A colossal intrigue! From Teatro Balangaw's 1992 two-moon myth to Science@NASA's 2013 two-moon theory

 Nawindang lamang ako. Una naming pinalabas sa Boac Town Plaza noong 1992 para sa pista ng bayan ang Mara Unduk. Tungkol ito sa alamat ng dalawang buwan. si Mayana at si Buwana na nagpaikot sa buhay ng mga taga Mara Unduk (nasa ibaba ang buod ng istorya}.

Taong 2013, biglang pumasok sa eksena ang NASA para pag-aralan diumano sa unang pagkakataon ang misteryo ng dalawang buwan sa ating mundo...

Who wouldn't be intrigued? The earth had two moons? My original 1992 Mara Unduk story that our community theater group developed as a dance-drama depicted exactly that, How one of the two celestial bodies crashed onto the earth when a moon goddess was angered causing an end-of-days scenario. Few survivors were washed into an island that sprang from the sea, building a community there, yet over time old mistakes were committed, spreading chaos and corruption, angering the gods once more and causing a new delubyo. Enlightenment ensued finally thereafter.

Now, NASA is investigating the two moon theory, part of its GRAIL Mission launched from Kennedy Space Center on September 10, 2013, watch video.

 

 

From NASA's video, "Did Earth Have Two Moons?" recently posted on YouTube:

"Did earth have two moons? Nothing stirs the soul of poets and lovers like the                    sight of a full moon rising on a warm autumn night. Nothing that is, except the                     sight of two moons rising…

If a paper published recently in the journal "Nature" is right, two moons once                      graced the night skies of earth. 

The idea has not been proven but it is drawing the serious attention                                of researchers. “It’s an intriguing idea”, says David Smith of the                 Massachussets Institute of Technology and it would be a way to explain                           one of the great mysteries of the earth moon system."

Ganyang--ganyan.

"…the two moon theory introduced by planetary scientists Martin Jutzi and Erik

 Asphaug of the University of California at Santa Cruz is the latest attempt. 

NASA’s GRAIL Mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center on 

September 10 could help unravel the mystery. Smith is the deputy principal 

investigator for GRAIL which stands for Gravity Recovery and Interior

Laboratory. GRAIL consists of two aircrafts that will orbit the moon in 

tandem precisely mapping the moon’s gravitational field and thus reveal

 how the moon’s interior is layered. Among other things, this could test the 

two moon theory. Most scientists believe that when a Mars sized object 

crashed into our planet about 4 1/2 billion years ago the resulting debris cloud  

coalesced to form the moon… the debris cloud actually formed two moons..."

Two moon goddesses, Mayana and Buwana in the days of Bathala.
The subject of Mara Unduk, a Teatro Balangaw play first presented in 1992.
Photo by Mel Cortez (1997), published in BusinessWorld.

The MARA UNDUK Story
by Eli J. Obligacion

In the days of Bathala, when two moons still sailed the sky, the earth was inhabited by highly-gifted spirit-people who lived in harmony with all existence. Such immense powers they possessed, for they controlled the four elements of Fire, Air, Water and Earth.

Mayana angered.

Over time, they became too proud to the point that Mayana, the Goddess of the Lower Moon, was angered, smashing her lunar abode onto the earth. 

Unang Delubyo.

This was known as the first upheaval - that caused an island to spring from the bottom of the the ocean. The few survivors named it Mara Unduk, sea mountain.

Katalona.

The Earth was left under the care of the gentle Goddess of the Higher Moon, Buwana. A new order was established under the rule of the sorcerer, Katalona, who dominated the people's lives. But the survivors who have learned to hunt for food have forgotten who they were or where they came from. They had no notion of their destiny.

 

Magic

Strange dreams haunted the people for a long time. Through magical rituals they began to understand those dreams with the help of the spirit-protector, Marindik.

Alon and Baylana.

Alon, a hunter who served as Katalona's apprentice falls in love with the prettiest maiden, Baylana. The relationship ended in a tragedy for the maiden and for Katalona, he who believed that Alon's mission to chart his people's destiny was loftier that Alon's love for Baylana. 

Chaos

Such lawlessness and disorder descended upon the village that the people lost their sense of hope and direction. Marindik was so displeased that she caused her dwelling on the mountaintop to emit burning rocks, and the heaven to weep.

Deluge 

The villages were submerged in mud and sand, bringing havoc and destruction once again. In the midst of it all, Alon finds union with his primeval past, and emerged in harmony with the elemental spirits and with all existence.

When Poctoy beach was grassy and deserted we were there

The year was 1996. BusinessWorld ran an article for its Travel & Tourism page entitled Marinduque Memories. It mentioned Teatro Balangaw with an accompanying photo of the cast that performed in the Mara Unduk dance drama. The photo was taken in Poctoy, Torrijos’ grassy and deserted white beach then with Mt Malindig in the background. Photo by Miguel Cortez.

Excerpts from the article: “TREASURES. A theater group, Teatro Balangaw, performed a dance drama recreating the rich folklore of the province. Utilizing expressionistic and experimental forms as well as stylized dance movements, the group aims to create an awareness and foster a higher sense of appreciation for Marinduque’s culture and history...”

Lookback: Walang Sugat dinala muli sa Marinduque after a hundred years

Culture vulture ka baga? Alam mo baga that in 2010, the MIMAROPA ARTS & CULTURE SUMMIT was held in Marinduque as part of Araw ng Marinduque commemoration. A Grand Parade showcasing local festivals was also held.

May big surprise pa na naganap.The sarswela "WALANG SUGAT" returned to this island-province after its Marinduque premiere in, take note,  1902.



"Walang Sugat", the well-loved sarswela masterpiece by Filipino librettist Severino Reyes was presented in Marinduque on February 18 & 19, 2010, only the second time it was seen on the island after more than a century! 

This zarzuela was first presented here in 1902 on the occasion of the Boac town fiesta with no less than then Fiscal of Tayabas and future Philippine president, Manuel L. Quezon as guest of honor. 

That original production was mounted by Gran Compania de Zarzuela Tagala of Manila and was brought to Marinduque in the same year it was premiered to the world. 

The 2010 production was staged by Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, Inc. (BKFI), recipient of CCP's Gawad para sa Sining as best theater group in the Philippines. 

The project highlighted the 90th Anniversary of "Araw ng Marinduque" and Philippine International Arts Festival 2010 celebration on this island, spearheaded by the provincial government of Marinduque headed by Gov. Bong Carrion in cooperation with National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA), CCP, BKFI and the island-province's six municipalities. 

The occasion also served as an avenue to promote NCCA programs and partnership with LGUs in the MIMAROPA Region with the holding in Marinduque of the "Gintong Binhi" the 1st Mimaropa Arts & Culture Forum. - ej obligacion 

Ang Gaspar Heritage Island ng Marinduque

Kamangha-mangha ang naging papel ng Marinduque kapag pinag-usapan ang sinaunang pottery at jewelry. Kalanay pottery complex ang ideya na ipinangalan ni Wilhelm G. Solheim II, archaeologist, matapos niyang suriin ang mga pottery at earthenware sa Guthe Collection sa University of Michigan noong 1957. Nakolekta naman ang mga ito ni Dr. Carl Guthe sa Pilipinas sa pagitan ng 1922 at 1925.

Iminungkahi noon ni Otley Beyer na ang mga koleksiyon mula sa Marinduque na nahukay ni Alfred Marche noong 1881 ay makikitang taglay ang mga katangian ng Kalanay complex pottery na natagpuan sa iba pang bahagi ng Pilipinas.

Ang mga paunang ulat tungkol dito sa mga unang lugar ay naisulat naman nina Fox at Evangelista, 1958.

Noong 1959 naman, si Arsenio Manuel, Pinuno ng Kagawaran ng Anthropology, University of the Philippines, ay naghukay sa maraming mga site sa Marinduque, na ang pinakamahalaga ayon sa panulat ni Solheim ay ang mga natagpuan sa Tres Reyes (Gaspar Island).

Aniya, “from partial stratigraphy and typology the contents of the Tres Reyes site have been divided into three groups. The middle strata (not well defined), nearly one and a half meters thick, contains a great variety of Kalanay complex pottery (Solheim 1959b: 103). Unfortunately, no report on this material has yet appeared. Part of the marterial is with Manuel, part with Beyer, and some pieces on display at the National Museum…”

“Decoration and form of the Tres Reyes pottery fits the Kalanay complex style very neatly. Several of the diagnostic designs are present plus several variations on these designs, and one previously unencountered element”. (Solheim)

In addition, between this island and the mainland, a sunken Chinese junk of the Sung and Chang Dynasty was discovered by fishermen and recovered by a joint team of the National Museum  and a foreign salvage group. Numerous porcelain plates, jars, skillets and others were recovered.

"Katulad ng pulseras na nahukay sa Gaspar Island (Tres Reyes Is.) ang nakuha rin sa Pamintaan Cave" (Torrijos). Bahagi ito ng naisulat ni Marche tungkol sa Gaspar Island (Los Tres Reyes): 

“Kabilang sa mga alahas na aking nakuha dito, ay isang pulseras na katulad ng nakolekta ko sa kuweba ng Los Tres Reyes. Ang isa ay isang spiral tulad ng isang pulseras na parang ahas, parehong disenyo ng  mga ginagamit pa rin ngayon ng mga eleganteng tao; ang iba ay tinusok, na tila ginagamit ng mga ito na nakalawit sa mga tainga o sa paligid ng leeg; isa sa mga ito ay tinunaw sa isang shell ng pagong… 

“…Tulad ng mga bungo na matatagpuan sa isla ng Los Tres Reyes ang mga ito ay deformed. Nagdala ako ng halos 40, karamihan sa kanila ay walang panga at isang dosenang kalansay o higit pa…” (Luzon and Palawan, AA Marche, English translation from the French by Pura Santillan-Castrence)

Aerial view of the increasing number of houses in Gaspar Island.

With just a few informal settlers many years ago it  now boasts of an elementary school. The surrounding waters of Gaspar Island is a protected marine reserve called the Tres Reyes Marine Sanctuary and may need further protection measures.

My Ancient Marinduque vid

When there was a dearth of information about prehistoric Marinduque I posted this video on Youtube in 2009 with this description:

The beginnings of Philippine archaeology began in the island of Marinduque. In the 19th century the relative fame of Marinduque as the 'Isle of Grottos' drew the French explorer, Alfred Marche, to this island. He returned to France with his booty consisting of 40 crates of Chinese urns, vases, gold ornaments, skulls and other artifacts of pre-Hispanic origin. Understanding the Philippines' pre-colonial past lies in these relics of the past, some of which are probably still hidden and buried under the island's numerous caves.

You may now Google Prehistory of Marinduque.

From 'My Ancient Marinduque' to Wiki's Prehistory of Marinduque

 This is one of the earliest articles I've written and posted in this blog in 2009  about precolonial Marinduque. It was followed by numerous posts in years that followed that eventually an entry was included in Wikipedia titled PREHISTORY OF MARINDUQUE. Which other provinces or places in the Philippines have been accorded that distinction by Wiki, incidentally? Mukhang wala, nada. And the subject is continuously updated.

The pursuit for cultural discovery in Marinduque continues that many more discoveries have been unearthed since then.

This writer and this website cited as a source.

My Ancient Marinduque

The beginnings of archaeology in the Philippines began right here in Marinduque.

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 wooden images 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)

Trivia:"Where do we come from? What are We? Where are we Going?" is the title of a famous Gauguin painting (photo), a life-sized reproduction of which used to hang in my living room before my house was razed to the ground.

Casa Narvas, nag-iisa na lamang na deklaradong Heritage House sa Marinduque

 Nakakapanghinayang, pero ang Casa Narvas na lamang ang natitirang deklarado ng National Historical Commission of the Philippines na Heritage House sa buong Marinduque. Ito na nga lamang ang natira mula ng magkaroon ng malaking sunog sa Boac noong July 2, 2018.

Subalit ang bahay na ito, Casa Narvas, ay hindi naging bukas sa publiko. Wala ring nakikitang pagsisikap ang lokal na pamahalaan at ang may-ari ng gusali para ito maisakatuparan. Isinasalarawan pa naman ang bayan ng Boac bilang isang 'heritage town'.

Sa ibang bayan makikita mo ang aktibong panangalaga na ginagawa ng kinauukulan sa ganitong mga bagay.

One of the most prominent heritage houses in the town of Boac is Casa Narvas and is located at Gov. D. Reyes Street. The NHI has cited that "the house is distinct for its historical and artistic values and today is an example of architecture from the early years of the twentieth century in Boac, Marinduque".

Casa Narvas in Boac, Marinduque. Heritage House.

So what's the story behind Casa Narvas, the only 'Heritage House', so declared by the National Historical Institute in 2007, that has survived the devastating Boac Fire of July 2, 2018?

Volunteer firefighters saving Casa Narvas (in photo), located only a few meters away from the burning Don Piroco Mansion. Photo: Pongkoy Manrique

It was built in 1920, by Elias Narvas, a local coconut trader in those bygone years, and was called ‘bahay na bato’ also characterized by its massive red hardwood flooring, a balaustre and an azotea of Spanish and Chinese influence. Its design included capiz-shelled sliding windows and stained glass walls.

Narvas’ wife was named Vicenta Miciano Narvas and the house is said to have been built in memory of Bartolome and Hilda Narvas, Elias’ parents.

During those years it became a hub for social and political gatherings being in the town center. Some dignitaries both foreign and local have dropped by this house to attend a ceremony or to be hosted for a while as house guests.

Among these eminent personalities were Leonard Wood who was Governor-General of the Philippines  from 1921-1927, former Philippine Presidents Manuel L. Quezon, Jose P. Laurel, Manuel A. Roxas and Elpidio Quirino.

Gov.-Gen. Leonard Wood

An entry in NHI records also stated that Manuel A. Roxas organized the nucleus of his Liberal Party in this house. Roxas was the fifth President of the Philippines who served from 1946 until his death in 1948. Quirino succeeded Roxas when the latter died while in office and was recorded as a house guest.

Pres. Elpidio Quirino

Jose P. Laurel, who became president during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines had been likewise, hosted by Casa Narvas.

Pres. Jose P. Laurel

In its declaration of Casa Narvas as a Heritage House, the NHI had stated that “as the venue of political meets and social balls, it stands as testimony to the cultural and political life of Boac, Marinduque”. 

It also cited that “the house is distinct for its historical and artistic values and today is an example of architecture from the early years of the twentieth century in Boac, Marinduque”.

Based on recent information, the original owners Elias and Vicenta Miciano Narvas had a son, Gregorio Narvas, who died at an early age of 27. Gregorio had 3 children: Sonia, Violeta and Gregorio Jr. and are the owners of the house. .

No one knew, but the Marche journals surfaced, kaya nilibot namin sa buong Marinduque

 

{Left} A standing Bulol of Ifugao Bulol, the Ifugao anito, is a carved human figure considered as a rice god and usually kept in the house or rice granary. It is said that there are steps involved in the making of a bulol, from selecting the tree to be used, to its arrival at the owner's house, to rituals involving bathing it in pig's blood, recitations and offerings of wine. There are claims that bulol is actually used by using the image as an object to ritually transfer the sickness of the afflicted to the statue and that the bulol is kept in granaries to drive away thieves. There is a belief that contact with the bulol used for this purpose could cause the sickness to be transferred to such thieves. 

MARINDUQUE ANITOS Anitos, idols, very much similar to the bulol have also been unearthed from various Marinduque caves. Together with skeletons, various gold ornaments, ancient pottery and wooden coffins with crocodile images carved into them, pre-Hispanic artifacts found in Marinduque has opened up a vast world of speculation. Illustrations of a few anitos found in Pamintaan Cave, Torrijos. 

{Left photo} Replica of one anito referred to as Pastores in the Marche journals, said to have been found in Gasan. These anitos have inspired local cultural groups to incorporate these idols in dance-drama presentations only during the last decade. The local anito featured here, called 'pastores', is from "Bulong" dance-drama first presented in Gasan in 2002, and which I directed as Artistic Director of Teatro Balangaw). -eli j obligacion

Dating laman ng ilang mga kuweba sa Marinduque

 

Babaeng Pastores, Marinduque.
Mula sa dating Koleksyon ng Museum of Man (Oceania).

Napakaraming kuweba sa ibat-ibang panig ng Marinduque. Marami rito ang napasok na sa ngayon pero marami pa rin, dahil sa mga di madaling maipaliwanag na dahilan, ay hindi pa napapasok.

Hindi na rin bago na marinig mo ang mga kuwento na may mga nakatagong lagusan sa ilan sa mga kuwebang ito patungo sa kabilang dagat sa Hilaga ng isla, pero meron ding nagsasabing papunta yun sa kabilang ibayo ng mga kababalaghan. 

Maliit na ataol (Marinduque).
Mula sa dating Koleksyon ng Museum of Man (Oceania)

Samakatuwid, maraming kuweba sa Marinduque ang hindi pa ganap na nasisiyasat. Hanggang kamakailan lamang ay ilang ahensya ng pamahalaan ay naisipang pasukin ang ilan dito para pag-aralan ang mga ito - mga maiidagdag pa sa kasaysayan, mga buhay na bagay na naninirahan dito, mga sekreto nito at kung ano-ano pa.

Tampok naman sa ibang kuweba sa Marinduque ang mga paranormal orbs.
Kuha sa San Isidro (Bagumbungan) Cave.

Noong ika-18 na siglo, may mga siyentipikong dayuhan na dumayo dito para mag-imbestiga. Hindi sila nabigo (sina Fedor Jagor (German-Russian), at Antoine Alfred Marche (French). Pinagkaguluhan sa ibang bansa ang kanilang mga nadiskubre at mga nahukay nang kanila itong isulat. Mga prehistoric artifacts at ebidensya na nagpatunay na mayroon ngang mga nanirahan sa isla ng Marinduque libong taon na, na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa ganap na maipaliwanag.

Lalakeng Pastores (Marinduque).
Mula sa dating Koleksyon ng Museum of Man (Oceania)

Sa malaking pulo ng Gaspar, maraming nahukay si Marche - mga kakatwang bungo, kalansay, banga, mga palamuti sa katawan gawa sa ginto at iba pa. Sa ilang kuweba sa timog-kanluran ng Boac na pinamahayan ng mga paniki sa loob ng daan-daang taon, nabatid nila na naglalaman din ang mga ito ng buto ng tao at iba pang mga labi. 

San Isidro (Bagumbungan) Cave. Mga orbs.
Kung minsan naroon sila, minsan ay wala naman.

Ang isa pang malaking yungib sa lugar ding iyon na natatabunan ng makapal na mga halaman ay napasok ng Pranses bagamat napakaliit ng lagusan. Sa isang kuweba naman sa bandang Silangan na may mga 70 metro ang taas ay mga buto ng tao pa rin ang kanyang namalas, mga urno at mga sinaunang aksesorya.

Sa isa pang kuweba sa Sta. Cruz ay ganoon din ang kalagayan. Na ito ay ginamit ng mga katutubo noong unang panahon sa ibat-iba nilang mga pakay o ritwal ay hindi maitatanggi.

Isang uri pa rin ng Pastores. Marinduque.
Mula sa dating Koleksyon ng Museum of Man (Oceania)

Ang isang yungib na ginawang libingan sa Pamintaan ay hindi man lamang nagalaw, kayat suwerte si Marche sa kanyang mga nadiskubre. Walang duda si Marche na iyon ang libingan ng isang makapangyarihang tao base sa mga sinaunang kayamanang kanyang nahalukay at inuwi.

Takip. (Marinduque) May disenyong mga reptile.
Mula sa dating Koleksyon ng Museum of Man (Oceania).

Maaaring sa ngayon ay napaglimutan na ang marami sa mga kuwebang ito base sa mga naisulat na pangalan ng mga ito na tila wala na ngayon, maaaring naglaho na sa memorya ng mga katutubo. Ilan dito ay ang kuweba ng Macayon, gayun din ang May-Igi at Padua na ani Marche ay nasa bandang Boac.

Maliit na ataol kasama ang mga kalansay at bungo.
Mula sa dating Koleksyon ng Museum of Man (Oceania)

Sa maliit na daungan ng San Andres ay may mga kuweba rin daw at nasa tuktok ng isang bundok sa malapit doon ang isa pa aniya. Sa Gasan ay may mga nahukay rin siyang ibat-ibang artifacts tulad ng maliit na tibor, perlas, mga bungo at banga. May sinabi itong kuweba ng Antipolo kung saan nahukay ang mga estatwang gawa sa kahoy. Sa mga kuweba ng Manoqu at Salombog ay may mga bungo, mga maliliit na tibor, at malaking sirang plato.

Lalaking Bulol mula sa Mountain Province.
Inilalarawan lamang ang pagkahawig nito sa mga estatwang nakuha sa mga kuweba ng Marinduque.

Isang kilometro, ani Marche, mula sa Pamintaan malapit sa Boulen ay naroon ang kuwebang may lamang mga inukit na bagay, sa mga kuweba ng Moupon naman ay mga itlog ng Tabon* (Philippine scrubfowl) ang laman. 

Ginamit naman ang imaheng ito ng Teatro Balangaw sa
ilang pagtatanghal para ipakilala ang mga Pastores ng Marinduque.

Ano pa kaya ang naghihintay na madiskubre sa mga kuweba ng Marinduque?