Inventory of Marinduque's cultural property, summary list and fast-facts (Part 5)

 Summary List and Fast-facts on new entries in the inventory of Marinduque's Local Cultural Property.

Bantayog-Wika para sa Tagalog Marinduque (or Marindukenyo)

Location: Capitol Grounds, Brgy. Santol, Boac, Marinduque

20.    BANTAYOG-WIKA PARA SA TAGALOG MARINDUQUE (OR MARINDUKENYO)

KARANIWANG PANGALAN (Common Name):           Bantayog-Wika

LOKAL NA PANGALAN (Local name):           Bantayog-Wika

The first Jesuit missionaries in Marinduque learned Tagalog in the island of Marinduque and used it to propagate religion. Eventually, more Jesuits were sent to Marinduque to study Tagalog. (Research of Fr. Christian V. San Juan, unpublished).

When asked about what language do Marinduqueños speak, the answer would be: "Tagalog mandin" (Tagalog indeed).

Tagalog is one of the major languages in the Philippines; it is spoken by about one third of the country's population. In 1937, it was chosen as the basis for the national language. Tagalog has eight major regional dialects listed in Ethnologue, which include Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Lubang, Manila, Tanay-Paete, Tayabas and Marinduque.

Marinduque is part of the Tagalog region, but it's speech is not easily understood by speakers from the Manila area. In Rosa Soberano's The Dialects of Marinduque Tagalog (1980), the language is divided into two dialects: the Western and Eastern Marinduque Tagalog. The Western dialect is spoken in Western Marinduque, which comprises the coastal towns of Gasan and Buenavista, the capital town of Boac and its adjacent town on the north, Mogpog. The Eastern dialect is spoken in Eastern Marinduque, which comprises the highland towns and barrios of Santa Cruz and Torrijos. She also noted that “The Tagalog dialects of Marinduque are more similar to each other than they are to Manila Tagalog. When a native of Marinduque speaks, another native listener can readily tell the dialect area from which the speaker hails. His speech is marked by a characteristic intonation, the presence or absence of non-phrase-final glottal stop, a few items of different vocabulary and morphological structures. On the other hand , when a speaker of Manila Tagalog hears Marinduque Tagalog for the first time, he will notice the same variation in phonology as has been recognized by a native speaker of Marinduque Tagalog but more differences between their vocabulary and morphological forms. Apparently, many handy terms, such as dayag (wash dishes), muuk (wake up late), labun (boil bananas, corn or root crops), have not found their way in current Tagalog dictionaries".

Furthermore, according to Cecilio Lopez (1925), Father of Philippine Linguistics: "When listening to a conversation between people belonging to the speech-group here in question, a native from the country around Manila is likely to receive the impression that Boak Tagalog is simpler, more imperfect form of his own, more highly developed speech. We should not forget, however, that although they have followed a different development, such provincial forms of speech have been originally the roots, or among the roots, from which modern national forms have sprung, and that in them may, therefore, be found remnants of the more archaic speech of our forefathers, remnants long forgotten by our modern parlance but nevertheless of great interest to the linguist".

A Bantayog-Wika monument in Marinduque, an initiative of the Provincial Government, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has been constructed, in recognition of Tagalog Marinduque , the language from which our modern national forms have sprung and from where remnants of ancient Tagalog forms can be found. (Sigfredo D. Paala | National Museum MRAMSO)

Bantayog Wika was unveiled on August 26, 2020.

Unveiling of Bantayog-Wika. Photo shows from left, Provincial Administrator Mike Velasco, Vice-Gov. Romulo Bacorro, Jr., Governor Presby Velasco, Jr., and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. 

Marinduque Provincial Capitol Building

Location: Brgy. Santol, Boac, Marinduque

21.  MARINDUQUE PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING

KARANIWANG PANGALAN (Common Name):          Kapitolyo

LOKAL NA PANGALAN (Local name):           Kapitolyo

The neo-classical Marinduque Provincial Capitol Building was built in 1927. It consists of a two-storey concrete structure with four columns in front. Was rehabilitated in 1947 after the war and is still being used today to house certain provincial offices including the office of the Governor.

Fronting the building is the landscaped Capitol Park where could be found the Centennial Monument, a concrete tableau of “Pugutan”, and Bantayog Wika installed in recognition of Tagalog Marinduque (or Marindukenyo).

During the year (1927), the construction of a large number of public buildings was undertaken in the provinces, the most important of which are the following:

“Marinduque Capitol Building, Marinduque Province – This building is similar to the Capitol Building of Negros Oriental, consisting of a two-story concrete structure 31.0 by 18.0 meters, with four concrete columns in front, which materially add to the appearance of the building. It provides ample rooms for the different provincial offices. The construction of the building was contracted by Mr. Yu Chong Tian of Manila at a cost of P. 95,239. The electrical wiring was undertaken by administration. The total cost of the building amounted to P. 104,973, including the cost of supervision and provincial and insular surcharges.”

Built in 1927

Rehabilitated in 1946

Bantayog sa Sentenaryo ng Marinduque

Designed by Architect Korinna Ysabel N. Josue

Location: Provincial Capitol Grounds, Brgy. Santol, Boac, Marinduque

22.   BANTAYOG SA SENTENARYO NG MARINDUQUE

KARANIWANG PANGALAN (Common Name):          Bantayog sa Sentenaryo

LOKAL NA PANGALAN (Local name):          Bantayog sa Sentenaryo

 

Gaceta Oficial issue of 17 March 1920, Vol XVIII No. 11. "21 Febrero de 1920" clearly shown as the date of Orden Ejecutiva No. 12".

Bantayog sa Sentenaryo ng Marinduque

By Architect Korinna Ysabel N. Josue

Title: Panata

There is no denying that the 'morion' mask has been synonymous with the Province of Marinduque. It is the face that to an outsider is a mask and a mere accessory for a performance that attract tourists. For us, Marinduqueńos, this is our tradition, our culture, an expression of our faith and values.

Behind the mask are men and women who sacrifice and are committed to their "panata". Adorned in colorful and attractive garments they walk the street showcasing the works of skillful local artists. The festive costumes seem to be a mirror of the beautiful and happy personas of Marinduqueńos. The morion mask is a symbol of who we are;well beyond fitting to be the design inspiration for the centennial monument of the province.

A simple pillar is with six sides  and the main structure of the monument. This represents the towns of Boaac, Buenavista, Gasan, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz and Torrijos. The form has a strong base, slightly tapering at the top giving a movement of reaching new heights.

The pillar is wrapped by an armour-like design which will give the form of the morion head gear. Adorning the head gear are six simple shapes, resembling the rays of the light. The rays of light angle up towards the sky to continue to shine and welcome a new age.

It sits on a hexagonal platform which complements the six sides of the pillars. Also, another symbol of the six towns that comprise the province. 100 segments on this platform is one for each year that make up the hundred year history.

This is a reminder that the Marinduqueńo is built from its history, strong with its six towns and is facing a bright future.

On February 20, 2020, Sentenaryo ng Marinduque was commemorated.

Above photo shows the unveiling of the Centennial Monument. From left: Vice-Gov. Romulo Bacorro, Jr., Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu and Gov. Presbitero Velasco, Jr.

(To be continued)