In Marinduque: Yesterday's dreams and schemes, walk among the clouds, mountain roads and bridges

Heavenly place high on that mountain top, wind blowing free as the sun rises.

Sitio Baliis, Brgy. Bantay. Photo by Eric Magyaya

Sea of clouds in Boac interior

Before dawn hundreds of people flock daily now, depending on the weather,  high on Mt. Baliis in Brgy. Bantay in the town of Boac.

They’re there to experience the ‘Sea of Clouds’ and the remarkable scenery offered as they gaze upon the forest hills and mountains below where barangays of the once forlorn Mahinhin and Hinapulan are nestled.

All of a sudden the island’s peace-oriented residents tired, weary and worn-out by the coronavirus pandemic have found respite even for a few hours only to something unheard of before in their paradise island, that awe-inspiring ‘Sea of Clouds’.

Enticed by regular photographs of the ‘sea’ they just have to be there this time, to feel closer to the Almighty  - aren’t clouds often associated with the presence of God? And finding peace in His presence.

It has become possible now to motor to the once-forgotten site because of the construction of concrete roads that took decades and decades to realize.

They're coming in hundreds daily now. Not leaving nothing but footprints though. Observers note no fee collected by the barangay but litter scatter like plastics and face masks. Photo: ctto

The making of a dream

It is said that once upon a time in Marinduque, there was this dream hatched during the incumbency of the late Governor Miguel Manguera (1951-1963), to build a seventh town on the island right in its heart – classified as Central Marinduque.

This entails the construction of a cut through road connecting the mountainous interior Boac to Torrijos. Such a tall order, but soon enough a long and narrow dirt road going nowhere was taking shape at a tropical snail’s pace.

But the seriousness of the concept of a seventh Marinduque municipality, reached Malacanang and in no time at all an Executive Order was issued for its creation in 1965, during the incumbency of President Diosdado Macapagal (with Celso Preclaro as governor, 1963-1967).

The new municipality was to be composed of the barrios of Tumagabok, Tambunan, Boi, Sabong, Sitio Kitay, in Boac and Sibuyao in Torrijos with Tumagabok as the seat of government.  

Its corporate existence however did not further materialize in view of a ruling that the EO entailed “undue delegation of legislative powers”.  (Basis for creation of municipalities in 1965 was Section 68 of the Revised Administrative Code that apparently had been "impliedly repealed by RA No. 2370 effective January 1, 1960".)

Therefore, it was not meant to be in those days.  Goodbye to dreams of bringing the seat of government to the center of our paradise-island and from there exercise authority like clockwork over all the towns around it.

Dream goes on but

But the late governor Aristeo Lecaroz (God bless his soul), continued to nurture the idea, not of a seventh town, but of a road that cuts through Boac and Torrijos. When Lecaroz was still alive he confided to me that the main reason why he allied with an arch-rival was that he was promised the dream road would be given top priority.

It became a broken promise, he said. But his eventual political retirement did not stop him from finding allies who’d pursue that one Marinduque dream among many.

Three decades later nothing close to the dream was realized albeit construction and improvements to existing interior roads in Boac were becoming more visible.   

With a new governor in the person of Jose Antonio Carrion (1995-1998; 2007-2010), the same idea was pursued by Lecaroz who supported the former in his election.

That saw Bong Carrion going back and forth to Malacanang when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was president to ask for support to his infrastructure projects in Marinduque, including the long cherished Boac-Torrijos road, with success. 

It's a slow success because it's a long, long winding mountainous road after all.

Between 2010-2013, a newly elected Representative, Lord Allan Velasco launched many road openings* all over the province. Last year, many more road openings were launched by Cong. Velasco (soon to be Speaker, ha!). And at last right in Tumagabok, there’s a longer bridge currently being constructed  to finally connect the tale of our two towns, that cherished golden dream.

The dream goes on till the two towns are finally connected. The construction of  Balimbing-Bantay road including Hinapulan-Tumagabok bridge was realized in 2008-2010 under the Arroyo administration. (Read my repost below dated June 2010). Above photo taken by Nelson Nace shows road being constructed in Canat going to Tumagabok.

Incumbent governor, Gov. Presby Velasco, Jr. with the enviable full support of his son has laid plans “on how we can claim the Golden Era of Marinduque”, and “even with that crisis coupled with tremendous challenges… whatever we set our minds to accomplish, kaya po nating gawin ang gusto nating gawin”, he said in his SOPA.

Now we could truly start building new dreams and schemes and thankfully walk among the clouds but keeping in mind the beautiful sights to remain immaculate.

View of Tumagabok showing part of the road being constructed.

Photo by Batutzkie Reynes

Below is a repost of my blog with photos dated June 18, 2010 on road and bridge constructions in Balimbing-Bantay-Hinapulan-Torrijos, etc. in those years

Central Marinduque Slowly but Surely Now

Author: eli j obligacion |  Friday, June 18, 2010 |  2 comments 

Marinduque's beaches and islets that you could own for a day are just waiting here to be conquered. Yet for some the mountains also beckon. But scarcely served by the familiar jeepney, interior mountain roads may be not as hard as before to reach now.

The development of central Marinduque that involves connecting Boac to the east and Torrijos to the west by an interior road that cuts through rivers and mountains was articulated by former governor Aristeo Lecaroz some forty years ago.

The administration of Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo - five presidents - have also come and gone during the last four decades with Marinduque remaining a predominantly lethargic fourth class province all the while.

The Lecaroz concept (he's 82 and has long retired from public service), is still a cherished dream, a dream being nurtured by many local leaders, thus the development of the Marinduque interiors, although decidedly protracted, is a continuing process.

For once, central Marinduque is being bruited about again by developers as a future garden city.

It must be stated that under the Strong Infrastructure Program of President Arroyo, with no hullabaloo, the province of Marinduque did receive support for national road programs implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), under Sec. Ebdane.

This included the Balimbing-Bantay Road, the Poblacion Torrijos-Maranlig Road,

and the construction of Hinapulan-Tumagabok Bridge.

The Yook-Libas-Lipata road that leads to Bellarocca Island Resort in Buenavista and intermittent sections of the circumferential road from Buenavista to Torrijos are part of DPWH's road improvement projects.

In 2008 a total of 300-million pesos was released for these projects and 130-million pesos during the first half of 2009 by PGMA.

Also read:

* Velasco's projects in Boac (2012)

Roads that continue to be upgraded are the Marinduque Circumferential Road that covers the six municipalities of Marinduque, as well as the Damian Reyes Memorial Road in the Boac-Torrijos section. Photo above was taken in a road upgrading project in barangay Balimbing (2012)

Marinduque kicks off weeklong centennial fete

The island province of Marinduque kicked off its weeklong celebration for its centennial founding anniversary with the unveiling of the plaque of the historic Boac Cathedral declaring it an Important Cultural Property (ICP) last Feb. 16.

Officially known as the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, and regarded as the greatest monument of faith and history, it was given the accolade by the National Museum of the Philippines in December 2018.

At the signing of the certificate of turnover and acceptance of Important Cultural Property Marker are (seated from left) Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco, Jr., Raquel DC Flores of the National Museum, Immaculate Conception Church parish priest Eulogio Mangui, Boac Mayor Armi DC Carrion, Sergio Serpico Nepomuceno of the National Museum, Boac Bishop Antonio Maralit Jr., and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco.

Situated southeast of mainland Luzon, Marinduque was reestablished by the American authorities on Feb. 21, 1920, after a brief reign as a separate province in 1901, and part of Batangas and Mindoro, and a sub-province of the former Tayabas province (now Quezon).

One of the nineteen floats that paraded during the float parade from the Provincial Capitol Park to the Sports Arena in Boac on the Centennial Anniversary,
February 21, 2020

Other major events include 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, in recognition of the language which are among the roots from which the modern national forms have sprung, and where remnants of archaic Tagalog forms can be found.

On Feb. 20, an art workshop titled “Sining SikLAVan sa Sentenaryo” will be led by well-known artist Maestro Fernando Sena who hails from Gasan and the Miss Marinduque Centennial Queen pageant with sentimental OPM singer Myrus.

Celebration peaks with Araw ng Marinduque on Feb. 21 featuring the Parade of Floats around the province, the Moryonan parade of moryons, the launch of the Philpost commemorative stamp, and the Gawad Marinduqueño Awards & Baliktanaw sa Kasaysayan at Kulturang Marinduque.

  

The Centennial Day will be capped by an evening show with Marinduqueño singers and pop music star Ogie Alcasid.

Unveiling of Centennial Monument. From left, VG Romulo Bacorro, Jr., Rep. Lord Allan Q. Velasco, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu and Governor Presbitero Velasco, Jr.

Fringe activities include the Barakalan sa Sentenaryo agro-trade and tourism fair of the Marinduque Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Department of Trade and Industry, and various socio-civic activities.

At the start of the Gawad Marinduqueno Awards, the awardees were feted with a Putong welcome ceremony

Supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Department of Tourism-Mimaropa Region, PLDT-Smart, San Miguel Corp., and Petron, celebrations conclude with the Centennial Heritage Tour around the province, and the 4x4 Offroad Jeep Club Philippines National Jamboree.

Composed of six towns, the province is known for the traditional Moriones Festival every Holy Week which features the iconic wooden moryon masks and regalia of the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus Christ.

Posted February 18, 2020 by Manila Standard

Lyn Angeles' thoughts on Bong Carrion as he is laid to rest

One of Bong Carrion's favorite photos 

From Lyn Angeles' FB timeline 

April 2, 2017 - JOSE ANTONIO "BONG" CARRION, our former Governor (Marinduque) is finally laid to rest/cremated.

I can not let this day pass without remembering this man whose official entrance to Marinduque politics as Governor in 1995 seemed to coincide with my own "baptism of fire" as a young Municipal Councilor in Mogpog also in 1995. But though subsequently, I served as Provincial Board Member for 3 terms, I never got the chance to work with him closely at the provincial government. Inspite of many opportunities, hindi kami nagkakasabay mag-serve at the capitol. He invited me twice to join his political party during the 2001 and 2004 elections and was so kind to just understand and respect my decision to stay Independent. "He respects independent minds", he said. But my heart is so greatful for his kindness and confidence.

Just like any other administrations, his leadership may have its own strengths and weaknesses... its own "ups and downs"... aspects that one may appreciate or not appreciate...

I never had the chance to work closely with Gov. Carrion but I agree with many others that this man had good VISION FOR MARINDUQUE.

HINDI SIGURO ALAM NG MARAMI subalit ang Marinduque ang ISA SA MGA UNANG LALAWIGAN SA BANSA na naghanda at nagkaroon ng isang SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (SEMP) na dumaan sa tamang proseso. He started facilitating for it in 1995 with the help of partner organizations/foundations and friends from the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). 

As young Councilor during that time who was invited in many consultation activities for that purpose, I felt proud for my province and I told myself: AT LAST, THERE IS THIS LEADER WHO BELIEVED IN LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT PLANNING... IN A "ROAD MAP" FOR DEVELOPMENT... Para kase sa maraming pulitiko, HINDI USO ang ganitong pang-matagalang pagpapa-plano (Long-Term Plan) kung paano papaunlarin ang bayan... mas usual concern pa kung "paano uli mananalo sa susunod na election".

I was also witness to the importance he gave to different stakeholders and the very active involvement of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and of the Business and Private Sectors in the preparation of this SEMP as "development road map" for the province. For this IMPORTANT INITIATIVES OF GOV. CARRION, as Marinduquena, I could only respect him more. I told myself then that Marinduque in on the right track.

However, in 1998, when I was elected Provincial Board Member, I asked for the SEMP which I thought will be a good development guide for us at the provincial gov't. After all, we (and others) invested in that important document. It must be used... Yet, I was so surprised that at that time, almost nobody wanted to talk about it ... and SO SHOCKING that I can hardly get a final copy of gat document in any office during that time. The ABSURD REASON given me was that it was simply a "different administration" already.

Now, I asked myself, what if this SEMP, a pioneering initiative of Gov. Carrion was continued and used regardless of politics and political differences??? 

NAISIP KO LANG: Siguro may iba't ibang industriyang umusbong... Siguro mas maraming trabaho ang tao... Siguro maunlad ang turismo at agrikultura... Siguro mas may direksyon at mas maunlad ang Marinduque ngayon... Siguro... Siguro... Dahil hindi nangyari because some SOME PEOPLE JUST FOUND IT SO HARD TO RISE ABOVE POLITICS... above SELF... forgetting that it is not just about "Carrion" (whom they may perceive as a political rival/enemy during that time) but it is more about WHAT IS GOOD FOR MARINDUQUE and its people... Frustrating...

BUT at least for your VISION and for INITIATING what others deemed USELESS and IRRELEVANT --- a DIRECTION and DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP THAT THIS PROVINCE SO NEED... and for the SERVICE and FRIENDSHIP you shared with us, your fellow Marinduquenos:

MARAMING SALAMAT PO! BELOVED GOVERNOR JOSE ANTONIO "BONG" CARRION.

May Our Creator Have Mercy on You and Grant You Eternal Rest!

Bong Carrion would have said: Death is Nothing at All

Gov. Bong Carrion's wake. Photo: RD Gasan

Death Is Nothing At All

By Henry Scott-Holland

Death is nothing at all. 
It does not count. 
I have only slipped away into the next room. 
Nothing has happened. 

Everything remains exactly as it was. 
I am I, and you are you, 
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. 
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. 

Call me by the old familiar name. 
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. 
Put no difference into your tone. 
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. 

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. 
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. 
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. 

Life means all that it ever meant. 
It is the same as it ever was. 
There is absolute and unbroken continuity. 
What is this death but a negligible accident? 

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? 
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, 
somewhere very near, 
just round the corner. 

All is well. 
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. 
One brief moment and all will be as it was before. 
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Marinduque missing former Gov. Bong Carrion (1948-2017)

Former Governor of Marinduque, Jose Antonio 'Bong'  N. Carrion 

Gov. Jose Antonio "Bong" Nieva Carrion has died. The Philippine flag at the provincial capitol of Marinduque is now flying at half-mast.

Bong Carrion was elected governor of Marinduque in 1995 and served for a single term of 3 years (1995-1998). He got elected again after 9 years, holding that position from 2007-2010. One of his priority projects in education was an early childhood learning program for day-care kids in Marinduque's 227 day-care centers, one involving instructional software learning program that was challenged by his political opponents after having been implemented for three consecutive years from 2007.

Carrion is a great grandson of the late Lt. Gov. Juan Morente Nieva, who administered Marinduque from 1907-1916 when the island province was under the political jurisdiction as a sub-province of Tayabas (now Quezon).

It was during his term as governor of Marinduque when in early 1996, Bong Carrion spearheaded in cooperation with the governors of the island-provinces of the region the creation of a new socio-economic aggrupation acronymed MIMAROPA (for Or. Mindoro, Occ. Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan). It was to be the counterpart of the CALABARZON industrial growth area composed of the mainland provinces of Southern Luzon. Gov. Valencia of Or. Mindoro was then elected as chairman.

It was on May 17, 2002, by virtue of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Executive Order No. 103, that Region IV was divided into Region IV-A (CALABARZON) and Region IV-B (MIMAROPA).

Philippine flag flies at half-mast at Marinduque's seat of government.
Photo taken March 29.

Gov. Jose Antonio N. Carrion's State of the Province Address, 2008

Communities in Marinduque remain peaceful and insurgency-free nearly a year after the internal security operations of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) was turned over to the province’s Peace and Order Council (PPOC). The continuing peaceful status is attributed to the effective maintenance of security by the local government as well as the PPOC's observance of the provisions embodied in the Memorandum of Agreement. Marinduque was the first province to be declared insurgency-free by the AFP.

Gov. Carrion and AFP Southern Luzon Command Chief Roland Detabali after MOA signing.

Marinduque had 20 NPA affected barangays in 2004; this number reduced to zero by 2008. As for NPA’s strength, it had 47 armed members during the years 2004-2007 but had been reduced to zero by 2008.

“With the absence of NPA intimidation and terrorism in the province of Marinduque, the people began to experience progress as the business climate and tourist arrivals improve”, said Brig. Gen Francisco N. Cruz Jr, Civil Relations Service commander.

Gov. Jose Antonio N. Carrion's SOPA, 2009:

Excerpts:

Under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Strong Infrastructure Program Marinduque province is also the recipient of national road programs. The Balimbing-Bantay Road in Boac with a budget of 67-million pesos is almost completed; the Poblacion Torrijos-Maranlig road budgeted at 50-million pesos is 100% completed. These roads will finally connect Boac and Torrijos with the completion of the Hinapulan-Tumagabok bridge. 

Hinapulan-Tumagabok Bridge

Thanks to the efforts of DPWH under Secretary Ebdane and the good District Engr. Magtanggol Roldan, our people have not seen such determination so that these projects would not be haunted by ghosts.

Under the same program the Yook-Libas-Lipata road in Buenavista (82-million), that leads to Bellarocca Island Resort is now being concreted, intermittent sections of the circumferential road from Buenavista to Torrijos road are also being asphalted. In 2008 a total of 300-million pesos has been released for these projects and 130-million pesos during the first half of 2009.

Marinduque Airport after being non-operational for four years, is now being serviced by ZESTAIR since November 2008. SEAIR will soon fly their 19-seater LET aircrafts, and operations will not be hampered when the 161-million peso runway extension goes in full swing.

Marinduque Airport after being non-operational for four years, was serviced by ZESTAIR in November 2008.

The rehabilitation of Cawit Port, identified as a vital linkage connecting Marinduque to the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (Western Seaboard) as part of the Luzon Urban Beltway project, has been completed and opened last year. The route Cawit-Lucena and Cawit-San Juan is already being serviced with two shipping lines in operation: Montenegro and Star Horse Shipping Lines. During the Lenten season 7,107 Islands Cruise ship also called on the port a couple of times bringing in hundreds of tourists.

Cruise ship in Cawit Port

Sa TURISMO naman, naging higit na masigla ang pagsasagawa ng mga programa para sa pagpapalago ng turismo. 

Adventure-sports tourism.

Ibat-ibang adventure sports activities ang naganap upang palaganapin ang konsepto ng ecotourism sa Marinduque: mountain biking, motocross, airsoft war games, defensive shooting, hobies, marathon runs, scuba-diving at spelunking. 
Dahil sa mga gawaing ito nagkaroon ng pagkakataong makitang tuluyan ang potential ng ilang mga lugar para sa pagpapalaganap ng barangay-based tourism para sa kapakinabangan ng ating mga kababayan.

Isa dito ang  Luzon Datum Ecopark sa Hinanggayon at Argao na nakatakda ng gawing national landmark sa tulong ng NAMRIA at DENR.

Si Carrion kasama ang mga opisyal ng NAMRIA at DENR tungkol sa Luzon Datum Ecopark Development.

At sa unang pagkakataon nadiskubre ng cave exploration team ng ating provincial tourism office ang San Isidro Caves at Subterranean River. Maingat ang hakbang na dapat isagawa para ito mapanatili sa kasalukuyang kaanyuan.

Promotion ng San Isidro (Bagumbungan) Cave sa unang pagkakataon.

Nagkaroon ng pagkakataong ipakita ng ating mga kababayan ang ibat-ibang festivals na patuloy ang pagpapa-develop bilang pangturismong gawain. Naging daan ang pagpupugay sa “ARAW NG MARINDUQUE” na idineklara na ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan bilang isang ordinansa, upang patuloy na maibahagi ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ng mga kabataan, ang kanilang kagalingan sa lahat ng bagay na may kinalaman sa kultura at sining.

Ombudsman dismisses case against former Gov. Carrion et al on Day Care Computer Packages

The Hon. Conchita Carpio Morales, Ombudsman

The Ombudsman did not find any irregularity in the purchase of Day Care Computer Packages from Pisces, the exclusive distributor of the educational packages in question that were goods of proprietary character, produced by A-Star Learning World Pte Ltd in Singapore and sold exclusively in the Philippines by Pisces. Read.

The Ombudsman also stated in its decision that the collective acts of the respondent public officials in the purchase of the computer packages “do not embody the very acts punished under Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 – which is the causing of undue injury or the giving of any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”

“In this particular case, the acts of the respondents in the procurement of the questioned Day Care Computer packages do not demonstrate bad faith, bias and giving of unwarranted benefit or preference in favor of Pisces because the purchase from Pisces… is authorized under Section 48.1.”, the decision stated.

The Ombudsman also stated that “The complainant failed to present sufficient evidence to show that the respondents entered into a contract or transaction which is manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government in as much as the allegation of overpricing in the purchase of fifty-six (56) units of Day Care Computer Packages was not proven.”

On the charge of illegal use of public funds commonly known as technical malversation, the Ombudsman stated that “for technical malversation to exist, it is necessary that public funds or properties have  been diverted to any public use other than that provided for by law or ordinance… the second and third elements to constitute the crime of Technical malversation are absent”. The Ombudsman also stated that “evidence is wanting to show that the respondents are probably guilty” of the charges of Fraud against the Public Treasury.

Day-Care workers.

Private respondents composed of persons representing Pisces stressed in their arguments that the erroneous conclusion of overpricing claimed by the complainant “is more glaring from the FIO’s theory that what the Province of Marinduque bought were nothing more than desktop computers with necessary peripherals, rather than learning packages which consisted of CD ROMs containing copyrighted software educational materials, instructional workbooks, and free one-day training seminar for day care workers, with the desktop computer and day care personnel merely added as freebies.” Read

Observers following the case recall that upon assumption into office of Gov. Carmencita Reyes in July 2010, continued hearings “in aid of legislation” were conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan throughout the first hundred days of the new administration. Board Member Eleuterio Raza, Jr. acted as chief interrogator during the hearings, and referred the case to the Blue-Ribbon Committee which he also chaired. With authority from the governor to issue memos to department heads of the provincial government for the conduct of further investigation, apparently breaching protocol, Raza was chiefly responsible for the preparation of the case eventually filed by the Field Investigation Office (FIO) of the Office of the Ombudsman, that acted as nominal complainant. 

Marinduque Capitol Building

It will be recalled that Board Member Raza and former Board Member Leticia Monte originally sponsored the resolutions in 2007, for the consolidation of unused funds into a single fund to be used “for priority development projects of the Office of the Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan”. Specified in the same resolution that year was Php 5-million for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs “for purchase of instructional materials and other teaching aids” among others. It was implemented from that year, 2007 and continued until 2010.  Read

Part of court ruling

Decision: Clear, concise, complete and correct.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales signed the Approval to Dismiss
on June 15, 2012 with copies sent to all Respondents.

Why Marinduque is the Center of the Philippines

(Heart-shaped island of Marinduque)

“Heart-shaped” has long been used in local folklore to romanticize the island of Marinduque because as the island map will show, it does reveal the outline of an imperfect heart. That was enough to inspire early students of the old Marinduque High School, the first secondary school in the province, to adopt “The Heart” as the name of their official school organ, followed until today.

“The Heart of the Philippines” as a tourism slogan was, therefore, also a natural choice by travel writers for the same reason. In a 1995 brochure this blogger was commissioned by then governor Bong Carrion to draft the text of brochure for distribution in connection with the Moriones Festival and there used the phrase "smack center of the Philippine archipelago".

I was dismayed to later find that at least two other provinces, namely, Romblon and Masbate were using the term “center of the Philippines” in describing the geographical location of said provinces and for purposes of touristic distinction, obviously so vital in promoting a destination. One of the two had become more aggressive in repeated claims as evidenced by glossy travel brochures that I had gotten hold of.

And that was a ‘puzzlement’. But, thanks to the Internet information highway, it became fairly easy to have access to data that could shed light on the matter and settle the issue once and for all. So it surfaced by surfing on the net that in 1901, when the Philippines was under American rule, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS), started the process of identifying specific points in the ellipsoid, the mathematical model of the distance and shape of the earth, through the use of latitude and longitude. A painstaking process, called datum, that identified specific geodetic points in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao was then undertaken by USC&GS.

(Seascape view from Datum Station Balanacan)

It also surfaced, that the vastness of land and sea from Luzon to Mindanao became such a tough and ambitious challenge for the geodetic engineers. This necessitated the identification of a new datum to serve as the origin of all surveys. The formed triangulation network spanned vast distances with datum stations that were located in high mountain peaks and far across straits and channels.

(Hole drilled on diorite rock that had been there for a hundred years)

The result of trigonometric surveys from North to South and East and West of the Philippine Archipelago were consolidated until a single datum was pinpointed – the Luzon Datum of 1911, the primary geodetic reference of all surveys in the country. The origin of this particular Datum was then defined by Datum Station Balanacan located 13°33'41"N, 121°52'3"E. Consequently, all surveys in the entire country were corrected and based on the position of this station.

(Reference marker on one cubic meter of boulder)

A boulder of a rock marker, long forgotten and hidden in a snake-infested area on the mountain top of what is locally called Mataas na Bundok near Balanacan harbor was apparently still intact. It is located where the boarders of Brgy. Silangan, Brgy. Argao and Brgy. Hinanggayon nearly meet. A hole appeared to have been drilled in a cubic meter of diorite rock marker, accompanied by a boulder of another rock some 10 feet away that as a reference marker.

“Marinduque: Pinakagitna ng ‘Pinas” by this blogger describing the research find was published in “The Weekly Marinduque” issue of Nov. 19-22, 2007. By June 2008, a technical team from the National Mapping Resource Authority (NAMRIA), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), had paid a courtesy visit to then governor, Bong Carrion. It was to recognize this mother of all surveys in the Philippines as an important national landmark that had to be preserved.

(NAMRIA and DENR team shows map to Gov. Carrion and briefs him on the plans of the task group)

Task Group Balanacan was created by NAMRIA in the same month to undertake further research and gather available records and maps, undertake coordination meetings with concerned agencies and hold information campaign activities.

(NAMRIA's marker at the site)

The NAMRIA team headed by mapping department assistant director, Randolf Vicente then conducted a reconnaissance survey of the vicinity of the” mother of all surveys” together with the provincial tourism team of Gerry Jamilla and Joven Lilles. Lilles, who took up geodetic engineering was already familiar with the site and had taken earlier photos for the provincial website.

(NAMRIA's Task Force Balanacan with DENR provincial director)

A plan for the Luzon Datum of 1911 National Landmark and Eco-tourism Site Development was eventually hatched. Preparation of plans and securing the necessary construction permits from concerned authorities for the civil works to be undertaken came next.

To spread information about the existence of such an important landmark in their midst and to create awareness on the potential of the site’s future development as an eco-tourism site, barangay captains from the areas north of Balanacan were gathered by the tourism committee of the provincial board, then headed by board member, Yolando Querubin. The news was welcomed by the barangay officials who saw its potential to, indeed, spur interest and progress in their less-visited barangay cluster.

("Trip na Trip" crew at the site. Franzen, the show host interviewing Joven Lilles)

Soon came the technical team of ABS-CBN’s popular TV-show “Trip na Trip” that did a special feature on Marinduque with a visit to the datum station marker atop Mataas na Bundok. By July 2009, “Marinduque: Center of the Philippines” billboards were installed by Jamilla in the WOW Philippines festivities in Intramuros, featuring a special “Marinduque Day” cultural show with Carrion and provincial administrator, now Congressman, Lord Allan Q. Velasco gracing the opening ceremonies.

(Popular photographic view of Balanacan Harbor. Datum Station Balanacan is atop Mataas na Bundok, the mountain in the background)

The task group composed of NAMRIA and DENR has since worked closely with the Provincial Government of Marinduque and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), formerly National Historical Institute. The NHCP eventually issued a certification declaring the national significance of Datum Station Balanacan. To reserve a parcel of public land as the site of the Luzon Datum origin national historical landmark, a presidential proclamation continues to be worked out by the task group.

Literature on the Geography of the Philippines - such as one by Wikipedia – was eventually updated by said Internet organization referring to Marinduque now as the center of the Philippines (sourced from a write-up of this blogger), based on the Luzon Datum origin. More significantly, the previous claims made by the other concerned entities appear to have slowly and grudgingly quieted by now, and it is such great pleasure.