of the six Municipalities of the heart-shaped province of Marinduque is situated at the Southern part of the province and southwest by Tablas Strait and on the East by the Municipality of Torrijos.

The Municipality of Buenavista has a land area of 8,155.6873 hectares with 15 Barangay of which 4 from the Poblacion and 11 Barangay in the rural areas.

The official Seal of the Municipality is shaped like the Commonwealth Seal. The center had a green colored mountain, symbolizing the lush meadow of Mt. Malindig, which is more than 5,000 ft. above sea level.

At the foot of the mountain, depicts a coconut tree and a fish implying the two most important products of the community. In the background also shows a body of water, which is a portion of Tablas Strait. Historic symbols of its Coat-of-Arms are the crucifix and the sword, which characterize a colonization of the Spanish Catholic faith.

Since then, the municipality of Buenavista became an independent town. It recorded a steady a rise of economic development but manage to maintain its tranquility.

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Buenavista, formerly called “Sabang” was then the largest barrio in the town of Gasan. Buenavista, as a sitio of Gasan in 1850, and later as a barrio in 1870. Buenavista was elevated into a municipality in November 9, 1918 under the leadership of Don Agaton Sarmiento and Don Ciriaco Arevalo who petitioned through then Lt. Governor Don Pedro Madrigal of the sub-province of Marinduque.

The inauguration of the new town of Buenavista took place on January 12, 1919, on which date Don Agaton Sarmiento took his oath of office as Municipal President of Buenavista before Lt. Governor Madrigal.

PHYSICAL PROFILE

A. Location and Area
Buenavista is located at the south of southwestern portion of the province of Marinduque. Bounded from North by the Municipality of Gasan to the Northeast by the municipality of Boac, to the south by the municipality of Torrijos and finally on the southwest by the Tablas Strait.

B. Terrain Characteristics
Buenavista, like most part of the province is generally rugged and mountainous with few alluvial plains mainly along the coast. Hence, the Poblacion of Marinduque is located at definitely flat terrain. Settlement areas are mostly concentrated along 0-8 % slope. Slopes with a range of 3-8 % are those areas with flat to rolling terrain conditions. Areas with slope range of 7-18 % are those areas with rolling to high terrain characteristics. Areas with 30 % and above slopes are those, which are mountainous and are generally located northwest and southeast of the Poblacion.

C. Soil Properties
Buenavista has eleven (11) soil types, vast track of which is clay loam. It comprises 57.69 % of the total land area. It is very suitable for agriculture. Clay loam is further categorized into three (3), namely: Timbo clay Loam, Danhigan Clay loam and La Castellana clay loam. Almost half of the total land area has this kind of soil.

D. Climate and Rainfall
Being a tropical country, Buenavista has also a mean annual lowland temperature of about 27 degrees Centigrade or 80 degrees Fareinheight. The Municipality can be classified belonging to a climate characterized in Type IV, where there are two relatively dry months from February to April. It is largely dry from December to May. The rest of the year had rainfall more or less evenly distributed, with the month of October having the highest number of rainfall. However, rains are moderately intermittent even during the dry season with a relative peak of 7.1 inches, highest on October with 11.1 inches and lowest in April at 1.83 inches. Annual rain-days average 133 days, with a low of four days in April and as high as 15 days in October. It is exposed to the northeast monsoons and damaged by typhoons that pass occasionally. The coldest months occur usually from January to February when freezing breeze blow and snow from the upper continent melts. However, the hottest months are summer months of April to July.

Welcome to Buenavista!

It is my distinct pride and pleasure to welcome you to our municipality. Be with nature, enjoy the crystal clear blue waters and experience the hospitality of our people and the rich cultural traditions we have.

Take time to explore this town and see for yourself the natural beauty and simplicity it holds. With the rich and well-preserved culture, the warmth of our people, the laid back rural charm and the sights you've never seen before.

Buenavista is truly a perfect getaway We want you to feel at home. Experience simplicity in great wonders.

Enjoy your stay.

Russel Madrigal
Municipal Mayor