Labanan sa Paye, Labanan sa Pulang Lupa, Labanan sa Masaguisi

Ginawang kampo ng mga sundalong Amerikano ang Simbahan ng Boac sa unang araw pa lamang ng kanilang paglusob sa Marinduque kung saan ay sa baybayin ng Brgy. Laylay sila dumaong. Ang larawan (makikita ang bandilang Amerikano) ay kuha sa ibabang bahagi ng nakapalibot na muog ng simbahan.

Ang Digmaan sa Marinduque

Si Martin Lardizabal, military governor ng Marinduque ang nag-organisa ng Hukbong Rebolusyonaryo ng Marinduque ayon sa pag-uutos ni Mariano Trias ng Southern Command. 

Nagsimula naman ang panibagong pakikibaka, sa panahong katatapos pa lamang ng Spanish-Philippine War, nang dumating noong Abril 25, 1900 ang dalawang US Navy ships. Dumaong malapit sa Puerto Laylay, lulan ang isang batalyon ng 29^th USV Infantry sa ilalim ni Col. Edward Hardin.

US soldiers wading ashore at Laylay, Boac, April 25, 1900

Matapos ang pakikipag-usap sa ilang mga prominenteng residente ng Boac, dumeretso ang mga sundalong Amerikano sa mala-citadel na simbahan ng Boac at ito ang ginawa nilang kuta. Walang pagtanggi o labanan na naganap. 

Pagkatapos ng ilan pang pagmamanman na wala pa ring anumang insidente, nagpasya si Hardin na tahimik ang isla. Iniwan ang Company A at naglayag papunta sa iba pang masasakop na mga isla sa labas ng Marinduque.

Si Lardizabal naman ay nagkasakit at hindi na magampanan ang kanyang tungkulin. Hinirang niya si Lt. Col. Maximo Abad bilang kanyang kapalit na mamuno sa hukbong rebolusyonaryo. Mayo 6, 1900 nang ang Hukbo ay hinati sa apat na guerilla units.

Si Teofilo Roque ang namuno sa 2^nd Guerilla para mangalaga sa teritoryong Boac-Mogpog (kung saan naganap ang Labanan sa Paye).

May mga prominenteng personalidad sa kilusan na may kaugnayan sa isat-isa. Halimbawa, biyenan ni Abad si Kapitan Fausto Roque ng 1^st Guerilla, at pinsan naman ni Fausto si Teofilo. Dahil dito, naisulat ni Andrew Birtle, isang US historian, na ang revolutionary struggle daw sa Marinduque ay matatag na nakaugat sa middle at upper classes ng isla na may kakayahang gamitin ang kanilang kapangyarihan at pagkilala ng mga tao para ang kilusan ay suportahan ng mga mamamayan.

Lumang larawan sa may simbahan ng Sta. Cruz, Marinduque

Labanan sa Sta .Cruz

Noong ika-19 ng Mayo 1900, umabot sa 57 ang mga kawal Amerikano ng Company D/38 na nagmartsa papuntang Sta. Cruz, at nakarating doon ng 7:00 ng umaga, Linggo. Nadatnan nila ang may mga 1,000 katao na dumalo sa maagang misa.

Karamihan sa mga tao ay sakop ng paningin ng mga Amerikano bagamat pansin din nila na ang mga gerilya ay naka-deploy sa ibabaw ng isang burol.

Nagsagawa ng tinatawag na ‘bush tactic o Indian style’ na paglusob ang mga Amerikano. Sa pangunguna ni Major Charles H. Muir biglaang rumatrat at nasapol kaagad ang ilang mga Filipino mula sa kanilang pinagkukublihan. Nagtalsikan papunta sa ibat-ibang direksiyon.

Anim kaagad ang namatay na mga Filipinong sundalo at isa ang nabihag. Napagtagumpayan ng mga Kano ang unang labanan sa Marinduque na wala silang casualty.

Matapos ang pangyayari, nagpasya ang may karamdamang si Martin Lardizabal na sumuko na lamang. Nanatili para sa pakikipaglaban sina Abad at mga kasamahan sa kabundukan.

Battle of Paye Historical Landmark

Labanan sa Paye

Samantala, ang komandanteng Amerikano sa Boac, si First Lieutenant William S. Wells ng Company A, 29th USV naman ay tila naging kampante sa panahong iyon dahil tag-ulan. At dahil walang nagaganap na ano mang insidente o engkuwentro sa lugar. Nanatili na lamang sila sa loob ng simbahan.

Sa isang pambihirang pagkilos ni Wells, nagsagawa siya ng isang reconnaissance march sa kanayunan hanggang makarating sa Balimbing. Ito na ang naganap na pagsalakay sa kanila ng mga gerilya ni Teofilo Roque noong Hulyo 31, 1900.

Habang nasa tabing ilog ang mga sundalong Amerikano, sinalakay sila ng mga pwersa ni Roque, nasugatan ang dalawang Amerikano at binihag ang dalawa pa. Ang isa sa mga binihag ay nakilalang isang negosyanteng Ingles na matagal nang naninirahan sa Boac, kilala lamang bilang si ‘Macky’ o R.D. Macky.

Kuha ito sa Simbahan sa Sta. Cruz, Marinduque na ginawa ring kuta ng mga Kano.
Ganito rin ang naganap sa simbahan ng Boac na una nang ginawa nilang kuta.
Larawan mula sa mga Koleksyon ni Curtis Shepard.

Ang nagulantang na mga Amerikano ay umatras at tumakas sa kahabaan ng mga 7-milyang layo mula sa Paye hanggang nakabalik sila sa Simbahan ng Boac.

Ayon sa tala, nang gabing iyon, ang mga nagwaging mga gerilya ang nagsunog sa isang bahagi ng Boac na tinatawag na Mataas na Bayan, malapit sa simbahan sa pagsisikap na tuluyang palayasin ang mga Kano.

Nagsilikas ang mga naninirahan sa bayan at halos walang taong natira. Paralisado naman, di makagalaw, nanginig sa takot, 'cowering', ang Company A sa loob ng simbahan.  

Ang pagkatalo ng mga Amerikano sa Paye ay isang maliwanag na babala, sapagkat ito ay hahantong sa isa pang malaking pagkatalo ng puwersang banyaga, pagkaraan ng anim na linggo sa Labanan sa Masaguisi, mas kilala sa tawag na Labanan sa Pulang Lupa -  ang tinaring mismo ng mga US historians bilang “one of the worst reversals suffered by US forces...  sending shock waves through the American high command."

'Battle of Masaguisi' (Massiquisie para sa mga Amerikano)

BATTLE OF MASSIQUISIE

Event Date: September 13, 1900

Excerpt:

"In early September, the presence of the U.S. Navy (ex-Spanish) gunboat Villalobos gave Shields the opportunity to deploy his forces in Torrijos, located on Marinduque’s southeastern coast. Ordering First Lieutenant M.H. Wilson and 41 soldiers by water to land on September 11 near Torrijos. There the Americans scattered a group of 20 guerillas and demolished their compound.

"On September 13, Shields and his troops marched into the interior, intending to return to Santa Cruz. Abad then massed virtually his entire insurgent force of some 250 men with rifles and another 2,000 with bolos beside a vertical height overlooking the path. Shields led his detachment right into the trap. Following several hours of fighting, he ordered a withdrawal into a concealed gorge. But this soon became a dash through a rock-strewn stream as he and his men struggled to flee the insurgent flanking columns that were attempting a double envelopment. After withdrawing for more than 3 miles, the harassed Americans took cover in a rice paddy close to the town of Massiquisie; guerilla rifle fire compelled them to seek shelter behind paddy dikes. Shields was among the wounded.

"With no other recourse, Shields surrendered his entire force. Four Americans died in the action, and all others were taken prisoners, 6 of them wounded. The Americans estimated that 30 insurgents had perished in the fight, but this figure was never verified. Following months of stealth, in less than a day of fighting Abad had eliminated a third of the U.S. force on Marinduque.

"The Battle of Massiquisie prompted sharp reprisals from the Americans, who reinforced their garrison on the island and launched a number of stronger punitive raids, which did little to cripple guerilla activities." - RODNEY J. ROSS (The Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars in the Philippines).

Post-SONA statement of Rep. Lord Allan Velasco

POST-SONA STATEMENT OF REP. LORD ALLAN VELASCO

23 JULY 2019

ON PRRD’s SONA

As expected the President was astute and sharp in reporting to his constituents the current state of the nation. Sharing his clear vision for the remaining half of his term, President Duterte laid down his legislative agenda which centered on several measures aimed at fighting corruption, improving the peace and order, boosting the economy, and uplifting the lives of the Filipino people.

ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

I suggest that the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) which is chaired by the President himself, be convened at the earliest possible time so that both the Executive and the Legislative branches of government can arrive at a Common Legislative Agenda (CLA), similar to what we did during the 17th Congress.

There must be an agreement among the Executive, the Senate, and the House of Representatives on which bills in the CLA will be prioritized so these can be enacted into laws at the soonest possible time.

As a legislator belonging to the Majority, I reaffirm my commitment to shepherding the President’s priority measures. I have already filed several bills that aim to support the President’s vision such as:

1. Postponing the barangay elections from May 2020 to October 2022

2. Institutionalizing the ROTC

3. Rightsizing of government bureaucracy

As an advocate of renewable energy and energy efficiency, I am one with the President in urging the Department of Energy to fast track projects involving renewable energy sources.

ON TERM-SHARING

As the President said, there is a time for everything. I believe my time will come but for now it’s time to buckle down to work.

Let’s hit the ground running!

Cayetano is the new House Speaker with 266 votes

Garnering 266 votes, Taguig City-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano is the new House Speaker, Philstar.com's Ian Cigaral reports.

With 28 votes, that makes Manila Rep. Benny Abante Jr. minority leader.

2 hours ago

With 266 votes, Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros) is elected House speaker, putting him at the helm of the House of Representatives and fourth in the line of succession.

Rep. Benny Abante (Manila), who was nominated as speaker, received 28 votes from his colleagues. The losing nominee for speaker is, by tradition, the minority leader.

The Makabayan bloc backed Abante's bid for speaker despite earlier saying they would field Rep. Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna) for the speakership.

Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay) abstained from voting, saying he would remain an independent. He was part of the "Magnificent 7" independent bloc in the 17th Congress.

3 hours ago

Voting for speaker is ongoing at the House of Representatives between Reps. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros) and Benny Abante (Manila).

The two candidates voted for each other.

Former contenders for the post, Reps. Paolo Duterte (Davao City) and Martin Romualdez (Leyte) nominated Cayetano, while members of a minority raised Abante's nomination.

Aside from electing Sen. Vicente Sotto III as Senate president, the chamber also elected the following leaders to the same roles that they held during the 17th Congress:

• Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto
• Juan Miguel Zubiri as chairman of the Committee on Rules, and therefore majority leader
• Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon

Sen. Ralph Recto is elected Senate president pro-tempore, the second highest official of the chamber. — The STAR

LPP President Presby requests PRRD: Implement SC decision on LGU share in national taxes soonest

League of Provinces of the Phil (LPP) president, Marinduque Governor Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr.

Source: League of Provinces of the Philippines

“It would be for everyone’s best interest if the national government will no longer delay its implementation by FY 2022, as suggested by your economic team.”

This was the statement of the newly-elected president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and Marinduque Gov. Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. when he humbly made an appeal to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to order the concerned agencies to already comply with Sec. 6, Article X of the 1987 Constitution as ordered by the Supreme Court. Velasco urged Malacanang to automatically release the LGUs’ just share in all national taxes beginning July 1, 2019 and thereafter when the SC’s final decision had already lapsed into finality.

The appeal to the president came in the heels of the 10 April 2019 decision of the Supreme Court in the twin cases filed by Gov. Hermilando Mandanas and the late Bataan Rep. Enrique Garcia in 2012 against former Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and other members of the economic team of then Pres. Noynoy Aquino questioning the manner on which the share of the LGUs in the national taxes is computed.

This IRA issue was discussed with DILG Sec. Ano during the recently-held orientation for newly-elected Governors held recently by the Local Government Academy where a consensus was reached amongst the 61 Governors who attended the LPP’s 1st General Assembly meeting last July 11 to seek the President’s help.

In his recent letter, Gov. Velasco sought President Duterte’s “prudent intercession with regard to the implementation of the recent Resolution of the Supreme Court on G.R. Nos. 199802 and 208488.”

Velasco, who was one of the Supreme Court Justices who ruled in favor of the LGUs, stressed that “the final decision of the Supreme Court has already denied all the grounds raised by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in its motion for reconsideration, including its “suggestion” to implement the same beginning FY 2022.” He added that “with this jurisprudential declaration, the said Decision instantaneously becomes part of the law of the land which cannot be deferred to a later time pursuant to Chapter I, Articles 7 and 8 of R.A. No. 386, or the New Civil Code.”

The president’s economic team has suggested to implement the decision of the Supreme Court in the Mandanas case in 2022 in view of its financial implications to the national coffers. However, “LGUs need the additional resources now under your administration, more so with the implementation of the Universal Health Care as well as with your other priority programs,” Gov. Velasco cited in his letter.

“As far as the Provinces are concerned, we are four-square behind your administration, Mr. President!”, said Velasco. He added that the Governors are open to discuss with the President and his economic team various options such as direct downloads of ALGU and other NGA funds whose services have already been devolved to LGUs, or even via a deferred payment scheme either through bond flotation or monetization, in lieu of an outright payment to LGUs. He underscored that both national and local governments share the common objective is to ensure compliance with the Constitutional provision guaranteeing the just share of LGUs in all national taxes without necessarily disrupting the fiscal and deficit targets of the country and thereby maintain macroeconomic stability.

In seeking for the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court decision, Gov. Velasco underlined the fact that “LGUs have already graciously conceded to the non-payment of the P1.5 Trillion IRA shortfalls covering the past 28 years,” referring to the period beginning 1992, when the Code was first implemented after its passage in 10 October 1991.

In light of the latest decision of the Supreme Court, the LGUs’ internal revenue allotment (IRA) will now be called the “National Tax Allotment” or NTA, in keeping with Sec. 6, Article X of the 1987 Constitution which states that “local government units shall have a just share, as determined by law, in the national taxes which shall be automatically released to them.”

The Supreme Court, in ruling favorably on the petition that LGUs are entitled to a share in national taxes declared unconstitutional the use of the phrase “internal revenue” in Sec. 284 of R.A. 7160, or the Local Government Code. In doing so, it amended Sec. 284 to now read as: “Section 284. Allotment of Taxes. – Local government units shall have a share in the national taxes based on the collection of the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year, x x x.”

Battle of Bintakay, Spanish gunboat Elcano and the bloody Boac massacres

(Above) It was this Spanish gunboat ELCANO that in a show of force aimed its cannons at the Bintakay mountain and fired. Photo: Wikipedia

Remembering the first Revolutionary Heroes of Marinduque

by Eli J. Obligacion

(First published in the Mogpog Mayflower Festival '98 Souvenir Program as excerpt from an unpublished work by Eli J Obligacion)

BATTLE OF BINTAKAY

By 1896 the town of Mogpog was associated with an active resistance group headed by a native, Basilio Mendez. Mendez' unit was composed of about 25 men that included his brother Vicente and his sister Olympia. Other members were Bartolome Taingaso, Juan Manuba, Felix Lavega, Fabian Medenilla and Dalmacio Lamac. 

Originally camped at Balanacan, they moved to Mt. Bintakay finding it more secure from attacks. 

The Mendez unit was armed only with bolos and they had no guns. But out of iron scraps prototype cannon bullets were designed and made for an ingenuous "homemade wooden cannon".  

The movements of the Mogpog unit sowed anxiety among the residents of the Boac-Mogpog area. Realizing that an encounter was imminent they feared getting caught in the middle of the two contending forces. Andres Arceo, Mogpog town chief, trying to avoid such an encounter sent a team of "sumatins" (local police volunteers), to the Mendez camp to enduce the revolutionists to give up their cause, but to no avail.  

Members of the unit went on to gather huge stones and boulders, placing them in strategic locations where the enemy forces could ascend. Deep holes were dug and earth were piled around to serve as trenches. 

The Spanish governor, Rafael Morales, gave the order to attack Mt. Bintakay on April 12. With an "alferez" (officer with rank of lieutenant), named "Lima" leading the "tercios" an ascent on the mountain was started. As the Spanish forces approached the summit, huge stones and boulders gathered by the unit rolled upon them. No one appeared to have been killed, but the attack was enough for an angry retaliation by the enemy forces. 

MORE FORTIFICATIONS 

Realizing this, the local unit engaged in fortifying their defense position further. Huge sharp rocks and boulders were arranged in line on all possible entry points. Grassy areas were stuck with "pasolos", pieces of bamboo ('anus' variety), tied together with their pointed edges projecting in all directions - the blade-sharp edges of the stuff would cut one's skin upon contact.  

In the meantime, a piqued governor Morales in Calapan (Mindoro, which administers Marinduque), organized a bigger reinforcement. "Elcano", a Spanish gunboat anchored at the port of Laylay on the first week of June with a Company of Spanish marines and Morales himself. The Morales plan was to attack the camp with a bigger force composed of the Spanish marine company - a smaller company of "cazadores" and 50 "tercios and sumatins" combined. 

GUNBOAT "ELCANO" 

It was on June 7 when the "Elcano" navigated from Laylay to Loawan, dropping anchor in a position which offered the best view of Mt. Bintakay. In a show of force the "Elcano" aimed its cannons at the mountain and fired. But with tough luck, the erratic cannons missed and hit Mt. Buaya (now sitio Biyaya), instead. In mockery, the revolutionists blew their "budyong". Morales, now on horseback , gave the order to ascend the mountain. Kapitan Basilio Mendez then divided his men into two groups stationing them at strategic points, and waited. 

The advancing forces were again met with sharp rocks, rolling boulders and bamboo spears thrown in their direction. Towards noontime the revolutionists fired their unique cannon. The loud explosion is said to have caused a dumfounded Morales to fall off his horse. 

The revolutionists suffered one casualty and, before the assault forces could go near them, had withdrawn from their position. No one was captured. But their home-made cannon was left behind and the Spanish soldiers felt duped. The cannon which had created a feeling of dread upon the enemy forces was "a piece of wood more than a meter long and painted black, with an iron tube and using missiles made of small pieces of iron".           
 
The Spanish force suffered heavily - from wounds inflicted by the bamboo "pasolos, others from lacerations caused by sharp stones hurled by the insurrectos, and Governor Morales had to be carried by his men". The Spanish force retired to Mogpog with the cannon carried by one man. In total dismay the Spanish sergeant named Perez ordered the piece destroyed. The attack was a fiasco. 

Dramatization of Battle of Camarines, Bintakay presented at the first "Araw ng Marinduque" commemoration in 2008 by DepEd

TO THE BITTER END

What transpired two days later was contained in a 1984 report by Magalang, et al, based on eyewitness accounts: 

"Two days later, at noontime, the Spaniards led by governor Morales, attacked from the rear, catching Mendez and his men by surprise. Wading among the tall cogon grass the Spaniards were accompanied by the "tersios" and "sumatins", local volunteers and some townspeople. Mendez commanded his men to deploy, some taking cover in the holes they had dug, others behind big rocks. 

"The enemy started firing until a hand-to-hand combat ensued; with the rebels fighting with their "niluglug" bolos against the Spanish guns. With some of his comrades fallen and he himself hit by a bullet in the left ear, Kapitan Mendez ordered a retreat. Diego Manuevo and a certain "Silvestre", who were the last rebels affront saved their lives by creeping down the steep slope".

But it was not to be the last time the Spaniards would hear of the exploits of the unvanquished Mendez unit. 

10 DE OCTUBRE 

Sunday, 10 October 1897, was the "Feast of the Santo Rosario", a much awaited religious event in the town of Boac. The procession which started at 6:00 p.m. was unusually long. Shortly after the religious procession ended at 9:00 p.m. word was received by the Spanish lieutenant, Fresnede, that the "insurrectos" were on their way to Boac to attack the "Casa". 

Fresnede was still assessing the report with his cazadores when the revolutionists from Mogpog, led this time by Fabian Medenilla ("Kapitan Fabian"), of the Mendez unit raided the Casa Real in Boac. 

There, the last of their comrades-in-arms awaited their fate. The revolutionists fought with their bolos, the cazadores with their guns. The sounds of anguished cries and gunfire gripped the whole town. The ensuing pandemonium could only be sensed by the townspeople, too frightened and confused to immediately know what was happening. 

Found dead the morning after by the door of a ground floor office of the Casa Real was Fabian Medenilla, a bullet hole embedded on his forehead. The bullet was fired off from the gun owned by Fresnede. 

Together with the other dead prisoners inside the cell were found the lifeless bodies of Hermenegildo Flores* ("Bindoy") and Remigio Medina ("Kapitang Mio"), revolutionary leaders from Sta. Cruz and Torrijos, respectively. In ultimate mockery, the Spaniards decided that the fallen "insurrectos" were not worthy of a Christian burial, nor "Bendita" nor prayers nor shallow graves. The corpses of the two were hauled into the banks of the Boac river then covered with tree trunks and palm leaves. The bodies were burned and reduced to mere ashes. 

But the corpses of the other revolutionists with support roles were better treated. These were brought to an old graveyard east of the town, on a small hill in Tampus that served as their final resting place. (Near the graveyard, one fallen body turned out to be still alive and, recovering consciousness, implored the "cazadores" to spare his life. He got more bullets instead). 

1 DE NOVIEMBRE 

Historical Marker sa Casa Real (Boac, Marinduque).
Nasasaad dito ang pagkamatay nina Hermenegildo Flores at Remigio Medina noong 1897.

Instead of being cowed, the comrades of the fallen revolutionists, Kapitan Fabian, Bindoy and Kapitang Mio, vowed to retaliate even as their arms were of no match to the enemy's Mauser guns. Before midnight of November 1, 1897, the Mendez unit from Mogpog attacked the Casa Real to free the last remaining prisoners. 

It was to be the last direct and bloody assault on the Spaniards. There was fierce fighting in the dead of night, and the townspeople, in fear and prayer could only hear the gunshots and the cries of men. Mendez and his men were repulsed. 

Then Fresnede, the Spanish lieutenant ordered those still in jail to be killed. A grim and ghastly silence echoed throughout the building and the now ghostly town. 

One of the prisoners, mistaken for dead, was luckier this time. Pedro Madrigal, a pharmacist from Boac who was ordered to check the bodies informed Fresnede immediately. The prisoner, Juan Manuba of Mogpog, fighting for his dear life raced towards the Boac river, disappeared into the thick bushes and lived on to tell his story.

Also read:

*Hermenegildo Flores, Rebolusyonaryong Bayaning Filipino

Marinduque Street Festivals: Kadami na mandin

Morion mask from a 1972 Philippine Airlines (PAL) magazine cover.

        It was in the early 60s when the late Alejandro Roces (National Artist for Literature), got wind of Marinduque’s ‘Moriones’. Early print media accounts referred to them as ‘mga Muryon’. Locals simply called any gathering of those masked Holy Week penitents ‘Moryonan’. 'Moriones' was definitely a media and scholarly invention. No basis in fact.

NCCA called Roces "ever the champion of Filipino culture and he brought to public attention the aesthetics of our fiestas.. He was instrumental in popularizing several local fiestas, notably, Moriones and Ati-Atihan”, stated NCCA in its website.

In Marinduque, what has happened since the 60s? Turns out that fiestas, festivities, festivals have mushroomed in many other parts of the island.

In Boac

Moriones Festival. After more than half a century of being identified as a festival, notwithstanding the laughter and revelry, the sounds of brassbands, drums and kalutang that go with the merry-making, at times drunken men, endlessly prancing to make the children cry, shout and scream to their own delight, they now tell us it’s not a festive occasion but a solemn tradition? Tourists have visited this island-province to have fun, fun, fun and just commune with nature and the spirits after all the revelry when it’s time.

In Mogpog

Traditional Moryonan. Morions here still decorate their headdresses with flowers and costumes with those shiny metallic foil as in the old days, making their costumes more colorful than the ones you find elsewhere. They’re content with knowing the first morions were born here, so they still follow the old rituals in remembrance of things past.

Kangga Festival. Photo: Ferry Ann Lacdao

Kangga Festival. In gratitude to San Isidro Labrador their patron saint people in this town have adopted this festival as an annual celebration on his feast day, May 13. The ubiquitous sled of bamboo drawn by a carabao with which they transport their agricultural products into town are decorated for once, and with merriment and gaiety are paraded on the streets with the beasts of burden cleaned up, dressed up just like their owners.

In Sta. Cruz

Ati-Atihan Festival. Photo: Adrian Sto. Domingo

Ati-Atihan Festival. Many have frowned that they’re doing what the Aklanons own. But if the organizers’ claim is true that they’ve been doing it in this biggest Marinduque town since the early 60’s then they have every reason to continue what they supposedly have done for decades. No wonder the number of children who converge at the town plaza keep increasing year after year. They are eager to show their dances wearing the familiar tribal costumes with spears and swords while shouting “Hala Bira”. The organizer who introduced this festival in 1963 is said to be from Aklan. 

In Torrijos

Tubaan Festival. Tuba is coconut wine, fresh or mildly fermented sap taken from tapping the young flowers of the coconut and has always been a favorite drink in every part of the island since time immemorial. The most affordable drink. But climate change and natural calamities have affected the coconut industry and tuba gathering. There’s hope though that with new technology the town will see the production of high value coconut products. For now, this festival remains as a tribute to tuba that will always be part of their lives and more beneficial than any alcoholic drinks that have flooded the market.

Tubaan Festival. Photo: Erwin Penafiel

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