Colorful Festivals in Marinduque

FESTIVALS IN MARINDUQUE

Marinduque. What do we usually know of it? Usually, this island province is associated with the Moriones Festival, the trademark revelry and tourist magnet of the island. For some, Marinduque is also a reminder of a grim past when mining was an important industry in the island – an industry which took a toll on its environment and locals. But there is more to Marinduque than just Moriones and mining. It is a treasure trove of suprising and awesome finds. Read More: https://tourism-philippines.com/marinduque/

Putong Festival

Photo from: http://marinduquegov.blogspot.com/2010/06/putong-unique-to-marinduque.html

If you’ve visited Marinduque and have not experienced the “Putong” ritual then you have not been welcomed properly.

It’s only a small part of the island culture but with no one from any class of society being exempt to be honored with a crown of flowers (or variations thereof), and leis bestowed upon the individual, it acts as the great island equalizer – all have equal shots at getting his or her crown and be showered with love and wishes for good luck, health and prosperity. Read More: http://marinduquegov.blogspot.com/2010/06/putong-unique-to-marinduque.html

Haring Karabaw Festival

Photo from: http://marinduquegov.blogspot.com/2011/01/haring-karabao-of-hupi.html

In a farming village in Santa Cruz town, residents celebrate Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings not just with three kings but with four.

Unlike in other Catholic parishes that observe the occasion with three local men dressed in a king’s garb going around the community riding in horses, residents of Barangay Hupi celebrate a fourth king who rides a carabao (water buffalo).

The unique tradition is known in the province as the Haring Karabaw festival. Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/130487/marinduque-village%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98haring-karabaw%e2%80%99#ixzz582MpqQEm

Moriones Festival

Photo from: https://calendarofeventsguide.com/moriones-festival-2016-schedule-of-events/

The Moriones Festival is a folk-religious event held annually during Holy Week on the island of Marinduque, considered the geographical heart of the Philippines.

The word “Morion” refers to the visor of the helmet that is associated with the armor of Roman soliders. The word “Moriones” refers to the local inhabitants who dress up in costumes and masks of Roman soldiers during Biblical times. These costumed locals are farmers and fishermen who engage in the street theater as a form of penitence.

For seven days, from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday, the masked and costumed Moriones march around town scaring children and making a ruckus in a reenactment of the search for Longinus, the Roman centurion who pierced the side of the crucified Christ. Read More: https://www.tagaloglang.com/moriones-festival-of-marinduque/

Kangga Festival

Photo from: http://melleceducationalblog.blogspot.com/2017/11/marinduque-mogpog-festivals.html

During the month of May, the agricultural town of Mogpog in Marinduque celebrates their thanksgiving festival for their annual harvests in honor of their patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. The aim of this festival is to pay tribute to the saint and to the farmers who made a solemn effort on their land for numerous months. Kangga Festival was implemented by the local government which is celebrated annually to correspond with San Isidro Labrador’s feast day of May 13.

“Kangga” in Marinduquenian Tagalog, is a sled made of bamboo usually carried by carabao. It is used by farmers to transport tools or harvests from their homes to the fields or to the market. Read More: http://www.wowmarinduque.com/features/festivals/mogpogs-kangga-festival-an-alluring-thanksgiving/

Kalutang Festival

Photo from: http://marinduquegov.blogspot.com/2010/06/joining-hands-ro-preserve-kalutang.html

A pair of percussion bars which are struck against each other at specific angles to produce a pitch. These sticks are a part of an entire ensemble of kalutang which when playing together produce melodies. The instrument is cut from the kwatingan tree which grows in Marinduque. This specimen was taken from the kalutang band of Tirso who is a well-known kalutang player. Read More: https://museomusiko.wordpress.com/idiophones/percussion-bars/kalutang/

This is a kind of instrument indigenous to the province. The “Kulatang” consists of two pieces of wood, graduated in size to produce different notes, with which a band of 10-12 people make music. Read More: http://members.tripod.com/ust_ism/region4/Mrinduque.htm

Kalesayahan Festival

Photo from: http://www.wowmarinduque.com/features/celebrate-the-heartwarming-festival-featuring-kalesa/

Kalesayahan is a contraction of two Tagalog words, “kalesa”, a local horse-drawn vehicle and “kasayahan”, festivity. A festival celebrating kalesas in Gasan town during the past decade to generate interest in this form of local transportation and to preserve the few existing ones, has been successfully undertaken in the month of August of every year. This is timed with the town’s celebration of its founding anniversary.

Kalesas and horses are decorated gaily with indigenous materials, carrying a young couple dressed up in ‘Filipiniana’ attire. Photos here show samplings of the village folks ingenuity shown in various expressions of their creativity in decorating, a community project involving men, women and children. Winners often receive cash and livelihood projects for their barangay, village. Read More: https://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Marinduque/blog-465805.html

Gasang-Gasang Festival

Photo from: http://www.dontrivino.com/events/gasang-gasang-2010.html

The Gasang-Gasang Festival celebrates the origins of the name “Gasan”. Sponsored by the Gasan Culture and Arts Foundation (GASCUAF)with a certain contributions from 25 Barangays coming from their Barangay Budget, and held after the Moriones Festival, the festival features a live dance competition where several barangays have competed in the competition held in downtown Gasan. In 2006, however, the festival was held instead at the open-air tiangge area of Barangay Libtangin due to objections from the mayor over the festival being held downtown. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasan,_Marinduque

Bila-Bila Festival

Photo from: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/115303/%E2%80%98butterflies%E2%80%99-flutter-in-boac-festival-garden

Boac, the capital of Marinduque is being touted as the butterfly center of the Philippines due to the emergence of butterfly farms in the town. In order to promote the industry, the local government created the Bila-Bila Festival in conjunction with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (the town’s patron saint) on December 8. On the day of the celebration, children from various schools in the town dress up in their best butterfly costumes for a parade that depicts the life cycle of the butterfly. Brass bands, street dancing by costumed delegates, and colorful, decorated floats also accompany the parade, with the image of the Immaculate Conception at the end of the procession. Read More: http://tourism-philippines.com/festival-bila-bila/

Marinduque Island Province, Home of Moriones Festival

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