RELIGION, REVELRY AND ADVENTURE

As of 3.22 11am
MARINDUQUE MORIONES FESTIVAL 2009
Religion, Revelry and Adventure


Marinduque is where various expressions of true Tagalog culture are found, including the roots of a language that has evolved into today’s modern national form, Filipino. Its indigenous arts, cultural practices and historical importance have continued to draw national appreciation.

Marinduque has also become synonymous with “Moriones Festival”. As far as this Lenten tradition is concerned, no other masks and headgears in account of Philippine folk culture have preceded it. Other mask festivals in various parts of the country, thus, drew their inspiration from it.

Moriones originated in the northern Marinduque town of Mogpog, in the 1880s when a re-enactment of the crucifixion was staged by a local priest, Padre Dionisio Santiago. The part where the centurion, Longhino, who pierced the side of the Christ with a spear but was renewed when his sight was restored, was played out for the first time. Since then, its lasting message of faith and conversion have found a permanent niche in the heart of the Marinduqueno.

In the said town, the Longhino ritual has become an integral part of church rituals. The climax of the moriones still takes place at noontime of Easter Sunday with a mock beheading of the Roman soldier, as they did in the olden days.

In the towns of Gasan and Boac the moriones folk tradition has, through the years, been largely influenced by tourism, cultural and economic development efforts and is celebrated in the context of a weeklong religious festivities that now include trade fairs, evening sinakulo presentations, theater, daytime passion dramas, parades and street festivals. These, alongside unique rituals, processions, marathon readings of the pasyon, the acts of Good Friday flagellants and the consistent return of the Easter Sunday “pugutan”, beheading (Boac).

In the other towns of Marinduque (Sta. Cruz, Torrijos, Buenavista), age-old Lenten practices also remain intact, but cultural dynamism have, likewise, inspired local morions and similar festivities. All the six towns have opened wide their doors to the influx of visitors out to experience the island’s natural beauty and the many exciting adventures that await those who seek them.

In Marinduque, there is something for everyone, indeed. The calendar of activities in this year’s celebration will show that this is so.

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES
“MARINDUQUE MORIONES FESTIVAL ‘09"

Palm Sunday, April 5

5:00 am Holy Mass in all Parishes
6:30 am “Hosanahan” (Procession in all town centers celebrating Christ’s entry to Jerusalem with participants showing off their gaily decorated palaspas, palm fronds)
8:00 am Palm Sunday Mass (all Parishes)
9:00 am Opening of Gasan Agro-Industrial Trade Fair ’09, Guingona Park, Gasan
3:00 pm ‘“Estacion Heneral” (Makeshift altars mounted in front of selected houses in town centers serve as points where the Stations of the Cross are relived by the faithful). All parishes.
5:00 pm “NIGHT MARKET” at the Coastal Park, Buenavista (Nightly barbeque and drinks with live band, mobile lights, videoke and souvenir shops). April 5-12 till midnight.
7:00 pm “Night of Gospel Songs”, Guingona Park

Holy Monday, April 6

7:45 am Registration of Morions (By tradition morions register already dressed up at designated places in town centers), Boac, Gasan, Torrijos, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz.
8:00 am “Community Parade of Costumes” (Boac Town Center. Public and private sector officials and employees in morion-inspired costumes or costumes of biblical characters, turning the town center into a ‘small Jerusalem’. Similar activity of wearing kaftan and parade of morions are undertaken in Torrijos by the public and private sector from Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday. (April 6-8). In Sta. Cruz “Pabasa” is undertaken at the municipal lobby (April 6-9) In Buenavista, a “Lenten Parade” participated in by government sector and morions from 15 barangays.
10:00 am Marinduque Moriones Festival Trade Expo ‘09, Products from the MIMAROPA provinces of . Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan as well as Baguio City, Iloilo, NCR and others are exhibited/sold. April 6-12), Moriones Park, Boac Riverbank
10:00 am Parada ng Morion, (Moryons roam around the town in groups) April 6-10, Boac Poblacion
Pasyon Reading Contest (Apr. 6-10 til 4:00pm), Buenavista Poblacion
3:00 pm Parada ng Morion, (Various morion groups), Poblacion, Boac Parada ng Morion, Poblacion, Gasan (April 6-10)
7:00 pm Acoustic Bands (Nightly), Trade Exhibit Area, Morion Park, Boac Riverbank
7:30 pm Film Showing (Movies on the Life of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Apr. 6-10), Guingona Park, Gasan

Holy Tuesday, April 7

8:00 am Marinduque Moriones Festival Trade Expo 09, Morion Park, Boac Riverbank (April 6-12) Parade of Legion morion group, Boac Poblacion
9:00 am Parade of Kapatirang Morion Group, Boac Poblacion. Morion Parade (participated in by Morions from 15 barangays). Buenavista Poblacion (Daily from Apr. 7-11) Parade/Visita Iglesia of Legion Morion Group, St. Joseph Parish, Gasan Poblacion
10:00 am Parade/Visita Iglesia of MISTAH Morion Group, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish, Balanacan, Mogpog
1:30 pm Parade/Visita Iglesia of Legion Morion Group, St. Isidore Labradot Parish, Mogpog
2:00 pm Parade/Visita Iglesia of MISTAH Morion Group, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Malabon, Sta. Cruz
3:00 pm Parade/Visita Iglesia of MISTAH Morion Group, Holy Cross Parish, Sta. Cruz Poblacion
3:00 pm Parade of Kapatirang Morion Group, Boac Poblacion, and Legion Morion Group
7:00 pm Acoustic Bands (Nightly), Trade Exhibit Area, Morion Park, Boac Riverbank

Holy Wednesday, April 8

4:00 am “Pabasa ng Pasyon” (Traditional chanting of the poetic narrative on the Passion of Christ), Gasan Kiosko
8:00 am Marinduque Moriones Festival Trade Expo 09, Morion Park, Boac Riverbank (April 6-12)
Parade in Samaritana Costume, Boac Poblacion Parade/Visita Iglesia of MISTAH Group, St. Joseph Parish, Gasan Poblacion
9:00 am - Parade of Kapatirang Morion Group, Boac Poblacion
Legion’s Creative Contest ‘09, (Theme: Longinus, a Saint & Martyr), Boac Covered Court. Parade, Legion Morion Group, Boac Poblacion
Parade/Visita Iglesia of MISTAH Morion Group, Sto Nino Parish, Buenavista Poblacion
Morion Parade (with morions from 15 barangays), Buenavista Poblacion
10:00 am - “Pagpapakasakit ni JesuKristo”, Mogpog Poblacion
“Kalbaryohan”, Sta. Cruz Poblacion (Holy Wednesday to Good Friday)
11:00 am Parade/Visita Iglesia of MISTAH Morion Group, Our Lady of Perpetual Succor Parish, Torrijos Poblacion
1:00 pm “Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo” (Mask painting), Boac Covered Court
3:00 pm Parade, Legion Morion Group, Boac Poblacion (and other morion groups)
5:00 pm Holy Wednesday Religious Procession, all Town centers
7:00 pm “Sinakulo” (Stage presentation: Episode from Genesis to the Birth of Jesus. Presented by the Provincial Government of Marinduque in cooperation with morion groups and cenaculistas). Moriones Arena, Boac Riverbank.

Holy Thursday, April 9

4:00 am “Pabasa ng Pasyon”, Gasan Kiosko
7:00 am Visita Iglesia via Motor Bike (Biker’s Fun Run visiting churches around Marinduque taking Boac-Gasan-Buenavista-Torrijos-Sta. Cruz-Mogpog Boac route), assembly at Boac Covered Court.
“Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo” (Mask Painting), Boac Covered Court
8:00 am Parade of Morion Contingents, Boac Poblacion
9:00 am “Battle of the Morions”, (Judging of the Best Morion Costumes and Masks organized by the provincial government), Moriones Arena, Boac Riverbank
2:00 pm “Battle of the Morions” (Competition of morions in choreographed movements participated in by contingents from the municipalities organized by the provincial government), Moriones Arena, Boac Riverbank
7:00 pm “Ang Kristo: Pasyondula” (Theater. Premiere presentation in Boac. Beginning with Christ’s Baptism to the Resurrection. Presented by the Provincial Government of Marinduque in cooperation with Teatro Balangaw), Moriones Arena, Boac Riverside.

Good Friday, April 10

8:00 am “Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo” (Mask Painting), Boac Covered Court
“Sinakulo” (Street play with morions joining). Torrijos Poblacion
9:00 am “Via Crucis” (The Way of the Cross. Re-enacted along the streets of Boac culminating at the Moriones Arena).
12:00 pm Tawak Drinking. (Ritual. Drinking of herbal potion against poisonous bites). Guingona Park, Gasan
2:00 pm Flagellantes. (Self-flogging by penitents) Boac and Gasan cemeteries Parade, Legion Morion Group, Boac Poblacion
4:00 pm Good Friday Religious Procession, all town centers
8:00 pm “Kristo: Ang Tagapagligtas” (Stage presentation. People’s Park, near Sta. Cruz Public Market.

Black Saturday, April 11

8:00 am ENDURO MOTOCROSS, 4-CROSS MOUNTAIN BIKE AND AIRSOFT COMPETITION, Boac Riverbank (up to 4:00pm)
9:00 am Kite Flying Contest, Bangbang Rice Fields, Gasan
1:30 pm Parade/Visita Iglesia of Legion Morion Group, Birhen Mapag-ampon Parish, Brgy. Balimbing, Boac
2:30 pm “Kalutang Contest”, Municipal Tennis Court, Gasan
2:30 pm Parade/Visita Iglesia of Legion Morion Group, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Brgy. Poras, Boac
3:30 pm Parade of Legion Morion Group, Boac Poblacion to Boac Cathedral
7:00 pm “Pugutan” (Stage presentation on the Longhino story), Guingona Park, Gasan
7:00 pm “Pugutan” (Stage presentation on the Longhino story), Torrijos Covered Court
9:00 pm “Sinakulo” (Stage presentation on the Resurrection and the Longhino story. Presented by the Provincial Government of Marinduque in cooperation with morion groups and cenaculistas), Moriones Arena, Boac Riverbank.
7:00 pm Legion Morion Group Torch Parade, assembly at Boac Cathedral
9:00 pm MISTAH Morion Group Torch Parade and Vigil

Easter Sunday, April 12

4:00 am “Salubong at Bati”/”Aleluyahan” (Ritual and Dance celebrating the appearance of the Risen Christ before the Blessed Mother). Designated area in all town centers.
5:00 am Easter Mass, all Parishes.
7:30 am “Gasang-Gasang Easter Sunday Street-Dancing Festival” (Competition of various contingents in choreographed movements and morion-inspired costumes). Gasan Poblacion
8:00 am FUN RUN MOTORCYCLE MOUNTAIN TRAIL & Visit to Gasan
8:30 am Grand Parade and Awarding of Prizes to Morions, Mogpog Covered Court
9:00 am Parade of MISTAH Morion Group, Boac Poblacion Parade of Legion Morion Group, Boac Poblacion
“Tubungan sa Plaza” (Putong Ritual), BoacCovered Court
10:00 am “Traditional Pugutan”, (Ritual. Mock beheading of Longhino), Mogpog Covered Court
10:00 am “TRADITIONAL Pugutan”, (Chase and mock beheading of Longhino. With MISTAH, Kapatirang Morion and Legion Morion Groups, Boac Poblacion
“EASTER EGG HUNTING AT THE PARK”, for locals and tourists, Coastal Park, Buenavista
1:00 pm Legion’s Creative Contest Awarding Ceremony.
7:30 pm San Miguel Beer Plaza, Boac Covered Court
7:30 pm “Bikini Open” (Personality Pageant, Private sector organized). Poctoy White Beach, Torrijos
“EASTER PARTY at the PARK”, (Open to the public), Coastal Park, Buenavista

Tours:

“MARINDUQUE ISLAND HOLIDAY TOUR”
Package A: (Poctoy White Sand Beach, Pottery Making, Malbog Sulfuric Hot Spring, View of Malindig Volcano, Tres Reyes Island, Beaches in Gasan, Churches, Duyay Cave, Butterfly Culture)

Package B: (Boac Cathedral, Marinduque Museum, Beaches, Balanacan Harbor, Bathala Cave or Tarug Cave, Biglang Awa Shrine, Sta. Clara Monastery)

Call Mobile # 0919-2483769 (Gene Querubin) or # 0919-5700432 (Noel Magturo)

“MARINDUQUE WATERFALLS”
(Bulusukan Falls (Bagtingon, Buenavista), Paadjao Cascades (Bocboc, Mogpog, Hinulugan Falls (Boac-Torrijos Boundary. Call Provl. Tourism Office # 0917-9166635)

“TARUG CAVE TOUR”
(Mogpog, #0916-1356061)

“JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES”
(Hinanggayon, Mogpog, # Call Provl. Tourism Office # 0917-9166635 Gerry Jamilla)

“MARINDUQUE ISLAND HOPPING TOURS”
(Tour of islands in Mogpog, Sta. Cruz and Gasan. Call #0918-2233826)

MORIONES SA PANAGBENGA

MORIONES DINUMOG SA BAGUIO ;
PAGHAHANDA SA MAHAL NA ARAW


Sa pagsali ng Moriones ng Marinduque sa nakaraang Panagbenga Flower Festival na ginanap sa Baguio City noong nakaraang linggo, ikinagulat ang mainit na pagtanggap ng mga turistang bumisita sa summer capital ng Pilipinas sa mga morion.

Subalit lumitaw sa pagsusuri at obserbasyon ng mga nakilahok mula sa LGUs ng anim na bayan ng lalawigan sa pangunguna ni Atty. Lord Allan Velasco, provincial administrator at pangulo ng provincial tourism council, na taliwas sa inakala nila, hindi pa rin ganun kalawak ang kamalayan sa labas ng lalawigan tungkol sa Moriones.

Hindi halos matapos-tapos ang pagpapaliwanag ng mga miyembro ng delegasyon tungkol sa nasabing tradisyong pinagkakilanlan sa mga Marinduqueno. Inakala diumano ng ilan sa mga manonood na ang mga moriones ay galing sa Tondo, kung saan may kalye na may gayun ding pangalan, o di kaya’y ang mga nakamaskarang morion ay may kinalaman anila sa pakikipaglaban ni Lapu-lapu noong panahon ng Kastila. Ang karamihan nama’y walang ideya kung ano at saang lalawigan nanggaling ang moriones.

MORIONES FLOAT

Isa ang lalawigan ng Marinduque sa dalawampu’t-pitong karosa na sumali sa Panagbenga Float Competition. Layunin sa pagsali na palaganapin sa bansa ang kamalayan tungkol sa kultura at pang-turismong tulak ng lalawigan. Layunin din na patibayin ang hangaring Marinduque na nga ang ituring na Lenten Capital of the Philippines . Sa pakikipagtulungan ng Globe ay nagmudmod ng mga tourism promotional flyers ang delegasyon sa libo-libong nanood sa parada na nakatulong din sa pagpapaliwanag ng contingent.

Itinampok sa karosa ng Marinduque ang isang higanteng mukha ng morion sa unahan nito na gawa sa bulaklak. Sakay ng karosa ang ilang morion kasama si Velasco na nakasuot morion din. Nasa unahan naman nito ang walking contingent ng mga morion at mga kagawad ng LGU’s na sumama sa pagdiriwang. Sa trade fair component ng Panagbenga ay naging matagumpay din ang pagpapakilala sa mga produktong gawa sa Marinduque sa pamamagitan ng Marinduque trade booth. Itinampok dito ang mga ibat-ibang souvenir items, processed foods at iba pang produkto.

Ang Panagbenga sa taong ito ay dinaluhan ng tinatayang higit sa isa at kalahating milyong mga turista at ito na diumano ang pinakamalaki sa kasaysayan nito ayon sa mga nag-organisa ng festival.

PAG-USAD NG MORIONES FESTIVAL

Samantala, inihayag ni Velasco na higit na magiging masusi ang isinasagawang paghahanda para sa darating na Marinduque Moriones Festival ’09. Mula sa Araw ng Palaspas hanggang sa Araw ng Pagkabuhay ay puno ng mga panoorin, aniya, ang isasagawa. Ilan dito na karagdagan sa mga paghahanda ng mga bayan-bayan ay ang Moriones Festival Regional Trade Expo na sasalihan ng mga lalawigan mula sa MIMAROPA Region, at sasalihan din ng lahat ng bayan sa Marinduque, isang morion art exhibit, pagtatanghal ng Sinakulo, “Pugutan”, at “Via Crucis”.

Isang panibagong passion play, “Ang Kristo: Pasyondula” na tatampukan ng mga lokal na artista, bisitang artista, at mga kawani ng pamahalaan ang isa pa ring pinaghahandaan. Kasama rin ang organisadong parada ng mga morion at mga sektor na inaasahang magbibigay ng karagdagang kulay sa pang-Semana Santang selebrasyon sa lalawigan.

Pinaghahandaan din ang kauna-unahang pagsasagawa ng “Battle of Moriones” na sasalihan ng mga moriones contingents mula sa ibat-ibang lugar. Karagdagan ito sa mga tradisyonal na grupong moriones tulad ng Kapatirang Morion ng Marinduque, Mistah, at Legion. Magsasagawa sa pagkakataong ito ng choreographed movements kasabay ng tunog ng mga percussion instruments ang bawat kasaling grupo. Ang bilang ng bawat grupo ay hindi bababa sa 42.

Nanawagan din si Velasco sa mga bayan at pribadong sektor hinggil sa kinakailangang paghahanda sa pagdagsa ng mga domestic at foreign tourists sa darating na Mahal na Araw. Iminumungkahi niya ang pagpapalaganap ng local tours, kasama na ang pagpapalakas ng homestay programs at paghahanda ng mga campsites sa mga bayan-bayan upang masagot ang mga kakulangan sa mga hotels at resorts. Ito aniya, ang ilan sa mga pag-uusapan ng masusi sa susunod na provincial tourism council meeting. Inaasahan, aniya, ang higit na aktibong pakikisangkot ng lahat ng sektor dahilan sa mas mataas na kamalayan sa kasalukuyan sa potensyal ng turismo na maging pangunahing industriya sa islang-lalawigan.

7,107 ISLANDS CRUISE

Masayang inihayag naman ni Gob. Jose Antonio N. Carrion ang pagkakasama ng Marinduque sa 2009 Summer Cruise Special Package ng 7,107 Islands Cruise, ang nag-iisang Filipino-owned cruise company. Sa mga buwan ng Marso, Abril at Mayo ay nakatakdang bumisita ang cruise ship sa Marinduque na lulan ang daan-daang turista. Ang cruise ship ay kayang maglaman ng 400 turista at nagbibigay ng mga serbisyong kahalintulad ng mga pang-luxury five-star hotel tulad ng casino, bar, restaurant, sundecks, spa, piano bar, gym at conference rooms.

Ang summer cruises ay nakatakdang bumisita sa Apo Reef, Tara Isaland, Coron at Marinduque mula sa iba’t-ibang daungan ng Manila , Subic at Batangas. Kamakailan ay inilunsad din ng nasabing cruise company ang serbisyo sa tourism triangle ng Palawan , Boracay at Puerto Galera.

Senyales ito ani Carrion, ng kahalagahan ng Marinduque sa usaping pangturismo kaya’t ang pag-uugnayan ng lahat ng sektor ng pamahalaan, lalo na ang mas masidhing pakikipagtulungan ng pribadong sektor ang inaasahang magaganap. “Wala nang dahilan ngayon para tayo maiwanan ng ating mga karatig-lalawigan sa usaping turismo”, ani Carrion.