Friday, September 30, 2011

Gasan cultural nerve-center

Priding itself as the island-province’s cultural nerve-center with its old and newly-created festivals inspired by indigenous arts and culture that involves the entire populace, Gasenos have preserved their identity and a culture with highly religious overtones.

“Gasang-Gasang Festival” in Easter and “Kalesayahan” in August are just two of these elaborate festivals. Unique versions of the “Putong” ritual and the “Kalutang” a native band using only wooden percussion instruments are ubiquitous in any type of celebration.

Gasan has its remarkable share of scenic attractions. Among the conspicuous Tres Reyes Islands, Gaspar is a favorite place for picnicking and swimming with its crushed coral beach and ever-changing configuration.


It has a reputation of having attracted pioneers in archaeological excavations in the Philippines such as the French naturalist, Alfred Marche in the 19th century followed by others including Dr. Robert Fox in the 1960s.

Gasan’s reputation as the cleanest municipality has remained unchallenged on the island and in the entire region. Recently, its noteworthy tourism practices have also gained recognition with a corresponding award given to it.

The life-cycle of butterflies, hundreds of species actually hosted by the island-province, could be viewed and their by-products bought in the town’s butterfly breeding farms that have made Marinduque a major butterfly exporter.

The more adventurous visitors take an hour of trekking to Talao Caves in Barangay Tiguion to experience the multi-storey or wide open chambers and at times grueling passageways where untouched and massive crystalline formations are just there for all to see.







For some, a trek to the hills and the welcome smile of farmers as they go about their daily routine but taking time out to engage in pleasantries with visitors, could be a memorable experience.

Worldwide Photo Walk starts at Kusina sa Plaza

All is set for Walk Organizer Dan P's 'Scott Kelby Annual Worldwide Photowalk' in Boac, Marinduque where local and visiting amateur and professional photographers get together to shoot the many sights in this historic town.

Participants will submit their single best shot from the local Walk. The winner will receive Scott Kelby’s latest bestselling book — Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It — and will also be in the running for the Grand Prize, the prizes of which continue to mount!

Venue for the basic photography talks and orientation will be conducted at Kusina sa Plaza in Boac (shown in photo). Few free slots are still available, click here.

Activity starts tomorrow, Oct 1, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Take that Walk!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

In Buenavista, Marinduque, there's something for everyone

Buenavista is nestled at the foot of Malindig Volcano which rises up to 1,157 meters the highest peak on the island. At its peak, a mossy forest grows and a variety of ferns and wild orchids. In the volcano’s foothills are areas where rare species of birds, deer, boar, wildcats and monkeys survive.

A cove in Barangay Yook is frequented these days by picnickers who care about getting even closer to nature by watching, feeling and listening to the waves as they smash against the rocks. Residents have made improvements in a choice spot by building a gazebo for visitors, one that rests just above the water that could be reached through a bamboo walkway.

Marinduque Hot Spring Resort in Barangay Malbog has swimming pools, private enclaves and cottages. Further away in the same village is the Malbog Sulfur Hot Spring frequented by bathers for its therapeutic value and as cure for skin ailments.

The Lourdes Grotto, in Sitio Sapinit, Barangay Bagtingon can be reached through a kilometer inland road from the highway. The Grotto rests in an elevation of around 150 meters so one must climb a cemented trail of some 250 steps.

Panorama of the southwestern portion of Marinduque and the majestic Malindig Volcano is your reward.

Bulusukan Falls in Barangay Bagtingon involves a 40-minute trek through a river that starts from it at the lower slopes of the mountain range that provides a steady supply of mineral spring waters from the uphill timberland zone. It is the largest natural habitat of some 300 endemic species of butterflies.


The luxurious 6-star Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa is, of course, located near the southernmost portion of this town.





Ian Sotto and Elorde delos Santos' class recently held their reunion at the Yook Cove and simply enjoyed every minute of it.



All Yook cove photos here courtesy of Ian Sotto

Monday, September 26, 2011

Rainy days and Mondays

Rainy, stormy, gloomy Monday so enticing to just stay home and play with the dogs, but decided to go to town nonetheless. Marinduque's coastal waters are rough brought about by tropical storm "Pedring" located East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

So this type of weather will probably prevail during the next fews days. Jeepneys were not full, the commuters as sleepy as I was, it seemed. I was only perked up finding this sign in front of me...

RESERVED SEAT FOR PWD.

Ah so that's why the lady passenger made sure she left it vacant pala before dozing off.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Hello World, this is Mystical Marinduque...

bp1 from DC Pixel on Vimeo.

This bittersweet slideshow is by photo-hobbyist Dan Pagulayan, one that, he says, embodies his sentiments about Marinduque.

By the way, Dan P recently got an iPad2 from KLM so far as one of top 3 photographers in connection with said airline's recent photographic competition. Top two winners will travel to the Netherlands for a special photographic assignment.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Amoingon beach cleanup

Got up late this morning and sluggishly headed for the beach in front of my house. Surprised to find some fishermen and their wives busy clearing, cleaning the beach even with walis tingting, broomsticks, removing trash and debris swept ashore by the sometimes violent habagat, southwest monsoon.

What's going on, I asked. There was a request from the mayor coursed through the punong barangay, for us fishermen to conduct a beach cleanup, Ruel, one of them said. But not just us, said another one, earlier this morning grade schoolers from Amoingon Elementary School did their share in the areas nearby. Ah baga?, sheepishly, I said.



It's just amazing to learn how with little effort from town leaders, people could be mobilized to spend an hour or so taking part in what apparently is a global effort to clean the world's beaches and waterways. That, somehow, would probably also change the behaviors that allow trash and debris to reach the shores.

So yes, the 2011 International Coastal Cleanup has also reached the coastal village of Amoingon and other Marinduque beaches. The idea pala was started by Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup 25 years ago and has become the world's largest volunteer effort for ocean health.




But unlike the way they do it elsewhere in the world where every item found is recorded and reported to provide a clear picture of the weight of trash from the shores and other bodies of water, here they're just piled up and, burned. We still have a long way to go on the island of Marinduque in the area of waste segregation and disposal, you see...

Nevertheless, everyone enjoyed the morning's exercise that made them one, in a spirit of camaraderie on behalf of the oceans and the seas, with the millions of volunteers from all over the world who did the same thing in their locations.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Ways to carry a queenly leadah

Queen Manarangi carried on a Paata courtesy of ginasaitutakidesire.com












Queen Elizabeth I carried in Procession by Robert Peake courtesy of arts-prints-on-demand.com










Queen Maya carried on a litter en route to Delhi from dhammaweb.net



The Inca Queen carried over Cusco's squares courtesy of lasochres.se






Queen Nana Sika carried in a Palanquin courtesy of Kay Morris, myspace.com










Governor Carmencita of Marinduque carried in a rattan chair.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Pnoy's role; DBM's role on power shortages in SPUG areas

PNOY DIRECTS P1.62-B RELEASE TO NPC-SPUG TO AVERT POWER SHORTAGE IN ISLANDS;
ABAD: GOV’T PREPARING NEXT STEPS FOR STABLE, AFFORDABLE POWER IN REMOTE AREAS

Upon instruction of President Benigno S. Aquino III, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P1.62 billion to the National Power Corporation (NPC) to prevent imminent power shortages in far-flung areas across the country.

“The P1.62 billion was immediately released by the government to urgently address the NPC’s capability to provide stable power supply in off-grid areas, some of which have already experienced sporadic brownouts due to fuel supply constraints,” Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad said.

“Furthermore, the government is now preparing for its next steps in ensuring stable and affordable power supply to remote areas,” he said. He notes that a fund release for the sitio electrification project is now being processed.

Of the P1.62 billion, P1.32 billion will be used to address the fuel requirements of NPC’s Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG); P162.5 million, which is half of the NPC’s capital expenditure for 2011, for the purchase of spares for SPUG plants; and P140 million for the lease of generator sets for SPUG areas. The release has been charged against the Malampaya Fund.

A total of P3.6 billion has been released for NPC-SPUG this year, to be offset against the claims of NPC for reimbursement of its advances in the preservation and maintenance of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

In February, P2 billion was released for the fuel requirements of NPC-SPUG. NPC has claimed for the reimbursement of its advances incurred in the preservation of the BNPP starting 1986 amounting to P4.37 billion as of December 2010.

Chateau du Mer at twilight time. Lights still lit.

SPUG is the missionary electrification arm of NPC that operates 317 generating units with total rated capacity of 147.675 MW in 86 areas. This nationwide operation serves 78 island grids and 8 isolated grids catering 3,330 barangays in 192 municipalities across the country.


(Media Release from dbm.gov.ph website 9/02/11)

Monday, September 19, 2011

NPC's Tampinco gives go-signal for Marinduque power supply

With the DBM’s release of P 1.62 billion charged against the Malampaya fund to the National Power Corporation aimed at preventing imminent electricity shortages in far-flung SPUG areas, NPC president Froilan Tampinco has given the go-signal for the supply of bunker fuel for Marinduque’s power barge 120. This was the result of renewed talks made by Cong. Allan Velasco with the NPC president last week.

"NPC's target date for new bunker fuel delivery is on or before Sept. 23", Velasco said. "The NPC has likewise given the approval to extend the contract on a month-to-month basis for a 2MW genset that expired on Sept. 13."

It will be recalled that Boac DPP senior engineer, Hernan Orilla earlier announced that massive brownouts in Marinduque will occur if no bunker fuel is delivered ‘prior to its run-out date on September 14’ with only Boac DPP operating on just 2MW capacity. Orilla also stated that delivery by winning bidder of bunker fuel for PB120 could, likewise, not be undertaken ‘without an approved supplemental budget from the Congress’.

DBM Secretary Florencio Abad however had said in an earlier statement pertaining to the Malamapaya fund that the annual revenue inflow in the form of proceeds from the Malampaya project is really accounted for as part of the yearly revenue program supporting the budget proposal submitted to Congress.

On the newly released budget, Tampinco said that the amount would be used by NPC for SPUG operations up to the end of the year. About P 1.3 billion would be used for the requirements of the SPUG facilities in various areas in the country, he said, and the balance would be used to purchase ‘critical spare parts and other requirements of our generation sets’.

The colors of sunrise in Boac

Titled 'Sunrise in Boac', this photograph taken by Dan Pagulayan was posted in this blogsite in April 2010. It has found its way into the pages of Lonely Planet magazine and remains my favorite photo with the Boac Cathedral as subject.

The said magazine, published under license from BBC Magazines, a division of BBC Worldwide Ltd. then featured an article, Journey to the Heart of the Philippines by Dan Pagulayan and this blogger on its February 2011 issue.

Dan is Walk Organizer for the first Scott Kelby Annual Worldwide Photo Walk in Boac scheduled on October 1. This Photowalk hopes to gather local amateur and professional photographers to shoot photos of this historic town as part of the global photofest that started four years ago.

From among a list of selected photographers, Dan was also included in the shortlist of 6 finalists for an all-expense paid trip to the Netherlands for a photography assignment sponsored by KLM for Lonely Planet.

There is no registration fee for the Worldwide Photowalk in Boac. Assembly at Kusina sa Plaza, Oct. 1, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Laying the Foundation for Good Governance and Development

Congressman Allan Velasco addressing the barangay officials during the mass graduation.

First things first

Twenty years ago, the Local Government Code of the Philippines was passed to serve as a mechanism that laid the groundwork for empowering local governments, especially barangays. It has been used by political leaders to transform their backward LGUs into dynamic and empowered local communities. The Code is said to have radically transformed the very nature of the country’s political system.

Mayor Percival Morales (Sta. Cruz), Cong. Allan Velasco, Vice-Gov. Antonio Uy, Vice-Mayor Ishmael Lim (Sta. Cruz)

However, many local governments including this island-province, the region's poorest, continue to stay behind the line of success and progress, because there is still, largely a lack of understanding on the roles and functions of local leaders particularly in the barangay level, more so with the earlier election of new barangay officials.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) response to this is the holding of an orientation seminar titled, Laying the Foundation for Good Governance and Development.

This meant imparting the basics of barangay governance, foundation on local legislation, development planning, barangay finance and budgeting, and community mobilization that in the end are expected to strengthen barangay partnerships with other local government units, national agencies and civil society orgs for efficient and effective barangay governance system in the countryside.

Mayor Roberto Madla (Boac) with DILG Provincial Director, Ma. Victoria J. Del Rosario at the orientation seminar in Boac


These seminars were first conducted by DILG Mimaropa Regional IVB in Baguio City for Marinduque’s punong barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan leaders participated in by 150 out of Marinduque’s 218 barangays.

The DILG Marinduque office under the guidance of Provincial Director Ma. Victoria J. Del Rosario, then organized similar seminars the past few months for newly elected barangay officials in the six municipalities. They are aimed to facilitate improvements in the ways barangays are run, and the formulation by said barangays of their own development agenda.




Random photos of the Barangay Newly Elected Officials Orientation Seminars in Marinduque's six municipalities of Boac, Buenavista, Gasan, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz and Torrijos






Sen. Aquilino Pimentel is the acknowledged Father of Local Autonomy and principal author of the Code. He was quoted to have said recently with the launching of a book, “The Local Government Code Revisited 2007”, thus:

“In sum, through the integration of local autonomy in our legal and political system, the passage of the Code may be likened to the splitting of the atom - in that it unleashes the forces of development with such tremendous impact that not only the privileged, but the masses as well, may benefit from the fruits of modernization in this lifetime.”


Thursday, September 15, 2011

The historic Boac Cathedral (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception)

Fray Estevan Ortiz, a Franciscan missionary planted the first cross on Marinduque island in 1579. A year later, the first visita, Monserrat de Marinduque (now Boac), was established with Fray Alonzo Banol as its minister.

In 1613 the Franciscans ceded the administration of the island to the Archbishop of Manila, Miguel Garcia Serrano who then entrusted the island to the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits assumed the spiritual administration of the island in 1621.

By 1756 the church was laid out facing east with its rear overlooking the lower town, called labak by the natives. It was to be an enduring structure for worship and for serving as a refuge for the townspeople during piratical attacks rampant in in that era.

Oral tradition survives up to the present day as to how Moro pirates in those days frequently invaded the shores of Boac through the mouth of the river in Brgy. Laylay. The townspeople would take refuge in the fortress of the cathedral and fervently pray for the intercession of their patroness, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception to save them from the attack.

In one particular attack, the raiders seemed to have persisted, killing many native defenders, so the story goes, when suddenly a powerful storm came. At that point the people saw a glowing apparition of the Lady with arms outstretched standing atop the fortress wall on the southern side of the church. She was in the act of driving away the intruders. The amazing apparition drove away the Moros who fled in their sailboats.

This episode, according to the story inspired the creation of a new name for the Lady as Birhen ng Biglang Awa.

The cathedral was dedicated to her, the 'Mother of Instant Mercy', (Pronto Socorro), in 1792. A marker on the church's front wall declares thus: "naniniwala ang mga tao na siya ang nagligtas sa pagsalakay ng mga moro noong ika-18 dantaon."

Her feast day falls on November 11. A canonical coronation of this miraculous object of veneration took place in Boac on May 10,  1958 to mark its 100th anniversary. It was attended by thousands of pilgrims from the nearby provinces in southern Luzon and Bicol.







Photograph showing the interior of the old Cathedral. Lower photo courtesy of dontrivino.com shows how it looks today.

When the Americans landed on the shores of Laylay on April 25, 1900, to control the island initially with a battalion of the 29th U.S. Volunteer infantry, they proceeded to Boac and set up their quarter in the citadel-like Boac Cathedral. They effectively took possession of the church throughout their pacification campaign on the island.







This old photo shows mass being celebrated. But closer look reveals that the devotees are sitting on the floor, said to be made of hardwood then.

Lower photo from dontrivino.com shows the church pews and ceramic tiles today.







With the creation of the Diocese of Lipa in Batangas on April 10, 1910, the island of Marinduque was attached thereto as a suffragan diocese. In 1950 the Diocese of Lucena was created with the ecclesiastical province of Marinduque under its supervision.




Then, by virtue of an Apostolic Bull issued by Pope Paul VI on April 2, 1977, the Diocese of Boac was created. It was carried into effect on May 10, 1978 with Bishop Rafael M. Lim, D.D. of Boac installed as the first Bishop of Boac.

As of Dec. 31, 2008, the Boac Diocese recorded 193,585 baptized Catholics or 84% of the population of 229,636 (2007 population). The rest are members of the other Christian denominations such as Protestants, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Iglesia ni Kristo, and others.






Old photos showing the changing altar decorations for seasonal or religious festal events.







Thanks to Mr. Noel Cruz for the old Boac church photographs.