Posted February 22, 2020 by Manila Standard
Lifestyle
While the moryon masks—for which Marinduque is known—hid the
faces of the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus Christ, the province doesn’t
have anything to conceal, but more to reveal.
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| The Moryonan Parade of moryons (Photo by Gerry Jamilla) |
Marinduque showcased its other hidden wonders during its
centennial founding anniversary last week, Feb. 16-22.
The weeklong celebration kicked off with the recent
unveiling of the plaque of the historic Boac Cathedral declaring it an
Important Cultural Property. Officially known as the Immaculate Conception
Parish Church, and regarded as the greatest monument of local faith and
history, it was given the accolade by the National Museum of the Philippines in
December 2018.
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Immaculate Conception Parish Church
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Major events included the unveiling of the Centennial
Monument and the Bantayog-Wika, an initiative of the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, and the Provincial
Government. This activity has been moved to April this year.
An art workshop, entitled “Sining SikLAVan sa Sentenaryo,”
was led by well-known artist Maestro Fernando Sena who hails from Gasan town.
While the Miss Marinduque Centennial Queen pageant selected the new ambassadors
of tourism and goodwill of the province.
Celebration peaked with Araw ng Marinduque on Feb. 21
featuring the Parade of Floats of the six municipalities, the Moryonan parade
of moryons, the launch of the PhilPost commemorative stamp, and the Gawad
Marinduqueño Awards and Baliktanaw sa Kasaysayan at Kulturang Marinduque,
capped by an evening musical show featuring Marinduqueño singers and OPM icon
Ogie Alcasid.
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| HIDDEN TREASURES UNVEILED. The island province of Marinduque in MIMAROPA boasts a number of natural wonders, including the Marinduque Wildlife Sanctuary. |
Celebrations concluded with the 4x4 Off-road Jeep Club
Philippines National Jamboree opening ceremonies and the Centennial Heritage
Tour which both went around the province’s tourist spots.
Considered as the “heartland of the Philippines” because of
its being the geodetic center of the archipelago, Marinduque takes pride in its
powdery white beaches on the islands of Tres Reyes, Maniwaya, Palad Sandbar,
Sta. Cruz, and Mompong, and lush biodiversity at the Marinduque Wildlife
Sanctuary and Mt. Malindig.
It also boasts butterfly farms, icy waterfalls, and cave
networks, most notably Bagumbungan in Sta. Cruz town.
