MORIONES FESTIVAL

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.

HISTORY
In 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:morir) meaning death. The origin of the festival is
traced to Mogpog and the year 1807 when the parish priest of said town, Fr.
Dionisio Santiago, organized it for the first time.
One of the oldest religious festivals in the Philippines. The Moriones Festival is a
dedication to the half-blind Roman soldier, Longinus, who pierced Jesus in his
side with a lance while he was on the cross. Legend has it that when some of the
blood of Jesus fell into his eyes his sight returned. Upon experiencing this miracle,
Longinus became convinced that Jesus was truly the son of God and converted
to Christianity. The festival re-enacts the search for Longinus by
centurions—adorned in colorful costumes—for this crime, with one member of
the local community playing Longinus who is captured and recaptured several
times over the course of the festival in a playful game of cat and mouse.

COSTUME

PROPS