MORYONAN

MORIONES FESTIVAL

The MOGPOG
panata

HOME
OF
THE MORIONES
 The Lenten season
touches the hearts of many,
so does the story of the
Moriones Festival.
Its origin emerged from the
story of Christ’s crucifixion.

Marinduque’s Moriones Festival began in 1807 when Padre Dionsio Santiago, a Mogpog parish priest, organised a play
based on the story of Longinus (or Longino), one of the Roman centurions assigned to execute Christ.
 The island province of Marinduque is most known
for its Lenten tradition of Moriones Festival. This annual
religious festivity that originated in the municipality of
Mogpog, is characterized by colorful Roman costumes
and masks. Moriones, is a play based festival from a
biblical story of Longinus. During holy week, aside from
Moriones, the island province also holds a unique
tradition of pabasa (recitation of Christ’s passion in
verse) in every municipalities. In general, Lenten
celebration in Marinduque is about the religious
devotion of its townspeople. A vow of penance or
thanksgiving among its practitioners, which is passed
down from generation to generation.

Throughout the festival week moriones take to the

streets and run amok, engaging in sword fights, dances
and sneaky pranks on bystanders, with Longinus
hiding behind spectators before undergoing a mock
beheading and his 'lifeless' body being paraded around
town.
 The Panata

For Marinduqueños, joining the festival is

a panata—an expression of devotion,
sacrifice and thanksgiving to God. The
traditional masks are carved from trunks of
wood, in a process that takes up to a month;
the P5,000 price tag that comes with it is no
laughing matter to residents who make a
living fishing and farming.
 This mask-maker shared that he, too,
was once a morion in his younger days.
The soft-spoken senior citizen learned
to make his own mask because it was
too expensive; his new panata is
making masks for younger morions. It’s
hard work - chipping away at the tough
wood needs strength, getting the face
right needs artistry.

Still, masks are bought and made each

year by morions and mask-makers who
see the sacrifice as a means of
returning God’s favor. “Kasama talaga
ito sa aming paniniwala,” he explained.
 The festival is held on a beautiful island known
as Marinduque, and which is easily regarded as
the heartbeat of the Philippines. The festival is
dedicated to Longinus, a half-blind Roman soldier
that supposedly pierced Christ in the side with his
lance. Legend has it that, after he had pierced
Christ, a drop of blood fell on his eye and he got
his sight back. The miracle caused the Roman
soldier to fully convert to Catholicism, which is
why the Filipino people have an entire festival
dedicated to him.

He is regarded as a saint in Roman Catholic

and Eastern Orthodox churches, as well as in
some other Christian communions. Bear in mind
that around 80% of the population in the
Philippines are Roman Catholics, and religion is a
very important part of their daily lives.. In the context of Philippines’ festivals, however, the word makes reference to the locals
who play dress up adorning the costumes that Roman soldiers wore in past Biblical times.

This tradition is observed by men, and now, even by some women during the Holy Week starting from Holy Monday to Easter
Sunday. The penitents wear masks and costumes similar to those worn by the Roman soldiers as a way of atonement for their
sins committed or for other similar reasons. The penitents roam around the town for the day throughout the week wearing masks
and glamorously designed costumes.
 The festival is given life by the colorful Roman warrior costumes, painted masks and helmets, and brightly colored tunics.
Various islands that comprise Marinduque becomes one gigantic stage for this festival.

Although the moriones festival is considered a

celebration, Marinduque still honors the Lenten
season through the traditional way. A pabasa or the
reading of Christ’s passion in verse is still entailed.
 One of the highlights of this festival is the Via Crucis. 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.

 These days, a fabulous Easter festival combining folk mysticism with Catholic pageantry turns Marinduque’s streets into a
colourful reenactment of those events, drawn out over the seven days of Holy Week. Each municipality in Marinduque holds its
own festival, in which hundreds of moriones don centurion masks and costumes and arm themselves with wooden swords,
spears and shields.

This becomes incredibly obvious during Semana Santa. You’d think with all the festival and performances that it would be a
cheerful week, but it’s actually the opposite. Businesses close down, TV and radio stations go off the air, and the town streets are
practically deserted. For the religious people, this is a time of reflection. Semana Santa is the perfect time to pray, as God is most
likely to fulfil your prayers during that period – or so they believe.

The Moriones festival is celebrated annually, during Holy Week. It does not only serve as a tourist attraction, but also a good
way to remember the suffering of Jesus Christ.