LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (PIA) -- Renowned for its natural and abundant hot springs sourced from Mt. Makiling's steam vents, Los Baños was faced with the challenge of incorporating this unique feature into one of Laguna province's iconic festivals.

To address this, the local government of Los Baños introduced activities that made full use of water in the town's 22nd Bañamos Hot Spring Baths Festival.

"Banamos means 'we bathe' or 'take a bath.' It originated from the name of our town, which implies bathing places," explained Mayor Anthony Genuino. 

"We thought of celebrating Bañamos predominantly with water or aqua events. Let's have a parade with showers to drench the people which signals the opening of the Bañamos Festival," the mayor said.

Historically, the Franciscan friars regarded Makiling's hot springs and steam vents as holy and healing. Bañamos is a tribute to this history, as the festival's name translates to "we bathe" in Spanish.

Launched in 2002, the festival serves as an important tool for promoting tourism and boosting the local economy. It is known for its vibrant celebration of history and culture, featuring parades, dances, exhibits, talent searches, and performances.

This year's festival promised an even more special experience, where new water activities made their debut.

One such activity was the kick-off shower parade, where the streets of Los Baños or LB (the town’s colloquial name) were covered with bubbles and water from shower, bubble, and color blasts installed throughout the town.

Another aqua activity was the “Kakaibangka,” which showcased the creativity of the local fisherfolk by displaying their colorful motorized boats on the picturesque shores of Laguna de Bay.

Municipal agriculturist Cheryll Lavina-Gonzales stated that the boats are evaluated based on their innovation, overall aesthetics, functionality, durability, safety, and popularity among visitors. The boats' eco-friendly features were also considered, given the environmental and biodiversity challenges faced by Laguna Lake.

The third new water activity during the festival was the Bañamos Aqua Games, where participants from each barangay competed in a water relay at the scenic Tadlac Lake, also known as Crocodile Lake.

Genuino expressed the hope that with these games, more tourism activities will be drawn to Tadlac Lake.

"During past Bañamos celebrations, we often neglected the beauty of our lake. This year, we want to showcase it to others. Our lake is truly majestic. It has the potential to become the number one tourist spot in our town once it's further developed," explained the local chief executive.

The 22nd Bañamos Hot Spring Baths Festival took place from September 17 to 24, 2023, coinciding with the 408th founding anniversary of Los Baños. (CH/PIA-Laguna)