4. MORIONES FESTIVAL
The Moriones is an annual festival held on Holy
Week on the island of Marinduque .The "Moriones"
are men and women in costumes and masks
replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as
interpreted by local folks.
5. MORIONES FESTIVAL
Fierce-looking, often
bearded masks of
hand carved wood or
paper-mache topped
by a helmet adorned
with multi-hued paper
flowers complete the
typical morion garb.
Painted wooden
swords, spears, and
shields are considered
basic paraphernalia.
6. MORIONES FESTIVAL
The practice, as research points out, originated in the
town of Mogpog circa 1880s. Father Dionisio Santiago,
the local parish priest during that time, is credited to
have started it as a means of focusing the attention of his
parishioners to Lenten religious activities.
7. MORIONES FESTIVAL
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 verb:morir) meaning "(3rd
person singular) died".
8. MORIONES FESTIVAL
The priest was influenced by the story of Longinus, a
roman centurion, who was present during the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ. One of his eye was blind, and when he speared
the side of Jesus, drops of blood fell to his blind eye and
then he was able to see.
9. MORIONES FESTIVAL
This miracle converted Longinus to Christianity and
earned the ire of his fellow centurions. The re-enactment
reaches its climax when Longinus is caught and beheaded.
10. MORIONES FESTIVAL
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.
