WHO WAS LONGHINO?

(Early icon of St. Longinus)

Longhino is the central figure in the Moriones Festival celebrated in Marinduque during Lent for over a hundred years now. He was the centurion at the foot of the Cross who proclaimed "Truly this was the Son of God" (Mt. 27:54).

The Longhino story (or Longinus or St. Longinus)has captured the imagination of the Marinduquenos, which goes on record as the original Philippine locale that first made use of masks and colorful garbs on account of folk tradition and cultural history. Tradition says that Longhino was also the centurion who pierced Jesus's side with a spear, and that he was one of those who kept watch over Christ's tomb. He had been bribed to say that the body of Jesus had been stolen, but having come to believe in Jesus, he refused to.

Further research on the life of St. Longinus revealed that he was baptized by the Apostles, and went to preach the Gospel to the Cappadocians. His efforts were so successful that the Jewish authorities persuaded Pilate to have him killed. When the soldiers arrived, they were taken in by him and treated very well. They did not know that he was the man they had been sent to kill, and when they found out they did not want to follow their orders. St. Longinus, who was willing to accept martyrdom told them to carry out the orders they had been given. And so St. Longinus was beheaded.

The Longhino story is set to be presented in Boac on Black Saturday as the final stage presentation covering biblical accounts and the life of Christ (Holy Wednesday and Maundy Thusday evening, and on the streets of Boac with "Via Crucis" on Good Friday afternoon).