My Ancient Marinduque

The beginnings of archaeology in the Philippines began right here in Marinduque, our oft politically-troubled island at the approach of local elections.

Prior to 1900, only one important archaeological investigation had been carried out in the country: Alfred Marche’s exploration of Marinduque from April to July 1881. While many other accidental finds have been recorded from time to time, and a few burial caves and sites had been casually explored by European or local scientists, no systematic work had been done anywhere else prior to these explorations. After Marche, the next important archaeological work was undertaken by Dr. Carl Gunthe in the Central Visayan Islands in 1922.(Beyer)

"An abundant yield of Chinese urns, vases, gold ornaments, skulls and other ornaments of pre-Spanish origin,” was what the Marche finds represented. He brought back to France in 40 crates the Marinduque artifacts he uncovered. Part of it now said to be housed at the Musee de l’Homme in France. (Solheim). The finds also included a wooden image of the Marinduque anito called ‘Pastores’ by the natives.

Part of these artifacts have also found their way into the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. “Imagine these fragile jarlets traveling from China to the pre-colonial Philippines. Buried in a cave in Marinduque for centuries, they were excavated in the late 19th century, brought to Paris and eventually ended up in a museum bodega outside Washington, D.C. Part of our history lies in museums abroad and it will take sometime to analyze these artifacts to piece together our pre-colonial past” (Ocampo)

"Where do we come from? What are We? Where are we Going?" is the title of a famous Gauguin painting (photo), a 40-year old life-sized reproduction of which still hangs in my living room. I often think that only if we knew the answer to the first two questions, everything will fall into place that the inspiring answer to the third question will reveal itself in no time.

Our local elections in May 2010 would then be not so chaotic and turbulent as it promises to be.

Reliving the Battle of Pulang Lupa

About Philippine-American War 1900-1901, only two years after the declaration of Philippine Independence, known as the second-phase of the Philippine Revolution.

Uploaded historical photos as well as footages on the commemoration of the Battle of Pulang Lupa in the island of Marinduque. Featuring "Awit sa Pulang Lupa" written and composed by this blogger, with Teatro Balangaw and the Marinduque Provincial Capitol Choir performing.

First-hand accounts of the battle and other relevant papers could be found on www.ulongbeach.com. Updates on Pulang Lupa could be found elsewhere on this site.

Marinduque Community Theater

In the towns of Boac, Gasan and Buenavista the community theater group, Teatro Balangaw, has mounted original productions based on folk beliefs in the island-province of Marinduque. Cast members usually come from the localities where the presentations are performed.

"Mara Unduk", "Bulong", "Moryonan" and "Sukat Ipag-alab ng Damdamin" are some such productions presented in the form of dance-dramas. During the last couple of years, "Bulong" and "Moryonan" were toured in the island's six municipalities as part of the celebration of the Philippine International Arts Festival, undertaken by the Government of Marinduque in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Such presentations started in 1992, during the town fiesta in Boac, are aimed to generate higher appreciation on indigenous arts and traditions. They are inter-active and are presented free of charge to the general public.

Marinduque remains one of the poorest among the provinces in the Southern Tagalog Region, but it is known for its rich culture.

This video shows productions mounted in 2002 & 2003 and some photos of earlier performances.

Marinduque Extreme: Series 2 on Video

Sharing this video of Marinduque Extreme races held last weekend. Duathlon (Run-Bike-Run) and Aggressive Cross Country Mountain Bike Race in the island of Marinduque, Philippines.

It was good to see Curt Shepard, his charming wife Dahlia and family at the race. They maintain the highly informative website www.ulongbeach.com containing lesser known historical accounts about Marinduque. Also gracing the occasion were photographers that included Dan Pagulayan, expected to post some of his photos on Facebook.

Marinduque Extreme 2 in Pictures

Day 2 was for Aggressive Cross-Country Mountain Bike Race.

Leo Oracion, the celebrated first Filipino to reach the summit of Mt. Everest and Pepito Deapera, Champion of Guam Coco-Road Race and Northface, 100 km. Ultra Marathon were feted by the Marinduque Capitol Choir to a "putong" welcome ritual. The two sportsmen joined Marinduque Extreme Series 2.

...and there they go! On Day 1 the competition was for Duathlon (Run-Bike-Run), with participants from Lukban, Lipa City, Novaliches, Cainta, Pangasinan and Marinduque. Nilo Estoya, a member of the Philippine Team also competed.

The race venue: Old Capayang minesite, abandoned after extraction of precious metals like copper and gold. The artificial lake was dug out to a depth of 45 meters below sea level. Some migratory birds flock to a spot near the lake not frequented by humans.

The challenge to bikers covered a 5.2 km-loop that had to be encircled six times (for the duathlon, four times with bike plus two times for the run). A lot of technical drops, turns, climbs, mud pits and rock beds, really extreme conditions that separated the tough from the not-so-tough characterized this playground.

One of the technical drops is shown here.

View of the mine site. Picturesque even with degradation all around, it's a continually changing landscape with natural growth trying to survive. The area belonging to the company is all of 2,439 hectares.

Marinduque in my Heart

Am sharing this video that I presented as a birthday & goodbye present to Atty. Allan "P.A." Velasco, who ended his term as Marinduque administrator yesterday. Video shows some of the cultural and tourism-related activities that he helped introduce during his two-year stint at the capitol.

It's P.A.'s Birthday Party!

"P.A." throws a birthday-despedida party for his supporters and fans at the Mogpog Covered Court this afternoon from 4:00 pm.

Atty. Allan "P.A." Velasco recently took his oath as member of the administration party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Set to file his candidacy for a national position in the May 2010 elections in the Philippines, he will be leaving his post as provincial administrator by the end of this month.

Velasco served as chairman of the Marinduque Provincial Tourism Council during his two-year stint in the provincial government. He undertook related projects and activities in cooperation with the office of the governor, the provincial council, provincial tourism office, local LGUs, cultural organizations, tourism agencies and Team Marinduque. Initial thrust is for the island-province to make a strong presence in the promotion of the island as a haven for adventure sports and community-based tourism.

All-out promotion and development of Marinduque tourism and allied services and industries shall be his 'reason for being' if elected. P.A. is president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Marinduque Chapter.

He is the son of Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr. of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and former Marinduque beauty queen Lorna Quinto-Velasco of Mogpog-Torrijos.

She sells seashells...

Yes she does, this girl from Gaspar Island, but big ones like these are getting harder to find.

Normally washed up on the Marinduque shores are the small ones that children collect, play with or turn into garden or house decors.

Hidden beach with a past, Gaspar Island

On a small strip of white sand beach mantled with crushed corals hidden along the southern part of Gaspar Island (one of Tres Reyes (Three Kings) Islands off Gasan), one feels completely isolated from the rest of the world.

This island figured prominently in the journal by a French naturalist who explored Marinduque in 1881, Alfred Marche. He may have referred to the crevice from where the above photo was taken: "About 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the sea being calm, on another exploration of the coast, we visited a few crevices and discovered a grotto, the entrance of which was hidden by debris produced by a volcanic convulsion... I entered and, having the ground dug, I found out that the bottom was carpeted with a bed of skulls slightly covered by madreporic debris and sand." (Marche)

10th Philippine Hobie Challenge - Marinduque Leg

Marinduque is one of several island hosts to the 10th Philippine Hobie Challenge earlier this year. Leg 1 of the race was from Laiya to Marinduque. Powered by easterly Amihan monsoon winds the fleet made rapid progress on a bearing of 129 degrees across the southern reaches of Tayabas Bay. The lead boats sailed on the open waters at 16 Knots ahead of the competitors to lay the buoys for the Gasan gate and Katala Beach finish.

PHC reported that "in the lee of Marinduque, with it’s mountainous peaks of over 1,000 metres slowing down the wind, former grand master World Champion Bruce Tardrew displayed his experience and cunning nearly overhauling defending champion Engwirda in the final 5 nm.

Engwirda however put in an extra squirt of speed at the end to finish just over a minute ahead. These two Australian teams were a full 12 minutes clear of 3rd placed Andrew Locke, also representing Australia.

Bob Engirda’s overall time of 2 Hrs 46 Min and 34 Sec equated to an incredible average speed of 13.3 Knots for the 36.9 nm leg, including the final 5 miles in light and variable winds.

The final team was ashore and enjoying a cool beer at the Katala Beach Resort within half an hour and joining the enthusiastic welcome from our hosts in Marinduque with dancing and singing on the beach.

Governor Bong Carrion hosted a sumptuous dinner for the competitors and support crews that evening as the full moon rose in the heavens."

The sailors were treated to the traditional "putong" welcome ritual at Katala Beach Resort in Pinggan. The 10th PHC covered Laiya, Marinduque, Romblon, Tablas and Boracay. Sponsors were Fairways & Bluewater, HobieCat Australia, Villa Maria and Margrita, Seair, Petron and the Department of Tourism in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Marinduque.

Behind Extreme Marinduque

Some of those behind MARINDUQUE EXTREME: Dr. Josue Victoria, Atty. Allan "P.A." Velaso, Joven Lilles and Gerry Jamilla.

MARINDUQUE EXTREME

"MARINDUQUE EXTREME SERIES 2" goes on Saturday morning, November 28th. The race will occur at the very heart of an old mine site in Capayang, Mogpog. The lake dominating the scenic view is what remains of an old open mining pit, part of the mountain that was carved and dug out more than 420 meters below sea level.


Abandoned for five decades, this hallowed ground has become a Mecca for extreme sports enthusiasts, offering adrenaline rush-guaranteed sports events suited for athletic men and women with nerves of steel. This is the present home of Team Marinduque for its Aggressive Cross-Country Mountain Bike Race, Offroad Duathlon Competition and other adventure sports like motocross and airsoft.

Race Director is Dr. Edgar Ancheta, with Dr. Josue Victoria as Race Grand Marshall. Romeo Mabiog, Sr. is Team Marinduque president. A project of the Provincial Government of Marinduque led by Gov. Jose Antonio N. Carrion, Atty. Lord Allan Velasco, Marinduque Tourism Council president and Team Marinduque.