MORIONES FESTIVALMarinduque

Reporter: Jan Michael R. Bumanlag

MARINDUQUEMarinduque is part of Region IV-B, also known as MIMAROPA which includes the provinces of MIndoro, MArinduque, ROmblon and PAlawan.

MARINDUQUEIt is composed of six municipalities namely:

MORIONES FESTIVALThe Moriones is an annual festival held on Holy Week on the island of Marinduque .The "Moriones" are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local folks.

MORIONES FESTIVAL

Fierce-looking, often bearded masks of hand carved wood or paper-mache topped by a helmet adorned with multi-hued paper flowers complete the typical morion garb. Painted wooden swords, spears, and shields are considered basic paraphernalia.

MORIONES FESTIVALThe practice, as research points out, originated in the town of Mogpog circa 1880s. Father Dionisio Santiago, the local parish priest during that time, is credited to have started it as a means of focusing the attention of his parishioners to Lenten religious activities.

MORIONES FESTIVALIn Valencia, Spain there is a similar celebration called Festival de Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians Festival). It is almost certain that the word "Moriones" was derived from "Moros". Another possible derivation is from the Spanish word "murió" (root verb:morir) meaning "(3rd person singular) died".

MORIONES FESTIVALThe priest was influenced by the story of Longinus, a roman centurion, who was present during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. One of his eye was blind, and when he speared the side of Jesus, drops of blood fell to his blind eye and then he was able to see.

MORIONES FESTIVALThis miracle converted Longinus to Christianity and earned the ire of his fellow centurions. The re-enactment reaches its climax when Longinus is caught and beheaded.

MORIONES FESTIVALThe Moriones or Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of other festivals in the Philippines where cultural practices or folk history is turned into street festivals.

MORIONES FESTIVAL

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