The Moriones is an annual colorful festival held on Holy Week in Marinduque. The "Moriones" are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local folks. The 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.
Morion means "mask" or "visor," a part of the medieval Roman armor which covers the face. Moriones, on the other hand, refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. Morions roam the streets in town from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday scaring the kids, or engaging in antics or surprises to draw attention. This is a folk-religious festival that re-enacts the story of Saint Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye. The festival is characterized by colorful Roman costumes, painted masks and helmets, and brightly colored tunics. The towns of Boac, Gasan, Santa Cruz, Buenavista and Mogpog in the island of Marinduque become one gigantic stage. The observances form part of the Lenten celebrations of Marinduque. The various towns also hold the unique tradition of the pabasa or the recitation of Christ's passion in verse. Then at three o'clock on Good Friday afternoon, the Santo Sepulco is observed, whereby old women exchange verses based on the Bible as they stand in wake of the dead Christ. One of the highlights of this festival is the Via Crusis. A re-enactment of the suffering of Christ on his way to the calvary. Men inflict suffering upon themselves by whipping their backs, carrying a wooden cross and sometimes even crucifixion. They see this act as their form of atonement for their sins. This weeklong celebration starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday. (Wikipedia)
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
MARCH 24, 2013 - PALM SUNDAY
5:00 am - Holy Mass
6:30 am - Holy Mass
7:00 am - Blessing of Palms
- Hosanahan & Procession (a celebration of Christs Entry to Jerusalem)
8:00 am - Holy Mass
3:00 pm - Holy Mass
4:00 pm - General Station of the Cross
MARCH 25, 2013 - HOLY MONDAY
5:30 am - Holy Mass
7:00 am - Participation in the GRAND PARADE
8:00 am - Pilgrimage
- Registration of all Morions
10:00 am-Opening of LEGIONS PHOTO EXHIBIT
10:00 am-Opening of the Marinduque Moriones Festival Trade Expo
3:00 pm - Moriones Parade Around the town
6:30 pm - Morions Torch Parade (MISTAH)
7:00 pm - mass & Installation of New MISTAH Members
MARCH 26, 2013 - HOLY TUESDAY
4:00 am - Pagbasa ng Pasyon sa mga Barangay ng Boac
5:30 am - Holy Mass
7:00 am - Pagbasa ng Pasyon
8:00 am - Registration of Morions
- Visita Iglesia to 7 Parachial Churches in the Province
9:00 am - Morion Parade
4:00 pm - Morion Parade
MARCH 27, 2013 - HOLY WEDNESDAY
5:30 am - Holy Mass
8;00 am - Participation in the GRAND PARADE
- Community Parade of Costumes
10:00 am- Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo
3:00 pm - Sacrament of Confession
- Morion Parade
4:00 pm - Holy Mass
5:00 pm - Religious Procession
7:00 pm - SENAKULO
MARCH 28, 2013 - MAUNDY THURSDAY
5:00 am - Holy Mass
8:00 am - Chrism Mass
- Morion Parade
- Battle of the Morions
10:00 am-Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo
3:00 pm - Morion Parade
5:00 pm - Celebration of the Last Supper & Washing of Apostles Feet
6:00 pm - Start of Vigil at the Blessed Sacrament
7:00 pm - SENAKULO (The Last Supper)
MARCH 29, 2013 - GOOD FRIDAY
9:00 am - Via Crucis (Way of the Cross Re-Enacted along the street of Boac)
10:00 am-Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo
1:00 pm -The Seven last Words
3:00 pm - Celebration of the Passion of Christ
4:00 pm - Veneration of the Holy Cross
5:00 pm - Religious Procession
MARCH 30, 2013 - BLACK SATURDAY
8:00 am - Survival KAbugsakan
9:00 am - Morion Parade
10:00 am-Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo
3:00 pm - Morion Parade ( All Morion Groups)
7:00 pm - SENAKULO (The Beheading of Longhinus)
8:00 pm - Torch Parade
9:00 pm - Celebration of the Resurrection of Christ
- Blessing of Fire and Bonfire
MARCH 31, 2013 - EASTER SUNDAY
4:00 am - SALUBONG ( ritual and dance celebrating the appearance of the Risen Christ before the Blessed Mother
5:00 am - Holy Mass
6:30 am - Holy Mass
8:00 am - Holy Mass
9:00 am - CHASE OF LONGHINUS (Day Version) and Morion Parade
10:00 am- PUGUTAN SA ARAW NG LINGGO NG MULING PAGKABUHAY
For more updates and information and travel guide going to Marinduque Province,
Visit http://www.marinduque.gov.ph/travelbasic.html
