"MORYONAN 2013 (BATTLE OF MORIONS)" March 28 in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque

"MORYONAN 2013" (Battle of Morions) is now on its firth year as a competition participated in by the various morion groups, old and new, male or female, province-wide. Conceptualized by now Congressman Lord Allan Velasco in 2009, this year's competition follows rituals associated with Marinduque's Moryonan in stylized form or choreographic movements. The rituals cover the miracle of Longinus, the Roman soldier who became Christianity's first convert after the Resurrection, the mock 'Habulan' and Capture of Longinus, "Pugutan" and a Moryonan Finale. These performances are accompanied by a drum and bugle/lyre band or native percussion instruments with accompanying festival drums.

To be held on Maundy Thursday at the Sta. Cruz Plaza, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque this competition organized by the District Offices of  Cong. Velasco in cooperation with the Municipality of Sta. Cruz and Mayor Percival Morales is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation and Petron.

The annual holding of "Moryonan' (Battle of Morions) has encouraged the municipalities and participating schools to conduct trainings in morion mask-making, and morion costume-making as an income-generating program for barangay residents and out-of-school youth. To sustain the program the expertise of local trainors have been tapped by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Marinduque State College (MSC). Previous projects in morion mask-making have likewise been supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in cooperation with DTI.

MORYONAN 2013 (Battle of the Morions). March 28, 2013, 4:00 p.m., at Sta. Cruz Plaza, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque. 

Lance of Longinus

MORYONAN 2012 (MARINDUQUE) is on!

The Battle of Morions conceptualized in 2009, by now Congressman Lord Allan Velasco goes on its fourth year with "MORYONAN 2012 (BATTLE OF MORIONS)". Traditional and modern day morions consisting of young people from Marinduque's six towns are given the chance to participate in this competition that requires them to come up with a choreographed marching drill or synchronized movement to the accompaniment of a drum and bugle corps or a musical group playing all-percussion instruments. (Some creative groups in the past have used kalutang, bamboo instruments and drums for this purpose).

Previous choreographed interpretations ranged from re-enacting the rituals undergone by Moryonan participants, to the role played by Roman soldiers during the Crucifixion and Resurrection with focus on Longhino, the blind centurion, to movements inspired by Roman battle scenes as portrayed in the movies.

For costumes, participants this year have been encouraged to incorporate local materials that are commonly used or are unique to their localities. It has been noted that while many participants still use wooden masks, masks made of papier-mache are extensively used for the Battle of Morions competition.

Prizes to be given are Php 80,000.00 (First Prize), Php 50,000.00 (2nd Prize), Php 30,000.00 (3rd prize) and consolation prize of Php 10,000.00 each to the 4th to the 10th placer.

Organized by Club Marinduqueno in cooperation with Congressman Lord Allan Velasco, Mayor Percival Morales and the Municipality of Sta. Cruz. Main event is on MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012,  at STA. CRUZ PLAZA at 3:00 pm.

MORIONES 2009 IMAGES: ONE MORE SHOT FROM THE BOGNUYAN-BACONGBACONG MORYONAN GROUP

In the Battle of Morions competition, participants were required to present a choreographed march drill or synchronized movements to the accompaniment of a drum and bugle corps or any percussion instruments. The group from Bognuyan-BacongBacong (Gasan)utilized kalutang and batutong, bamboo instruments to produce their most unique rhythmic sounds. To drive home the meaning of Easter, an interpretive Resurrection scene was included as shown in this photo with a Kristo suspended in mid-air.

MORIONES 2009 IMAGES: YOUNG PENITENT

Young boy morion taking a break from the heat and mayhem.

MORIONES 2009 IMAGES: WOMEN AND GAY GUYS AS MORIONS

Gender equality and gender sensitivity have long been respected issues in Marinduque. That women and gay guys would form one group to bring more life and color to the Battle of Morions did not come as a surprise, therefore. Such a group, one of two groups from Gasan, made quite a statement with their choreographed dancing that toyed with huge canvass-on-bamboo fans, apparently to promote one of their town's most popular souvenir items. Save for their masks and costumes the dancing, however, seemed more like one inspired by Sinulog or Dinagyang. Nevertheless they received a rousing applause fom the huge crowd that came to watch.

MORIONES 2009 IMAGES: WINNERS

Author and publisher Ms. Bing Carrion-Buck, provincial board member Yolando Querubin, visiting San Francisco California Commissioner Ms. Pucchi Carrion-Di Ricco and provincial administrator Allan Velasco award the prizes to the winners.

MORION 2009 IMAGES: STA. CRUZ CAME MARCHING IN

Sta. Cruz, Marin- duque's 1st class municipality was first to confirm its participat- ion when the Battle of Morions competition was announced. Their decision marked the very first time that a group of morions from Sta. Cruz came down to join the Boac 'kapatagan' morion affair. The Santa- cruzin's appreci- able response and formidable presence in the Battle is indeed quite significant. The unique cultural inter-action among the municipal- ities with moriones as the unifying factor is symbolic of bigger things that could be achieved in the Marinduqueno's cultural life. Blue, the color of love was their color.

Lower photo shows Boac's Kapatirang Morion led by Glyne Arevalo, who has been the town's Longhino for many years, his personal panata, vow. The Battle concept's introduction aimed to generate sustained interest on the moriones through broader participation was welcomed by the Boac morion group. Their number hasn't increased substantially over the years, as the same photo will show.

MORIONES 2009 IMAGES: NEW MORION GENERATION

"Legion" a new group organized in Boac this year came in strong with a batallion of morion men and kids. They were some of the most visible morions on the streets of Boac throughout the Lenten week even as they visited other towns also for 'visita iglesia'. At the covered court in Boac was installed their head- quarters where an enlarged photo of the St. Longinus statue at St. Peter's Basilica greeted visitors. All their morions were clad in similar Roman centurion attire, easily recognizable with their red capes. "We are the champions my friend..." one of them started to sing when declared the grand prize winners in the 1st Battle of Morions. And with that, the participating kids may have something to look forward to next year, and the year after that, and many years after that. A new generation of morions borne by the Battle of Morions!

MORIONES 2009 IMAGES: THE AUTHENTIC ONES

The ever authentic and colorful masks and costumes of the morions from Mogpog (most of them won in the indiv- idual categ- ories), are the most awaited entry. No moriones festival would ever be complete without them. Their concept of the morion get-up are all their own and rightly so. This festival started in Mogpog in the first place when the first re-enactment of the crucifixion was staged by the secular priest, Dionisio Santiago in the early 1880's (not 1807, which merely signifies the year Mogpog was founded).

Inspired by the publication of "Pasyong Mahal ni Hesukristo" by Mariano Pilapil during that period. Some 18 pages of the pasyon, poetic narrative of the Passion of Christ, were devoted to the exploits of the moryonan central figure, Longhino, including his valedictory "bulag yaring mga mata, loob sampung kaluluwa"... If Mayor Senen Livelo's research is accurate, the first actors in the re-enactment were some of the town's ilustrados.

The Mogpog contingent this year was joined in by a brass band. During the last couple of years such bands that made Mogpog famous in the 1920's have made a comeback and are becoming in demand once more during fiestas in Mogpog's barangays and elsewhere. Livelo himself, who plays the trumpet (and many other musical instruments), is often seen joining these bands to play every now and then. (Click to enlarge these hi-res photos).

MORIONES 2009 IMAGES: BATTLE OF THE MORIONS

Oops! Umus-us ang burloloy nung naka-sungkayaw o!

The contingent from Gasan was the first to perform in the "Battle of the Morions" competition introduced this year. They had been active participants in their town's "Gasang-Gasang Festival" for the last couple of years and were composed of high-school and out-of-school boys. Perhaps they were the most excited among the various groups in showing off the choreographed movements they rehearsed for weeks and the costumes that they themselves had made.

There was an attempt to add something novel to their performance as some morions entered the arena riding in sungkayaws, bamboo stilts. The others danced together in unison like they were simulating the movements of galloping horses to the beat of kalutang and to the delight of the crowd.

A man draped in white taking on the role of the Risen Christ materialized at the end of their presentation, suspended in mid air using bamboo poles and more drapes for support.

MORIONES 2009 IMAGES: INDIGENOUS MATERIALS

These were some of the entries that competed for the individual prizes sponsored by the provincial government. The formal presentation of these moryons was held in the morning of Maundy Thursday at the trade exhibit area at the Boac riverbank.

San Miguel Beer and PETRON were also major sponsors for this year's moriones festival. Then there was another competition held in the afternoon for the various contingents from the whole province, the "Battle of the Moryons", a brainchild of Atty. Allan Velasco, chair of the provincial tourism council and provincial administrator.

NEW "BATTLE OF THE MORIONS" IN BOAC

Join MORIONES '09! A competition open to all Moriones contingents has been announced by the Provincial Tourism Office. Click photo to enlarge and read the mechanics of the competition being launched this year!