ComVal town sees tourism windfall in religious feast

An image of the Sto. Niño takes primary spot on a boat during the celebration of the feast for the religious icon in Mabini town, Compostela Valley province. —FRINSTON LIM

MABINI, Compostela Valley—Brightly painted boats bedecked with colorful buntings, makeshift altars and a replica of the Child Jesus Christ, cruised over the calm waters off Compostela Valley’s coasts in a religious procession that is seen to also boost local tourism in this seaside town.

At least 57 motor boats of different sizes took part in the third fluvial parade for the devotion to the Sto. Niño, the town’s patron saint, according to Fr. Raymond Suela, Mabini’s parish priest.

“This was established to become a tradition, first ever in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte,” said Suela.

Saturday’s parade, which drew more people than previous ones, featured decorations made of indigenous materials.

Against a tranquil sea and clear sunny skies, boats set out of Asinan, Mabini’s boundary with its northeastern neighbor Maco town. The flotilla of boats took at least two hours to traverse the 14-km long municipal coastline which ended at its boundary with Tibagon, a village of Pantukan town, to the south.

At least 30 boats carried up to 25 devotees, while the smaller ones had at least five people each on board.

The boats were from parishes, schools, cooperatives and the town’s biggest employer, banana plantations.

The Inquirer saw several boats with women and children onboard, cradling statues of the Holy Child.

Suela said the fluvial procession capped the town’s celebraton of the Sto. Niño feast, giving local devotees a different Sinulog feel.

“This is to bless our abundant seas,” said the priest. Mabini town, he said, is Compostela Valley’s jewel because of its rich marine life, “a God-given gift.”

The procession, he added, is also a way to promote the town’s beaches and clear waters as tourist attractions.

The procession was first held in 2014 at the height of a storm.

Organizers believed that the first procession was God’s way of protecting the townsfolk.

“A storm was coming as devotees pushed the first boats out to sea that day,” said Suela. “We decided to push through. Lo and behold, the sun came out at 6 a.m. and the winds subsided,” he said.

Suela said organizers of the mainly religious event hope to attract more participants next year, including those from other parishes. —FRINSTON LIM