Friday, March 14, 2008

MARINDUQUE MORIONES 2008

Various activities have been lined up by the six municipalities of Marinduque in connection with the Moriones 2008 Lenten celebration. The municipality of Gasan, re-asserting itself as the cultural nerve-center of Marinduque expects a huge turn-out of participants to the annual GASANG-GASANG EASTER FESTIVAL , a street-dancing competition to highlight Christ's Resurrection. Contingents from nearby towns have registered. New activities like a kite flying competition and film-showing of adaptations of Jesus' stories have also been scheduled.

In partnership with the local community theater group, TEATRO BALANGAW, curtains will rise on Holy Thursday and Black Saturday for the Gasan premiere presentation of "ANG KRISTO: PASYON-DULA", a three and-a-half hour play on the life of Christ. The play is composed of an amateur cast of 65 local artists from the towns of Boac, Gasan and Buenavista, and features noted Repertory stage-actor JOHN ARCILLA as KRISTO. To be shown at Guingona Park, Gasan 7:30 pm March 20 & 22, 2008.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Local Historians

Marinduque Historians PH Manguera and Myke Magalang (Boac Historical Society) also presented papers. (Manguera on contemporary political history and Magalang on the significance of the Balanacan Bombing of 1944.

HISTORY BOOKS FOR MARINDUQUE


NHI 's Dr. Augusto de Viana hands over to Atty Lloyd Allan Velasco, provincial administrator, various Philippine history books for the province.

Municipalities told to request for similar books from NHI and pick them up at the NHI office at Tm Kalaw, Ermita.

Participants to the Conference on Marinduque


When Marinduque's bright young minds meet to talk about the past, the present and the future of local history, expect the expression of ideas that appeared to have never been heretofore ventilated..

1st NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MARINDUQUE


Mogpog Central School, Feb. 19-20, 2008, with representatives from the National Historical Institute, Philippine Historical Society, National Museum and local historical societies.
The first ever conference on local history initiated by a local government unit as output of the NHI-initiated national conferences on oral and local history.

Monday, March 3, 2008


The Capitol Building built in 1926. In foreground is Gusi Medical Mission.


"BULONG" in Torrijos



“VIVA MARINDUQUE !”
(Ani ng Sining ng Marinduque:
Philippine Arts Festival 2008)


Background:

During the Oral and Local History Conference in Vigan City (Nov. 22-23, 2007), we requested for a meeting Friday, Nov. 23, with the NCCA Culture & Arts Officer representing the Commission. It was to lobby for financial support for the proposed Conference on Marinduque and to explore other areas of cooperation with the NCCA particularly in the field of the performing arts.

The officer promised to follow-up an earlier request to the NCCA, a copy of which we furnished him in connection with the history conference project. He also promised to work, although it was a bit late, on the possible inclusion of Marinduque in the Philippine Arts Festival 2008 project in connection with the National Arts Month celebration in February 2008.

By Monday, Nov. 26 the said Culture & Arts Officer called us up to inform NCCA’s welcome decision for inclusion of Marinduque in the Philippine Arts Festival 2008, with a grant of P. 100,000.00. The proposal from NCCA was emailed on Nov. 27, with the required line item budget proposal already filled out as the deadline for confirmation was already Nov. 28.

After sending the confirmation a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was emailed from NCCA for signing by the Governor. We sent an urgent request meanwhile to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to authorize the Governor to sign the said MOA.

Future plan for the project:

“Viva Marinduque!” is not a one-time project. It would be developed as Marinduque’s cultural & artistic showcase with the end in view of presenting it in national cultural festivals (similar to Teatro Balangaw’s earlier production of “Mara Unduk” that was eventually performed in local and national cultural venues), to promote excellence and Marinduque’s cultural and tourism development.


Production:

The project would be under our direct supervision as project proponent and artistic director in cooperation with participating schools (Bangbang National High School & Marinduque Midwest College) and cultural organizations.
The Event Program:
"VIVA MARINDUQUE" showcased municipal folk dances from the 6 towns, a dance-drama, "MORYONAN", "BULONG" (another dance-drama that used the local belief on teleportation caused by nature's spirit as a device to present historical episodes), a re-enactment in song and dance on "PULANG LUPA", "PUTONG" by the Capitol Choir, "KALUTANG" music by the kalutang band of Bangbang and "MARINDUQUE AKIN KA" choral rendition by the Capitol Choir. The 2-hour showcase was presented in the six towns of Mogpog, Sta. Cruz, Boac, Buenavista, Torrijos and Gasan in that order during the month of February. One of the many "Araw ng Marinduque" activities that was hailed province-wide.
The presentation was featured in the TV-program "SINING GISING" over NBN-4, produced by the National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA).
(Photos hereunder show shots from "VIVA MARINDUQUE")

Torrijos' responded with a local dance "INALIMANGO"


"VIVA" show in Mogpog featured the "Battle of Bintakay" by DepEd.


Sta Cruz employees take part in "VIVA MARINDUQUE!"


"ASUANG" scene in "BULONG"


The Marinduque Provincial Capitol Choir rehearsing for "VIVA MARINDUQUE!"


Buyers pose at the "ARAW NG MARINDUQUE" Trade & Tourism Fair.


Spanish Colonial house of the Sevillas in Gasan.


"PASTORES ANITO": The Tagalog Anito found in Marinduque ca 1881. Celebrated in "BULONG" Dance-Drama.


"MORYONAN" 2008: CULTURE NOT BEING STATIC.


MARINDUQUE'S "PUTONG" performed by the CAPITOL CHOIR.