Moriones Festival 2014 Schedule of Activities, Things To Do, How To Get There and Where To Stay

Moriones Festival is one of the major tourist drawers of the province of Marinduque. It is a week-long colorful festival during lenten season that starts from Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday with various activities happening around the island. Moriones is coined from the word "Morion", which literally means "mask", a part of the medieval Roman armor, replicating the garb of biblical soldiers roaming around the town searching for Longinus as interpreted by local folks. During the festival, the mighty Morions of Marinduque showcase their colorful Roman costumes, to the delight of the expectators.

MORIONES FESTIVAL 2011 AND 2013 COVERAGE

• Moriones Festival 2013 Via Crusis
• Getting to Boac Marinduque on a Holy Week for the Moriones Festival
• Holy Thursday Senakulo at the Moriones Arena in Boac
• Via Crusis on the Streets of Boac, the Highlight of the Moriones Festival
• Stations of the Cross at the Boac Cathedral
• A Close Encounter with the Morions
• Good Friday Procession

One of the festival's highlights is the "via crusis" held every Good Friday with the re-enactment of the "Passion of Christ" and the story of Longinus, a Roman centurion who speared the crucified body of Jesus Christ.

MORIONES FESTIVAL 2014 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

You can join the festival anywhere in the entire province of Marinduque. All towns, namely Mogpog, Sta. Cruz, Torrijos, Buenavista, Gasan, and Boac have their own celebration of the festival. This year, the Moriones Festival is set to be on April 13 - 20, 2014. Be sure to save the dates of the festival and plan your trip ahead.

Here is the unofficial Moriones Festival 2014 Schedule of Events and Activities in the Capital town of Boac:

APRIL 13, 2014 – PALM SUNDAY
05:00 am – Holy Mass
06:30 am – Holy Mass
07:00 am – Blessing of Palms
              - Hosanahan & Procession (a celebration of Christs Entry to Jerusalem)
08:00 am – Holy Mass
03:00 pm – Holy Mass
04:00 pm – General Station of the Cross

APRIL 14, 2014 – HOLY MONDAY
05:30 am – Holy Mass
07:00 am – Participation in the GRAND PARADE
08:00 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
03:00 pm – Moriones Parade Around the town
06:30 pm – Morions Torch Parade (MISTAH)
07:00 pm – mass & Installation of New MISTAH Members

APRIL 15, 2014 – HOLY TUESDAY
04:00 am – Pagbasa ng Pasyon sa mga Barangay ng Boac
05:30 am – Holy Mass
07:00 am – Pagbasa ng Pasyon
08:00 am – Registration of Morions
              – Visita Iglesia to 7 Parachial Churches in the Province
09:00 am – Morion Parade
04:00 pm – Morion Parade

APRIL 16, 2014 – HOLY WEDNESDAY
05:30 am – Holy Mass
08:00 am – Participation in the GRAND PARADE / Community Parade of Costumes
10:00 am - Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo
03:00 pm – Sacrament of Confession
              – Morion Parade
04:00 pm – Holy Mass
05:00 pm – Religious Procession
07:00 pm – SENAKULO

APRIL 17, 2014 – MAUNDY THURSDAY
05:00 am – Holy Mass
08:00 am – Chrism Mass / Morion Parade / Battle of the Morions
10:00 am – Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo
03:00 pm – Morion Parade
05:00 pm – Celebration of the Last Supper & Washing of Apostles Feet
06:00 pm – Start of Vigil at the Blessed Sacrament
07:00 pm – SENAKULO (The Last Supper)

APRIL 18, 2014 – GOOD FRIDAY
09:00 am – Via Crucis (Way of the Cross Re-Enacted along the street of Boac)
10:00 am – Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo
01:00 pm – The Seven last Words
03:00 pm – Celebration of the Passion of Christ
04:00 pm – Veneration of the Holy Cross
05:00 pm – Religious Procession

APRIL 19, 2014 – BLACK SATURDAY
08:00 am – Survival KAbugsakan
09:00 am – Morion Parade
10:00 am - Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo
03:00 pm – Morion Parade ( All Morion Groups)
07:00 pm – SENAKULO (The Beheading of Longhinus)
08:00 pm – Torch Parade
09:00 pm – Celebration of the Resurrection of Christ
              - Blessing of Fire and Bonfire

APRIL 20, 2014 – EASTER SUNDAY
04:00 am – SALUBONG ( ritual and dance celebrating the appearance of the Risen Christ before the Blessed Mother
05:00 am – Holy Mass
06:30 am – Holy Mass
08:00 am – Holy Mass
09:00 am – CHASE OF LONGHINUS (Day Version) and Morion Parade
10:00 am – PUGUTAN SA ARAW NG LINGGO NG MULING PAGKABUHAY

NOTE: This schedule was based from last year’s schedule of activities. It will be updated as soon as the official schedule of activities were released by the organizers.

THINGS TO DO IN MARINDUQUE

The province of Marinduque is blessed with so many natural and man-made wonders that you should consider visiting during your Moriones Festival trip. Here are some of Marinduque's tourist spots and attractions and activities to do and experience in the island.

• Island Hopping on Tres Reyes Islands
• Overnight Stay and Swimming on Maniwaya Island
• Island Hopping at Palad Sand Bar and Mongpong Island
• Swimming at Aroma Beach
• Swim at Kawa-kawa Falls
• Spelunking at Bathala Caves (Python Cave and Church Cave)
• Swimming at Marinduque Hot Spring Resort
• Climb Mt. Malindig
• Visit Boac Cathedral and Boac Museum
• Swimming at Paadjao Falls
• Visit Gasan Butterfly Garden
• Swim and Trek to Duyay Falls and Man-made Pool
• Spelunking at Bagumbungan Cave
• Climb Tarug Peak and Cave
• Beach Bumming and Swimming at Poctoy Beach
• Trekk to Battle of Pulang Lupa Historical Park
• Visit Gasan Church
• Experience the "Putungan Tradition"

HOW TO GET TO MARINDUQUE

By Land and Sea
From Manila, take a bus bound for Dalahican Port in Lucena City, fare is about 220 pesos and travel time is around 4 hours. Jam Liner, Lucena Lines and RRCG has daily trips from Manila to Lucena City. Alternatively, you can take a bus bound for Lucena City Grand terminal (220 pesos). From there, take a passenger jeepney or tricycle to Dalahican port. Fare is 10 pesos each.

At Dalahican Port, there are RORO vessels and ferries with regular trip to the island province. There are three RORO/Ferries bound for Marinduque's 3 main ports: Buyabod Port in Sta. Cruz, Cawit Port in Boac and Balanacan Port in Mogpog. Fare is about 260 pesos and travel time is around 3-4 hours depending on sea condition and the type of vessel you took.

NOTE: Dalahican Port is open 24 hours. Expect it to be crowded with passengers during weekends and holy week due to the number of tourists and locals wanting to spend the long vacation in the island. You can read my previous experience in Dalahican Port where we waited for 6 hours to take the ferry.

ALTERNATIVELY, You could take advantage of JAC Liner's Marinduque Seat Reservation System. Through this, you can reserve bus seats in advance through their system which covers total fare (bus fare, RORO ferry fare and terminal fee) from Manila and vice versa. With this system, you can choose your preferred seats and be assured of a comfortable and worry free travel to Marinduque during holy week. Fare is 830 pesos for Mogpog, Boac and Gasan; while it's 880 pesos for Buenavista, Torrijos and Sta. Cruz. Full payment must be made before reservation can be confirmed by JAC Liner. You may call JAC Liner Kamias at (02) 928-6140 for more details.

By Air
As of posting time, there are no commercial airlines servicing the Manila - Boac (Marinduque) route.

WHERE TO STAY IN MARINDUQUE

There are several affordable hotels, hostels, guest/pension houses, inns and resorts to choose from in Marinduque. Most of them are located in the capital town of Boac. I have tried Happy Bunny (Barangay Mercado, Boac / (042) 332 2040) and Blue Sea Beach Resort (Brgy. Amoingon / (042) 332-1334). Check them out. Due to the festive season, it is highly suggested that you plan your Moriones Festival 2014 trip in advance. Book for your accommodation as early as now, accommodation facilities are expected to be fully-booked on the festival week.

Come and experience Moriones Festival! Visit the island of Marinduque!

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